Chapter 21
“So, we agree. I’m going to work.”
Lev’s eyebrows are so high up I think they might get lost in his thick hairline. I love his hair. The way it casually falls over his face when he’s working on his computer in his office. And the way he slicks it back with his fingers when he gets out of the shower.
“Who said anything about that?” He’s standing in the doorway of the closet, bare chested with only his slacks on, getting undressed.
“You did. On the way back from Alexander’s place I mentioned going to work.”
“You mentioned it, I didn’t say it was going to happen.”
“Lev.” I square up to him, remembering how confident Elana had been when she faced off with her brother. Keep it clean, simple. Tell him what’s happening then walk away.
That’s the key. Getting away before he can counter me.
“I’m going to work, Lev. Do whatever you need to do to get used to the idea. Mope, scowl, beat your chest, whatever, but understand I’m going.” There. Well said.
I only make it three steps before his tree trunk of an arm snakes around my waist, picking me up off the ground.
“It seems you’ve gotten the idea that you’re the one making decisions around here.” His voice vibrates against my ear.
His breath is warm against my cheek. Like his bare chest that’s pressed up against my back.
“It’s my job!” I struggle against his grip, knowing full well I’m going nowhere unless he allows it.
“And this is mine,” he put me down on my feet, spinning me to face him.
With both hands he pushes the hair from my face, staring down at me with wildfire in his eyes.
“W-what’s your job?” I’m barely able to put the words in a straight line while he’s looking at me like this. Like’s a lion getting ready to devour his prey.
“Making sure you’re safe.” His strong hands grab hold of my jeans, working the button open. “Making sure you remember your place.”
He yanks the zipper down and slides his hands inside. Warm skin sends electricity skittering over my body as he glides his hands into the elastic of my panties and around to my hips before shoving my clothes down. He dips his head, kissing me deeply.
I part my lips, half ready to object to his manhandling and half willingly participating in the manhandling. He takes the opportunity to push his tongue through, finding mine and deepening the kiss. His moan matches mine when his fingers find my pussy wet and ready for him.
“Fuck, little warrior. I’ve barely touched you yet,” he says against my mouth. “And you still have a whole lesson to get through before I can make you feel good.”
I pull back, his words jolting me from the erotic haze he’s created.
“Lesson?”
A grin worthy of the sexiest of villains pulls his lips upward. In the next moment, he’s seated on the bed and I’m lying face down over his thick, muscular thighs.
“Lev!” I throw myself toward his knees, trying to roll off of him, but there’s no use.
I’m anchored in place by his arm wrapped around my waist, holding me to him. My ass, bare thanks to the mind-altering manhandling, is hoisted up higher as he repositions his knee.
“Are you ready?” He rubs his palm in a circular motion across my ass, warming the skin. Readying it for what he’s going to do to me. Punish me.
He’s going to punish me, lying over his lap like some bratty little girl.
“No!” I try to shove up again and am met with a sharp slap across the bottom of my ass.
His hand strikes me again and again, spreading heat across my entire ass while a whole different sort of fire erupts between my legs.
“If you want to talk about something, we’ll talk,” he says, spreading the spanks lower to where my thighs meet my cheeks. It’s a whole new sort of pain. “This whole thing you do of getting preemptively mad and try to start a fight instead of having a conversation is done.”
My right leg slips off and he readjusts my body, pressing his knee through my now spread legs.
“We talk. Together.” He spanks me harder and harder, getting his point across.
“But you don’t listen!” I swing my hand back, trying to block his swats. He merely grabs it and holds my wrist to the small of my back.
He pauses.
“You haven’t tried talking, Max.” His voice is surprisingly calm. “You assume too much, and now you’re getting a lesson in what happens when you do.”
The spanking continues, but it’s different now. His words penetrate through the pain, straight into my mind.
He’s not wrong. I do assume the worst.
It’s been my protection for so long. I can prepare myself if I know what’s coming, so it’s easier to resign myself to the worst-case scenario. That way I’m always ready for it.
Tears burn my eyes. I’ve done the same with him. I convinced myself I hated him, simply because I assumed he didn’t like me. And all because he’d been a little apprehensive about his sister making new friends.
Because he protects her.
I lay my head on the mattress, letting my body go limp over his lap.
“Max.” When he says my name it’s like a hug. It’s soft and sweet, but there’s a firmness underlining it that reminds me how steady he is.
“I’m sorry.” I twist my neck so I can look over my shoulder at him. “I should have talked to you, not simply demanded.”
He licks his lips, looking down at me with arousal pooling in his eyes.
“You should have,” he agrees.
“Should we talk now?” I swallow before asking.
He runs his hand down the back of my thigh then dips between my legs before dragging his warm fingertips up my leg. To my center, where my arousal, my hunger for him is evident.
“Not yet.” He lets go of my wrist and scoops me up from his lap. I’m surprised when he puts me on the floor, facing the bed.
I was expecting him to throw me on the bed and make me spread my legs for him. Instead he stands behind me, both hands on my shoulders, while he buries his nose into my hair, inhaling deeply.
“I like the smell of my soap on you,” he says in a low growl that sends shivers raining down my spine. “I like when my aftershave rubs off on you and everyone else can smell it, too.”
“You like marking me,” I say, rubbing my fingers together at my sides.
I’m not sure what to do here. Should I try to turn around so I can kiss him. Because I really want to kiss him. I want his strong arms around me, his thick fingers fisting in my hair, and his mouth—I want his mouth to claim me.
But I hold steady. Giving over to him. Submitting to him in a way I didn’t think I could and still feel safe. Not being in control of this moment would have sent me spiraling weeks ago. But tonight it’s different.
“I do.” He grabs a fistful of my ass, digging his nails into my flesh harshly enough I rise onto my tip toes. “I love my marks on you.”
I hiss when he lets go, and a fresh burn takes its place.
“Bend over the bed, Maxine.” He gently pushes my back between my shoulder blades. “I’m going to fuck you just like this.”
Pressing my forearms into the mattress, I’m keenly aware of what I must look like to him. My ass, round and red, my stomach can’t look very flattering in this position.
My face heats, and I close my eyes.
“Fuck, baby, you look so pretty like this.” He runs his hands over my hips, my ass. “Your ass is all red from my hand. You bent over, ready to take a fucking.” He growls, and it’s animalistic. It comes from deep inside him, like he can’t control it even if he tried.
And I don’t want him to try. Not now. Not tonight while I’m drunk on arousal.
His pants are kicked away and the thick head of his cock presses against my slick folds. “Keep your ass up.”
I nod.
“I can’t hear a nod, little dragon. Tell me you understand.”
“I understand,” I manage as I bury my face into my arms.
He uses one foot to kick my feet further apart, spreading me more for him. Another groan from him as he pushes his cock past my entrance.
“You’re so wet. So hot.” He pushes a little further. “Fuck.”
“Lev,” I whimper. “Please.”
“Please what?” He slides one hand beneath me, over my stomach, then lower, between my thighs where his fingers find my clit.
My eyes roll.
I crane my neck, seeking his gaze before I answer him, “Fuck me. Hard.” I pause, curling my lips into a smile. “Please.”
His fingers roll over my clit as he thrusts hard into me. One swift movement and he’s fully inside of me.
I fall forward from the force of it, and I cry out. So full. I raise up to my toes, trying to alleviate some of the stretch.
“Don’t move, Maxine.” He yanks me back at him, embedding me even more on his hard, long cock.
“It’s…ah…too much, Lev.”
“And you’re going to take it for me, aren’t you?” He presses my clit, putting more pressure on it while he grinds his pelvis into me.
“Ahhh.” I fist the covers beneath me, roll my head back. It’s such sweet pain. “Yes!”
“That’s my good girl.” He thrusts again. And again.
Each one at a new angle, with a new force, and with more pleasure than I believed any woman could feel during sex.
I’m not ignorant about how things work. I’ve read books, I’ve seen porn movies. But I thought those women were exaggerating.
Maybe they were.
He thrusts harder, and I have to lift my right knee up onto the bed to keep from flying onto my face. The new position makes him growl.
“Fuck, Max. So fucking tight.” He slams into me again, and I moan.
I could explode right here on this bed, blow up into a million pieces and it would be worth it. Every stroke of his cock is like a new wave of sweetness.
“God! Oh, God!” I cry out as my core tightens. “Please! Please, Lev!”
“You want to come, my little dragon?” His voice is low, teasing, and I’m not sure he’s going to give me what I need.
What I crave.
“Yes. Please!” I’m not above begging.
If this feeling gets any more intense, my heart might give out. But I need to explode. I need to let every bit of my body burst with pleasure. And pain.
His fingernails bite into my hip, delivering the right amount of bitter to my sweet.
“I’m…Lev, please, let me come.” I push back at him, taking him fully now. The small bites of pain with each stroke push me closer to the edge that I will gladly deadfall from.
“Come for me. Be my good girl and come hard.” He leans further over me, using two fingers now on my clit while he pummels me from behind.
There’s no stopping it now. He’s still talking, saying filthy, dirty things. I drown out his words with my own cry as my orgasm shreds me from the inside.
“Yes, good girl.” He fucks me even harder, faster. “Good girl! Good Girl!”
His voice dies, and he stills, pouring himself into me. His cock pulsates in my channel as his orgasm overtakes him.
The room falls silent, save for our heavy breaths. It takes a full minute before his hands glide over my hips as he steps back, leaving me empty and wanting.
My heart dances along my ribcage, and my lungs are working overtime to keep up, but a warm satisfaction blanketing me.
Quietly, he cleans me up and pulls the blankets down in the bed, gesturing for me to climb under them. Once I’m settled, he picks up all of our scattered clothing and brings it to the closet before returning in a new pair of black boxers.
As he rounds the bed and climbs in beside me, I stare at him.
“You’re sleeping here?” I ask, dumbly.
He pauses, raises an eyebrow. “Where else would I sleep?”
It occurs to me; I haven’t been as alone as I thought I was the past few nights. I was alone when I drifted off to sleep and alone when I woke, but somewhere in the middle, he’s been coming to bed.
“You sleep like the dead,” he says, pulling me into his arms. “You didn’t even notice me coming to bed, have you?”
“No.” A yawn takes over. “I’ve always slept hard.”
He kisses the top of my head. Heat rushes over my entire body. It’s the sweetest kiss. A nothing kiss. Not even something someone would probably mention, but there’s an intense intimacy with it that heats me.
“Lev?” I press my hand to his chest. His breathing is so rhythmic I’m afraid he’s fallen asleep already.
“Yeah?” He covers my hand with his, stopping the drumming of my fingers.
“About me going to work.”