I bit back a laugh, biting the inside of my cheek until it hurt.
“Behave,” I whispered, leaning in until my lips almost brushed his ear.
“I can still feel your pussy on my fingers,” he breathed. “I won’t be behaving for a long time.”
I swallowed, my eyes blurring as I nearly went cross-eyed hearing him say that. He offered a small grin, never taking his eyes off mine.
Across from us, Jackson was watching Max’s hand as if he were mentally calculating how to break every bone in his body. I smiled sweetly, tilting my chin toward Max, and casually plucked a piece of bread right off his tray.
Max’s brow arched. “What’s with you stealing my food today?”
“We’re dating,” I said casually, loud enough for Jackson to hear every word. “What’s yours is mine.”
“You want the rest?” His voice lowered, smooth as velvet, but with a hint of edge underneath. “I’ll feed you.”
I grimaced. “Ew. No.”
“Too much?” He murmured, but his gaze had already dropped to my lips.
“Way too much,” I whispered back, leaning so close my mouth barely brushed his. The heat between us crackled. That ghost of a touch set him off. His hands clamped down on my waist, possessively, and I gasped before I could stop myself.
“Don’t blow up on me,” I teased. “Just kiss me.”
Max’s eyes darkened. His pupils swallowed the color. His thumb brushed my bottom lip as if claiming it. He tilted his chin down and kissed me. It was brief, rough, with his tongue flicking against mine for only a heartbeat before he pulled away.
It was too quick.
He was trying to regain control, but I could feel the storm beneath his kiss.
He kept me pinned in place, chest rising hard, eyes locked on mine. His stare was dangerous, starving. I told myself it was just lust, but the way he looked at me made me wonder.
Jackson’s chair screeched sharply across the floor as he shot a venomous glare, muttering something about air before storming out with a wild, unhinged look.
Max didn’t flinch. He didn’t even glance at Jackson. His eyes never left mine.
I tore my gaze away, my skin burning. “You think he bought it?”
Max’s brow furrowed, as if confused, then he looked toward where Jackson had been sitting, a resigned expression crossing his face.
He leaned back, shaking his head, a nervous smile spreading across his face as I saw his nerves beating in his throat.
His pulse hammered so loudly I almost felt it beneath my skin.
“Yeah,” he said roughly, his voice trembling. “He bought it.”
I watched him carefully. This was supposed to be pretend, but every time we looked at each other, I forgot which side of the lie we were on.
I cleared my throat.
“You should eat,” I murmured, my eyes flicking to his trembling hands. “You’re shaking.”
MAX
Holy Mother of God.She was going to be the absolute death of me. I’d never been this nervous over a girl, let alone Mackenzie. Her kisses—God.Every kiss was straight out of my fantasies.
When we returned to the cabin, she passed out almost immediately, like she hadn’t just detonated my entire world with a single touch. I lay awake, stiff on the top bunk, staring at the ceiling. My chest ached with the weight of what we were becoming. I couldn’t stop replaying what had happened earlier. I wanted to finish it.
The cabin was silent except for the creak of wood and the occasional rustle of bodies asleep. Her nightlight cast her sleeping shadow on the wall, a halo I couldn’t ignore.
