44. Maverick
44
Maverick
V iolet was still asleep when I slipped out of her bed. Morning light cut across the stairs as I made my way down, passing through the kitchen and living room until I reached the basement.
The stench of sweat wasn’t as thick here as it was at Ares. I’d been spending less time there since Violet had come into our lives. But I’d have to go there today. The need for a fight gripped my gut.
Watching her panic last night had been too much. Killing Simon hadn’t been enough. I needed her brothers. The fucking reason she’d gone through that in the first place. I would destroy them. If only to shield her from the knowledge. So she didn’t have to suffer any more than she already was.
I didn’t bother with taping my knuckles. The only preparation I did was taking off my shirt. The chains of the punching bag rattled as my blow connected. Years of abuse and scar tissue made it so my hand didn’t hurt.
That wouldn’t do. I needed the pain. Needed to feel something.
I’d rather feel pleasure. See Violet moaning beneath me, but that wasn’t going to be possible. Not until I rid myself of the image of her cowering from us.
I hit the bag again and again, picturing her enemies at first. But then the monsters changed, as they always did. Soon I was trying to kill my own demons again. Ones that were long buried.
I kept going until there was nothing left of them. Until my skin split. Until the blood was running between my fingers. I coated the fabric in its rust color, pretending it was theirs and not mine.
“Maverick.” The breath heaved in my lungs as I wrapped an arm around the bag to still it. Her voice was the only thing that could’ve stopped me, but I wasn’t ready to see her. Afraid of what would be behind her gaze.
“Did you need something, belladonna?” My forehead rested against the punching bag as I waited. My heart beat loud in my ears, reminding me, however impossible, I’d survived.
“I j-just wanted to apologize again.” Her stuttered inhale cut across my chest. My head whipped up to look at her, but she was staring down at her feet. She pressed onto her toes before falling back again in a nervous movement. “I overreacted. It was stupid. I should be healed by—.”
I couldn’t bear to listen to her say sorry for something that wasn’t her fault. Something she couldn’t control. In two seconds, I closed the distance between us. She gasped as I wrapped her in my arms, unable to stay away any longer.
“The only thing you have to apologize for is not telling us sooner.” I smoothed my hand over her hair as I brought her head to my chest. How could she still be so soft after everything they’d done to try to break her? “The safe word is there to protect you. We would’ve stopped if you’d used it.”
“I forgot.” She melted into me, letting me hold her up. I wanted to preserve her sweetness. Make sure they couldn’t ruin it like I’d been ruined.
“What triggered you? We don’t want to hurt you again.”
Her lavender scent floated around me as she shook her head. “It wasn’t you. Any of you. It was the alcohol. It made me feel how I did with him. Out of control.”
My hands moved to her face, grasping her cheeks and tilting her face back. I looked into those wounded green eyes and my heart twisted. She didn’t know yet. How she had control. How everything we did was for her.
“You can make us stop with one word. A word and all of it ends.” I stroked my thumbs along her skin, letting her softness seep into me. “You have the power to crush us in a single breath. That’s the ultimate control.”
I could see she didn’t believe me. Still didn’t understand. Those beautiful eyes doubted how strong she was. In a short time, she’d turned us upside down. Made us hers.
“You have no idea what we’d do for you. How much you matter to us.” She tilted her head into my palm like she was trying to hide from what I said. “We’d never hurt you.”
“I know.” Her breath ghosted across my skin.
“We’re together. It’s our job to take care of you.”
“I know.” She nodded, but her gaze didn’t meet mine.
My hand shifted, grasping her neck. Her pulse slammed into my fingers as I forced her eyes to me. “I don’t think you do. But you will.”
She gasped as I gripped her hips, flipping her around until her back smashed into my chest. She was still wearing the shirts she liked to sleep in, one of ours. It rode up, exposing her thigh as I guided her forward.
She stumbled towards the weight benches. When we reached it, I shoved one hand between her shoulders, yanking her hip back with the other until she was bent over. Her palms slapped the vinyl as she held herself up for support.
I wasn’t gentle. I couldn’t be right now. She needed to learn her lesson, and I needed this release. But the safe word would never change. She could end this all if she wanted to.
She didn’t protest as I lifted her shirt until the only thing covering her were thin cotton panties. The fabric was almost sheer where it stretched over her round ass. My already hard cock twitched as I took a moment to admire her bent over and on display for me.
I slipped a finger into the edge of her panties, tracing them. She was warm and willing under my touch. “You remember your safe word?”
“Yes.” Her voice wavered, but she didn’t move. I could sense her anticipation in the stillness of her body. As if she was afraid I would stop if she flinched.
“Tell me.” I wanted to be absolutely sure before we started.
“Red.”
“Good.” Goosebumps broke out along her legs as I continued to outline her plump ass. “You took away our chance to care for you last night. This only works if you’re honest with us.”
Was I being hypocritical? Yes. But our lies protected her. Her denial put her in danger. We could’ve kept going. We could’ve hurt her. Rage filled my veins at the thought.
She needed to know she couldn’t do that again. She’d agreed to relinquish control to us, but she was still resisting it. Not anymore. After this, she would understand.
“I’m going to give you five.”
“Five what?”
“Count them.”
Her smooth, creamy skin came into view as I pushed aside her panties. One perfect cheek just begging for my mark. My lesson.
My hand came down firm. The slap echoed in the empty space around us. Her entire body went rigid. Her spine snapped straight. Her knees locked.
My cock jerked in my shorts at her response. Fire singed my blood as I stared at her skin, tinting red. A perfect print of my palm bloomed on her ass.
I watched her ribs expanded with a bated breath before she exhaled. “One.”
“Good.” That was all the praise I gave her before I spanked the same spot again. My cock pulsed as her flesh turned a deeper shade of red. Watching it was addicting.
She didn’t pause this time. “Two.”
My gaze flicked up, watching her expression in the mirror. Her eyes were wide, like she couldn’t believe she was letting this happen. As if she was surprised how much she liked it. A blush crept down her delicate neck. Her teeth sank into her lower lip as if she was holding in her moans.
My fingers flexed on her hips. The urge to push inside her tight little cunt slammed into me. She was taking this so well. Like I knew she would. Proving how goddamn perfect she was for us.
I smoothed over the curve of her ass, watching her skin turn white where it had been pink a second before. She sucked in a sharp breath. She was loving this as much as I was.
I traced over the other side of her panties. I felt the goosebumps breaking out on her body like it was happening on mine. The tingles raced up my arm as I shoved the fabric aside.
It bunched in the seam of her ass, putting her pretty cheeks on display. My gut tightened in pleasure as I stared at her. She was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. And all ours.
I trailed a hand over her soft curves. My cock pulsed as I spanked the newly exposed cheek. Her plump ass jiggled as her body flushed again.
“Three.”
I wanted to see her creamy skin covered in blood. Watch it running down her flesh until I licked it up. Hear her scream my name as I did.
I knew I was fucked in the head. Pleasure and pain had become mixed a long time ago. I could always spot people like me, and Violet was one of them.
She was drawn to the heightened sensations. To the way it shut down your thoughts. And there was freedom in letting someone else decide how much you could take.
Testing my theory, I wrapped a hand around her throat. Her pulse went wild as I leaned over, pressing my body into hers. Keeping her bent over and vulnerable. My thumb stroked her pretty, fragile neck as I pinned her in place and whispered in her ear.
“This isn’t just sex. When you gave yourself to us, you gave us control. Over your body. Your mind. Your healing. All of you. But you have the power. One word and it all stops. You need to understand.”
“I do.” She moaned even as she wiggled against my cock, begging for what she was afraid to need.
Her movement stopped when I smacked the side of her ass; hard enough, there was a brief imprint of my hand on her body. Her legs shook from the force of it.
Or maybe it was from holding herself still. Fighting back the instinct to enjoy what I was doing to her.
“Four.” A whimper tumbled from her lips as I let her go.
Straightening again, I grabbed a fistful of her ass, loving how she hissed in a breath from the pain. “One more. You can take it.”
“I can’t.” Her head fell between her shoulders. Her hair created a curtain so I couldn’t see her face.
Gently, I swept it aside. I saw the wetness gathering in the corner of her eyes. Her scent surrounded me as I came close again. I kissed her temple just as a tear slipped free.
“You were designed for this. For us.” My hand wrapped around her throat, lifting her head to see her reflection in the mirror. “Look how prettily your skin turns pink. How wet your cunt gets. Watch how much you love it.”
I held her there as I gave her the final punishment. The sound reverberated in the room. She didn’t even seem to be breathing as she watched herself take it.
“Five.” Finally she whimpered.
I released her. Her body trembled as she stood, wiping a tear from her eyes. Her green gaze collided with mine in the mirror. I hated the betrayal I saw there. “Why did you do that?”
I wanted to reach for her. Pull her against me. But I gave her the space I sensed she needed. Instead, I used a single finger to swipe away more tears.
“You’ll never forget to use your safe word again.”
“There could’ve been another way.” She sniffled, but didn’t run from me.
I took that as a good sign. I came up behind her, closing the distance between us. Wrapping an arm around her waist, I pulled her flesh to me. Burying my head in her neck, I breathed her in. “Why? You liked it.”
“I didn’t.” She protested even as she covered my arm with hers, keeping us connected.
“Take off your panties.” There was no mistaking the command in my voice. Or in my gaze as I held hers in the mirror.
Her throat bobbed, but she didn’t hesitate. She knew enough now that our orders were always for her. Her pleasure. Her healing.
She pushed the fabric away with one hand. They dropped soundlessly to the floor, pooling by her feet. I moved my free arm down, skimming along her thighs as I dragged her sleep shirt up. A groan rumbled through my chest as I revealed her cunt. Her pretty, dripping wet cunt. Her arousal glistened in the gym lights.
“You’re soaked.” My gut tightened with lust as I slipped a finger through her center. “Such a good little cum slut. You want it, don’t you?”
Her lips parted as she swept her tongue along them, but she didn’t answer. She was still stuck in her past. Worried about all the rules. All the pain she’d suffered.
My mouth ran along her neck as I continued to tease her tight pussy. “It’s okay to like it. I sure as fuck do. Seeing my mark on you makes me so hard.”
I rolled my hips into her ass, showing her what she did to me. Violet’s fingers dug into my forearm. Her chest rose with an unsteady breath. I knew the pain in her body was mixing with her desire. Just like it always did for me.
“This was supposed to be a punishment. A reminder to use your safe word. To let us care for you.” My teeth raked across her rapid pulse. “But you took that so well, I have to reward you.”
Her brows scrunched as I released her. I grasped the hem of her shift, stripping it off her. I tossed it aside without care, leaving her naked. My fingers slipped along her skin as I moved to her front. I couldn’t help touching her. It was as if a part of me worried I was running out of time. Nothing good lasted for me. I felt like she was going to be another great thing I lost.
I lowered onto the bench in front of her, laying flat on my back so my head brushed her legs. My hands ran along them, trying to get my fill of her silky skin. “Spread your thighs. Show me how much you liked it.”
Her lips rolled together. Her fists clenched at her sides. It was easy to see she was fighting with herself. Second guessing how she felt. I wouldn’t let her.
My hand slipped between her legs, slapping her thighs apart. “I said open for me.”
She jumped to my order. A whimper ghosted across my body as she reacted to my rough touch. I gripped her ass, yanking her forward until her sweet cunt was hovering above my face.
“Dirty little slut.” I stroked her from behind. “You liked it so much this pussy is begging to come.”
“Maverick.” Her hands fell to my chest for support as I slipped a finger inside. Her inner walls clung to me. Just as fucking desperate as I said she was. She bent her knees, trying to take more. It brought her right to my lips.
I seized the opportunity, sealing my mouth over her clit and sucking. Her essence coated my tongue. She was so fucking sweet I could drown in her. And I’d love every second of that death.
Violet screamed in ecstasy. Her nails bit into my skin, making me groan. My cock jumped because my screwed up mind loved getting pain as much as giving it.
Her dark hair swayed as she rolled her hips, riding my face now. I removed my finger, grabbing her ass instead as I thrust my tongue into her sweet cunt. She moaned and moved faster, already primed from her punishment.
I gripped her tighter, forcing her to keep going until she showed me how much she’d enjoyed it. Until I was swallowing down the proof.
She clamped her legs on either side of my head, muffling the sound as she came. I licked up every single drop. Craving all of it. Not stopping until she did.
“Shit.” She sucked deep breaths into her lungs as she released her grip on my chest. But we weren’t done yet.
“One more.” I whispered across her clit before I was attacking her again.
I teased her entrance. Circled her clit. Swept my tongue through the length of her. Showing her how much I enjoyed it all.
“Oh god.” She whimpered. Her hips started rolling. Her hands came back to my chest.
There was nothing better than being surrounded by her. Her sharp nails. Her sultry moans. Her sweet taste.
As much as I loved seeing her at our mercy, this was fucking amazing. Watching her let go. Forgetting her past and embracing her future with us.
She trembled and moaned above me. My cock pulsed. I couldn’t ignore it anymore.
I kept one hand on her ass, encouraging her movement, but yanked down my shorts with the other. A groan burst from me as I fisted my length. It practically jumped in my hand. She wasn’t the only one who was ready to explode from a little pain.
“Come.” I demanded as I pumped myself roughly. I didn’t know how long I’d last and I wanted her coming on my tongue when I did.
Violet moved faster. Harder. Whether because I commanded it or she needed it. I didn’t fucking care. I was determined to make her come again.
Sucking. Licking. Thrusting. Squeezing. Stroking. Everything. All of it until we were both gasping. Until my back tingled and my balls drew tight.
I flattened my tongue and pressed it hard into her clit. We exploded together. It stole the breath from my lungs, making it impossible to think. To breathe. To live for a moment.
But I’d trade every breath in my lungs to stay like this with her.