His End Game (MMG #1) by R B Hilliard Read Free Book Online

like a weapon. So now you get why I don’t like it.”
    An undecipherable look appeared on his face. “We’ll have plenty of time to get all of the details later, but for right now whoever the hell gave you the name Ellison did a good job because that name is beautiful and different and so are you. So you’d best get used to hearing it.”
    My eyes widened in surprise.
    He thinks my name is beautiful and different, that I’m beautiful and different…
    He opened his mouth to say something else when we heard a knock on the door.
    “You guys want dinner?” Joss asked. “We have pizza.”
    He glanced over at me. “You want to eat or do you want to keep talking?”
    Without even having to think about it, I answered. “Keep talking.”
    “Come,” he said and held out his hand. I placed my hand in his and felt butterflies break free throughout my body. He opened the door and informed Joss that we had “Things to discuss” and would see them all later. I had no idea where he was heading but nothing in the world was going to stop me from going with him…..absolutely nothing.

“Where are we going?” I asked, practically running to keep up with him.
    “To the boat house. Watch your step,” he cautioned before heading up a narrow flight of stairs. When we reached the top, he pulled me through a doorway and into a large open room that was decorated in blue floral and garish nautical themes. The room was large enough to accommodate a queen sized bed, closet and small kitchen. Before I had the chance to take it all in, he was herding me across the room toward a sitting area. “It’s ugly but it’ll do,” he mumbled. I had to agree. The loveseat and club chairs were covered in a hideous yellow fabric. Dog vomit immediately came to mind. Sinking down into one of the overstuffed chairs, he pulled me sideways onto his lap.
    I can’t believe I am sitting on Max McLellan’s lap right now
.
    The pressure of his hand on the nape of my neck interrupted the mini fantasy playing in my head. I tilted my face so I could get a better look at him and tried not to gasp at the carnal glint in his eyes. It was both raw and intimate and for a split second, I wondered if I should cut bait and run.
    His deep voice sent chills down my spine. “I want to see your face while we talk. I want to see your eyes and know that you understand what I am saying.”
    “Oh, okay,” I said, not really understanding but willing to go along.
    “I noticed you the first day of your freshman year. I was standing in the hallway, by the lockers, talking to Kurt and Adam. You walked through the door with Piper. I noticed the color of your hair, your unbelievable eyes and sweet smile. You were so beautiful but so young.”
    His hand was rubbing up and down my thigh and was very distracting, making it hard to concentrate. “You are aware that you are only a year older than me?” I laughed.
    “Yes, but I have seen more shit in my eighteen years than most people have in their whole lives, Ellison.”
    All kinds of horrible images shot through my head when he said this. Shifting my shoulders so I could see his face better, I gave him a questioning look.
    “This, like why you don’t live with your parents, is a story for another time, another place.”
    “Can I ask you something?”
    He smiled up at me. “You can ask me anything.” I really wanted to kiss him right then. Instead, I asked, “Why me? I mean, you don’t really….know me.”
    “No? I bet I know you better than you think. For years I have watched you and that look you wear on your face, you know, the one when you think no one’s watching? That lost look is how I feel most of the time. So, I’m thinking that I do know a little bit about you.”
    “But…why now?” I blurted.
    Squeezing my thigh, he said, “You couldn’t have handled me two years ago and I knew it. I was angry and wild and you were pure and innocent. Don’t get me wrong, I wanted you but I couldn’t do that to