Page 34 of Wrecked Rose

“Griff.” He wets his lip as he stares back at me, waiting for me to say something. Do something.

So, I do. I close the distance between us, my heart thudding harshly in my chest. My hand slides up his arm, cradles his neck. I can’t resist sweeping my thumb along his jaw, his pulse point hammering in a fast rhythm against my palm. It’s like I’m in an alternate universe where this is right and I give in to the overwhelming desire I’m feeling. Lowering my head, I brush his lips with mine. They’re soft yet firm, and my heart beats so hard it’s painful.

He looks into my eyes, and I have no idea what he must see there. Confusion, maybe? My thoughts are tangled. But I’m spun up and can’t seem to stop myself. Max radiates an energy that I’m drawn to. I can’t explain it, and in this particular moment, I don’t want to question it.

I drop open-mouthed kisses on his lips until finally he groans deep in his chest, grasps the front of my shirt in his fists, and pulls me closer, kissing me right back. His mouth is warm, and I tentatively deepen the kiss, taking the time to taste him. The heat between us builds as our tongues wantonly twist and curl together, exploring. I find myself sliding my hands down over his back but hesitate as I get to the top of his ass, unsure of what I’m doing.

His kisses have a dizzying effect on me. I don’t know which end is up or who I am right now. But obviously, I want more.

On a throaty moan, I change the angle of our mouths, licking deeper, wanting more of him. His hands let go of my shirt and grasp at my hips instead.

There are man-sized hands on my body.

A massive storm surges through me, and I don’t know how to stop the strikes of lightning down my spine or the roll of thunder through my veins.

So I don’t. I go with it. I’m out of my fucking mind, but I go with it.

My fingers clench the back of Max’s shirt for a second before I allow my hands to slide over the curve of his ass. He’s so solid. This feels so completely different than when I’m with a girl—but it’s so fucking good I can’t stop.

When we sway slightly, hot and heavy in our kiss, my dick brushes against his. I pause, wrenching my lips from his. I blink, stunned.

His hazel eyes are locked on mine. “Are you going to freak out again?” His quiet question gives me pause.

I wait a beat. “Kind of? But in a good way.” My forehead pinches, like I’m trying to make sense of things. “I don’t know. I’m shell-shocked. This isn’t— This doesn’t— I don’t—”

We’re both breathing hard, chests brushing together. I can’t seem to put my thoughts into words, much less sentences that make sense. His hazel eyes glitter in the dark as I search for answers I didn’t know I would be looking for. I maneuver us so his back is against his car, then I take his head between my hands and dive back in for another soul-searing kiss as his firm chest meets mine, our strong arms wrap around each other, and—there is no sense denying it—my rapidly hardening cock rubs up against his. The sensation is about to blow my fucking mind. We grind together, our lips nipping, tongues stroking, hands sliding over each other’s bodies.

I’m like steel behind the fly of my jeans.Ah, fuck. So good. So good.I feel my balls pull up and my ab muscles contract.Oh fuck, I’m going to—My entire body goes rigid, my heart slamming around in my chest. My breath heaves out as I untangle myself and stumble backward.

I was about as close to coming in my pants as I’ve ever been in my entire life.

Max’s gaze roams over my face, studying me while sliding his hand up over his jaw. He opens his mouth to say something but I hold up a hand.

“Don’t. Please don’t say anything right now. I can’t.”

Max’s eyes dip down, eyeing my aching dick. It twitches viciously in response. Even my traitorous eyes can’t keep to themselves. They drift down from his face, over his torso, to the impressive bulge in his pants.

I swallow hard, my gaze finally meeting his. I rasp out, “I don’t know what I’m doing.”

“Yeah. I can see that.” He sighs, shakes his head, and without another word, takes a few quick strides to the driver’s side door, climbs in, fires up the engine, and peels out down the driveway.

Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck.I walk around outside for ten solid minutes trying to get my erection to go down so I can reenter the house.

This isn’t what I expected to happen when I followed him.

Or was it?My teeth clamp down on my kiss-swollen lower lip, and I take my sorry ass and my fucked-up head back inside. I dodge everyone and lock myself in my bedroom for the night. I’m a certifiable mess.

Chapter 23

Max

Igroan as I roll over to find my phone and check the time. Sunshine streams through my bedroom window, brightening my entire room. Oh hell, it’s already eleven. My brows raise at first, but it’s not altogether surprising that I’ve slept in today, considering I was up half the night. Yesterday really took it out of me; everything from dealing with Jack’s antics at lunch to arguing with Griff to worrying about Sam. And being kissed by Griff. More than once.Let’s not fucking forget that.

He’s slowly blowing my mind. I never dreamed he’d let me touch him, much less that he’d be the one to come on to me. But I can already tell he’s very twisted up over it. My assumption is the awareness that he’s not as straight as he thought he was is sending him spiraling. Is this the first time this has happened to him? Or am I just the latest guy who’s caught his eye? I’d bet money I’m the first dude he’s ever acted on those impulses with, and it’s freaking him out. Outwardly, he’s very much a player, with a different girl every couple of days. I don’t know where I fit into his world.

Sexual identity is such a complicated thing, and I’m not sure how to approach him. But at the same time, I feel like he kinda owes me an explanation—especially after so specifically making a point of telling me that the kiss on New Year’s Eve didn’t mean anything to him. And he’d even joked about it with me, which makes me feel like I deserve to know why he’s suddenly had a change of heart. Is it within my rights as the guy he keeps kissing to ask him?

My brain is in overdrive. I can’t stop coming up with different hypotheses as to what he could be thinking or feeling. Does he really like me?

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