His lips curved into a faint smile. “Very,” he admitted, his voice laced with a possessiveness that made my tummy burn. “If his hand were an inch lower, he’d only have one by tomorrow.”
I rolled my eyes, biting back my smile. I knew it was an empty threat. “You’d really do that to him?”
“No,” he replied simply.
“Oh, how noble,” I said, sarcasm lacing my tone. “Lucifer himself is practically a saint.” I couldn’t help but smirk as I shifted my weight onto one hip.
He chuckled softly. “Just doing my civic duty.”
“You’re a menace,” I whispered.
“And you’re not? You knew what you were doing. Avoiding me. Procrastinating. Dragging out this night.” Max brushed a strand of hair behind my ear, his touch lingering.
It was so hard to breathe around him sometimes, especially when he leaned in even closer, just like he was doing now, his lips a whisper away from my skin.
“Why would I do that?” I managed to ask even though I already knew the answer.
“Because you know what will happen once I get you alone.”
I glared at him and felt a flush creeping up my cheeks.
“And if you look at me like that,” he continued, his tone darkening, “I’ll be taking you from behind.”
His words didn’t shock me anymore. In fact, I kind of liked them. “Look at you how?”
“Like you hate me,” he murmured.
“Oh, but you know that’s because I do,” I said, biting down on my smile.
The flush returned to my cheeks, though it felt warmer this time. Max’s thumbs brushed lightly against my lower lip. “I know you’re full of shit,” he said slowly, “and I know I will be getting honesty from you tonight.”
“You’re so sure of yourself,” I whispered, my voice trembling just a bit, betraying the confidence I tried to maintain. I swallowed hard, but his eyes never left mine.
“I know what I want. And I think I’ve earned it,” he murmured, his fingers brushing lightly against my arm. “Don’t you?”
“It would be against my better judgment to say what you want me to say.”
“We leave in ten, Rosalie.” Max’s eyes softened. “Say your goodbyes.”
Finally, he turned on his heel, leaving me to do exactly as he said.
CHAPTER 46
ROSALIE
Max slammed the door shut behind him with a loud echo. I spun slowly around to face him. He took a measured step forward, his face only inches from mine, his eyes practically black with desire.
“Take off your damn clothes.”
My mind raced. I could hardly think straight with eagerness and apprehension running through my veins like oil and water. His closeness made it difficult to focus on anything other than the heat radiating from his body.
I’ll admit I’d thought about him. Like that. I couldn’t get him off my mind sometimes. His crimes should scare me away, and so should his obsession, but it excited me instead. What did that say about me?
“You’re quite the romantic,” I said with a hit of sarcasm—his favorite.
“The things I want to do to you are far from it.”
Howcharming. “Is this how you sweet-talk all the ladies into bed?”
