Page 60 of Red Hunt

“Not enough to not know what I asked for.”

He leaned forward and settled himself between my legs. “Are you sure?”

I traced his eyebrows with my finger, moving it down his straight nose and along his upper lip. He had freckles all over his face which gave his skin such a special texture. And his five o’clock shadow was even more prominent so late at night. “I’m sure. But I don’t think you are. We don’t need to do it. You don’t need to do it.”

He grinned, his white teeth forming a straight line. “Finally.”

“Finally, what?”

“Finally, you show me some mercy. Tell you what. Why don’t I take a shower, and we’ll spend the rest of the evening on the couch? Watch some sappy movie and maybe even make out a little while we’re at it. How does that sound?”

It sounded perfect, though I felt a little peeved. He really didn’t want to have sex with me, and all this asking if I was sure was just his way of saying no without rejecting me. “On one condition.”

“Anything.”

A sheepish smile escaped my lips. It was fun being the hunter. Fun making him squirm. “I get to shower with you.”

His groan was epic, and I burst into laughter. Now we would see how much he really didn’t want to have sex with me. Plus, showering together would take the awkwardness of taking off our clothes out of the equation.

At least I hoped so.

36

MAX

Earlier, I wasn’t sure, but now I knew. Milli was out to kill me. I turned on the shower and could feel her move behind me, undress behind me.

Hell.

How on earth would I ever survive showering with her?

I would not.

I would not survive, not without touching her, not without kissing her. Not without having her, making her my own.

I stepped into the shower and suppressed a groan. The water was still cold. Perfect. I could feel her get in behind me. But refused to turn around.

“Max?”

Her voice, the trembling, the insecurity. I pressed my hands against the shower wall.

I would not turn around because once I did, it would be game over.

“What?”

She sighed. As if the weight of the world was on her shoulders.

“I’m sorry. This was a stupid idea. I’m sorry.” I could feel her forehead press against my skin. Her breast against my back. She probably had a great view of my hairy ass. But hell if I cared. What I wouldn’t do to hold her right now.

Anything. That’s what. But then why was I holding back? I had a beautiful woman naked in the shower. She’d made it clear, in no uncertain terms and repeatedly, how she wanted to have sex with me.

Hell, she flat out told me.

So why…what was holding me back? What was wrong with me? It wasn’t physical either because my cock had been standing on half-mast since our kiss outside the Oaktree. And I desired her. Oh boy, how I desired her. So, what was it then?

I could hear a sob. Silent. Almost indistinguishable from the rushing noise of the water. Did I even hear it? Or did I feel it against my skin? Under my skin? I couldn’t say. That’s how she got to me. That’s how attuned I was to her body, her presence.

Fuck. I turned around, took her in my arms. It was torture, pure torture, but holding her in my arms both fueled and soothed the desire inside of me. “Dove?”

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