Page 55 of Wicked Knight 2

“From now on, you don’t leave your room.” He swelled into me without a set pace or rhythm, but somehow in tandem with his words. “Do you understand?”

“Yes.” I kneaded my own breast. My nipples felt like they were going to burst if they didn’t get relief. I took his hand gripping my hips and moved it to where I needed him. A flitting thought crossed my mind of how it wasn’t fair that only one part of me got all his attention. “Don’t stop.”

“You’re killing me, Donata.” He captured my mouth as he slipped his hand under my T-shirt and over my bra to properly knead my breasts. “You’re killing me.”

His words sent me down the usual Maxim-Luca spiral of raw and unadulterated desire. What I needed from him consumed all logic in my mind, until all that was left was this feral need to climax and forget, even if for only a little while, that our lives were like opposite magnets. No matter how hard we tried to be together, something always stood in the way.

He wrapped his arm around my waist and moaned into the sensitive spot behind my ear as he found his release. My orgasm rolled through me in the same breath. I reached for his face and kissed him hard until the high wore off and reality sunk in once again.

“We can’t keep having sex all over the compound like we’re the only ones living here.” I panted a breath.

“This is my home. I do whatever I want.” He sucked on my neck. “This is your home too. I know you can’t see it now because you’re hung up on the past. But with time, you will.”

When he held me in his arms like this, imagining a new life with Maxim didn’t seem so impossible. It didn’t feel like I was jumping off a cliff with him. Slowly, the rise and fall of his chest returned to a normal rhythm. His arms fell away from me and gripped the backrest of the sofa. I fixed my jeans and turned to face him.

I ached for him. If the circumstances were normal, I would be able to surround him with friends and family. But I couldn’t even give him that. Everyone Luca loved was dead. He was alone in the world. Who was I to judge how he chose to deal with his pain? By now, I was sure his head trauma had caused the memory loss. But the fact that he was able to make new memories told me that deep down Luca didn’t want to remember his tortured past. The Maxim identity was Luca’s new lease on life, on his own terms.

“I’m willing to try.” I cupped his cheek. “Maybe one day, you’ll do the same for me.”

“Donata.” He pressed his forehead to mine.

The doorknob jiggled, and my heart almost burst out of my chest. “Someone’s here.” I pulled down on my T-shirt and tucked it back into my jeans.

“I got it.” He buckled his belt and padded toward the door.

When he swung it open, Papa rushed in. “Oh.” He pursed his lips when his gaze zeroed in on me. “I didn’t realize you had company.”

“We were just leaving.” With all the serenity I could muster, I strolled toward Maxim and took his hand.

Maybe getting under Papa’s skin wasn’t the best course of action. But I wanted to see his reaction to Maxim and I acting like a real married couple. He had wanted Belinda to continue her relationship with Maxim to show me that my marriage was no more than an arrangement to benefit the Brotherhood. If I was going to stay here a bit longer, I had to find out what Papa wanted from me. He was using Maxim. But how? To what end? How did I fit into his plans?

I was dying to share what I’d found out with Maxim. But he wasn’t ready to see Papa for what he was.

“Stay a minute.” Papa gestured toward the sofa. “We have much to celebrate.”

“Celebrate?” I asked Maxim as he ushered me to the sofa.

“Maxim’s ascension. He didn’t tell you?” Papa sat on the club chair across from us, regarding me with intense curiosity. “We’re having dinner tonight to make it official.”

“Another party?”

“It’s a private dinner. Just us.” Maxim pointed at Papa and us. “Ivan and Tore, since he’ll take over my responsibilities once I’m Pakhan.”

“What?” My pulse spiked. “You’re going to be their leader?” Jesus Christ. What kind of Machiavellian move was that? I inhaled to regain my composure. Papa didn’t need to know how fucked up I thought Maxim’s new promotion was. “And Papa?”

“He has his own plans.” Maxim offered Papa a kind smile.

I hated the amount of reverence Maxim held for Papa. This ascension had to be yet another ploy to make Maxim feel like he was part of the family, that he belonged here. Someone as greedy as Papa would never give up his power. No way this whole thing was real.

“Dinner will start at eight sharp. Don’t be late.” He met my gaze. “This is an important day for Maxim.”

“I can see that.” I smiled, taking Maxim’s arm. “I’m sure he will be great.”

Unfortunately, that was the truth. Maxim was a natural leader. The men loved him. Now that Dominic and his crew were gone, the energy in the house was lighter. Maxim had killed those guys for me, but also, for the Brotherhood. He’d proven himself to his crew and Papa. And in doing so, I lost Luca a little more. Damn it.

“I thought Ivan was your only son,” I added sweetly.

Papa swallowed. No doubt he didn’t appreciate a lady doctor pointing out the obvious to him. He cast aside his own son to favor Maxim. What was the deal there?

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