His departure does little to ease my frustration. I decide I need a minute to clear my head. Spinning on my heel, I breeze past one of Nicky’s guard dogs, ascending the stairs two at a time in an attempt to escape the chaos below.

I round the banister, making my way to my bedroom when I hear the faint lull of a melody emitting from within. I swear to God if someone is fucking in my bed I’m going to snap.

I push into the room, taking several steps inside when the door slams shut behind me.

CHAPTER 16

JONSIE

I spin just as Mav dives for me, scooping me up from behind my thighs and pulling me into him.

“Mav!” I hiss. “What are you doing here? Nicky will kill you!”

“You really think I’d miss my Queen’s birthday? Even though she’s been dodging my fucking texts the last week and a half?”

I have been dodging him. I even let the phone he gave me die so I wouldn’t be tempted to respond. There can be no in-between with Mav. He’s a potent kind of drug, a level of toxic sin all his own. If I have any chance of getting past him, I’ll have to quit him cold turkey.

My face hardens as I attempt to ignore the burning desire in my belly with forced resolve. “I’m not your Queen, Mav. I told you, this is over. It never even began.”

He grips my chin, firm enough that I can no longer freely move my head, so I’m forced to look at him. He continues to support my entire body with one arm looped under my ass.

“Shut. The. Fuck. Up.” His deep voice commands, dominating the space. “You know that’s a load of shit. I told you, run all you want, baby. But be prepared for the chase.” He releases my face, shifting me to place both hands on my hips before tossing me backward onto the bed. I bounce into the softness of my mattress before sinking into the fluffy down comforter. His eyes roam wildly over my body, still bound within the confines of my costume. “Take it off.”

“What?” I ask. My voice comes out hoarse, almost breathless.

He grips the fabric of his shirt, pulling it up and over his head. “All of it.”

I feel a surge of warmth flood my center, soaking my tiny boyshorts. My eyes slowly crawl across the chiseled muscles of his chest and torso, which are now firmly on display. The dark ink of his extensive tattoos not only cover his left arm and neck, but the entire left side of his chest where it dips low, wrapping around the length of his ribs. The sight of them make my mouth water.

I can make out certain portions. “I Shall Fear No Evil” is sprawled across the upper portion of his chest in elaborate script, following the slight curve of his neckline before his ink explodes off to his left into intricate patterns of skulls, flames, angels engaged in battle with demons—all traveling down his side and wrapping around toward his back.

“If you don’t take those clothes off, J, I’m gonna do it for you,” he offers up as a warning. My heart beats wildly against my chest at the thought of his hands on me.

The music shifts, the low sultry sounds of Halsey’s voice beginning to fill the space. Rather than comply, I sit up on my elbows, before bringing my knees up and allowing them to part, falling open to the sides.

Not Afraid Anymore by Halsey (Spotify)

Not Afraid Anymore by Halsey (Apple Music)

Mav doesn’t fuck around making good on his promise. He lurches forward, gripping the front waistband of my boyshorts with both hands and shredding them in his grasp. I’m not wearing underwear underneath, only the fishnets. He stares directly at my center, eyes darkening as he pushes my thighs even wider, pinning them to the bed.

“If you have any reservations about this. You need to speak up now.” It’s slight, but I can feel the subtle tremble of his hands, as though he’s exercising impressive amounts of restraint right now. Yet he still stops to ask for permission, still hands me the control.

“Bishop,” I let out a breathy moan. “God as my witness, if you don’t put your fucking mouth on me—”

Whatever threat I was about to issue dies on my lips as Mav lets out a growl, tearing my fishnets apart with one swift tug before his face dives for my pussy. His tongue drags up the length of my center, and my back damn near breaks as it arches off the bed, a moan slipping from my throat.

Mav groans against my clit, his warm breath fanning against me sends chills up my body. “You taste like fucking Heaven.”

His arms wrap under and around my thighs as he settles in between my legs. He gives me another long lick before sucking my clit into his mouth. Mav’s tongue swirls against my sensitive bundle of nerves, his grip on my thighs tightening as I buck against him.

My fingers entangle within his hair, holding him in place while I grind against his face. I feel the pressure building as I continuously chase the high. My movements quicken as he massages his tongue against my entrance and when he nips at my clit with his teeth, I explode against him with a scream, coming all over his face while he licks up every last drop.

Mav sits up, his face glistening with remnants of me, and I fucking swear to Christ it’s the sexiest sight I’ve ever seen. Like I fucking own him. I hop up, grabbing the back of his neck and pulling him into me, licking his face from his chin up along the side of his jaw. I suck his lower lip into my mouth, tasting myself on him in the process.

Releasing him with a pop, I grip the hem of my shirt and pull it up overhead before discarding it to the side. Mav stays rooted in place, his eyes firmly fixated on my breasts. When he makes no effort to advance, I reach behind my back, undoing the clasp of my bra and allowing the black lace to fall from my body. I’m fully naked, stripped bare, completely at his mercy.

Mav’s gaze rises to my face. Slowly reaching up, he gently removes the elastics, releasing my hair from the confines of the pigtails and allowing it to cascade down my back.