Page 2 of Steamy Ever After

“Hold up. Just-” His deep baritone voice is sexy as hell, but I don’t listen. Fuck that. I throw my elbow into his side and it makes contact exactly where I need it to. His arms release their hold just enough for me to wiggle free and land on the balls of my feet. I don’t hesitate, not for one second. Even with my hair in my face, I take off stumbling.

My heels slam ruthlessly against the cold concrete as I turn back to catch a glimpse, hoping the prick is still stunned. Fuck, he’s huge. If he wasn’t pissed before, he’s going to be pissed now. My anxiety spikes again and the rush of blood in my ears is so fast and loud I can’t hear a damn thing. My muscles are already burning, but I push through the pain and run like my life depends on it. I look back again and I’m struck by the sensation of running right into a brick wall. A brick wall of solid muscle. Muscle that’s holding me so tight it’s going to squeeze the life out of me.

I try to scream, but a hand moves over my mouth, practically covering my entire face. My body starts to shake as I scream helplessly and attempt to break free. Nothing. It’s no use. No, no, not like this. Through the tears threatening to fall, I see a blurred vision of the man who was following me. I try to break free again but the hulk of a man holding me makes it impossible. Tears burn down my face. It’s hopeless.

Blake

Out of all the people to run into, it had to be Maddox. She couldn’t just listen to me, could she? I shouldn’t have let her get so far ahead. I shouldn’t have let her walk off on her own in the first place.

She got a good hit in, I’ll give her that. But then she had to run straight into him. My nerves start getting the better of me, but I can’t let it show. Snatching up girls isn’t his style. He’d break his own neck before he laid an unwanted hand on a woman. Not only is it not necessary since he gets the pick of the litter at the clubhouse, being VP and all, but it’s also too risky. Too easy to get caught doing stupid shit when you have bigger things to hide. I can’t have him thinking that I’m into that kind of shit. But fuck, this looks bad.

“Blake,” he gives me an asymmetrical grin as he nods in greeting, “I think I just caught your kitten.”

I snort a laugh in response as I finally reach them. He’s a big motherfucker and his size makes her look all the smaller. I’ve still got a few inches and pounds on him, but it’s not just his size that makes Maddox a threat. It’s his connections, his power. That, and how ruthless he is. He may be smiling now, but he smiles just the same as he puts a bullet in a man’s skull. I know, I’ve been right by his side, giving the same fucking smile to the poor bastard.

Her feet are barely even touching the ground with the way he’s got her held up. He doesn’t have to manhandle her like that. Well maybe he does since she’s a spitfire, but I still don’t fucking like it.

“I wouldn’t call her a kitten,” I say and give him a forced lopsided grin as I add, “she’s more of a hellcat.” He laughs like I told him the funniest joke he’s ever heard. I can’t help but notice that she’s quietened down and gone still and seems to be listening. Good, I’ve got her attention. I have to think quick to get both of us out of this mess. I can’t trust him with this, even if he’s basically my brother. Seeing as how he’s right outside the club, he could have anyone with him, friend or foe, and an innocent like her shouldn’t be around either.

“My hellcat wanted to spice things up and try something different tonight. We were just heading home to try out a little roleplay. You know I don’t usually mind, but I’m not planning on sharing her.”

His eyes narrow like he doesn’t believe a word out of my mouth. Yeah I’m lying, but he can’t know that for sure. He wouldn’t know if I’m seeing someone. We don’t talk about that shit. Besides, women come and go with us. And I never hold one down. Never. I can’t bring them into this.

“Come on baby, stop fighting him. Maddox’s not getting your ass tonight and I bet all that wiggling in his arms got him hard.” It’s fucking difficult keeping calm and I make sure to keep my grin on my face. My nerves are shot to hell. I can’t fuck this up. Years of work would be wasted. It’s work I don’t give two shits about and I’m pretty sure the execs of the MC are onto me anyway, but if they aren’t then this could really cause problems. Life or death problems. Hopefully she figures out what the hell is going on and that I’m not a threat.

If she doesn’t we’re both fucked.

MARIE

What the fuck is going on? I try to clear my head and push down the overwhelming need to vomit as I get a good grip on the situation. Breathing’s hard, but I concentrate on taking advantage of the little bit of air I can get through the thick fingers pressed against my mouth. The man in front of me, Blake, is fucking huge. His broad chest and muscular arms are on display with his Henley stretched taut. I could get lost in those steely blue eyes. He’s got a bit of a beard, brunette hair that’s just long enough to grab on to and tattoos scrolling up his neck on one side, making him look like a cold-blooded badass who’d fuck your shit up without hesitation.

Or pin your legs back and fuck you like he owns you.

I recognize him as the tears in my eyes finally clear. He was at the bar with Lexi’s crush. That knowledge drops my fear levels down a notch. At least I’ve seen him before. I don’t know who the fuck this guy holding me is. And I’m sure as hell not okay with it. As soon as I get a chance I’m elbowing him right in his dick. I happen to know right where it is, since it’s digging into my back.

I realize I’ve stopped fighting while I was staring at Blake. He’s got a stupid grin on his face like the cat who caught the canary.

“ … more of a hellcat.” Damn right I am. I’m racking my brain trying to figure out what the hell I’m going to do. I attempt to move again, but the brute of a man holding me has yet to loosen his grip.

“My hellcat wanted to spice things up and try something different tonight. We were just heading home to try out a little roleplay. You know I don’t usually mind, but I’m not planning on sharing her.”

His voice is calm and confident. My heart fucking stops at the thought of being shared by these two. Not going to fucking happen. Even though my pussy just clenched in longing and my core is instantly hot. Is that what the guy holding me wants? No fucking way. I start to fight again when I hear Blake speak up through a laugh.

“Come on baby, stop fighting him. Maddox’s not getting your ass tonight and I bet all that wiggling in his arms got him hard.” I look at him once more and something in his eyes is pleading with me to play along. For some strange reason, I feel an instant sense of safety with him. It’s fucking crazy. I was just running for my life to get away from him, but now my body is pushing me to trust him.

Danger. I can feel it in every bone of my body. Whoever this Maddox is must be a threat. It makes sense if Blake has me playing a role. Maddox is a danger to Blake too. Although I don’t see how anyone could be a danger to Blake; he looks like a man who gets what he wants and would slice your throat open if you stood in his way.

I don’t have many options as it is. But if he’s giving me a way to go from having to fight two men off to only having to fight him … I’ll take it. I force myself to relax in Maddox’s arms, which is difficult since his body against mine keeps me on high alert. He’s holding me like he’s done this before and I can’t get away from the deep rumbling of his chest when he speaks. It’s scary as hell.

I may have grown up a naïve little girl, but I know better now. I need to play along and take the out that Blake's given me. At least for the moment. I mumble into Maddox’s hand to let me down. Not that he can hear what the hell I’m saying. But it gets a laugh from both of the men and the brick shithouse finally lets me loose.

My first instinct is to run when he sets me down, but my legs are shaking too much. I shut down that train of thought and instead attempt to right myself and get into the mindset Blake wants me to be in. I’m his hellcat. That thought sends an instant wave of desire through me. My treacherous body can’t get past the fact that he’s ripped and sexy as fuck.

I look up at Blake and whimper, “I think I hurt my ankle.” I try to sound a bit sexy and pout a little. I want this fucker to think I may actually be hurt and that I’m playing along with him. My heart’s still pounding in my throat and I’m just hoping I read him right.

“Aw shit, let me take a look.” He sounds sincere in his response and walks over with purpose, staring at the ankle I’m holding.

I think back to when he caught me on the street. Why the hell was he chasing me if he wasn’t going to hold me down and have his way with me or mug me or whatever the fuck he had in mind? Why not let this Maddox guy have me? Why not let him join in? My filthy mind almost takes over and I have to push it down and rid my head of those thoughts before I lose my shit.

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