Total pages in book: 166
Estimated words: 161257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 806(@200wpm)___ 645(@250wpm)___ 538(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 161257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 806(@200wpm)___ 645(@250wpm)___ 538(@300wpm)
“You know what? How ‘bout you kiss my ass.”
Max’s smile faded fast. “Say please.”
Current raced up Sean’s spine. Was Max joking? Being serious? It aggravated him that he honestly couldn’t tell. He plopped down on the back seat’s black, vinyl bench and scooted to the other side. Max climbed in right behind him and shut the door.
“Student apartments,” Max relayed to the cabbie. “East end. By the tennis courts. Building five.”
“Alrighty,” the driver grunted. And then they were off, filing into the steady flow of traffic.
Sean’s shoulders eased. For the first time in what felt like forever, it was quiet enough that he could hear himself think. Not that his buzzing brain would let him think of much. Just the man sitting beside him looking broody.
Sean sighed. What was he thinking, getting into this cab? He was drunk, and it was early, and he didn’t want to go home. But obviously that was exactly where Max was taking him. Why? Because he didn’t trust Sean alone at the club? Because he considered him his and didn’t want to share? Well, too fucking bad. Sean wasn’t his. Had tried to be, repeatedly, but never succeeded. Max had always rejected him, with this reason or that. Probably just didn’t want to be monogamous. Wanted to fuck whoever he wanted whenever he wanted.
Sean scowled and glared at Max… then deflated with a frown.
The way he was staring so somberly out his window made Sean ache. Because deep fucking down, Sean knew Max’s truth. He wasn’t being a whore. He was troubled. Deeply. Unfortunately, though, that was the extent of Sean’s knowledge. He had no idea what had happened to Max. Could only guess why he’d grown so withdrawn.
Thing was, it didn’t matter that Sean didn’t have the whole picture. He still wanted to make the man happy. At least for a little while. In any way that he could. And if that meant putting aside the things that he wanted, then so be it.
He scooted a little closer and nudged Max’s knee with his own. “Hey.”
Max looked at him.
Sean smiled. “I meant to thank you.”
“For what?”
“For saving me. From Jack.”
Max’s brows dipped. “Jack?”
“My dance party groper.”
Max stared at him. His jaw ticked. He looked away. “You’re welcome.”
Sean shrugged. “See? Should’ve just kept dancing with me yourself.”
“Why,” Max muttered, gazing back out his window. “So you could bug me to do more shit I don’t wanna do?”
Sean stiffened, but tried not to take offense. Max wasn’t exactly in a stable place right now. What with that fight and all that alcohol he’d consumed. Not to mention all his pre-existing issues.
Sean inhaled. Exhaled. “I’m sorry about that. Wasn’t thinking. It was stupid. I’m sorry.”
Max’s shoulders eased. He glanced down and frowned. “S’okay. You were drunk. And for that matter, so was I.”
Sean watched him. He looked sad. Sean chewed his lip, thinking. Needed to find some lighter shit to talk about. “It was cool running into you. Haven’t seen you there before.”
Max shrugged, looked back up again. This time his gaze stayed straight ahead. “Scott wanted to get out. I wanted to unwind. He was driving, so he got to choose the place.”
Sean chuckled a little. “Bang up job unwinding.”
Max cut him a sideways glance. “You trying to get spanked?”
A second jolt shot straight up Sean’s spine. “Um.” He fought back a shiver. “Yeah?”
Max rolled his eyes and looked away. “So needy.”
Sean grinned. “You like me needy.”
Max glanced back his way, but before he could speak, their cabby cursed and slowed to a stop. Sean looked ahead. Holy shit. Mega traffic.
“Sorry, boys. This accident wasn’t here five minutes ago. Must have just happened. Sit tight.”
“Great,” Max muttered.
Sean couldn’t agree more. But for entirely different positive reasons. After all, he really hadn’t wanted to go home. His buzz still had quite a few miles on it.
Sean grinned. “Uh-oh. Stuck indefinitely with a drunk.”
Max flicked him a look. “Behave, caitín.”
Sean shook his head. Inched closer. “Can’t. I’m needy.”
A tiny little grin tugged at Max’s lips. Didn’t last, though. Not all. Because a heartbeat later, Max frowned and dropped his head back on the bench.
Sean’s heart clenched tight. He was failing miserably. Couldn’t even make the guy smile. He glanced around in thought. Maybe a different approach. A simpler one. Give Max something he knew he liked. Or better yet, something he needed. Affection, love. But in a form he could accept. In a way his mind could rationalize as other.
Sean shifted sideways so he faced Max fully, then leaned his head against his propped, bent elbow.
Max didn’t move, just sighed and closed his eyes.
Sean palmed Max’s thigh. “I wanna give you something.”
Max stilled, but kept his eyes closed. “What.”
“A parting gift.” Sean slid his fingers higher and cupped Max’s crotch. “While we wait. To end this night on a high note.”