Chapter Twelve
Cassie dropped her bags on the couch and slumped into her favorite easy chair. She was tired after her long trip, but she felt a little better. How could she not after the boisterous visit with Kinsey and her family. They were loud, loving, and had managed to make her forget her troubles for a week.
Kinsey had wanted to come back and stay with her, to make sure she’d be okay, but she needed time with her family. They’d missed her just as much as Cassie had, and Kinsey would be back in the city soon enough.
The one good thing in the last week was the paper had called, and she had an interview Monday morning. They loved her article, told her she had great writing skills, and they wanted to run the story. She wasn’t giving it to them without a job, though.
She was trying to muster up the energy to move, when her doorbell rang. She glanced at the clock. It was getting close to midnight. She couldn’t imagine who’d be showing up. She reluctantly pulled herself from the easy chair and walked to the door.
She opened the door and was about to say hello, when she was left speechless. Max was filling out her entranceway, and the expression on his face wasn’t kind. As a matter of fact he looked downright furious. She couldn’t figure out what had happened to make him so angry. She hadn’t contacted him once. She’d walked away without bothering him or his family, so he had no reason to be angry with her.
Cassie felt her knees shake, and her stomach tighten at just the sight of him. Even though it had only been a week since she’d seen him last, it may as well have been a year. She found herself wanting to throw her arms around him, kiss those pursed lips, and beg him to love her. The power of her reaction to him had her staggering back a few steps. Seems a week apart hadn’t yet cured her of wanting his touch.
Max took advantage of her momentary shock and stepped through the door, slamming it shut behind him. Her hall had never seemed so small. She took a few more steps backward, trying to gain some much needed space between the two of them.
“Wh…what…why are you here?” she stuttered, furious with herself for allowing him to shake her confidence so much without even uttering a single word. She’d lectured herself for a week that he was all wrong for her. One sight of him and she was back to square one. She should be furious, not trembling with need.
“I was in the neighborhood,” he said, making her eyes go wide. There was no way he was simply passing through her neighborhood, and even if he was, there would be no need for him to drop by her house.
“Y…you should have called first,” she said, trying to find the strength to put her mask in place. She didn’t want him to know how much he’d hurt her.
“Why? So, you’d have the chance to turn out all the lights and pretend not to be home? Where have you been, anyway?” he practically growled as he took a step toward her. She knew she should stand her ground, but she would fall apart if he made physical contact. His question finally registered and she found a bit of her anger.
“It’s none of your business where I’ve been. Plus, if you think I’d try and ignore you, then isn’t that a red flag that maybe you shouldn’t just drop by, unannounced,” she said, proud when her voice came out much stronger. If she stuttered one more time, she’d slap herself. She even managed to shoot him a decent glare.
“You seem to have all the answers, don’t you, Cassie? You get to decide when we’re together, and when we’re finished. You get to decide when it’s acceptable to see me, or not. You can just come in and analyze me all you want, but I’m not allowed one simple visit, or the courtesy of a response to a simple question?” he thundered at her.
“That’s not fair, Max. We had an agreement. I stuck to my end of it,” she said, retreating another step. The fury in his features was both frightening and exhilarating. She knew he wouldn’t hurt her, but their fights had led to some pretty intense moments before, and she couldn’t have that anymore. She couldn’t sleep with him again, and have the strength to say goodbye. She’d be shattered.
Max watched the mixture of fear, pain, and desire in her eyes, and had a hard time controlling himself. He didn’t know what he wanted more, to shake her, kiss her, or give her a good spanking. He hadn’t gotten her out of his mind since she’d left his office. He’d tried to leave the country and couldn’t force himself on the jet. The woman was consuming him. When he’d come to talk to her a few days earlier and she’d been gone, his first instinct had been to panic. Had she left? Where would she go? He’d drove by every night since, and had been close to hiring a private investigator if she hadn’t returned soon.
Never had he felt so much relief as when he’d seen her lights on that evening. But, seeing her standing before him, looking both tired and breathtaking was messing with his control. He wanted her in his arms. He wanted her to admit to him that she cared about him, not just her damn story. He wouldn’t beg her, though. He wanted to command the words from her.
His brother told him to quit being a fool, and just tell her how he felt. Trenton said he’d learned a lot from his own stupidity and to not be such a stubborn idiot, but Max was in the right. He hadn’t been the one to use her like she’d used him for a story. He knew he had to get answers before he left her apartment, though. As it was, his employees were avoiding him like he had the black plague. He knew he deserved their wariness, considering he was barking at everyone for no reason at all.
They continued looking at each other, his eyes filled with frustration and anger, hers filled with desire, fear, and uncertainty. The desire had his body hardening, and his hands clenching. He was close to saying the hell with it, and pulling her tight against him. He knew it was what they both wanted.
Max changed tactics and started stalking toward her. Her eyes widened and she took several more steps in retreat. His face changed from anger to a cocky smile, and he took his time, circling his prey.
“Maybe, I don’t want to stick to my end of the agreement. Maybe I wasn’t finished with what we had together. You got your story, but I feel like I came out on the losing end. I want more,” he purred. He was only a couple feet from her.
Cassie’s insides turned to lava as she looked into his smoldering eyes. She circled the couch. The room was small and there weren’t a lot of places for her to go. She knew that look in his eyes, it was hunger, pure and simple. She glanced down his body and saw the unreleased power rippling through him. He wanted to take her to bed. She wanted it too, but when morning came, she’d hate herself. She had to stay strong. She couldn’t stay with him just for sex, falling more and more in love with him each day.