“Damn,” Sean mumbled. “Hashtag denied.”
Max did laugh that time. “Hashtag you’ll live.” Tossing the towel, he reached up and freed Sean’s cuffs. Sean instantly slumped forward against his chest. “Easy,” Max murmured, righting Sean’s stance, then he sank down and unlocked both ankles.
When he stood back up, Sean was watching him studiously, his big blue eyes exuding potent feels. Which wasn’t anything unusual. Most subs got that look at the end. A tender kind of vulnerability that Max adored. Because they still needed more from him. It wasn’t all about fun and sex. Their souls and his were, in many ways, connected, their intimate exchanges so much more than skin deep. So at this point in the game, many needed a kind of reassurance. That after such an extreme and intense scene, the love between them was still healthy and intact. It was a special kind of love, though, born of gratitude and mutual respect. The intrinsically unique bond between a Dom and his sub. Thing was, like nearly everything else so far, his budding connection with Sean felt different…
But Max didn’t want to think about that right now. Sean had gotten to him enough as it was.
He wrapped his fingers around Sean’s wrist. “Come. Want you to sit with me for a few.”
Sean came without one ounce of resistance. When they got to the couch, Max grabbed a blanket from the end table’s bottom shelf and wrapped it around Sean’s shoulders. The sound Sean emitted was of utter contentment. Which made Max feel strangely content, too.
Shaking away the thought, he sat his ass down, pulling Sean down along with him. Sean inhaled sharply, no longer sounding quite as happy.
Max snickered softly. “Feeling a bit sore?”
Sean shot him a droll smirk. “Yeah. A bit.”
“Hmm.” Max nodded and grabbed their waters from the side table. “Drink,” he ordered, handing one over. “Then lay your head and chest across my lap.”
Sean eyed him curiously, but did as he was told, bringing the bottle to his mouth. Max watched him, mystified. How was he able to make drinking fucking water look so effing sensual? The way he wrapped his lips loosely around its opening, the way he relaxed his throat and let it pour down...
Sean growled in bliss, wiped his mouth with his hand, then capped his drink, set it aside, and moved over Max’s legs. Settling down gingerly, he rested his cheek on his hands.
His eyes slid closed. He exhaled a sigh. “Parting-gift backrub or something?”
Max grunted. “Or something.” He reached again for the end table and pulled some lotion from its drawer. “I guess you got the rub part right. Don’t move. This should feel pretty good.”
He eased Sean’s blanket up his back and eyed his angry-red cheeks. Such a perfect fucking ass. How he’d love to sink inside it. His dick, still hard, stirred in agreement. Max shook his head and squeezed some ointment into his hand. Gently, he worked it into Sean’s skin, knowing it’d instantly feel cooler.
Sean moaned. “Oh, shit… That feels…. reeeeaaally good.”
Max smiled. It was pointless to try to resist. Sean was just too amusing on every front. “You’ll be sore for a while, so try to take it easy.”
“I will,” Sean mumbled. “Fuck… I’m so tired. Mind if I crash on your lap?”
Max pulled the blanket back over Sean’s ass and gave the thing a smack.
Sean jerked with a gasp.
Max smirked. “Yes. I mind.”
Sean turned on his side and slid Max a scowl. But his tight expression faded immediately. “That was really intense,” he murmured. “Our scene.” He peered up at Max, his big blue eyes peaceful.
Max held his gaze. “Yes. Did you like?”
“Yeah… I loved.”
Max lifted a brow. “Did you.”
Sean smiled. “I did.” His eyes turned thoughtful. “It was all just so… hot… and… amazing.”
Amazing? Max hadn’t quite expected that description. Had anticipated something more like confounding.
“Was there anything about our scene that you didn’t like? Now’s typically the time to discuss it if there was.”
Sean thought for a minute. “Not that I can think of. You seemed to read my limits really well.”
Max tunneled his fingers slowly through Sean’s hair. “Okay. But if you think of something, I need you to tell me.”
Sean’s lids slid closed when Max repeated with his nails. “Okay, boss,” he mumbled. “You got it… No prob…” He sighed. “Can you please play with my hair like that forever?”
Max’s lips twitched. “You did great tonight. Were a trooper. I’m proud of you.”
Sean’s eyes peeled back open. He rolled further over. Scrutinized Max’s face. Then smiled.
Max returned the gesture. A little bit, anyway. “You want to book another visit? If so, now’s the time to do that, too.”
Sean didn’t hesitate. Not even for a second. “Yes. Another. Please.”
Max’s insides shifted. His fingers stopped moving. For some reason, despite all the fun they’d had, the prospect of seeing Sean regularly made him wary. He scratched his cheek. “Another Tuesday then? In maybe a month or so?”