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“I…prefer to top,” he says at last.
I laugh, relief making me loud. “Christ, Max. I thought—” I break off, shaking my head. “I don’t even know. You like to top? That’s fine. Sounds like we’re suited. Any other bombshells for me before we do this?”
Max’s answer is to lower his head and press his lips against mine. I’m surprised at the passion behind his kiss, given how reserved he usually is, but my body responds eagerly. His tongue slides against mine, exploring every corner of my mouth, and his hands move down over my ass, pulling me closer. I cup his face, let the stubble along his jaw prickle my palm. The tingle spreads all over me, and the kiss grows more intense as the seconds tick by, until my heart is racing as fast as it did in that alleyway today when I thought I was going to die.
The same sense of inevitability settles over me now as did then. I know exactly what’s going to happen next—and with that knowledge comes a calm peace.
This is right. What we’re doing, what we’re about to do…
It’sright.
“We should get upstairs,” I murmur into his shoulder.
Max nods, his lips still brushing my cheek. He takes my hand and leads me back into my own house, upstairs, to his room. We don’t talk, as though words could spark off what’s simmering between us.
Once we’re in his room, Max moves quickly, surprising me again. The guy is no cold fish, that’s for sure. He pushes me up against the door, holding my wrists up near my shoulders as he kisses down my chest, making me gasp. He returns to my mouth, pressing up against me. His skin is hot against mine, and I feel his cock pressing against my thigh, growing as fast as mine.
“Hang on,” I murmur, pulling my mouth away from his. “Give me a second.” I pull away reluctantly. “You get into bed and relax. You’re gonna need your strength.”
He raises his eyebrows with a smile, but he lets me go, and I head into the bathroom with a grin. I’m not surprised to see the room is spotless, towels neatly folded on the rail and Max’s toiletries lined up like soldiers along the side of the sink. The sight of them stabs me through with a rush of—offondness.
It’s just soMax.
I force down a chuckle as I glance around the room again. You’d think no one was staying in here at all with how neat it is, how completely—
Wait. What’s that?
There’s a thin black wire sticking out slightly from the exhaust fan. It only caught my eye in the mirror, and now I turn to stare up at it. Does the fan need maintenance?
Or…
CHAPTER15
MAX
What the hellam I doing?
As soon as Bricker is safely tucked away in the bathroom I can think more clearly, the red fog of lust that’s been drugging me for the past hour lifting slightly.
What. The hell. Am I doing?
I rub my face vigorously in an attempt to clear my head further. I cannot do this. I cannot sleep with Fabi Soldano’s son, with an Esposito, with a man half my age.Me, Max Pedretti, sensible, strategic, cautious…I haveneverfucked up this badly.
Well, not since I let Fabi run the job that got him caught.
I put my hands over my face again to help me concentrate. I need to figure out a way to let Bricker down gently, or he’ll think I did this on pur—
The bathroom door opens again. “Pedretti,” Bricker says in a low, dangerous voice. “What is this?”
I take my time lowering my hands from my face, because I know at once what’s happened. I can read Bricker’s tone, read his face, too, when I see it. The suspicion and anger.
He’s holding my half-made radio in his hand.
“What is this?” he asks again.
“Nothing,” I say, realizing too late just how fucking guilty I sound. I should have saidNo ideaor something similar.
But the guy’s not an idiot. He’s already pulling it apart, grabbing up my gun and smashing it with the butt.
