by Sloane, Roxy
Maria smirks. “She doesn’t look like a nobody.” She studies my face, then gives a delighted laugh. “Look at you, you’ve got it bad.”
“Not even close,” I growl, still shaken up. “It’s complicated.”
“It always is.” Maria pats my hand. “Call her over, I want to meet her.”
Luckily, we’re interrupted by another doctor arriving. This one, at least, looks like a grown adult. He checks Maria’s chart.
“Everything looks fine,” he begins, then catches the look on my face. “But just to be sure, I’m going to take you up for a CT scan, and keep you overnight for monitoring.”
“I don’t need to stay,” Maria protests. I talk over her.
“Good. Call me if anything changes.” I help her into a wheelchair for the scan, then drop a kiss on her forehead. “I’ll check in with your mom, let them know.”
“Thank you,” she smiles at me, tired. “And don’t worry about me. You’re the one who’s playing with fire here. You know Nikolai...”
I do.
I watch her get wheeled to the elevator, fragile in the chair. My rage returns. She’s never done a thing to hurt anyone, and now look at her. She must have been so scared, I can only imagine what kind of threats that jackass Dmitri made. When I get my hands on him...
“Is everything OK?” Zoe approaches.
“Not even close,” I curse. “I can’t believe Nikolai would cross this line. Threatening me is one thing, but going after Maria--”
“Dax!” Zoe’s sharp voice brings me back. People in the waiting room are staring at me. “Just calm down,” she tells me. She takes my arm and leads me through a door, into the stairwell. It’s empty here, and we’re alone. “Maria is fine,” she reminds me. “That’s the important thing.”
But for how long? Just how far will he go to get what he wants?
I look at Zoe for the first time. She’s all dressed up, I finally register. Her glittery dress is skin-tight, and she’s got sexy red lipstick on.
Was she on a date?
I’m annoyed to feel a stirring of jealousy. I shouldn’t care who she’s with or what she’s doing, especially not at a time like this.
“You should go,” I tell her, but she shakes her head.
“I need to talk to you.”
I’m about to remind her just how uninterested I am in hearing her out, when Zoe folds her arms and gives me a stubborn look.
“And I know I’m the last person in the world you want to see, but you’ll want to hear this. It’s about Nikolai.”
I freeze. “How do you know about him? You swore, you had nothing to do with the guy.”
“I don’t!” she protests. “God, will you let me get a word out before jumping down my throat?”
I glare. “I’m not in the mood for your games, Zoe. Not tonight.”
“This isn’t a game.” she grinds out. She takes a breath, as if she’s trying to keep her temper. “Look, I think I know what’s going on with Nikolai. What he wants. But you have to hear me out this time. You have to listen.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
ZOE
Dax doesn’t say a word during the cab ride back to his apartment, but I can feel the tension radiating from his body beside me in the back seat.
He stares out the window, avoiding my gaze. His jaw is clenched, and he looks like he’s about to snap. I can’t imagine what he’s been through tonight. It’s clear that Maria means the world to him, even if he insists they’re not romantically involved. I try to imagine how I’d feel if something happened to my family, and feel a wave of sympathy for him.
I reach across the seat to hold his hand in a tight grasp. Dax looks down for a moment, then pulls away.
My heart sinks. I may have gotten him to give me a break, but he’s still keeping me at arm’s length. Maybe when he sees how far I’ve gone to in order to help him, he’ll understand that I’m trying to build bridges again.
The cab pulls up outside his building. Dax pays, and we get out.
“Fuck,” he swears suddenly. I look. The bartender from the club, Jimmy, I think, is waiting by the doorway, looking furious.
“What the hell, man?” Jimmy starts, approaching fast. “What’s going on? I got a call, but the hospital wouldn’t let me near her--”
Dax raises his arm, cutting him off. “Maria’s fine,” he answers curtly. He looks back at me. “You go ahead, I’ll see you upstairs.”
I’m itching to stay and find out what this new fight is about, but I’m not going to push my luck. I nod, and head inside to the elevator. But the door stays propped open, and I can’t help but hear everything as Jimmy keeps raging.
“Why the hell won’t anyone let me see her? I have a right, dammit.”
“You’re wrong.” Dax sounds calm on the surface, but I know his tone by now, and he’s anything but relaxed. “You have no rights, not as far as she’s concerned. Just go home.”
“Where’s Luca?” Jimmy keeps raging. “I want to see him. Why are you keeping him from me?”
“And I’ve told you, that’s not your decision. Maria doesn’t want you near him, not yet.” Dax sounds tired. “Look, it’s been a long night. I promise, I would have called you if it was anything serious. She’s fine, the kid’s fine. Just go home.”
“How come you’re the one who gets to see them? It’s not right.”
I start to feel guilty, eavesdropping like this. It’s a personal conversation that’s none of my business. Plus Dax didn’t look like he was in the mood to talk, so he’s probably going to come inside any minute now.
I pull the grate and quickly head upstairs, to the spacious industrial calm of Dax’s apartment.
I look around. It’s just as cool as when I saw it the other night: metal accents and bare brick walls. I stifle a yawn, suddenly hit with tiredness. It’s past three AM now, and I haven’t slept properly in days. I could use a hot drink, and some food too, so I head for the kitchen area, done up in black granite and stainless steel. I feel a little like an interloper, but I figure Dax will be glad for something to eat after all the stress of the night, so I take a look in his fridge.
Empty shelves, beer, and takeout stare back at me. But I didn’t make it through college without picking up some tricks about late-night fuel: I find some bread in a cabinet, and some expensive stinky cheeses in the drawer.
Hello, grilled cheese.
By the time Dax enters the apartment, I have some hot tea brewing, and two buttery sandwiches frying on the stove.
He pauses just inside the room, looking confused.
“Sit down,” I tell him. “The food will be ready in a minute.”
He opens his mouth like he wants to argue, then stops. “Thanks,” he says instead, giving me a suspicious look.
“No problem.”
I finish up in the kitchen, then bring the tray over to his living area. Dax is sprawled in a leather armchair, so I put his plate in front of him and pour a mug of tea. “Sorry, I didn’t have much to work with,” I apologize.
“No, this is great.” He takes a bite, and looks surprised.
“You had some fig jam gathering dust, so I threw it in too,” I explain.
He gives a smile. “Maria got me that, like a year ago. Said I needed to be able to treat a woman to a good breakfast in bed.”
I settle back on the other couch, and start in on my own food. “I’m glad she’s OK,” I offer.
Dax tenses again. “For now.”
His face is shadowed. I wish I could go to him, comfort him with a touch or embrace, but I know from his reaction in the cab that he’s still distrustful. And I can’t blame him.
“And things with Jimmy...?” I ask hesitantly. I want to be supportive, but I don’t know where the boundaries are.
But Dax doesn’t snap at me. “It’s a mess,” he sighs, rueful. “We used to all be so close. We grew up together,” he explains, “Me and Jimmy, we were like brothers. And then he went and fell for Maria. She was crazy about him too,” he
adds with a nostalgic smile. “She was a good girl, the best thing to ever happen to him. But Jimmy, he was already on a bad path. The crime, drugs...”
Dax shakes his head. “I’d already gotten out, away from Nikolai and his crew, but Jimmy couldn’t resist the easy cash. The power. No matter how many times she begged him to shape up, he wouldn’t listen. I tried my best, too. When Maria got pregnant, she made it clear. He could get right, and be a father and a husband to them, or he could get out.”
I already know this story won’t have a happy ending, but I can’t help asking. “What happened?”
Dax gives me a tense smile. “One last job, he called it. An armed robbery, some electronics place. They had an inside guy, it was supposed to be easy, but the security guy there decided to put up a fight. Jimmy was the getaway driver, and the police got him before anyone could make a move. Ten years in jail.”
“I’m sorry.”
Dax shakes his head, a determined look crossing his handsome face. “He made his choice. He could have gone straight, stepped up for Maria and his family, but he chose to put himself first. He missed that kid’s life, his first steps, his first words. That’s the shit you show up for, no matter what. Luca needed a father.”
“So you stepped up instead. That’s a really big deal.”
I’m struck with a new admiration for the man in front of me. He didn’t have to take on the responsibility for his friend’s failings, but he did. Not many guys would be so strong.
Or so damn sexy.
Dax shrugs off my praise. “It’s nothing. I’ve tried to do more, but Maria’s stubborn, she won’t let me interfere. She reminds me a little of you that way,” he adds with a rueful grin.
“I’m going to take that as a compliment,” I laugh.
He arches an eyebrow. “If you must.”
Our gaze holds for a long moment. The chemistry between us crackles back to life, like the drama of the night has made Dax forget how much he hates me. Whatever the reason, suddenly I’m painfully aware that the two of us are alone again.
My body tenses with awareness and anticipation. The last time I was here, I didn’t make it out of the elevator, but before that...
I remember his hands on my skin, the amazing feel of his body on mine.
Damn.
My cheeks get hot. I can tell from Dax’s expression, he’s seen my reaction.
He knows exactly what I’m thinking.
“So tell me, what’s so important you came all this way over again?” Dax sits back, watching me like a panther watches his prey. “You’re all dressed up.”
His gaze trails over my body. I cross my legs, feeling very revealed in this outfit.
“I was at a party tonight.” I decide to cut right to the point. “Hosted by Dimas”
Dax’s face darkens.
“I overheard him talking to Andrew Landsley,” I add. Dax doesn’t look surprised, so I continue. “I’ve seen him at the club, right? They were talking about the land development, down by the waterfront. I googled it in the cab on the way over, and it’s currently protected for the environment, but Andrew is chair of the zoning committee.”
Dax curses under his breath. “That’s what all this is about? He’s causing no end of pain, for some fucking bureaucratic regulation?”
“That regulation is worth a hundred million dollars, maybe more,” I correct him. “Dimas has bought up a bunch of property, evicted all the residents. If Andrew decides to push for rezoning, strip away all the environmental protections, then Nikolai’s sitting on prime land. Think about it: waterfront condos, shopping development, office buildings. He’ll make a fortune!”
Dax gets up and goes to the bar. “I’m going to need something stronger for this.” He holds up a bottle of whiskey. “Want one?”
I shake my head. I can’t risk getting out of control this time.
Dax pours himself a drink. He knocks it back in one go. “Nikolai came to me, told me he wanted photos of the politician. You know, in compromising situations.”
“So he could blackmail him into the vote.” I nod. “Makes sense, in an evil asshole way.”
Dax snorts. “Evil asshole, that’s about right.” He shakes his head. “Damn. No wonder he’s going to so much trouble, with this much money on the line.”
He walks back over. This time, he sits beside me on the couch.
“What are you going to do?” I ask, trying to focus on the problem, and not his body, so close to mine. “You’re caught in the middle here. As long as Andrew holds the cards over the land zoning, Nikolai needs leverage.”
“Not just leverage. He needs to blackmail him,” Dax reminds me. “Which I’m not going to help him with. Not under any circumstances. My club is a safe place. Every time a member walks in, I’m promising to protect their secrets. That’s the unspoken code, it’s the foundation of everything I do.”
He looks determined, and damn, it’s hot. It would be easy for him to roll over, give Nikolai what he wants, and make the whole mess go away. But he’s standing up for something, trust and loyalty, no matter what the cost.
“We’ll think of something,” I reassure him. “There has to be a way out of this.”
His eyes flick over to me. “We?” he echoes.
I hold his gaze. “I thought you realized by now, I’m stubborn.”
Dax’s eyes blaze into mine. “And how am I supposed to trust you this time?” he demands. “How do I know you’re not in league with him? Or that you won’t just turn around and screw me over for the sake of your newspaper career?”
“I swear, I’m telling you the truth. I’ll do anything to prove you can trust me.”
“Anything...” Dax gulps the last of his whiskey, then puts the glass down. He gets up, and my heart sinks.
This is it, he’s going to throw me out now, send me packing without listening to another word.
But instead, he gives me a look that twists my insides. And I know what that look in his eyes means.
Hot. Dark.
Hungry.
“Get up,” he orders me. I don’t think twice before getting to my feet. Fuck, I’m already turned on, just from that deliciously dominant tone in his voice.
I wait, standing there as he slowly loosens his tie. Please don’t let this be another fake-out, I find myself silently praying. I can’t take another one of his games, not when the heat is racing through my body, and I can imagine how amazing it will be to have his hands on my skin.
His mouth.
That tongue...
Dax stalks closer, until he’s just inches away from me. “Why are you still here?” he asks, reaching out to touch my cheek. He traces his thumb over my lips, sending heat rushing straight between my thighs. “Dammit, Zoe, I can’t figure you out.”
Nor can I. Getting even more involved with him is dangerous, but I can’t stay away.
“I want to help,” I insist weakly. But that’s not the whole truth, and we both know it, so I force myself to continue.
“And I want you.”
Dax’s stare darkens. Something changes in his expression, like he’s finally reached a decision.
“Then take off your clothes. Now.”
Yes.
I obediently strip off the skimpy dress I’m wearing, leaving me in nothing but black lacy lingerie. All it takes is one look from him, and the drama and conflict between us fades away. Right now, there’s nothing but this heat, the chemistry compelling me to wait for his next order, his next move.
Anything he wants, I need it too.
Dax gets a dangerous look in his eyes. “You want me to trust you,” he says. “So you need to give up that same trust to me.”
My mind races. What is he talking about?
“Come.” He turns on his heel and strides across the loft. I want to resist his orders, but I can’t help but follow. The cool air whispers against my bare skin, and I find myself nervous all of a sudden, almost naked in my skimpy underwear and heels.
Dax leads me up t
o the bedroom, set on a mezzanine level above the main loft. It’s outfitted in sleek, minimal decor with a vast bed in the middle of the room. He dims the lights, so there’s just a soft glow from the spotlights above the headboard. My thoughts are zinging around in my head, but Dax just eyes me coolly, completely in control.
“Sit,” he says.
My stubborn streak rears its head. “I’m not a dog,” I reply.
His eyes rove over me. “Funny, I was just thinking you need a collar.”
My stomach flips. Oh my God, what am I getting into here? In a flash, I remember all the sexy, adventurous things I’ve seen at the club. Bondage, flogging, threesomes...
The thoughts are scary -- but hot, too. Every one of my encounters with Dax has been the wildest sexual experience of my life. He keeps raising the bar, so what’s he planning next?
Dax goes to the dresser and opens a drawer. He pulls out two of his ties, then waits.
I fight a battle in my mind between arguing with his domineering tone, or just submitting and getting to the good stuff.
I submit.
I take a seat on the edge of the bed and give him an expectant look. Dax’s mouth quirks with amusement.
“Nobody would ever mistake you for a sub,” he smirks.
“I thought a sub’s failures were always the fault of her Dom,” I reply sweetly.
He chuckles. “I should just let you loose in the club with a Dominatrix whip and heels.”
“Sounds like fun.”
“Really?” Dax steps closer. He trails his hand across my shoulders and collarbone, making me shiver. Slowly, he takes my wrists and binds them together with one of the silk ties.
My heart races.
“I thought you liked it when I pushed you around,” he murmurs, suddenly yanking the ties tight.
I gasp.
“You didn’t have any complaints when I ordered you to suck my cock.”
His tone is casual, but that makes what he’s saying so much hotter.
“Or when I pinned you down and fucked you up against the wall. You were begging for more,” Dax muses, tugging my bound arms above my head. I have no choice but to lift them, totally restrained.
