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I turn slowly, striking a pose. “Maybe I’m distracting you too much?”
“You are.” Oh, he’s serious. He runs a hand through his hair, messing it just enough to make me skip a beat.
“Come here.”
Never has he been more obedient. In a second, Max stands before me, leaning down as if to kiss me. But I put a hand on his chest to stop him.
“Now,” I say, smiling as he grows even grumpier. “Face the wall.”
“Why?” But he does turn to it, which puts him in profile in front of me.
I run my hand down his arm, stopping to explain. “You put all the power here.”
His eyes stray toward me as I step in front of him. With my boot, I push his feet apart at hip length. Then hook my leg around one of his to bring it forward. Max holds my back the second he sees me tip back. I wasn’t planning to fall, but this is much better.
“Then,” I say, grabbing his hips, “you pivot just a little on your back leg, bringing the power with your hips.”
“Oh yeah?” He pushes me all the way up against him, arching forward to leave no space between us.
I can’t help but kiss him now that we’re this close. His arms embrace me, and I bring my leg higher, the friction revving me up. If his lip hurts, he must not mind it, because he kisses me hard, pushing my mouth open as if he’s been drowning and only tasting me can save him.
The thwack of an axe hitting its target in the next stall over reminds me that we’re not really alone here.
“Max, focus please. We don’t want to get kicked out for public indecency.”
He groans. “Okay, okay. I’ll try.”
Props to him for throwing his axe well this time, even though my aim is way off after that kiss.
It takes us a whole tour of the arcade to bring the heat down a notch. We decide to avoid the pool tables and head to the restaurant. A waiter sits us at a cozy round booth, and with Max’s size, it’s impossible to keep my distance. Somehow, we manage to order a couple of burgers, side salads, and a basket of fries before we’re on each other again.
I snuggle up against him, one arm around him and the other hand on his thigh. Despite being a wall of muscle, when his arm’s around me, it feels soft.
“S’more.”
He sighs. “You’re really gonna keep calling me that?”
“It’s a compliment.” I blink up at him, all innocence. “Soft on the inside, hard on the outside—” I pause to squeeze his thigh. “And very tasty.”
Slowly, Max starts shaking his head. “You do know you’re killing me, right?”
“Yup.”
“And that I’ll take my revenge tonight?”
“Yes, please.
He laughs. “You’re perfect. It’s too bad I can’t show you off on campus.”
I freeze a little. Max definitely notices.
“It’s just…” I bite my lip. “I almost let people’s expectations keep me away from you. It was going to be the easier path, you know?”
“Is that why you said it wasn’t a big deal? That time at the library.”
It takes me a moment to remember what he’s talking about. The memory of him standing before me while handing me a book comes to mind. Almost as if maybe, just maybe, that book was his heart. I took the book, but at the time, I was too afraid to accept the feelings brewing between us.
I rest my head on his shoulder. “Yeah. I was being a coward. Like now, I guess.”
