Of course he would.
Damn, he’d fuck her until she screamed. He’d take her in every position he could think of. He’d taste her and make her skin gleam just as it did when they ran. He’d watch her as she came, knowing it would be fucking awesome, and then do it all over again until she begged him to stop. Grace was the kind of woman who deserved to be pleasured hard, pleasured thoroughly—
“You okay over there?” Ruby asked, smirking into the lip of her bottle of beer, knowing full well who Max was looking at.
“Yeah, I’m good,” he answered, ignoring her wiggling eyebrows.
Buck snorted. “Of course he’s good, he’s watching RiRi.” He stood up, shaking his ass and slapping it while singing off-key: “Bitch, better have my money!”
Everyone laughed. Ruby rolled her eyes before she snuggled into her husband’s side. “You fellas.”
“She’s smokin’, Ruby,” Buck stage-whispered as he sat back down. “Am I right, Max?”
Max didn’t answer, suddenly finding the toe of his boot fascinating.
“I would wine and dine and slap the hell out of her ass,” Buck continued. “And then I’d kiss it better.”
Everyone around the table sniggered. It was clear to Max that Buck was perfectly harmless; nevertheless, his words caused a stirring of unease in the depths of Max’s belly.
Buck sat up straight, his stare on the bar. “I should ask her out.”
“Don’t, Buck,” Ruby said with a laugh. “You’re drunk.”
Buck stood, pulling his Black Sabbath T-shirt at the hem in an attempt to look presentable. He ran his hands through his shoulder-length blond hair and made his way, swaying ever so slightly, over to the bar. Max and the entire group of fifteen others watched in hushed silence as Buck smiled at Grace, who smiled back. After a moment, he handed her some money. Grace took it and handed him something in return that looked like a piece of paper. Max kind of hoped it wasn’t her phone number. Buck winked at her and walked back to the table.
“What the fuck?” Josh exclaimed.
“That’s how you treat a woman, my good man,” Buck answered with a smile, folding the piece of paper Grace had given him before wafting it in Josh’s face.
Josh coughed a laugh, clearly impressed. “Is that her phone number? Did you actually ask her out?”
Buck dropped back onto his stool, all bravado gone, and lifted the paper. “I tried but then she asked me what I wanted, so”—he opened up the receipt—“I ordered some wings for the table.”
Even Max laughed loudly.
It had been a long time since Max had enjoyed himself quite as much, without the help of any illegal substances. He was sober and clean and it felt good; his initial worry about being back in the bar dissolved in the relaxed atmosphere. As the night progressed, Buck got drunker and, the more he drank, the funnier he became. He played rock song after rock song on the jukebox, which Max was all for, and danced on his stool despite being told numerous times to get down and be careful. He tied his belt around his forehead as he performed a stunning and energetic air guitar and shouted every single word to every Led Zeppelin song played.
“He looks like he’s having fun,” Grace commented as she handed Max another orange juice.
Max smiled, watching Buck prance around the pool table. He danced with each woman he encountered, spinning and twirling them around the place. “He’ll have a hell of a sore head tomorrow.” He sipped his drink and turned back to Grace, who was on his side of the bar, collecting glasses. “How are you?” he asked.
“Meh. Tired. I’m not sleeping great.”
Her eyes widened a little, as though she’d said too much. Max nodded, not wanting to say anything that would make her feel more embarrassed. She grabbed the towel tucked in her waistband and wiped around Max’s glass, seemingly agitated about something. He wanted to show he appreciated what suffering from insomnia was like, but wasn’t sure how. He didn’t want to talk about Lizzie or Christopher despite them being the main reasons he had terrors.
He opened his mouth to speak, to explain that he understood, that he’d listen if she wanted him to, but was interrupted by a large body slamming into his side. A sweaty arm wrapped around his neck along with the stench of beer.
“Maaaaaaaaaaaax!” Buck held him close. “I knew I’d find you over here with the delectable Grace.” Buck pointed to Max. Grace watched them both with a small smile. “He likes you.”
“Buck,” Max warned, shrugging him off. “Come on, man.”
“See!” Buck exclaimed. “He’s all embarrassed and shit because he loooooooves you.”
Max’s cheeks warmed. Whether it was in annoyance or discomfort, he wasn’t sure, but the giggle that came from Grace eased it momentarily.
“And why wouldn’t he love you, huh?” Buck continued. “You are very pretty.”
Grace flushed and dropped her gaze to the floor.