Chapter 10 Grace
GRACE
Maxim is snoring away underneath my fingers. I’m proud of myself for being able to relax a man like Maxim in under five minutes. I do feel bad that he’s been suffering every night with our sleeping positions. Tonight, maybe I can be the big spoon and give his neck a rest.
Suddenly, Maxim starts twitching violently underneath me. The once-relaxed muscles are now contorting with each jerky movement.
“Elena!” Maxim mumbles.
Who the hell is Elena? Is she his ex? Why is he thinking of her when I’m the one touching him?
“No.” He sobs as he thrashes wildly about, bucking me off him.
I land beside the lounge on the pavers with a thud. Ouch. Standing up, I shake myself off and try to wake him from a nightmare he is clearly having.
“Maxim, it’s just a dream,” I whisper not wanting to startle him.
“No,” he cries out again. It’s heartbreaking hearing him sound so distressed.
Whoever this Elena is, something terrible happened to her.
Did he kill her? Was she one of his victims and he is now plagued with guilt over killing her?
He said he doesn’t hurt women, but was she the first and only time he had?
“Maxim, it’s Grace. Please wake up,” I say, shaking him a little harder this time.
“Grace?” Maxim jumps up and turns himself over. He rubs his face, trying to focus on me standing before him. His chest is bathed in sweat and his inky black hair is a tangled mess.
“You had a nightmare.”
He stares at me and doesn’t say a word.
“Do you want me to get you a drink?”
He nods, and I head over to the drink’s fridge in the bar area on the side of the pool and grab us a bottle of water each. Returning, I hand him the bottle, and he eagerly takes it from my hand and throws back the entire bottle in a couple of gulps.
I notice a droplet of sweat slide down his cheek, he looks as if he’s burning up. Grabbing my bottle of water, I pour some onto my towel and then take a seat beside him on the sun lounger and reach out to wipe his face with it.
Maxim flinches and eyes me suspiciously. “What are you doing?”
“You’re covered in sweat. I was trying to cool you down.”
“Oh,” he says, staring at me and then down at the towel as a confused look crosses his face.
“Will you let me look after you this time?” I ask, holding up the soaked towel.
Maxim seems stunned and doesn’t argue with me.
I take this as my opportunity to help him like he has helped me as I pat his face with the towel. Then I move it down his chest and up over his arms. I shuffle forward a little more to try and reach his neck which brings his face near mine.
His warm breath is against my neck, making goosebumps appear on my skin.
Easy, now is not the time to jump him.
Next thing I know, Maxim has reached out and pulled me to him, burying his face in my hair, his nose lightly touching the thin skin of my neck. I let out a gasp as my body starts to tingle.
“Thank you,” he says huskily as I pull away from his embrace.
“You have helped me with my nightmares. I thought it was time to help you.”
“You might be the first person who has shown me compassion,” he confesses, looking away from me as if ashamed.
That’s sad. You don’t become a killer if you have compassion in your life, Grace.
“Maxim,” I call his name, but he doesn’t look at me.
“Maxim, look at me.” My tone is commanding, and finally he looks up at me, his dark eyes like black swirls.
He looks lost, and for the first time since my arrival here, helpless.
His face breaks my heart because it’s so full of pain and loss—emotions I know well.
Leaning forward, I press my lips against his.
He doesn’t move nor open his mouth, he’s a solid rock.
I let my tongue glide along his lips, but still nothing. My teeth sink into his bottom lip, and I suck on it hard. Next thing I know, Maxim picks me up and flips me onto my back against the sun lounge.
His arms are a cage around me, tight muscles straining as if holding himself back. His breathing has increased, those dark swirls of hopelessness in his eyes are replaced by sparks of wanting.
“Grace,” he growls, sending shivers over my body. “Please don’t tease me, not now.”
“I’m not teasing you,” I say, looking into his handsome face. My hand strokes his prickly cheek. “I wanted to kiss you.”
He frowns. “Why?”
“You needed it.”
He continues to stare at me, his body stiff as a board, every muscle
tense.
“You shouldn’t have.”
His words are like a bucket of ice water in the face. I let my hand drop at his tone and try to push him away from me, but he’s as solid as a mountain.
“Please move,” I ask as my humiliation takes hold. Such an idiot, Grace. The only men that want you are men who are fucked up assholes. You are only good enough to be a whore. No one will love you. You’re tainted.
“Move,” I scream at him as I try not to let the tears threatening to fall have their moment.
“Grace,” Maxim says my name softly.
No. I don’t want soft from him. Fuck him. Next thing I know my knee is connecting with his junk.
“Fuck,” he curses as he rolls to the side clutching his balls.
I’m able to slip past him while he’s distracted, and I hightail it out of there.
As soon as I’m around the corner, I let the tears fall as I rush up the grand staircase toward my room.
Slamming the door shut behind me, I lock it and fall into a crumpled heap as embarrassment and humiliation kick in.
There’s a rattle at my door as someone tries to get in.
“Grace, open up,” Maxim commands.
“Go away,” I yell back.
“Grace, please. Let me explain.”
“There’s nothing to explain. Now please, leave me alone.”
“I can’t,” he says softly through the door. “I’m sorry, Grace.”
“Nothing to apologize for,” I tell him, wiping the tears away.
“I …” Maxim starts but hesitates. “This … you … me … it’s confusing,” he confesses.
Oh.
“This wasn’t part of the plan.”
“What wasn’t?” I question him through my sniffles.
He’s quiet for a moment before speaking again. “You captivating me.”
I wasn’t expecting that.
“I’ve never felt something toward a mark before,” he confesses.
In his line of work, I can’t imagine that’s a possibility. “Is that why you don’t touch women?”
“You think I don’t kill women because I would want to fuck them?” he questions me in an annoyed tone.
Does that mean he wants to sleep with me? Focus, Grace.
“I don’t mess with women because it’s the right thing to do. Most women are pulled into this life because of some scum ass man, same with children. I’m not saying women can’t be villains, but they are few and far between.”
“Then I don’t get why me?”
I can hear Maxim let out a heavy sigh behind the door. It’s as if he is sitting on the ground right beside me and only the layers of wood are keeping us apart.
“You’re the first bright light to filter through my darkness. And I’m sick of standing in the darkness alone. I’m a selfish man, Grace. All I can think about is keeping you safe, and the only way I can do that is if you’re with me. I don’t think I can let you go.”
Oh.
Not sure if that’s a good or bad thing. Does that mean he isn’t giving me to Dmitri? Or does that mean I’m never seeing my family again?
Silence falls between us again as I take in Maxim’s confession. Getting up on shaky legs, I unlock my bedroom door and open it.
Maxim falls back but catches himself as the door falls away from him. He springs up and dusts himself off. A look of uncertainty falls across his face as his teeth sink into his lower lip.
Maybe it’s unhealthy, maybe it’s crazy, but I need this man.
I want nothing more than to be wrapped in those strong arms and have his plush lips all over my body.
I need to feel the prickles of the stubble against my thighs.
I need those dark eyes on me. My heart is beating uncontrollably in my chest, my palms are sweaty, so I drag them down along my legs as I step into Maxim’s personal space.
“Maxim,” his name comes out in a needy whisper.
Those dark eyes widen and begin to swirl with need, desire flecks across them. “Grace.”
The way he says my name as if I’m the most precious thing in the world.
As if he can’t quite believe I’m standing in front of him, asking for more.
I reach out and place my hand on his hip, my fingers touching his bare skin.
Heat radiates through my fingertips, then all over my body until it pools between my thighs.
I’m still in my swimsuit and feel like I’m standing naked before him, vulnerable, exposed, and one hundred percent needy.
My grip tightens, and I pull myself closer to him.
“Grace,” he says my name again, but this time, his large hand reaches out, his fingers cup the back of my neck as his thumb slides up and down my spine, sending goosebumps over my skin.
“Kiss me.”
“Are you sure?”
I nod. “Yes.”
His hand wrapped around my neck pulls me to him.
My chest hits the hard muscles of his chest, my nipples are tight little peaks pressed against the taut fabric of my swimsuit.
I can feel the bulge between his legs thicken against my stomach.
He wants this. And he wants me. There’s no denying the physical response he’s giving me.
Maxim tilts my jaw as he stares down at me hungrily before leaning forward and kissing me.
My mouth opens for him as soon as our lips touch, and it’s as if a match has been thrown on top of gasoline.
The first swipe of his tongue is the spark, and the first nip of my teeth is the boom that comes from the ignition.
He then pushes me up against the corridor’s wall, my back hitting the cool surface as he presses his hard body against me.
Grinding his cock against me, pulling a moan from my lips.
He still has his hand wrapped around me, controlling my position, letting me know he’s in command, and I’m okay with that.