Page 57 of Tempting Max

“Okay, Mr. Glass Half-Empty,” I mutter before finishing the article. “In the meantime, do yourself a favor and take a trip to Paintbrush Peak, Colorado for beautiful scenery, an amazing little town, and the best beer this writer has sampled in years.”

“Max, this is amazing,” I gush. “With this kind of praise, it’s going to bump the entire timeline up. The sky’s the limit. I mean we’ve only been open six months. This—Redpoint—you,are incredible.”

Max takes my phone from my hands, tosses it onto the mattress, and sits up, causing me to straddle his strong waist. Not a position I particularly want to get out of any time soon. Especially when he wraps his arms around me.

“You’reincredible,” he tells me, kissing me tenderly. “I don’t think any of this would have happened without you.”

“That’s stupid,” I argue, “you three would have—"

Max cuts me off with a shake of his head. “I’m not sure I would have made it even this far, Gus,” he tells me, lifting my chin with his fingers. “You made me see that I needed to make changes, I’m starting therapy because of you, and you put up with my dumb ass every day. Day after day. You are the glue that keeps me together.”

Tears slip down my cheeks. Max’s healing process has been slow but rewarding and every day he seems a little lighter, a little less crushed by the weight of the past. I can’t wait to see him continue to blossom as he continues the hard work.

He reaches behind him under his pillow and my breath catches when I see a small black box in his hands.

His expression is a little sheepish and a lot adorable. “I planned to do this better, a dinner, or a concert, or really anything better than morning in bed, but…” He takes a deep breath and opens the box to reveal a gorgeous diamond ring. “I don’t want to wait any longer. Augusta Carper, I love you more than I thought was possible. You have made my life infinitely better since the day you walked in the door and put me in my place. Will you marry me?”

A full flood of tears melts down my face as I dive at him, euphorically happy. “Yes, yes, yes, yes I’ll marry you.”

We tumble backwards on the bed, a pile of kisses and tears, and laughter as he slides the ring on my finger and completes my heart.

“I love you, Gus,” he tells me, his eyes wet with happy tears. “Forever.”

“I love you too, Max.” I roll on top of him and straddle his waist. “And I want to show you just how much. Can I, daddy?”

Max growls, his eyes heavy with desire as I sink down on his cock. “God yes, baby girl, you’d better.”