by Ginna Moran
“Yes, sir,” the man says, calling order.
I struggle in Maddox’s arms, thrashing to give him a hard time just because I can. “Let me go back to my cell, dickwad.”
He grumbles against my neck without a word.
“Come on, CO. She doesn’t deserve the pit and you know it,” Quillon calls, risking Maddox’s wrath. “I’ll take her place.”
Maddox shoves Quillon hard enough that he stumbles back. “You can thank him for isolation.”
“You really are an ass,” I say, bonking my head to his chest. “You could’ve just let me eat instead of pulling this bullshit. Your brothers wouldn’t have done this.”
Maddox kicks the side door leading into the prison yard open and hauls me outside. I blink in the bright sunlight, the warmth as inviting as the heat emanating from Maddox’s muscular body as he presses into me.
“I’m not my brothers.” He hooks his arm across my waist and lifts me off my feet. Spinning me in his arms, he forces me to face him.
I meet his stern face with a glare. “Obviously. They know how to treat a woman. Pleasure her, too.”
He releases a growl, his cinnamon breath caressing my lips. “Keep talking like that, cookie, and you’ll never want away from me.”
“Highly doubt it.” I lean in close but keep an inch of space between our lips. “It’s already you who can’t stay away from me.”
“Because it’s impossible. I’m your keeper.” He slides his hands to my ass and pulls my body to his like he can’t resist testing the fabric of our clothes with his raging boner.
“Liar. You don’t show this much attention to the other inmates.” I squeeze him between my thighs while combing my fingers through his long hair. “Just admit it. You’re only an asshole because you don’t want to want me but you so want me. I bet you imagine bending me over and fucking me from behind.”
Another soft growl escapes his mouth.
I smirk at him. “I bet it pissed you off that I allowed Quillon to sit with me. That I say his name when I can’t say yours.”
He tries to close the distance between our mouths, but I pull back, not letting him try to shut me up with a kiss. “Nova—”
Pressing my hand to his mouth, I cut him off as he says my name, my body loving way too much how it sounds like lust and need and passion rolled into a single breath of a word that leaves me wet.
“Admit it, CO. Admit to me that you know I don’t belong here and that the only reason you’re not already trying to overturn my sentence is because you are afraid that once I get out of here, you’ll never see me again.” I slowly ease my hand away from his mouth. “You feel helpless against me, and it drives your power-hungry ass crazy.”
Maddox kicks the metal grate of the first pit off the mouth of the hole leading down. The world falls out from under me as he drops me without warning. I hold my breath and brace for impact, my feet sinking into the soft dirt before I lose balance and topple on my ass to land on my back. A shadow blocks out the pale sunlight trying to light the pit, and a second later, Maddox lowers himself in while pulling the grate back into place.
I don’t move, remaining in my spot as he drops from above and lands on top of me with his boots sinking into the ground and my sides. He tips his head down, his eyes glowing with fire, and he bends and slides his hand under my back to pull me up.
“You’re wrong,” Maddox says, his voice deepening even more. He sounds like a growl clings in his throat, refusing to let him sound anything other than gruff. “I’m not afraid of you getting out and never seeing you again.”
He locks his fingers to the back of my neck, holding me in place. My heart pounds out of control, the heat from his fingers sparking burning desire inside me that travels through my veins to consume my good senses.
“Then what the hell is your problem? You think I like that you call me your mate and try to claim me? I don’t. It’s the last thing I want to be to you.” I clutch the fabric of his uniform shirt in my fingers. “It’s been only days, and I can tell how horrible a mate you’d be. I’d never even date you in the Mortal World.”
“But you’d fuck me.” His jaw twitches with his comment, his Adam’s apple popping up with his swallow.
I release a gasp of a laugh. I don’t know why I’m so surprised by his remark. Or how he attempts to change focus. “You wish.”
“I don’t wish. I know. You want me to kiss you now. You imagine what I look like under my clothes. You’re pissed off that I don’t show you what I have to offer you like my brothers have. Or how I won’t get on my knees and beg you to accept me as your mate. How I’ll never let you hold that kind of claim on me.” His nostrils flare with his words. “I want you to admit how much you want me.”
I shove my hands to his chest. “Fuck off, CO.”
He smirks, adjusting his hard dick through his pants. I can’t stop my eyes from roaming down to watch him do so. “It’s why you refuse to say my name now. You know I’ll make you scream it in pleasure. You’re the one afraid of that. You hate how much you want me. How much you want to claim me.”
Annoyance rushes over me at his cocky-ass thinking. “The only thing I hate is how you refuse to believe in my innocence.”
“Because you’re not, cookie.” He risks my wrath and closes the space again. “Admit it.”
I tighten my jaw. “Fuck off and leave me alone. I don’t give a shit if you leave me in here. I’d rather be alone than with you.”
Turning away, I face the dirt wall, trying to get my anger under control. I don’t know how much longer I can take this hot and cold attitude of his. It drives me insane how attracted I am to his sorry ass, and what he claims is partially true. I don’t know what the hell is wrong with me. I’m waging a losing war with myself where no matter what I do, I face defeat. The last thing I want is for him to think he can pull this shit. I deserve more.
“Nova, come on. I’ll take you back to your cell.” His hard voice softens with his words. “My brother will come looking for you otherwise. He’s probably on his way. You’re projecting your feelings—calling to your mates because you’re in need.”
I frown. “What the hell? I’m not in need.”
“You are. I can feel that the truth got to you. You still want to cling to the life you lived as a mortal.” He moves closer. “It’ll only hinder you.”
Straightening my shoulders, I suck up my feelings and try to steel myself. “Because it’s my life. I shouldn’t be here. I’m not whoever you think I am. I’m not.”
Maddox puffs a breath through his lips. “If you would just admit—”
“Admit what? That I’m a murderer?” I try to push him away from me, but he backs me against the wall, pinning me in place, so I can’t fight to punch him. “No.”
“Admit you killed someone. If you admit it, we can deal with it. But you have to hold yourself accountable. If you don’t, I can’t help you.” His cinnamon breath tickles the stray strands of my hair around my face.
I close my eyes, trying to get my act together. When I flutter my lids open, Maddox leans in ultra-close, his features blurring with only the firelight in his eyes and the soft red glow of his scar across his face breaking through the shadows sharpening his face.
“I can’t,” I whisper, sucking my lip between my teeth.
“Why?” Lacing his fingers through mine, he tugs my hand to his chest, cradling it against his thumping heart.
“If I admit it, it’ll make this real.” I hate how I start to open up to him. I know better than this. He could take everything I say and use it against me. He will use it against me if he finds out my bloodline. That my name isn’t Nova Noble.
“It is real, cookie,” he murmurs, snaking his hand to my lower back. “You’re a dragon. You killed someone. You’re not of the Mortal World.”
“What about being your mate?” I lock my gaze to his as I ask. “Is that real? Do you truly believe that?”
He bows his head in a sharp nod. “You will be mine.”
“Maddox,” I say, puffing out my lips. “I’m a dragon. I killed a man who was trying to hurt me, but I’m not a murderer.”
The corner of his lip quirks up. “Now I believe you.”
I sigh and rest my head on his shoulder. “You suck, you know that right? This tough-guy attitude—”
“Drives you crazy,” he says, his voice lacing with something deep and velvety. “As much as you get to me.”
I snap my head up to look at him. “See, it’s shit like this—”
Maddox crashes his mouth to mine, shutting me up with a kiss that leaves me gasping. I don’t know if it’s my frustration, my sudden admission to something I want to deny, or my out of control hormones, but I can’t stop myself from devouring his affection and returning his passion with my own fiery desire.
Our tongues meet in a deep caress, the taste of his kiss sweet and spicy and full of heat that I drag my fingers up his chest and around his neck. He pulls me closer by my hips, letting me feel the length of his shaft. I lift my leg up to feel the pressure where I want and moan as he guides my body to grind against his. He nips my lip, pulling it between his teeth before breaking away to trail his lips down my jaw.
I comb my fingers through his hair as he pops open the top button of my jumpsuit and sucks the skin at the top of my breast, leaving a mark. Grabbing at his collar, I test him to see if he’ll let me try to undress him, but he doesn’t give me the chance, hooking his fingers to his shirt to unfasten it and shrug it off.
Pulling me down, he nudges me to lie on his shirt, using it to protect me from the dirt ground. I arch my back as he adjusts himself between my legs, propping his muscular body on one hand while using the other to continue to pop open the buttons on my jumpsuit. I lift my shoulders, giving him permission to pull it down to show off the tight-fitting sports bra Rowan had given me.
Maddox doesn’t waste time trying to pull it over my head and stretches the fabric so hard that it rips down the middle to expose my breasts to him. He bows down and kisses my cleavage, drawing his tongue over the supple plane of my breast to suck my nipple into his mouth. Twirling his tongue, he takes his time to familiarize himself with my body. I squirm beneath his weight, playing with his hair and massaging my fingers into his taut shoulders. My hands brush over a couple of scars, raised on his skin, and I can’t help myself from tracing the edges.
Maddox works his way lower, tugging my jumpsuit down with his movements. His mouth blazes across my stomach, sending tingles exploding down my body to my groin. He moans with my movements and heavy panting, my body pleading for him to hurry.
Pushing up on his knees, Maddox tugs off my shoes and then the rest of my jumpsuit, leaving me lying in not the cutest underwear. I blush immediately, hating that I don’t get the privilege to prepare for moments such as these, but his facial expression never changes. His eyes drink me in like I’m the sexiest woman he’s ever laid eyes on.
He doesn’t take his eyes off me, watching me watch him as he links his fingers to his belt and unfastens it, dropping it and his weapons to the ground. I swallow and rub my lips together, anticipation coursing through me. He teases me by slowly unzipping his pants. I can’t stand the wait and push myself up, closing the space to him on my knees. Sliding his hand up the length of my back, he tangles his hand in my hair and tugs me to him for a kiss.
I reach between us and slip my hand in his pants to feel his thick shaft held down by his boxer-briefs. He groans a breath as I try to wrap my hand around it, my fingers unable to close completely. And damn. What am I getting myself into? Maddox doesn’t seem like the gentle, love-making type. He seems like the type to destroy beds and frames and like he’d fuck me so hard and fast that I’ll walk funny for days.
“You’re nervous,” Maddox whispers against my lips, slowing his passion to kiss me tenderly with an unexpected gentleness.
My cheeks burn and I shake my head, choosing not to answer verbally in fear that my voice might rise. Because I am a bit nervous, but it’s not a bad thing. It’s excitement more than anything.
“Don’t be. I wouldn’t have been given a mate unable to handle me.” He says it so matter of fact that I can’t stop an exasperated laugh from escaping my mouth. “You are tough.”
Fuck. I’m going to have to be. “You can’t expect me to be quiet. It’ll be impossible.”
“I know. I ensured to keep the yard clear.”
I giggle, my voice shaking, annoying the hell out of me, but I turn my focus to his body and pull his cock free. The tip of it grazes my stomach as I stroke my hand over the length of it, taking a moment to familiarize myself with his intimidating-as-hell body now throbbing and flexing in my hand.
Maddox traces his fingers to cup my breast, pinching my nipple between his fingers. I moan at the sensation, squeezing his cock a bit harder, rubbing my hand up and down its length. He continues his exploration, spreading his fingers to warm my middle as he works his way down to my pelvis to drag my underwear off my hips, leaving them stretched at my knees, not wasting a second to dip his finger between my legs to feel the wet warmth of my body. Pleasure bursts through me, the pressure of his middle finger sliding over my clit weakening my knees. He hums under his breath, his enjoyment of touching me sounding so sexy.
“So perfect,” he murmurs, using his free hand to dig into my ass cheek. “I want to taste you now.”
I nod my agreement, lying back so he can tug my underwear off completely. He devours the sight of my body, resting his hands on my knees, warming up my body with his closeness. He could easily lift my hips and guide himself into me, but instead he stretches my legs to fit his broad shoulders between them. I tip my head back and close my eyes, panting and squirming as he holds me in place, kissing my knee as he works his way to my thigh. He starts slow, teasing me with his tongue, and I reach down for him. Lacing his fingers through mine, Maddox holds my hand while flicking his tongue so quickly over my clit that I squeeze my thighs together, not expecting to already be on the verge of an orgasm. He moans, the heat of his breath sending tingles over me, and I call out his name, my toes curling and back arching.
He gives me a cocky-bastard smile from between my legs and pushes back up to his knees. I pant, my body buzzing, craving for him to continue. He licks his lips and grabs my ankles, stretching my legs up to drag me a few inches closer. Like he desires to test my flexibility, he spreads my legs open into the splits and aligns his body to mine. I dig my fingers into the ground, my heart thumping in anticipation. Holding me under my ass, he pulls my body to his instead of thrusting into me, slowly teasing me with his tip to watch my reaction.
I moan softly, the pressure of his massive cock sinking deeper into me feeling like he touches every single nerve ending inside me. My skin buzzes, an unfamiliar wave of emotion swirling through my head and down to my heart, warming me from inside out.
“You’re mine, Nova,” Maddox says, guiding my body to his as he picks up speed. “You might not want to be, but you are.”
I can’t even respond to him as he bumps our bodies together, making me gasp moans every time we connect completely. A pleasure so intense courses through me that I don’t even care if he stakes a claim on me or treats it as if I don’t have a choice. Because right now, I choose to be with Maddox and feel the ecstasy he arouses in me. I embrace this crazy-ass experience, allowing him to screw me in a damn pit. I never imagined I’d do something like this, but I don’t care. I was always a thrill-seeker, an adrenaline junkie, and Maddox gets to me so crazily that it’s just a rush to be near him.
And he feels the same about me.
I don’t know how I know, but it’s a deep-seated feeling that grows inside me the longer I lock Maddox with my gaze. He doesn’t close his eyes or look anywhere else but at me like he refuses to miss even a second of my reaction his passion evokes in me.
Leaning forward, he plants his hands at the sides of my head and bows down to kiss me. I curl my legs around him, clinging to him with his power
ful thrusts that send me sliding up his shirt, getting dirt all over my hair.
His even, deep thrusting builds another intense pleasure inside me, and I feel like I’ll blow up at any second in a wave of fire from the dragon locked inside me. A strange, intense need clenches my body, and my hands start to burn and smoke, something setting off my branding. I gasp, ignoring the pain, the pleasure Maddox arouses in me all-consuming until I scream a moan, my whole body trembling.
Maddox slides his hand under my neck and pulls me in for another kiss, stealing my breath to replace with his until he thrusts a few more times as he cums. Easing away, he looks into my eyes and touches my cheek, caressing my jaw. He slides his fingers through mine to hold my hand while he catches his breath, but the second the tips of his fingers touch the top of my hand, he tenses and jerks upright.
“Fuck,” he whispers, running his finger over the glowing red digits. “I never logged you into the pit.”
I blink a few times, the pain in my hands finally consuming my pleasure. “What’s happening? Why are they glowing?”
“Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.” Maddox rushes to get up, pulling me with him.
He doesn’t bother to grab my jumpsuit and instead drapes his dirty uniform shirt around me before stepping into his pants. He grabs my hand, but agony burns over my skin, and I jerk away from him. My eyes swell with unwanted tears as heat unlike anything I’ve ever felt burns over my skin.
“Shit, hold on, Nova,” Maddox says.
I don’t get a chance to respond.
Red electricity bursts from the tops of my hands, shocking me. I screech in pain, my body jerking with a horrible muscle spasm. And then the electricity comes again and again.
I feel as if I’m about to die.
The red energy consumes me.
Chapter 13
Down and Dirty
“YOU RISKED HER life to claim her in the pits? Are you fucking kidding me? Our girl deserves better. She deserves lovemaking and romance.” Kash’s voice trickles through my mind.
