Page 125 of My Pucking Crush

I sit back and watch the lights of Long Island pass beneath me as I head to Manhattan. I have no idea what the hell Max thinks he’s doing at Club Dare without meandwith two other men, but I’m glad he’s tied up.

I’ll be dragging him out of there by those ropes...

SIXTY-SIX

Max

Naked.

Kneeling.

Tied up.

Waiting.

Waiting for Luca.

Inhisclub.

Without a mask.

Ash’s fiancée called to say he’s on his way.

Time stops for me. Just me. Apparently, this isn’t something new. Public groveling. Offering myself in this submissive position as a way to apologize.

While I play these thoughts in my head, someone stands over me. I sigh in relief recognizing the shoes and the spicy scent.

“Max...” Luca sounds frantic.

Fuck, I scared him. “Permission to stand, sir.”

He scoffs. “I’m not a dom, and you’re not my sub. That’s not the relationship I want.”

“What do you want?” I look up at him. “Tell me. I’ll do anything.”

“Stand up, Max.” He grips my forearms to help me.

I shrug out of his hold and snap from kneeling to standing in one swift move. Something that takes a lot of different muscles. At my full height, I’m inches taller than Luca. “I’m sorry,” I say, staring down at the man I’ve fallen in love with.

“Sorry for what?”

“For not standing up to my friends,” I bristle at that, tasting bile on my tongue. “No, they’re not myfriends. Not anymore if that’s how they feel about people like...us.”

Luca glances around, fury in his eyes. “I brought you in here with a mask on to protect you.”

“I don’t want to be protected. I don’t care if anyone here recognizes me. Not anymore. Not at the expense of losing you.”

“I care,” Luca snaps, and starts to untie me.

“These are my people, too,” I admit, feeling so relieved. “I want to be accepted. By them. But more importantly...by you. Even if it means groveling at your feet.”

Luca exhales and yanks me into a corner. “I never expected this. I never wantedthis.”

“What do you want?”

His jaw ticks, the war in his head fighting for the right answer wears visibly on his face.

“Me, do you want me?” I ask, vulnerability drenching my tone. God, it feels so good to let go like this and to give him the control.

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