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“Me either.” He steps forward, rubbing his hands over my arms, easing my fears. “But I’m here and I won’t let him hurt you.” His smile is soft, his face so full of conviction it’s impossible not to believe him. Dropping his arms, a hopeful smile is on his full, pink lips. “So how about a movie?”
Looking up at him, I grin. “Only if popcorn and soda are a part of that plan.”
“Of course. What kind of person watches movies without it?” His eyes twinkle playfully.
“Not anyone I want to know.” I wink, then grab the remote and hand it to him. “I have all kinds of movies on Netflix and Amazon. Why don’t you choose while I make the popcorn?”
“Sounds fair.” He takes the remote from my hand, turning on the TV. As I walk from the room, he lowers himself to the couch.
“Feel free to take your shoes off and make yourself comfortable,” I call out over my shoulder.
“Will do.”
When I come back in the living room a few minutes later, he has his shoes off and is sprawled out on the couch, one arm over the back of it, legs splayed in front of him.I swear to God my couch has never looked better.Heading toward the couch, Max leans forward and grabs the popcorn from me while I set our sodas on the coffee table in front of us. He leans back as I tuck one leg beneath me, sitting beside him.
Reaching behind me, I grab the blanket from the back of the couch, and he automatically shifts his torso forward so it slides into my hands. As I drape the blanket over my lap, getting comfortable, Max sets the bowl of popcorn between us. I look from the TV to him. “Ohh…Predator. I haven’t watched that one in a long time. Good choice.”
He raises a brow at me as I grab a handful of popcorn, sticking some in my mouth.
“I’m surprised you like it.” He grins at me, grabbing a handful of popcorn from the bowl.
I finish chewing and swallowing before I choke, looking at him like he’s crazy. “Are you kidding? It is aclassic.”
“Agreed.” Max reaches forward, grabbing his soda and taking a drink. “Most people would thinkPredatoris a strange definition of a classic movie.”
I shrug. “Maybe. Maybe they’d think I’m weird for saying it is. But I don’t give two shits.” I grin at him before picking up my soda.
“I approve, including you not giving two shits. Because I don’t either.Rocky, Die Hard,Predator, Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th… all are classics in my book.” He tips his soda toward me in a toast, and I tap mine against his, laughing.
Max is so easy to be around, putting me completely at ease. His shoulder brushes mine as he sticks his hand in the bowl.
There’s that tingle again. Like a shock of static electricity that gives off sparks, my body hums from the current flowing beneath my skin.
I’m acutely aware of him as I pretend to watch the movie, all thoughts of William gone.
As we lean closer to one another on my couch, I wonder if he’s as conscious of me as I am of him?
Chapter twelve
Irelynn
August26,2018,5:30a.m.
Our hands reach into the popcorn bowl at the same time. A jolt of electricity runs through my arm, lighting every single nerve inside me on fire. It reminds me of the time I grabbed onto the electric fence surrounding the horse pasture. The jolt shot through me, burning my hand until I let go. But this shock is different, pleasurable. It makes me want to grab onto Max, and never let go.
My breath hitches in my chest as our heads move turning toward one another. Neither of us blinks; we simply stare at each other.
I’m lost in his baby blue eyes that are surrounded by long, thick eyelashes. My gaze lazily moves down his face, taking in his full, pink lips, then to the slight stubble of honey blond hair covering his chin and jawline, thicker because he hasn’t shaved in hours.
My gaze moves back to his as I slowly remove my hand from the bowl of popcorn. My breathing is heavy as his eyes soften. His gaze moves to my lips, and I’m mesmerized as his teeth sink into his bottom lip. My lips part; my tongue darting out and sweeping gently over my lower lip. Max watches me with such intensity that I can’t form a coherent thought. There’s only one thing I’m cognizant of—want. Desire courses through me, the somewhat tolerable warmth spreading through my veins and exploding into an inferno when he touches me.
His large hand reaches out and gently cups my face as I turn into his reverent touch, my body trembling. As the movie plays in the background, he whispers my name, his penetrating gaze unwavering. His head slowly lowers, lips coming closer to mine. I wait with bated breath as he draws closer, nearly touching….
The sound of someone slamming the dumpster lid makes me jump, my eyes snapping open, pulling me from my dream. The room is unusually dark and there is an awful kink in my neck. Something hard and warm is beneath my head as I gingerly stretch my leg.
And then it hits me. I’m in my living room and at some point, I fell asleep on Max.
My lashes sweep up and I blink at him. He’s still asleep and looking so damned peaceful.
