“Yeah, don’t make us keep buckets of cold water handy,” Elliott added with a grin.
I waved my hand. “Will you get out of here and get the drinks in?” I pointed at Sebastian. “And you. No flirting with the waiters. You’re too much of a distraction.”
He laughed. “Yeah, but now you won’t notice it so much becauseyou’rethe distracted one.” His eyes sparkled. “Which is a great look on you, by the way.”
One by one they filtered out of the studio, until there was only Max and I.
He pulled on his leather jacket. “If you want to share details, I’m going to stop you right there. I don’t want those pictures in my head.”
I laughed. “Good, because I have no intention of sharing.” I cocked my head. “I want to talk about you.” I kept my tone as casual as possible.
He arched his eyebrows. “Anything in particular you want to discuss?”
“I’ve got whatIwanted, but what about you? What doyouwant?”
Max blinked, then laughed. “Wow. Buy me dinner first.”
I shot him a look. “You know what I mean. You go to Obsidian a lot. What do you want out of it? Because there must be something.”
Max studied me for a moment. “Are you asking as a friend,” he said slowly, “or as someone who finally understands what he’s asking?”
I paused. “As someone who finally understands.” Another pause. “Cameron told me you taught him a lot about what submission looks like. So I guess I’m asking…. Do you have a submissive of your own?” Max’s face tightened, and I backpedalled. “Forget I asked. It’s none of my business.”
“No, it’s fine. I mean, it isn’t something you and I have ever discussed at any great length. But I guess that after getting involved inyoursex life, you’re now curious about mine.” He leaned against the piano. “So here’s an honest answer.” He drew in a breath. “I don’t want a submissive. I’vedonethat. I’ve done the power exchange, the protocols, the trust, the aftercare. I’ve done the building someone back up thing.” He shrugged, but the motion was tight. “And the last one burned me.”
I frowned. “Burned how?”
Max’s jaw tightened. “I gave him everything—structure, safety, patience. He needed me so much he forgot who he waswithout me.” A beat of silence. “And when he left, he took half of me with him.”
I absorbed that quietly. “So no subs.”
Max nodded. “No subs. No broken boys. No rescue missions.”
My lips twitched. “That sounds very specific.”
He snorted. “You noticed.”
“Whatdoyou want, then?” I asked.
Max stared at the far wall for a second too long. “I want someone who can stand on their own. Someone who doesn’t need me to be whole.” He paused. “Someone whochoosesme, not someone who collapses into me.”
“That makes sense.”
Max’s grin returned, sharp and deflecting as ever. “Look at you, all emotionally fluent. Cameron’s rubbing off on you.”
“Careful,” I said in a dry tone. “That sounds a lot like vulnerability.”
Max recoiled theatrically. “Absolutely not. And don’t go spreading such lies about me.”
I hesitated. “You know, sometimes the thing we’re most afraid of repeating is exactly where we still have something to learn.”
Max shot me a look that was half amusement, half warning. “Careful, Sinclair. That almost sounded like foreshadowing.”
I smiled. “Just speaking from experience.”
Max pushed off the piano. “No subs,” he said again, firmer this time. “No rescue projects. No damaged men who need saving.” He paused at the door. “Nowadays I’m all for keeping things simple.”
I raised my eyebrows. “You don’tdosimple.”