Page 14 of Tide and Seek
I was happy he was leaving but didn’t want him to know that.I forced myself to say, “Royce and I are staying a full week.We should get together again before I head back to Rainy Dale.”
James brightened, looking very pleased.“I’d love that, Maxwell.Maybe I can take you out to dinner before you go back.”After an awkward beat, his gaze slid to Royce.“Both of you, I mean.”
“Sounds great,” Royce said, and if he noticed that he’d been tacked on as an afterthought, he didn’t show it.
I walked James to the front door, and Royce stayed back near the bar.I opened the door, and James hesitated.He faced me, looking like he wanted to say something, but in the end, he simply smiled, squeezed my shoulder, and headed out into the inky-black night.
Chapter Four
Royce
We didn’t talk about James when we turned off the lights and went upstairs.As we stripped out of our clothes and Max turned on the shower, he seemed deep in thought, as did I.Our earlier carefree mood had been dampened by James’s visit, whether we liked it or not.
I’d have had to be blind not to realize that Max and James had once been lovers.Not only had James dropped plenty of hints, but he’d thrown longing glances toward Max the entire visit.I wasn’t naive.Max and I had both lived a nice long chunk of life before meeting.We both had a past and we’d both had other lovers.But James’s obvious infatuation with Max had made the visit awkward.
I’d already been struggling a bit after seeing Max’s fancy beach house, so coming face to face with the kind of man he’d once been attracted to while living in LA had stirred insecurities I hadn’t known I had.There was no denying James was more like Max than I was.They were cut from the same expensive cloth, both raised with money, both bound by their love of medicine.It was difficult not to feel like an outsider.
“Royce?”Max’s tentative voice broke through my thoughts.“Are you coming in?”
“Yep.”I grimaced and headed into the large shower, closing the glass door behind me.
As I stepped beneath the rainfall showerhead, warm water spilled over me in a gentle cascade.The temperature was perfect, and Maxwell immediately moved up to me, slipping his arms around my waist.His mouth was warm and insistent as it covered mine.I responded, craving the reassurance his taste and touch gave me.
“Wanted to do this all day,” he murmured, reclaiming my mouth again in a hungry kiss.
I groaned softly, running one hand through his dampened hair while the other slid down his back.The heady scent of jasmine soap and vanilla filled the steamy shower, as Max pressed closer, grinding his hips against mine.Our tongues danced together, tantalizing and making my heart race.
God, I loved Max so much, it was terrifying.I didn’t want to ever lose this.The very thought of that took my breath away.When he touched me like this or looked at me like he couldn’t live without me, I wanted so much to believe that what we had was real.That our love could last, no matter how different we were.
“Feels so good to finally touch you, Max,” I muttered, leaning into his touch.
“Yes.”His eyes were dark blue and serious.“I’m so happy you’re here with me,” he whispered.
“Are you, Max?”I hated how needy I sounded, but I couldn’t seem to help it.I absolutely believed that Max loved me.Still, it was hard not to wonder if he’d believed he’d loved James too.
“No question.”He cupped my cheek, giving me an unguarded smile.“I love you, Royce.”
“I love you too.”I pinned Max against the marble wall, rocking against him.I pushed my face into the crook of his neck and tried to push away my insecurities.I did my best to focus on his scent and the warm feel of his naked body against mine.I concentrated on his sounds and taste, and yet the intrusive thoughts lingered.
Max and James undoubtedly spent nights together in this beach house.
How many times did James trap Max against these marble walls, the same way I’m doing now?
Does Max miss being with a sophisticated man like James?
Max made a tiny sound of frustration and stopped kissing the side of my neck.He pulled back, studying me.Little drops of water glistened on the tips of his thick, dark lashes.“What’s wrong?”he asked softly.
“Nothing,” I lied.
He touched my cheek.“You seem distracted.”
“I’m sorry.”I grimaced.
“Are you not in the mood anymore?”
“I’m in the mood,” I mumbled, unwilling to explain what was going on in my head.I wasn’t sure saying it aloud would help, and worried it might even make things worse.“I’m always in the mood with you.”
“You sure?”he wrinkled his brow.“Are you too tired from the trip?”He sounded understanding, but there was a hint of disappointment in his eyes.
