After a short, silent beat, he says, “Thanks for being honest with me. I mean it.”
I hear the deep sincerity in his voice. “Anytime, wolf scout.”
Our arms touch unconsciously, and when our heads turn towards one another, our faces are only a couple inches apart.
The air seems to crack with that familiar, hard-to-breathe tension that I felt weeks ago when I massaged him. Our gazes grip securely.
In my head, I can be his bodyguard and sleep with him.
I’m that good. And it’s that simple.
Inhishead, I’m not sure what’s going on up there.
He inhales strongly, his chest rising, and his gaze bores into mine, searching for a sign. Mine caress his like the stroke of flesh against flesh. I want to slide nearer. I want to wrap my arm across his shoulders and close the two-inch distance.
My muscles tighten as I stay still, pulse pounding. And the next look he wears, I know that look. The look that melts his forest-green eyes and softly and forcefully begs,kiss me.
I breathe, my body doused with kerosene. Lit on fire, and just before I make a move, a sound, a clearer, more visible acknowledgement for him, his gaze just drops.
Off of me completely. To the ground, then the bar where girls start squealing ingleeat the eye contact he gives them.
I grit down, pained like someone ripped out a rib.I comb my hands through my hair, and Maximoff stands up.
I stand not a millisecond after. “Where are you going?” I ask tensely.
“I don’t know,” he mutters, and then shakes his head like he’s trying to catch his bearings.
“We need to talk,” I say, but he can’t hear me over the sudden switch in songs, a hardcore rock anthem blasting. He’s already leaving the VIP area.
I follow. Step-for-step beside him, and a stool instantly opens at the crowded bar. Maximoff smiles at a short brunette in a sequined mini-dress. “You can sit!” he tells her. “Don’t get up for me!”
I restrain an eye roll.
She giggles.
He flags down the bartender and orders drinks.
For his safety, I have no other choice but to do my job. I stand behind him like an intimidating authority, someone that saysdon’t fuck with him. Since he wants to be approached tonight, I shouldn’t be scowling this hard.
I’m out of the way, but in the way. Unseen, but seen. All of those oxymorons are killing me tonight.
She gasps and says, “No way!” a thousand times.
Moffy leans down, cups his hand by her ear, and whispers for a full two minutes. Her eyes glow like she hit a jackpot, and she nods repeatedly.
I can only imagine that he’s telling her he wants to fuck her. In a subtler way but still blunt. Upfront.Sex only.
I spit my gum into my wrapper, my jaw aching. I pocket the thing, and then the girl hops off the barstool and heads for the bathroom.
Maximoff stays by the bar, and since this is my first time being his bodyguard while he’s trying to get ass, I’m somewhat in the dark. It’s not like he listed this in his rules.
He faces me. “We need to talk!” He has one-hundred percent padlocked his feelings. I glare, his face so impassive, so inexpressive—you’d think he’s channeling Connor Cobalt. His uncle who can will away emotion whenever he likes.
I hate it.
I step towards him and whisper in the pit of his ear. “Are we discussing your flirting techniques?” I unwrap a new piece of gum while he struggles to hide his feelings.
Let it out, wolf scout.
