Page 60 of Worlds Collide

“Get changed, I’ll be right back.”

I run to the bathroom to get my comb and styling spray, and lose my train of thought when I see him completely naked, bending over to put his briefs on.

He sees me gaping at him when he straightens and I swallow and look away guiltily.

“I lost a lot of weight when I went to rehab,” he says, like it explains something bad.

“Okay,” I say looking at him again, confused. “I’m sorry for gawking.”

“You can look at me all you want, I just know I look a bit puny.”

“What do you mean?” I’m actually perplexed, he looks fine.

“I’m not as buff as I was before, though now I know I was only buff because of all the beer, not because of any muscle.”

“You look . . . fine.” I settle on.

“Fine?” he demands and it sounds like a whine. I understand the problem then, so I walk over to him, place both hands on his hips and bring him flush against me, kiss his lips teasingly, and speak low.

“You lookdamn fine, Max. So fine, I want to lick you all up.”

He snorts and shakes his head.

“I can’t believe I’m starting to like that stupid nickname.” I got what I wanted out of him—to get him out of his head—so I step back and let him keep getting dressed.

“Well, I liked my nickname from the second you gave it to me, but it was mostly because of how horny I was for you.”

That makes him smile like a—shit, like a wolf.

“How long have you been horny for me, little rich boy?” he teases.

“You don’t wanna know,” I mumble and move away to try and put some order to the mess of our suitcases.

“I really, really want to know.”

“Not happening.”

“Damn, that long?”

“Long enough that it becomes creepy considering you’re five years older than me,” I mutter, and spin around quickly when I hear a thud. I see Wolf leaning heavily against the nightstand and looking shell shocked. “What?”

“Nothing, it’s just, I never thought about age difference with you,” he mumbles and goes back to putting on his pants.

“Why, because I’m so much more mature than you?” I tease.

“Precisely.” He throws the shirt over his head carelessly then looks at me expectantly. “Let’s go, then.”

“You look very handsome.”

“Thank you,” he says primly and walks through the door I hold open for him like he’s royalty or something.

I shake my head and follow him out.

I don’t know how we got to this place where he’s driving me insane one second and we’re teasing each other the next. I’m more comfortable right now than I have been in years, but I’m not willing to question why or think too deeply about it. If I do, then I might spook him and he’s proven to be a flight risk, though he did say he doesn’t want to run away from me anymore, so here’s hoping.

Dinner isas good as I promised, and Rich says so multiple times while we’re eating our gelato on an evening walk through the lively streets of the little village.

I’m glad he sat with us this time, even if it was because there were no other tables available, I still think it’s better to have him here than lurking and looking out for trouble from the table next to ours.

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