Chapter 30 Maya
Maya
Nick is standing in the middle of the room, hot, sweaty, and shirtless, in a pair of black gym shorts. His ripped shirt lies in the corner. My brain, still furious with him, is fighting a war with the overwhelming urge to drink in the sight of him.
“How are am I supposed to work in a strip club if you are going to lose your shit every time someone touches me?” I throw a jab, testing his reflexes.
He immediately blocks it. “You can bartend or waitress, you don’t have to be a dancer. That was just a way to get you deeper into the scene, but there are always ways around that.”
I throw a one-two combo and again, he’s waiting for it, but I throw a body shot before he regains his stance and catch him in the kidney. “Nice shot,” he whimpers.
“I don’t want to bartend or waitress,” I lie. I already have waitressing experience. I can do that blindfolded. I come in for more swings and manage to hit him in his already busted lip, effectively splitting the skin again, then back up.
“Entertaining your clients after work is strictly forbidden, not only for your safety but to keep from jeopardizing the secrecy of this operation. If you can’t handle that, tell me now so I can find someone else.”
The way he says it really sets me off. I lay into him several times before having to break and catch my breath.
“How dare you assume I’m just some whore who is going to want to fuck every guy I dance for just because you thought I was enjoying myself too much with one guy.
You don’t know me. I am more than capable of doing this job without fucking every guy I see.
” I throw my fists up and lay into him again, this might be my only shot to take my anger out on him.
He blocks most of them with the exception of some body shots.
His moves are even more fluid and calculated than Lucas’, it’s impressive.
I close in on him, throwing one arm up to misdirect his attention. When he reaches up to block, I close in as quickly as I can and swipe his legs out from under him.
It backfires. My leg tangles with his when he tries to correct his balance. I lose my balance in the process and grab on to the first solid thing in my reach—him. His fast reflexes catch me, and he spins us around, landing on his back, me on top of him.
We lie there for a second, both stunned from the fall. His arm is still wrapped around my waist and my head on his chest. It’s alarming how natural this feels. I listen to a few rapid beats of his heart then quickly come to my senses and sit up, my legs straddling his.
A sense of pride and accomplishment washes over me. “Maybe I should apply to be a bouncer, after all I was able to take the notorious Nick Ryer to the ground,” I huff, wiping the sweat from my face.
Next thing I know, I’m lying flat on my back with my hands pinned above my head and his knees between my legs with him leaning over me.
“The thing about takedowns is, they’re not very effective unless you can keep your opponent down.” He’s close enough for me to feel his breath in my face. Hot blood drips from his mouth on to my chest.
I twist my body from side to side, pushing and pulling with my arms and legs trying to break free. He puts more of his weight into my body, using his legs to push my legs apart. It’s a power move designed to keep your opponent from wriggling free.
“You didn’t deserve for me to react that way.
” He bows his head like he’s been defeated, takes a deep breath, wipes more blood from his mouth on his arm, and quickly recovers.
“I can’t control myself when it comes to you.
That’s my problem, not yours. I should’ve never taken it out on you and I’m sorry. ”
My breath becomes a little more ragged, trying to keep up with the oxygen demands of my racing heart. It’s so easy to be mad at him and pretend I don’t want him as much as I do when he’s not this close to me. I stop fighting and brave a look at him.
Panicking, I say the stupidest thing that comes to mind before I have time to stop myself, “Is this where we kiss and make up?” I turn my head, embarrassed by what I said.
He leans in closer, his face in the crook of my neck, his cheek resting against mine. “Is that what you want? Be careful what you ask for.” He runs his nose over my skin, sending the kind of shivers only he can elicit down my spine.
“Or what?” I arch my back, pressing my body into his.
I want him. Not because he apologized, not because I’ve forgiven him—because I haven’t—but because as much as I try to deny it, I want him, even when he’s being an asshole.
He wraps a hand firmly around my throat, pressing on my jaw and forcing me to arch my neck to the side. His lips line kisses from my shoulders, slowly and agonizingly making their way up my neck. He runs his tongue slowly up my pulse point on a trail that’ll eventually lead to my destruction.
He makes his way up, stopping just short of my mouth.
“Once I taste the sweetness of your lips again, I’m going to want more.
We’ve already established my self-control is shit when it comes to you.
” His ragged pant is full of warning and he grinds his hips down into mine, forcing me to feel how hard he is for me.
“Then don’t stop.”
He doesn’t hesitate bringing his lips to mine and parting them with his tongue.
He kisses me so deep, like a craving he’s finally able to satiate. The coppery taste of blood fills my mouth but isn’t enough to deter me, in fact it’s pretty hot. I moan into his mouth, desperately trying to find friction by meeting my hips with his.
“Maya…” He lets go of one of my hands and grabs my hip, slowing me down. “Not here.”
My emotions spiral. He turned me down in the hot tub and now he’s turning me down here. “Then get off me.”
He only pinned me down and kissed me up to prove a point. Don’t mess with the devil unless you want to get burned. A lesson I can’t seem to learn.
He sits up. “That’s not what I meant…”
I roll to my knees and try to get up, but he pulls me down and wraps his arms around me from behind. I take a deep breath, trying to settle my panic.
“I want you.” His lips trail tenderly down my neck.
“Not here, not now, right? Just like in the hot tub.” I fight to break free, and again he stops me.
“Look in the mirror.” He grips my chin and forces me to stare into our reflection. “There’s nothing I want—or have wanted for several weeks, more than you.” He trails a hand down my stomach. “Tell me to stop.”
“No,” I whisper, laying my head back on his shoulder. I don’t want him to stop.
He reaches under the waistband of my shorts and continues until he finds my clit.
I savor the feeling of his fingers circling my sweet spot.
His mouth drifts gently down into the crook of my neck, sending chills down my spine.
His other hand tightens around my throat.
“Look in the fucking mirror, Maya, not at the ceiling.” His voice is low and dangerous.
It’s so sexy—he is so sexy. My heart throbs, threatening to crack through my chest. He gives my neck a gentle kiss then bites down hard—a mix of pain and pleasure shoot through me—sending impulses straight to my center where his fingers are deliciously assaulting my clit.
He stays latched to my neck and sucks hard for a few moments.
“Nick, what the fuck?” I squirm under him. Shit, I’m going to have a hickey.
“You. Are. Mine. Cupcake.” He enunciates each word slowly.
I stare at him in the mirror. He fucking marked me, and judging by his devilish grin, he’s proud of himself too.
“Every time you look in the mirror I want you to be reminded of who you belong too. I told you to tell me to stop.” He pushes into me, letting me feel his massive erection.
Geezus. He’s so intense, all the damn time.
“What about after you’ve had me?” I let out a ragged breath.
Hickeys aren’t a permanent thing, and anyone can say things in the heat of the moment. I need to know where I stand with him. I won’t keep letting him use me then tell me to see someone else. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
“I’m going to want you even more. What part of ‘you are mine’ do you not understand?
” He swipes his fingers through my wetness, circling my entrance.
“You’re like a drug I can’t get enough of.
It infuriates me to see someone else’s hands on you.
I want to be the only man who’s allowed to touch you, and I don’t want the first time we fuck to be in here.
“So, be a good girl and come for me, then let me take you upstairs.” He dips a finger inside and thrusts it in and out. “My girl is so tight, I’m going to have to stretch this out a little more so you can take me.”
My girl. I let out a breathy moan. I like the sound of that.
Another finger slides in. He works me open in a circular motion and also plunging in and out as he rubs circles on my clit with his thumbs. The man is an expert with his touch.
My breath quickens as my climax builds. “Come for me.” He works me harder and faster tormenting me with each stroke. “Let. Go. Maya.”
So bossy. So demanding. So needy. All for me. The fire blazing in his eyes through our reflection sets my soul on fire. He’s absolutely feral with need. I’m so consumed by him, I let my eyes close, painting his face into my memory. I never want to forget this face.
His hand tightens around my throat. “You’re going to watch yourself. Open your eyes. If I have to tell you again, I’ll stop.”
I can barely breathe and don’t seem to mind. It’s so erotic. His expert fingers dip in and out, taking turns circling my clit.
“Fuck, cupcake…” He’s almost breathless. “I can’t wait to sink my dick into this hot little pussy. Tell me…who does it belong to?” His erection pushes harder into me from behind,
Hearing my nickname roll so aggressively over his tongue sends me into overdrive. I grind down on his hand harder, working myself into a frenzy. “You.”