“Damn.” Max glanced back as Sean navigated the narrow lane. “How the hell’d you know where to turn?”
“Yellow road marker. For service workers, I’m guessing. Not really noticeable unless you’re looking for it.”
Max stared back out the windshield, suddenly feeling restless. Probably because they were almost there, and soon it’d be time for them to “talk.” Which Max wasn’t looking forward to. In fact, he was dreading it. Because he knew what he had to do. Apologize. Then explain. Level with Sean. At least a little. Give him what he deserved.
The truth.
Max’s chest tightened anxiously as Sean pulled to a stop.
Shit. They’d arrived.
Sean cut off the engine.
Max’s hands went clammy.
Sean pulled out his keys.
“So, um, we’re here.”
Max peered straight ahead, until the headlights cut off, casting them swiftly into darkness. “And where exactly is here?”
“Great Falls National Park.”
Max turned and looked at him. Or tried to, at least. Could barely make out Sean’s head, let alone his face. “Great Falls? Are you serious?” Because that was actually kind of cool.
“Yeah. I love it here. Discovered it freshman year. Awesome place for pictures… Or to just get away.”
Max nodded. “But it’s a park, so it closes after dark, which I presume is why you took this little side road.”
“Yeah.”
Sean was smiling. A little bit, anyway. Max may not be able to see it, but he could hear it.
“Plus, up ahead’s got one of the best views in the house.” Sean opened his door. “Come on. I’ll show you.”
Max climbed out and fired up his iPhone’s flashlight. Sean’s lit up, too, in nearly perfect unison.
“This way. It’s not far.” Twigs crunched beneath Sean’s feet.
Max fell in beside him, heart pounding, mind anxious. He felt so fucking tired. And paper thin.
Fortunately, Sean didn’t try to keep up conversation, seemed perfectly content with the silence. Something Max appreciated—and needed—more than he’d realized.
The sound of raging waters grew louder and louder, then the trees thinned and gave way stunning moonlight. Max hadn’t noticed it when they’d left. His mind had been elsewhere, but now it was impossible to miss. The way it blanketed the new terrain of huge, uneven rocks jutting up from the earth like mini mountains. And they were everywhere. In every direction Max looked.
Sean led them down a meandering pathway between the rocks, then finally came to a stop. “Careful. We’re here.” He climbed up onto a boulder. “Don’t want you falling over the edge.”
“You sure about that?” Max muttered. “I wouldn’t blame you if you did.”
Sean turned and gazed down at him. “Yeah. I’m sure. I’m still pissed at you, but I don’t want you dead.”
Good. That was good. Sean didn’t want him dead.
Max followed him up and peered over the edge. Because, yup, they were definitely at the top of a cliff, with an impressive stretch of rapids down below. Fifty feet at least, if Max were to guess. Which was a damn good thing, or else it’d be too loud. Max agreed to have a talk, not a shout.
Sean sighed and looked around. “Love this view at night. Everything in every shade of blue.”
Max smiled. A little. Sean was an artist at heart, too. Always seeing the world through his keen artist’s eye. A sentiment that proved that, although they were different, in many ways they were also a lot alike.
Max took in their surroundings, inhaling slow and deep. Despite the hazardous rapids below and the perilous cliff they stood atop, this place brought him peace. An unexpected kind of comfort, like some kindred spirit between him and Mother Nature. The way his surroundings reflected him. Understood him. Represented him. Such raw, intemperate turbulence amidst serenity.
Sean sat down to Max’s left and linked his fingers atop one knee. His other leg he rested bent on its side. Max settled in beside him and bent his knees as well, using them to prop his folded forearms.
Sean looked at him. His lips curved. “You’re every shade of blue, too.”
He meant that literally. Max knew he did. But to Max, it felt pretty metaphorical.
He met Sean’s gaze. Forced a smile. “So are you.”
Sean nodded a little and glanced away. “So…”
Max’s gut constricted. It was time. He exhaled. “You wanna go first, or… should I?”
Sean’s face turned thoughtful. “I’ll go,” he finally murmured.
Thank fucking fuck. Max eased a smidge. “Okay.”
Sean stared at his hands, then slid his gaze to Max’s forearms. Guess he wasn’t pressed to look at Max’s face. “I never had any intention of being Kai’s sub… I booked that session tonight for other reasons.”
Max tensed. He knew it. Sean had been getting revenge. A wave of emotions crashed through his blood. Anger, betrayal, hurt, regret. He looked at Sean and muttered, “What reasons?”
Sean pursed his lips. Shrugged. “I wanted to see how you’d react.”
“React,” Max repeated darkly. “Don’t you mean, how I’d lose it?”