Chapter 22
“No, pull in your core here and straighten your leg,” I told Sergey quietly as I helped him get into position for another pose. I smiled as he listened to me and thanked me.
But then yelped as I felt an arm snake around me. It wasn’t someone I was familiar with and I reacted the way I’d been taught, going to throw an elbow in the face of the person.
Except he easily dodged it.
“Hey, fuckhead, put her down,” Sergey snapped as he got out of position and to his feet.
He didn’t need to worry though because Taylor was already there.
“I warned people that I was bringing someone in,” Taylor bit out. “Did you think it was someone who was fine and—”
“Right, sorry, man,” the guy said as he let me go. He smirked at me as I spun around. “You’re a real spitfire, aren’t you? That’s—”
“You will eat your teeth for dinner,” Taylor seethed as he pushed me behind him. “What is your damage?”
“Lack of impulse control for one,” someone towards the door said. “My office, now, fuckhead. After you apologize to the lady, not just Taylor.”
The guy looked like he’d been kicked in the nuts for being caught and cleared his throat. “I am sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. And my joke after was shit to try and defuse the situation. I just—you can’t learn what you’re here for if you’re helping your boyfriend. We can do that.”
“Use your words,” I grumbled, crossing my arms over my chest.
“Proud of you for reacting like that,” Taylor praised when the guy was gone and he faced me. “You good?”
“Yeah, thanks for the help.”
“You had it fine, but we all act as a team,” he told me. “He’s not wrong though. We’ll help Sergey. You go have the class.”
“I appreciate the help, foxy,” Sergey said under his breath as I hurried past him back to my spot.
I was glad he did, but I hated feeling like I was in trouble. Even if I wasn’t really and Taylor wasn’t upset.
It took a few minutes, but I shook the feeling off. Mostly because the class was exactly what I needed. It was difficult to ignore the gazes of some of the humans, but once Emma and Taylor told them to behave, it helped.
But really, had they never seen a pretty woman before?
Yes, because they knew Emma and she was gorgeous. She had a sophistication and maturity that I could never attain.
Which meant they wanted someone doe-eyed and na?ve to lead around by the nose. Some men really were disgusting and it was distracting.
A few winks from Sergey helped. He wasn’t like that. He saw the real me and how I struggled—how hard I worked and pushed myself. Thinking of that, holding onto it helped my mindset and focus.
About halfway through I had an idea and chuckled, shaking my head when Sergey and a few others asked me if I was okay. I promised to tell him later.
“And?” Taylor checked when it was over, not in a mean way but almost like he was worried.
“You were right.” I smiled at him as I dabbed myself with the towel. “I didn’t doubt you, Taylor. I just need to trust myself and do what I feel best instead of always…”
“Yeah, smart.” He gave a firm nod. “Good. Glad you can be honest with me.” He hesitated and then turned away.
“That’s Taylor for ‘you hurt my feelings when you said you couldn’t tell me no or thought I was being pushy with you,’” Emma deciphered for me with a wink.
“Hopefully, he communicates better with Tracey,” I mumbled, setting off Sergey and Emma.
“You hungry, fo—Bev?” Sergey asked. He winked at me when I frowned. “I should learn to be more careful.” He quickly glanced away and even I understood what was going on there.
“Are you?” I asked as I hurried to finish grabbing my stuff.
“For something in particular,” he chuckled as he moved towards the door and held it open for me.
I opened my mouth to ask what he wanted, but a few of the people with us covered coughs or reacted weird, so I was distracted. I glanced over my shoulder and Emma waved for my attention.
She mouthed, “You.”
My eyes went wide and I felt my face flush lava hot as I glanced back at Sergey. He was smirking but facing ahead like he didn’t notice what was going on.
Yeah, right.
We did grab some healthy smoothies on the way back to campus. Once we left the others, I awkwardly asked Sergey if he could help me with something for school. I realized he thought I was making an excuse for his earlier comment when his lips twitched.
“Did class get you wound up too, Bev?” he asked when we were alone in my room.
“Foxy,” I whispered. “Or did I do something to not be your foxy anymore?” I hated the hesitation in my voice, but… It was there.
He did a double take and frowned. “No.”
“Talk to me, Sergey,” I practically begged.
He sighed and took the last sip of his drink before tossing it. “I’m struggling with Winter being your boyfriend to the world.”
“Thank you for being honest with me.” I nodded when he didn’t seem to buy that. “I can’t imagine how hard that is for you. I want to know these things.” I gestured between us. “We’re the team. Yes, I’ll have…” I swallowed loudly.
“That’s why it’s hard for me to bitch about, Bev—foxy,” he whispered. “You’re struggling with it so much already. I can’t add to it and—”
“Yeah, but do you think I won’t notice and us not being on the same page with this stuff is better?” I challenged, giving him a look that made it clear what his answer should be.
“Fair, but once I take off…” He let out a heavy breath and locked the door before lifting his head and letting me see darkness in his eyes. “Once I pull back the curtain, you’re going to see too much and I can’t put it back away then, Bev.”
I swallowed loudly and decided to accept this about him the way he had so much about me. I stepped closer and put my hand on his chest. “Foxy. I’m your foxy.” I searched his eyes. “Are you worried that I feel more for Winter if I was willing to say I’m his girlfriend?”
He growled and suddenly I was against the wall but gently, his hand making sure I didn’t get hurt. It was so his larger frame could trap me there and press his body against mine. “You’re my girl, Bevin Millen. You might be his too. Or Kelton’s. Or Wyatt’s again, but you are mine.”
Possessive. That’s what he was trying to hide.
He was possessive like his familiar. I actually felt like an idiot that I hadn’t seen this coming. Like… Duh. Of course.
Tigers were insanely territorial and possessive of their areas and resources. Yeah, a man with a tiger familiar would absolutely have that as part of his personality.
“I am,” I breathed.
His eyes flashed shock and then went back to that darkness with something new. Something I’d seen before but… Predatory.
I was seeing Sergey the predator.
“Are you into this, foxy?” he chuckled deeply as his hand that had blocked me from the wall moved to my hip and then under my shirt.
“I might be when it’s you,” I admitted, my heart racing. “I’m willing to try for you and see where the line is.”
He cupped my chin and leaned in so our lips were barely touching.
“Be careful with that offer because I feel insane in a way I never have before, and it’s—all the jokes I would be a possessive asshole because my familiar was a tiger and I always rolled my eyes.
I never have been. Not until you. Now I’m—”
“It’s because you have to share me and I’m sorry about that,” I whispered, my heart hurting.
“No, it’s not,” he bit out before kissing me deeply.
So what did that mean? I wasn’t sure, but I melted into him and the kiss.
Apparently, I was totally into this if it was Sergey.
Oh fine, I would be if it was someone else too, but only if he—if things were different, but we weren’t even together.
Sergey pulled away and we were both breathing heavy.
“Get undressed for your man and get on the bed. Tell me your body is mine to do with what I want because I always give you what you need and respect you. That you understand this is difficult for me and I can’t fucking pound all the assholes who talk about you because they don’t know I’m your boyfriend too. ”
I nodded but then froze. “We just got done with yoga and—”
He smirked at me, that sexy smirk that made my stomach flutter. “Yeah, I plan on getting you even sweatier, foxy. Be a good girl and do what I say.”
My mouth went dry I was so fucking turned on. I moved away and yanked off my clothes, backing up to the bed. He approved from the way his eyes ate me up.
“Lie back and spread your legs. Tell me what I want to hear and that your pussy is mine.”
I blinked at him but did it. Wow, he was really… Yeah, okay, things had been difficult. I knew that.
And probably for a while now, especially after the whole Connor thing.
He seemed to realize this might be too much for me after what I’d been through, moving closer and gently touching my knee with a soft look.
“We can stop anytime, foxy. I won’t get upset—I’m really touched and amazed you’ll even try this for my stupid, jealous ass when I should be a better man and be involved. ”
“I get it’s for in here and play.”
He ran his tongue over his teeth. “I’m not sure it’s play. I just… I just don’t know. This is new for me.”
“Then please don’t hide it from me,” I begged. “We can figure it out together just like you do my stuff. I want to be what you need too, Sergey.” I reached up and covered his hand with mine. “I can be patient too. Don’t hide things from me.”
“I’ll try,” he whispered. “I’m not sure I’m okay with learning this about myself.” He leaned over me, spreading my legs wider and giving me a soft kiss. “Thanks for understanding.” Something filled his eyes again. “Now be obedient and my good girl who does what I say.”
“Yes, Sergey,” I promised.
And somehow my being obedient meant he ate out my pussy?
No, I didn’t think that was how the “game” was normally played but… Sign me up?
He knelt at the edge of my bed and moved my legs over his shoulders and just ate me out. He growled for me to come again and again, saying I needed to do as he wanted because my body was his.
It was fucking hot. Like ridiculously hot.