Whenever they were in the same room, he felt a pull in her direction.
There were some decisions that he needed to make. He didn’t like the person he was becoming. Now, if he could just figure out how to get back everything he’d lost in himself, he would have something to offer Cassie. He needed to be his own man again.
Determination pulsing inside him, he pushed away from his image and climbed into the shower. The almost scorching water pelted down on him and he sighed deeply as his muscles relaxed.
He grabbed the shower gel off the shelf then poured a good amount into his palm. With his other hand, he used a washcloth to scrub himself clean. He felt better and the fog from the nightmare lifted.
Max rolled his shoulders and rinsed the soap from his body before shampooing his hair. Still keeping the buzz cut from his Navy days saved him time.
Body freshened up, he fisted his half-hard cock, sliding his hand up and down slowly. He’d been somewhat hard since he’d first laid eyes on Cassie. Since he’d returned to the States, it had only been his hand he’d had as company. And that was when he could even get it up. But all of that was changing.
He tightened his hold and, stroking himself faster, called up the memory of the kisses they’d shared the night before. Cassie’s soft lips beneath his played through his mind, and the pressure of her body heightened his arousal.
He groaned and his cum squirted, painting the shower wall. It had been a long time since he’d gone over the edge so quickly. With a lighter air, he rinsed once more, making sure to clean his spunk off the wall then turned the water off. He grabbed one of the towels from the rod next to him and dried himself just as a knock came from the front of the house.
Max wrapped the cloth around his hips and rushed to his room. He pulled on a clean pair of jeans before grabbing a short-sleeved T-shirt. He dragged the top on as he headed toward the front entrance.
“Coming!” he called when the knock came again.
Just as he reached for the handle, he caught the scent of his Alpha outside. Max took a deep breath and opened the door.
Alpha Shawn stood on the porch holding a takeout container with three cups and a bakery bag. He held them up in offering.
Max grinned and waved the man inside. “Hey.”
“Max, I hope I’m not disturbing you.”
“Of course not. Please come in.”
Alpha Shawn walked through the entry and into the kitchen. Max followed behind, both pleased to see his Alpha again and nervous at the same time. Alpha Shawn had a way of making Max confess things he would rather keep hidden. He’d been doing his best to avoid his Alpha since he’d returned home.
It figured that as soon as he was starting to pull his head out of his ass he’d actually not be able to steer clear of Alpha Shawn. While his Alpha set the coffees on the island countertop between them, Max walked to the cabinet to pull out some plates.
“I don’t know if Cassie is awake yet, but I can check.”
Alpha Shawn shook his head. “No, it’s okay. I’d like a few minutes with you anyway.”
Max nodded. His Alpha didn’t just stop by for no reason. Everyone in the Pack knew that their leader was always looking out for them. Even Max knew that he could only hide for so long.
“So how are you doing?”
“I’m fine,” he assured his Alpha.
Shawn leaned against the counter and lifted an eyebrow. “You sleeping okay?”
“Sure,” he lied. “Some nights are better than others, but I’m handling everything.”
Instead of calling him on his lie, Shawn just shook his head. “I have no doubt that you’re handling everything, but that doesn’t mean you can’t ask for help if you need it. It takes a strong man to lean on others.”
He sighed. “I know… I just need to figure things out.” There was no use pretending. His Alpha had that stoic look on his face whenever he was determined to get through to one of the Pack members. “I just need more