"And did you ever tell them you loved them back?"
His fingers tighten in my hair slightly. "What are you doing, Little One? Don't you think if I had,youwould have heard it as well?"
"No." I squeeze his waist. "I don't know.
"Look at my actions, Little One. I'm telling you every fucking day how I feel with my actions."
Shaking my head against his chest, I grow disappointed in myself for bringing this up now. After what Nina said about Bronson, I suppose I just want to hear Max say he returns my feelings. I want him to say he loves me. "Does it mean anything to you thatIlove you?
"Of course it does." He holds me away from him, cradling my head with his hands. Lifting my chin, he looks into my eyes. "It meanseverythingto me. Why are you asking me this shit?"
"But you've heard it before," I say.
He smiles as if that is the stupidest thing I've ever said. Shaking his head, he pulls me back into his chest and sways with me. "From girls who don't know me. They love it when I'm inside them. They love my cock, not me."
"You express a lot when you're making love, Max. I feel sick when I think about you with other girls," I say as I cuddle him tighter.
"They never meant anything. And I definitely didn’t make love to them."
"You still gave a piece of yourself to them," I say. Those words alone make me feel ill, but he doesn’t seem to understand. "Don't you see that? Don't you see me? Don't you see me when we make love?"
I feel the rumble of his growl. "Yes, I see you. But I'm looking."
"They do too. They seeyou. What if you weren't my first? This other person would have seen me like that. Wouldn't that bother you?"
His back gets very tight beneath my fingers. "Come here," he whispers and entwines our fingers. He pulls me toward the door he'd entered earlier. The door shuts behind us and it must be soundproof because I can't hear the girl singing anymore.
Curious, I look down the hall. A rich-red carpet leads to an ominous door. Mirrors hang on the walls. Max directs my gaze back to him as he presses me into the wall.
He lifts my chin, his eyes dilating as they fix on me. "What do you want from me? I can't not have sex with all those girls. It's done."
"I know."
"So, what do you want?"
"I just want..."
"Let's get really serious, Little One. That's really what you want, isn't it? This is how I feel." He points at the door. "Out there you're Cassidy Slater. Ballerina. You're a fucking angel." Both of his palms press onto the wall on either side of my head. "But with me, you'remyCassidy Slater. You do all the things you won't speak aloud. You let me use your sweet little body for my dirty pleasure. And the other night,youfuckedme,Cassidy." His hands flex on the wall as his lips meet my ear and I nearly stop breathing. "It does things to me, thinking about you being that Cassidy with someone else. I'm the only guy to taste you. To make you come. I filled you the other night and it felt like a goddamn religious experience. I may not tell you I love you, but I'm a scary kind of possessive over you, Cassidy. So do us both a favour anddon't ask me how I'd feel if you were with another guy unless you want me to lose my fucking mind."
And my breath leaves me in a rush.
Cupping his cheeks, I pull him close for a quick, soft kiss. "I'm sorry. I was unfair." We breathe slowly together. "I just wanted to hear you say the words. That's all."
He moves into my caress, tight-faced, teeth grinding. "It's not that?—"
"You've said everything I need to hear. Keep telling me through your actions, Max."
Suddenly frowning, Max turns his head towards the door at the end of the hallway. I look over to see Jimmy standing with his arms wide and welcoming.
"Cassidy," he coos. "What a lovely sight you are. Max, you've been keeping her from us."
Max stands up straight. "I'm not taking her back there."
"No, of course not," Jimmy states, appearing confused by Max's tone. "It's not suitable for yourbeddagirlfriend. But you have to bring her tomorrow night. You have told her about the auction,se?"
Max shakes his head. "She's busy."
"Oh, Max. No." He walks towards us, his black coat swaying, the harness underneath peeking out slightly—purposefully. "I have the perfect piece for her to showcase. You know the one with the half-caratDiamante rosa?Se. Bring her?Piffavuriii?Who could resist it after seeing it around her neck?"
