Playing with Fire: A Standalone Dark Romance

Chapter Thirty-six

My nails match the red color of my dress perfectly, and with the event happening tomorrow, I’m now back at the hotel approving the final decoration.

Everything is set up exactly as I had designed. Black silk drapes along every wall, interweaved with splashes of red. The ceiling has been transformed and now gothic style black chandeliers hang from it. There’s a DJ booth set up in the corner and a large space reserved for dancing, but the rest of the space is filled with round tables. Large bouquets of red roses center the tables along with white pillar candles and black tablecloths.

I wanted something different for the event, it’s always black tie and so pompous I never enjoy the evenings. But this room, looking a little gloomy with all the black provides the perfect atmosphere.

Happy with how it looks, I lock up the room and decide to call it a day. I won’t be back here tomorrow until the event begins and was planning on getting ready with Willow.

Dennis is waiting beyond the doors for me, and I give him a grin when he opens the door, “Mrs. Farrow,” He greets.

I’ve given up trying to get him to call me Olivia.

He’s much too professional to do it.

“Hello, Dennis,” I say when he’s in the front seat.

“Home?” He asks.

“Sure,” I settle into the back seats for the journey back, my stomach knotting in anticipation. After waking up Malakai this morning by sucking his dick and then getting fucked by him, only to be followed by yet another argument, I was a little nervous to see him.

I don’t think they’ll ever be a day we don’t get into some kind of fight and after his controlling ass this morning trying to make me change, I want to fuck with him some more.

He doesn’t get to tell me what to wear. Ever.

And punishing him for it needs to be more than ketchup in his shoes or cutting the buttons off his shirts. No, this one needs to hurt him a little.

And I have the perfect idea for it.

Dennis pulls through the gates and drives up to the house, getting out once he’s parked to open my door for me.

“Is he home?” I ask.

His chin dips with a nod.

I wave him goodbye and head into the house, eyes already searching for him but when I don’t find him in any of the rooms, I figure he’ll be in the drawing room.

I head that way but the closer I get, the more I hear voices.

Namely a female voice.

Interesting.

I don’t bother knocking as I enter, shoulders back and prepared for everything.

Malakai’s eyes snap to me and then run the length of me, and I swear I see his shoulders lower, as if he’s just let out a shit ton of tension that’s been harboring in his body since this morning.

“Olivia,” He says my name fondly and I try to hide the way it surprises me and affects me. I like how it sounds. Which only means trouble.

The woman in the room is one I recognize, with her strawberry blonde hair and upturned nose. She’s very pretty, lithe, and expensive looking and she looks down her nose at me, eyes in slits.

“Regina was just leaving,” he says, pointedly looking at the other woman.

My brow quirks when her lips turn up, her scathing look probably an attempt to intimidate me but she won’t catch me off guard again, not like at the wedding.

I didn’t figure I’d ever see her again but clearly; I wouldn’t be so lucky.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Malakai,” she says to him softly, fluttering her lashes before she turns for the door. I step to the side when she clearly has no intention of going around me, and while I have no issues slapping a bitch, I refuse to fight this woman over a fucking man. I don’t even know her, and she doesn’t know me.

“Tomorrow?” I face Malakai when I know she’ll be away from the room and not in earshot.

He sighs heavily, “She will be at the event.”

“Wonderful,” I say sarcastically. “Better keep her away from the red wine. She seems a little clumsy.”

His mouth quirks up at the side, “I didn’t hear you get home.”

“Entertaining guests will do that,” I lick my teeth, this unwelcome feeling in my stomach making me feel a little sick. I am not jealous. What is there to be jealous of?

Other than the fact that she clearly wants him and seems much better suited for him than I ever will be. She’ll probably be the perfect little wife Malakai wants.

“You know what?” I click my fingers, turning for the door, “I just realized I forgot something at the hotel. Bye!”

“Olivia,” Malakai’s stern voice stiffens my spine. “Eyes on me, kitten.”

I huff out a breath and plaster a smile on my face, “Yes?”

“Are you jealous?”

I narrow my eyes, “Me? Jealous?” I scoff. “No.”

He cocks his head as if he’s studying me, the move animalistic. “Did another man touch you today?”

“What!?” I snap my head back.

“You look good enough to eat, Olivia. Any man would want you.”

“Stop it.” I face him fully, “Firstly I wouldn’t let another man touch me. Secondly, there is such a thing as decency and respect. I haven’t left the hotel once today and everyone knows me there.”

“Okay.”

I roll my eyes, “You’re such a control freak, you know that?”

He nods, “Yes, I know.”

“Okay good, at least you’re not delusional.”

“You have an attitude.” He leans back in his chair, “Need to fight it out?”

My teeth grind.

“Come here.” He orders.

“No.” I snap as I throw open the door and start to storm away from him. I’m about to kick off my shoes so I can move faster – heels aren’t the best footwear when you’re trying to dramatically walk away from a man, but a sudden hand on my arm stops me.

My chest presses into the wall and Malakai’s hand pins me there by the back of my neck.

“I’ve warned you before, kitten,” he whispers in my ear, “I’ve warned you about what I’ll do to you if you keep giving me fucking attitude.”

“You’re not fucking me after you’ve just spent however fucking long entertaining another woman.”

“Entertaining another woman?” He laughs humorlessly, it’s low and violent, a promise, “You really think I’d entertain another woman?”

My nostrils flare, “Well I don’t know, Malakai, especially since that’s the same woman who had her hands all over you on our fucking wedding day.”

“I’ve thought about nothing but you all fucking day today, Olivia. I have barely been able to concentrate when all I can think about is this damn body, and your fucking moans and when I’m going to fucking see you smile again.”

I push back on him, hoping to get him off me, “How romantic.” I deadpan, “You’ve thought about fucking me all day.” I skip over the smiling things because… well I can’t use that right now. It’s not dramatic enough.

His fingers flex on the back of my neck and he doesn’t relent.

“Yes, I’ve thought about fucking you.” He admits. “And if you’ve eaten. Or had water. I’ve nearly fucking lost my mind thinking about another man being near you when you’re wearing this fucking outfit. And I was watching the damn clock, waiting for you to get home just so I could fucking see you.”

His nose presses into my hair as he takes a breath, “Regina is nothing and no one. She’s a spoiled little bitch who is throwing a tantrum because she didn’t get what she wants.”

“So why is she still here? Why not send her away?”

“You have no reason to be jealous, Olivia. And I apologize that you feel like you do. I assure you,” his mouth presses to my temple, “I want no one but you and I haven’t wanted anyone else since we made this arrangement weeks ago.”

My heart pounds inside my chest, “Let me go, Malakai.”

His hand works away from my neck and down my spine, but his body keeps me pressed to the wall. He slides his hand around my waist until he flattens his palm against my abdomen, his fingers slipping beneath the flap of my blazer, so his skin burns against mine through the sheer lace of the bodysuit.

“Letting you go, kitten, is the last thing I want to do right now.” He whispers, voice layered with gravel, edged with a deep roughness that scrapes against me in the most delicious way. I shiver against him.

Memories of this morning assault me, the way he bound me and fucked me damn senseless blooming heat low in my core. His cock grinds into my ass, his breath tickling the shell of my ear.

“What will it be, kitten?” He rasps, “Let you go or let me fuck this attitude out of you?”

“You’ll never be able to fuck the attitude out of me,” I push back on him.

“You’re probably right,” His teeth scrape threateningly across my neck, “But it’ll be fun to try.”

“Give it a go,” I breathe, moving my head to the side to open my neck up for him, “Just know I’ll hate every second of it.”

He chuckles, the sound vibrating against my back. “You tell such pretty lies, Olivia.” The hand that was pressed on my abdomen starts to lower, deft fingers quickly working the button on my suit pants before it then slips inside. “Your body betrays you, kitten.”

My breath stutters from me as his fingers shift beneath the crotch of my bodysuit and slips through me. I already knew I’d be wet. But he doesn’t remain there like I expect him to, instead he pulls his hand out, releases my neck and gently pulls my pants down. They fall to my feet, leaving me in just the bodysuit and blazer.

Fingers trail up the back of my thigh before they go back to my neck, forcing me forward. My cheek rests against the cold surface and my heart pounds in my chest as my ass sticks out.

“You’re beautiful,” Malakai whispers, palming my ass cheek before he suddenly spanks me.

Hard.

A mix of a moan and a cry spills from me.

“Will you lie again?” He asks, caressing the sting.

“Don’t play games, Malakai,” I snap, my arousal intensifying to the point of pain. “You don’t fuck me? I’ll fuck myself, I really don’t care.”

“Then go fuck yourself, Olivia.” He steps away from me, cold air suddenly bringing goose bumps to my skin. “Because while you’re acting like a little brat and pretending you don’t want me just as much, you’re not getting my cock.”

My breath saws from my chest, cheeks heating in a mix of indignation and humiliation but then he makes it worse by bending, grabbing my pants and pulling them back up my legs. I stay still, grinding my teeth while he buttons them and then walks away, the door clicking closed behind him, ass cheek still stinging from his slap.

The problem with glitter is, no matter how careful you are, that shit gets everywhere.

And I was definitely careful not to touch anything as I snuck back through the house and got straight in the shower but there’s still a slight shimmer on my skin and in my hair and if you stand at the right angle, there’s specks of glitter all over the carpet and bed.

I doubt he’ll notice.

After I dry my hair, I climb into bed.

I’ve decided to be strong. I’m not going to touch myself out of pure stubbornness. Yes, I’m horny as fuck, yes, I lied and said I could fuck myself better, but he doesn’t get to work me up and then leave me hanging.

He hasn’t left the drawing room and I bet he has cameras in here and is watching, just waiting to see if I’ll do it. I won’t give him the satisfaction.

If I ache, he can ache too.

With a huff, I roll onto my side, facing away from the door. I’ve gone way longer without sex, several months in fact, a few days of good sex isn’t going to suddenly turn me into some sex maniac. He’s crazy if he thinks I’ll cave and admit I want him too. I mean it’s pretty obvious without words.

But with him being the control freak he is, he wants that damn validation and onus on me.

For good measure, in case there are cameras, I throw my arm up to the room and give it the middle finger, showing him exactly what I think about that.

And then I force my eyes closed, thinking of everything else but the unhinged, god of a man downstairs.