“Hell, no. I love coming.” Sean paused a few feet away. “Just don’t wanna be your client while you’re making me.”
“While I’m making you.”
“Yeah. While you’re making me come.” Sean’s lips twitched. Max’s eyes narrowed, but Sean swore he detected amusement. Possibly even a glimmer of relief.
Too bad neither emotion lasted more than a second.
Max’s demeanor turned chilly. “Ah. I see. You want me to fuck you for free.”
Ouch. Sean’s gut twisted. Now that was just cruel. But he knew what Max was doing; trying to push him away. Had definitely anticipated that shit, too.
Sean crossed his arms and stared at him. “You done?”
“With what?”
“Being a dick.”
Max clenched his jaw, but the amusement was back. Just a trace of it glinting in his eyes. “That’s another spanking, Sean. Just so you know.”
“Really? Well, in that case, you deserve one, too.”
Max smirked. “Is that right? For what exactly?”
“For being mean. You almost hurt my feelings.”
“Hmm. Tell your feelings I’m almost sorry.”
Sean couldn’t stop his grin. He stepped a little closer. “How about you tell ‘em yourself.”
“Sean.” Max’s tone held warning. “You’re in my personal space.”
“Yeah… I know… I like it here. It’s nice.”
“You weren’t invited.”
“Then invite me.”
“Not a chance.”
Sean’s gaze dropped to Max’s lips. “Do you ever invite anyone?”
Max frowned. That glint in his eye vanished, too. “What do you want, Sean. Just spit it out. If you hadn’t noticed, I’m kind of in the middle of something.”
Looked like Sean had struck another nerve.
He eased back a little and re-pocketed his hands. “Fine. Although, I already told you the first part.”
“Yes. I know.” Max nodded impatiently. “You don’t wanna be my client.”
“Right. I don’t.” Sean met his gaze. “Because I’m crazy about you, and I want to be your man.”
Max stilled and just stared at him. Sean couldn’t read his expression—Wait. Nope. Now he could. Now his Dom looked really mad. Which, again, wasn’t entirely unexpected.
“I thought I told you,” Max muttered darkly, “to never bring that shit up again.”
Sean steeled himself and nodded. “Yeah, you did. Thing is, I still need to talk about it.”
“Why, because you didn’t get the answer you wanted the first time? Sorry to break it to you, but there’s nothing you can “talk about” that’s gonna change the fact that I’m not interested.”
Sean shook his head. “You’re wrong, Max. I just need a chance to prove it.”
“A chance to prove it?” Max chuckled sardonically. “Sorry, kid. I’m fresh out of those.”
“No, you’re not. You just don’t wanna give me one.”
Max turned back to his sculpture. “You just figuring this out now? Discussion’s over, a stór. Go home.”
A stór. Sean’s endearment. Even now, Max still used it. Probably didn’t realize he’d even done it. Sean’s heart pounded faster. That shit was a sign. A sign he refused to ignore.
Nope. Not over. Not by a longshot. Merely time to shift to plan B.
Sean moved back into Max’s personal space. “Fine. No more talking. Actions speak louder than words anyway.”
Max slid him a look. “What do you mean.”
Sean held his gaze. “Kiss me, Max. Prove you don’t want this.”
Max stilled a second time, then glared at him incredulously. “You really fucking think I’d let you goad me like this?”
Stand firm. “Not goading you. It’s just a sure-fire way to tell.”
“Bullshit,” Max bit out. He curtly stepped back. “That’s the dumbest fucking logic I’ve ever heard.”
“Is it?” Sean lifted his chin. “Or maybe you’re nervous that I’m right.”
Max’s jaw ticked. “You really should know me better than that. I don’t do nervous. Ever.”
Sean grinned. “Yeah, my turn to call bullshit now. You are nervous. I can see it in—”
“What you see, Sean, is irritation. I’ve got rules, remember? I don’t do shit like this outside of scenes.”
“They’re your rules, Max. You’re allowed to break them.”
“So you can get a free kiss?”
“So you can prove you’re not lying.”
Max scowled and chucked his sandpaper back on the worktable. “A kiss is a kiss, Sean. There’s nothing telling about them. How ‘bout you focus on the fact that I won’t bend for you. That I won’t break one fucking rule for you. That’s proof.”
“No,” Sean countered, reclosing the distance. “The fact that you won’t is what tells me I’m right; that you’re using these very pretenses to hide behind.”
Max’s lips pursed in clear frustration. “Stop it, Sean. Just fucking stop it.”
No freaking way. He was finally making ground.
Sean clutched Max’s shirt. Peered into his eyes. “You want me. Admit it.”
Max held his gaze. “You’re goading again.” He gripped Sean’s shoulders. “And it’s really starting to fucking piss me off.”
How unfortunate, because Sean wasn’t backing down. Before Max could move him a single inch back, Sean shot up and claimed his mouth. Max stiffened like a statue. Sean palmed the back of his head. Pressed their lips together again and again. But still Max stayed frozen, as lifeless as a rock—to the point that Sean started getting worried. Had he somehow been wrong? Completely missed the mark?