Nine.

Okay, I'm not going to lie here, this story will probably be coming to an end pretty soon. Anyways, here's the next chapter.

Rylie's POV

I allow him to kiss me softly but thoroughly, but the second I move my hands from his shoulders down his stomach to the fly of his pants, he stiffens against my touches. Even as he kisses me, I can tell that he is in full control of what he's doing, not getting caught up in the moment or giving in to his emotions like earlier. I pull away from him, and look up into the endless blue of his eyes incredulously, not understanding what just happened at all. Five minutes ago, he was making a very good plea for his case, and now just like that, he doesn't want me?

I reach for the top button of his jeans one more time, but his hands meet mine there, holding mine firmly within his as he drags my fingers away from his pants and up to his lips where he kisses my knuckles softly. I back away from him, needing some space as tears of fury, disbelief, and finally rejection traitorously started to fall down my face.

"Don't cry," he says while letting go of one of my hands to wipe at my tears, but I flinch away from his touch. He sighs, obviously aggravated before he kisses my jaw, but I still turn my head away in an attempt to dismiss him. "Ry, don't be like that," he mumbles against the skin of my neck.

"Like what?" I snap while pulling away from him, walking past him to put some space between us before turning around. "Irritated, betrayed, led on, played? Take your pick," I say while crossing my arms in front of my chest, shifting my weight to one foot.

Max's POV

I lightly pound my fist on the door in distress before turning around. I don't know why she's being like this. Thirty minutes ago, she was mad about me sleeping with her sister, and now she's mad that I'm not making a move on her? Women..

"What is this really about?" I ask while walking toward her. She glares at me, as if it was one of the most ridiculous questions she's heard in a while.

"What do you think it's about?" she replies in a bitter tone.

"I honestly don't know Rylie," I answer while throwing my arms in the air, because sometimes she's so damn difficult to understand. "A couple of days ago, you wouldn't even talk to me, and now you're mad at me again because I'm respecting your space?"

"I don't want you to respect my space," she says while rocking slightly on her toes, biting her bottom lip, and adverting her gaze to the floor, which is an adorable thing to watch. I walk closer to her and place my hand on her chin and she finally looks up at me. All thoughts of 'adorable' leave my mind as I can see the desire in her eyes.

"I'm not going to take advantage of you," I say while brushing her hair out of her face, the way she now leans into my touch making it very hard to stay focused. "You're obviously caught off guard, so take some time to think about it, and then when you figure things out you know where to find me," I finish while kissing her lightly on the cheek. I turn to walk away, but she doesn't let go of my hand.

"I have thought about it," she says while making me turn back around to face her. "No, you don't get to say anything. It's my turn to talk," she says while raising her hand and placing a finger on my lips when she thinks I'm about to object. "I swear, if you give me any more of that crap about respecting my space or taking time to think things through, I'll kill you myself right now," she snaps, but I can only laugh thinking about how this is just like old times. Okay, maybe not exactly, but at least the part where she is threatening me. "Have you not been hurting?" she asks in a much more serious and calm tone. I look up at her, thinking how she could possibly think that I'm not.

"Of course I have, but I did this to myself," I answer, but she just looks at me like she's worried about me, which ironic since I could feel hostility rolling off of her in waves earlier tonight. "So don't worry about me." I add with a shrug of my shoulders. She scoffs in return before talking again.

"What about me?" she says while raising her arms for emphasis. "What about me when you are respecting my space or thinking things through?!"

"Ry.." I say trying to soothe her, but she brushes my hand off of her shoulder.

"No," she says while shaking her head adamantly, tears once again falling. "I get it, you'll be fine, you'll be okay, but what about me?" she says while stepping closer to me and wrapping her arms around my neck, bringing my face mere inches away from hers. "So don't do it for you," she continues while once again raking her hands down my stomach through my shirt, "do it for me," she finishes, the plea clear in her eyes as she looks up at me.