“I didn’t forget, I just wasn’t so sure he truly wanted to end it. He seemed really into you.”
“He was distant and kind of closed-off,” said Maya.
“But looked at you like you were the only thing worth looking at.”
“Yeah, well, he couldn’t have been that interested. The night before he left for his trip … well, he spent it with one of the vamps who works at the bowling alley, Krista. She said he asked her to ‘wait’ for him.”
I felt my brows snap together. “Really? Who told you that?”
Maya clipped her dark hair behind her ear. “She did.”
“I never heard even a whisper about that.” I looked at the others, who all shook their heads and said no such news had reached them. “It might not be true, Maya.”
Cassie nodded. “Krista has been known to tell little tales. Don’t be so quick to believe her.”
Maya just shrugged, her expression declaring she was done talking about it. I knew better than to push her—it would get me nowhere. The others knew it, too. So we changed the subject again, choosing a lighter topic this time.
A short time later, everyone made moves to leave. Some wished to get back to their mates to have dinner, while the single women headed to the Mexican restaurant. I would have accompanied them if Max wasn’t due to turn up at my apartment soon. So, instead, I ate a quick dinner—which wasn’t easy, given that my stomach was fluttery with nerves. It couldn’t have been more than an hour later when a knock came at the door.
It didn’t matter that I’d been braced for the sheer impact of him. My body nonetheless stirred to life when I opened the door to find Max stood there, still and watchful and spectacularly masculine. I moved aside, silently inviting him to enter.
He prowled inside, each step fluid and purposeful. When I closed the door, he lifted a brow. “Well?”
I took a subtle, fortifying breath. “Okay.”
His blue eyes heated, and the tension in the air thickened. He crossed the space between us and loomed over me, his gaze searching mine. “Let’s make sure we have this straight. For seventy-two whole hours, you’ll belong to me.”
I felt my head jerk back. “Whoa, belong?”
“Yes, belong,” he said, his voice dropping to bedroom territory. “There won’t be a single part of you I haven’t touched. I’m going to know your body better than anyone else ever has—even you. I’m going to fuck you every which way I can have you.” He trailed his finger down my neck, adding, “I’m even going to come down this pretty throat, just like I’ve imagined doing a thousand times.”
I gave him an imperious look and sniffed. “We’ll see how it goes.”
His mouth quirked. “You’d better pack a bag. You won’t be coming back here until the seventy-two hours are up, and they’re going to begin the moment we step into my apartment.”
“Look at you getting all forceful.”
Max lowered his face to mine. “You have no idea how forceful I can be. But you’ll soon find out.” He took a slow step back. “Get whatever you need.”
Anticipation whirred in my blood as I tossed clothes and other items into my duffel. I’d no sooner zipped it up than he grabbed it—not so much playing the gentleman as being his typical alpha-self.
We passed many people as we made our way to his apartment, which was a few floors above mine. All were quick to give us conspiratorial, knowing looks. Bastards. It was a shame that neither I nor Max could teleport.
Finally, we arrived at his place. Stepping inside, I saw that it was pretty much a mirror image of my own. Of course, he had none of the feminine touches I’d added to my apartment.
Glancing around, I said, “Wow, your place is pretty tidy for a bachelor pad.” I turned to him … and almost sucked in a breath. His eyes were alive with a raw need that was carved into every line of his face.
He dropped my duffel near the door and then prowled toward me. “One thing: I don’t mix sex and feeding.”
Disappointing, but … “Noted.”
He palmed the side of my face and brushed his thumb over my lips. “I really hope you like hard and fast, because there’s not a fucking chance I can go slow right now.”
The hand on my face dived into my hair, fisted it tight, and snatched my head back. Then his mouth was on mine. No, ravaging mine. The kiss was all greed and hunger and urgency. And I absolutely revelled in it.
We pretty much yanked off each other’s clothes as years’ worth of suppressed need finally found its outlet. There was nothing gentle or playful about his touch or mine. No, we grabbed and squeezed and pulled, desperate for more.