Page 48 of Tempting Max

Elliot rolls his eyes like a petulant teen. “Yes, I do research. A lot of it. How do you think I’m so good at this? It’s not luck, it’s hard fucking work. I have a college degree, asshole.”

I flinch as I realized I’ve had no idea the scope of work Elliot puts into his gig. He’s always been the kind of kid who lucked his way through things. The unruffled one, the unhurried one, but I think maybe he just hides the stuff he doesn’t want us to see.

Do I even know him like I should? I run a hand down my face at the sudden realization that I’ve been such a raging dickhead for so long, that I’ve treated Elliot like he didn’t have to live the early part of his twenties in absolute family turmoil. “Sorry, Elliot, I know you do a lot of work. Work I would have no idea how to do. And look at this place, whatever you’re doing is working, so thank you.”

Elliot stares at me for a moment. His expression softens the tiniest bit. “You’re welcome.”

I turn to Liam. “I don’t thank either of you enough for all the work you’re doing. Thank you, Liam for the research and keeping everything running smoothly.”

Liam stares at me as if I have aliens crawling out of my nostrils. “You’re welcome?”

“Ugh,” Elliot grunts, shattering the vibe. “I take it back. I like it better when you’re a rage beast. Stop having an emotional range, it’s upsetting.”

I hold in my laugh and nod my head. “Done. I will rage.”

“Thank God,” he mutters, and Liam restarts the meeting, but not without a heavy dose of pure exasperation.

* * *

I growlas Gus purposely slides her fine ass against my crotch as she passes me to get a lemon for a customer’s shandy.

I don’t turn towards her because if I look, if I even breathe the wrong way, I’ll get the biggest fucking hardon most of the people around the bar have ever seen. And I don’t think my brothers would like reading about that in Yelp reviews.

But God, it’s hard to be around her and not touch her. I ache to tangle my fingers in her hair, kiss the arch of her neck, set my hand at her waist to show the world who she belongs to, but it’s too early.

Fuck that, it’s not too early, it’s too terrifying. Because the same thing happened with Sloane. I fell head over heels for her, saw no other woman but her, was blinded by her beauty. Even Elliot saw something in her that didn’t quite sit right with him, and he is generally not known for diving any deeper into a woman’s attributes than her breast size.

Still, I know they like Gus. A lot. So, there’s that. But the thought of making a move too soon and risking everything we’ve built here, is scary. My brothers are the only people that stood by me when Sutton was taken away and I have to make sure everything is safe before I think with my dick.

Shit, who am I kidding?I can’t blame this on just my dick anymore, not when my heart is clearly involved.

Once my cock settles, I turn around and watch Gus for a moment as she smiles and laughs with a customer and I feel it again, that hard kick in my heart that saysyou are in big trouble, you lovestruck dummy. And yes, it’s scary and too soon and too whatever, but fuck me, it feels good anyway.

“Uh, Gus,” I say, using a voice I hope sounds businesslike and casual at the same time. “Could you help me with a project in the backroom?”

Gus’ eyes round, but I see the telltale flush climb up her cheeks. “Yeah of course, Mr. Sutton, I’ll be right there.”

“Thank you,” I say and head to the back where I’m about to do something risky even though I just reasoned through all the reasons I shouldn’t blow our cover.

At least it’s early afternoon—before the evening rush, and Trace has everything covered.

I feel like it’s hours before she appears, but in reality, it’s about three minutes before she enters the backroom. Her eyes are heated, her cheeks pink, and when she turns the lock on the door, I slam her up against it and kiss her mouth like I’ve been aching to do for the last three hours. I’m hard, unrelenting, desperate, but she meets me move for move as if she feels exactly the way I do.

I know we don’t have much time, but I undo the fly of her jeans and slip my fingers inside. I growl when I feel her excitement coating my fingers. “Baby Girl, you’re so wet.”

She doesn’t answer, she can’t, I steal her words by kissing her again and slipping two fingers inside her pretty pussy.

She gasps against my mouth and lifts a leg around my waist to give me better access. I need to get her off, it feels like I’ll explode if I don’t. I stroke my fingers inside of her, swallowing her moans with my kiss, caressing her G-spot until she’s vibrating in my arms.

With a brush of my thumb over her clit, she detonates into an orgasm that shakes both of us, coats my fingers with her honey, and makes me fall even further than before.

I keep her upright with my body as she rocks through the pleasure and when her eyes meet mine again, they’re sated, happy, and…I’m afraid to identify the other thing, it’s too close to what I’m feeling.

I kiss her softly. “Did that feel good, baby?”

“So good,” she breathes in a dreamy voice that makes my cock twitch. “I’m going to need that cock later,” she tells me, stroking her hands over it through my jeans, making me groan.

“You can have it,” I promise, “so long as you’re a good girl.”

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