Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Calina
I had always imagined what it would feel like to be kissed by a man. Lately, against my will, I had imagined what it would feel like to be kissed by him.
Nothing could have prepared me for the reality.
The moment Maxim’s lips crash down on mine, it’s like every nerve in my body ignites at once. His mouth is firm, hot, and demanding, and he kisses like he owns me, deep, possessive, and utterly consuming.
He’s a fucking great kisser. I’ve never kissed anyone before, so I don’t know much, but I follow his lead instinctively, parting my lips when his tongue probes for entry.
The second his tongue slides into my mouth, tangling with mine in a heated, sensual dance, a helpless moan escapes me. He swallows the sound.
One of his hands fists in my hair, tilting my head exactly how he wants it, while the other grips my waist, pulling me flush against his hard body.
He stands, taking me with him without breaking the kiss. We stumble backward until my back hits the wall. He presses into me, all heat and muscle and raw hunger.
I can feel every inch of him, the solid wall of his chest, the hard ridge of his cock against my stomach, the way his thigh pushes between my legs.
I want more.
His lips are softer than I expected, yet demanding. His tongue strokes mine in a way that makes my knees weak.
I cling to his chest with one hand, the other sliding up to grip his shoulder, so I don’t fall. He groans into my mouth when I tentatively suck on his tongue, and the sound sends a rush of wetness between my thighs.
When he finally pulls back, we’re both panting. His eyes are dark, almost black with desire as he stares down at me.
“I’ve wanted to do that since the first fucking day I saw you,” he rasps.
The confession hits me like a shockwave. I can barely breathe.
He leans in again, brushing his lips against mine in a teasing graze. “You have no idea what you do to me, Calina.”
His voice drops even lower, filthy and rough.
“I should punish you for messing with my head. For starting a fight, the second I walked through the door when I was already bleeding. I have so many ideas on how to punish this pretty little body of yours… starting with bending you over and spanking that perfect ass until it’s red and you’re soaked and begging. ”
The words should offend me. Instead, my pussy clenches hard at the thought. I remember how it felt when he spanked me before, the sharp sting, the heat, the way my body had reacted so shamefully. I want it again. I want him to do it again.
He kisses me again, slower this time, like he’s savoring me. His hands roam down my body, cupping my breasts through my tank top, thumbs brushing over my hardened nipples.
I arch into his touch with a whimper. One hand slides lower, slipping under the waistband of my shorts. I’m not wearing panties. His fingers find my soaked folds and he groans against my lips.
“So fucking wet for me already,” he murmurs, rubbing slow circles over my clit. I buck against his hand, desperate for more friction. “Has anyone ever been here?”
I give a shake of my head, and he growls. “All mine. I want to see all of you.”
God help me… I want him to see everything too.
I don’t know what comes over me. Maybe it’s the way he’s looking at me, like I’m his next meal. Maybe it’s the storm of emotions that’s been building for days. Or maybe I’ve simply lost my mind.
Before I can second-guess myself, I reach down, grab the hem of my top, and pull it over my head. The cool air hits my bare breasts, making my nipples tighten instantly.
I drop the shirt to the floor, standing topless in front of him, heart hammering so hard I can feel it in my throat.
Maxim’s eyes darken to near black. He stares at me like I’m a revelation, like he’s never seen anything more beautiful in his life. A low, reverent curse slips from his lips.
“Fuck… you’re so fucking beautiful,” he rasps, voice thick with raw hunger.
The sincerity in his tone makes something warm bloom in my chest. I know he means it. Every word.
His hands slide up my sides as he brings his mouth to mine again. The kiss is deeper this time, more urgent.
Then his lips trail down, along my jaw, down the column of my neck, leaving a path of fire. When he reaches my breasts, he groans and takes one nipple into his mouth, sucking hard before gently biting down.
A moan escapes me. My back arches, pushing my breast further into his mouth as pleasure shoots straight between my legs.
I thread my fingers through his hair, holding him there. My other hand runs over his shoulder, careful not to press on his injury, on his ribs, tracing the hard muscle beneath his skin.
He switches to the other nipple, lavishing it with the same attention while one of his hands slips under the waistband of my pajama shorts. His fingers find my soaked folds and he groans against my breast.
“I've been thinking about you all day,” he murmurs, rubbing slow, teasing circles over my clit.
He has? I’ve been thinking about him too.
I buck against his hand, desperate for more. The pleasure is building fast, overwhelming. I want him. I want all of him. Right now.
Just then, the bedroom door bursts open.
“Boss —”
Viktor’s voice cuts off mid-sentence.
I shriek, instinctively trying to cover myself. Maxim reacts instantly, shielding my body with his much larger frame, his back to Victor.
“What the fuck?!” Maxim roars. “Why the hell didn’t you knock?”
Viktor doesn't back away. “Sorry, boss… but it’s not like I haven’t seen her naked before. After all, she came downstairs practically naked the other day—”
Maxim’s entire body goes rigid against me.
“What the fuck did you just say?” he snarls, spinning around.
Before I can even process what’s happening, Maxim grabs my shirt from the floor, shoves it into my hands, makes sure I'm fully covered, and stalks toward Viktor like a predator.
The punch lands with a sickening crack, fist connecting hard with Viktor’s jaw. The sound echoes in the room.
I shriek, pure terror ripping out of me before I can stop it. For one horrifying second, I’m not in Maxim’s bedroom anymore.
I’m back in my father’s house, hearing the crack of his belt, the sound of his fists, the way he’d hit us without warning. My body reacts on instinct, curling in on itself, heart slamming against my ribs.
Maxim freezes mid-motion. He turns to me instantly, eyes wide with realization. The rage on his face shifts to something softer, almost pained.
“Get the hell out of my bedroom,” he growls at Viktor without looking away from me.
Viktor doesn’t argue. He mutters an apology under his breath and quickly leaves, closing the door behind him.
The second we’re alone, Maxim crosses the room and wraps his arms around me, pulling me gently against his chest. His hold is careful, protective, one hand stroking my back in slow, soothing circles.
“Hey… you’re okay,” he murmurs, voice low and rough. “I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry that happened. I’ll put Viktor in line. He won’t speak to you like that again.”
I nod against his chest, breathing in his scent, trying to ground myself. The violence reminded me too much of my father, quick to anger, quick to strike. But Maxim… he stopped the moment he saw my fear. He chose me over his anger.
“I’m glad you stood up for me,” I whisper. “But… the way you hit him…”
He tightens his hold slightly. “I know. Are you alright?”
I nod against his chest.
We stay like that for a long moment. Strangely, I realize I feel safe in his arms. A part of me trusts him. Trusts that he won’t hurt me the way my father did. I don’t fully understand why, but the feeling is there.
Eventually, I pull back. “You should get some rest. Your wound…”
He nods, but his eyes linger on me. “I need to go talk to Viktor first. I will be back.”
“Okay.”
I watch him walk out of the bedroom and I let out a shaky breath.
Maxim
I step out of the bedroom, still buzzing with frustration and leftover arousal, when I spot Viktor waiting in the hallway like the idiot he is.
The second I see him, rage boils over.
I grab him by the throat and slam him against the wall, my fist connecting hard with his jaw for the second time tonight.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” I snarl. “How dare you talk to my fiancée like that? You’re disrespecting me that way, Viktor. I won’t allow it.”
I’m about to hit him again when Dmitri rushes in between us, pushing me back with both hands. I didn't even notice him earlier.
“Boss, calm down! He’s sorry, he didn’t mean it like that!”
I guess Viktor already filled him in on his fuck up.
Viktor wipes blood from his split lip, breathing hard but not fighting back. “I’m sorry, okay? After our call I was worried about you and came to check up on you.”
“And how does that justify the situation?” I bark.
He huffs a breath. “I don’t trust her. What if she’s playing you? What if she’s a spy for her brothers? She could be feeding them information, trying to undermine everything we’ve built—”
I cut him off with a shove. “I’ve already told you—I can handle her. If she’s a spy, that’s my problem, not yours. It is not your place to disrespect her and me just because you’re paranoid. She’s my fiancée. Any disrespect toward her is disrespect toward me. Do we have a problem with that?”
Viktor lowers his gaze. “No, boss. I’m sorry.”
“Good.” I release him, still seething. “The earlier you understand that, the better for you.”
Dmitri lets out a heavy breath, stepping back. “Now that everyone’s calm… can we actually talk about why we’re here?”
I drag a hand down my face, trying to rein in my temper. “What’s so important it couldn’t wait until tomorrow?”
Viktor straightens, suddenly serious. “I think I might have found the rat.”
My attention snaps to him instantly. “Who is the motherfucker? Where is he?”
“He’s already waiting for you in the basement,” Viktor says. “I got solid intel earlier today. I wanted to confirm it before I told you, especially after you called about the cleanup.”
I don’t waste another second. I turn and head straight for the basement.
The man is already chained to the metal chair in the center of the room, wrists and ankles secured, face pale with fear.
He starts babbling the second he sees me. “I don’t know anything! I swear! I didn’t leak any documents, I didn’t talk to anyone—”
I don’t waste time with pleasantries. I grab a pair of pliers and get to work. An hour passes and he still hasn't said anything useful.
I finally step back, flexing my bloody knuckles, and look at Viktor and Dmitri. “Leave him here overnight. Maybe by morning he’ll remember something useful.”
They nod and leave. I head back upstairs, eager to finish what Calina and I started. My body is still wired from the taste of her lips, from the way she melted against me.
But when I push open the bedroom door, I find her curled up in my bed like she belongs there. Her golden hair fans across the pillow, one leg kicked out from under the duvet.
She looks peaceful. So fucking right in my bed it knocks the air out of my lungs.
I walk over quietly and pull the blanket higher over her shoulders, then lean down and press a kiss to her forehead.
The thought that I’ll be the first and only man to ever have her does dangerous things to me. The possessiveness I feel toward her is getting stronger every day, and it terrifies me because I’ve never felt this way about anyone.
I stand there for a long time, just watching her sleep. I know there will be no sleep for me tonight. My mind is too restless.
I head back downstairs to the basement.
I crack my knuckles. “Surprise. I’m not waiting until morning.”
The man’s head snaps up when I enter. “Please… I told you everything I know…”
I go harder this time. Chains. Pliers on his nails. The sound of his screams fills the room. After what feels like forever, he finally breaks.
“Please stop…” he gasps, blood dripping from his mouth. “I was just following instructions. I don’t know who gave the order, they contacted me anonymously.”
“Who gave the order? You must have communicated with someone, who is it?”
“Please… if I tell you, they’ll kill me…”
I lean in close. “You should be more scared of me than whoever is out there. Because I’m the one holding your life in my hands. Talk.”
“The person you’re looking for is closer than you think.”
“And what is that supposed to mean?”
He opens his mouth, eyes wide with terror—
Then his body starts jerking violently. Convulsions. Foam at the mouth. His eyes roll back. Before I can do anything, he slumps forward, dead.
“Fuck!” I slam my fist into the wall, leaving a dent and splitting my knuckles further.
I didn’t get the answers I needed. But his last words echo in my head.
“The person you’re looking for is closer than you think.”
The rat is someone inside my inner circle. Someone I trust. Whoever they are, I will find them.
And when I do, their death will be slow and painful.