Page 63 of Shades of Grey & Gold

I opened my mouth to protest this one, but he stopped me and continued with:Whatever I want to know, he will tell me after. Privately.He won’t keep any secrets, but I can’t know things in public.

I don’t go looking for things I wasn’t told about.

If I find or hear something I don’t understand, I tell him and we figure it out together.

I have to listen when he tells me to do something, even if I think it’s wrong or stupid.

If he says take two steps to the right, then I do it—he clarified this before I protested by telling me I could askwhylater. He went as far as to practice this, and I made him put his hands back on my hips and he showed me exactly how far two steps to the right are.

Still didn’t get kissed.

Most importantly: I am to follow the rules even when they seem unnecessary. According to him,especiallywhen they seem unnecessary.

I had to agree to all of these immediately, which he noted with a slightly suspicious expression, and I smiled into my coffee and said nothing. He watched my face for a moment before I nodded, then he shook his head like a man who is at peace with the consequences.

“One more,” he says now as he washes our mugs and I sit on top of the counter next to the sink, my bare legs hanging off the side and his t-shirt barely covering the private bits.

“Yes?”

He turns off the water and dries his hands, shifting to move into my space, placing his hands on either side of my hips on the counter. His eyes look into mine, searching for something.

“You tell me if you want to leave. Any time. You say the word and Gio takes you home and that’s it. I won’t be upset, no questions, no—”

“Cal.”

“Max.”

“I’m not leaving.”

We stare at each other, and his head falls against my shoulder with an exasperated sigh. “It was worth a shot.”

“Bound to fail, but I appreciate the effort,” I slide a hand up his arm, rubbing the back of his bicep through his shirt.

He steps back and helps me off the counter. The shirt rides up a little farther and his eyes tilt up to the ceiling.

“For fuck’s sake, get that bag of clothes Gio brought and go change.”

“Is that one of those things I have to listen to or…”

He looks down and sees the challenge in my eyes.

“Is it up for negotiation,Calogero?” I push him again, figuratively and literally with his body still crowding into my space, heat between us.

I see him swallow and look down at where we almost touch.

He puts his mouth next to my ear, and I feel his breath on my cheek as he whispers, “Not at the moment, counselor.”

“Whatever you say, you’re the boss.” I step forward, bumping into him and he takes a small step back with a laugh.

Before he can open his mouth, I reach down and grab the hem of his t-shirt with my fingers and lift.

“God damn it, Max,” I hear his strangled voice and see him spin around before the hem even lifts an inch.

He walks away from me and towards the staircase, mumbling over his shoulder, “You know, there are people downstairs, there’s a separate entrance and—”

I follow behind him and toss the shirt over his shoulder, stopping right behind him. “Just giving you your shirt back, Mr. Renzetti.”

I turn to the right and go into the guest room, shutting the door behind me while he audibly groans from the hall.