Chapter 4

Four

MAXIM

Recognition hits her like a freight train. There’s a small flinch and her eyes widen a fraction. It’s a small reaction, but it’s there.

“You’ve heard of me then?”

She scoffs and rolls her eyes. “My father runs the Irish mob, of course I’ve heard of you.”

“And yet, I haven’t heard of you.” I’m not surprised Rory Quinn kept his daughter hidden and away from this life. If I ever have a daughter, I think I’d probably do the same. Well, maybe not quite the same. This pretty little princess in front of me was no better than a spoiled little girl. Throwing a hissy fit because of a ruined dress? Fuck me.

I can’t take my eyes off her. Her dress was hiding a glorious set of curves, and not only that, she’s in a strapless sheer black lace corset that leaves very little to the imagination. Her dusky rose nipples are hard beneath the fabric, and I want to sink my teeth into them.

The door slams open and I’m not surprised to see Niki striding in. He’s probably been watching our whole interaction on the cameras. He’s always had a thing for watching. I pretend that I don’t know about the camera he’s placed in mine and Angel’s room, but in reality, it kind of turns me on that he watches. And he knows that I know, but we’ve never confronted it. Never said anything about. It simmers between us, a dirty little secret, and I often wonder if he’ll ever do anything about it, or if watching us is as far as his interest goes.

He stops behind Echo, and I can just about make out his hands moving in the light. When I found out what had happened to Niki, I was the first to learn sign language. He’s my brother, my family and there was no way I was leaving him to face the world alone. He’s a brute, and a pain in my ass most of the time, but when I thought I’d lost him… Christ. It didn’t even bear thinking about.

“ I want her. You have your Angel. She’s mine,” he says furiously, his eyes dark with obsession.

“She’s not a possession, Niki. You can’t own her.”

“ Max ,” he snaps, baring his teeth.

“Nikita,” I warn, using his full name. He hates it when I do that because it reminds him that I’m in fucking charge.

He folds his arms over his chest and stares at me.

“Can someone explain to me what’s going on?” Echo says, her brows drawn down in a cute little frown.

Ah. She can only hear one side of the conversation. I forget sometimes. It’s been so long that communicating with Niki is just normal for me, for us, that I often forget people aren’t always as understanding.

“Niki can’t talk.”

“But you’re not signing, so either he can read your lips, which would be very impressive in this rather low lighting, or he can hear you perfectly well.”

My, my she’s smarter than she seems. “Correct.”

“Niki?” she calls out. “Would you please stand in front of me?”

Well, that was incredibly polite. How surprising. The little hellcat does have manners. I wonder if she’d be quite so polite if she knew exactly what kind of things Niki got up to.

Niki looks at me over her shoulder, a question glaring in his gaze. I shrug my shoulders and he pauses for a moment before stepping around her and into her field of vision.

His nostrils flare as he takes in the sight of her, and I have to agree. She’s fucking stunning.

“Now you may continue your conversation,” she says like a queen passing a command and not a prisoner in her underwear. I’m almost impressed.

“ You know how to sign?” Niki says, a look of disbelief on his face.

“Yes,” she replies. “I’m a little rusty but I think I can remember enough.”

“ That’s it ,” Niki says as he turns to me. “ I’m keeping her. ”

The little spitfire scoffs. “Yeah, no. That’s not happening.”

“ Don’t care what you want. ”

“Aww, is the itty-bitty baby throwing his toys out the pram?” she says with a pout, and I have to laugh. If she knew what this guy was capable of, I don’t think she’d be so provoking.

“Echo,” I say, pulling her attention to me. “You do know this guy could literally rip you apart with his bare hands.”

“Oh, yes,” she replies with a feral grin and fuck. These two together are going to… nope. Not thinking about it. And definitely not happening. “Why don’t you let me out of these restraints, and I’ll show you what I’m capable of.”

Fuck, I didn’t think my dick could get harder but apparently it can when a sexy as sin hellcat threatens violence on my best friend.

“Not happening, princess.”

“Stop calling me that,” she spits.

“Or what?” I goad, stepping closer and bringing the edge of the blade to one of those pert little nipples. I push the tip of it against her skin and she inhales sharply.

“ Are you wet, little rabbit?” Niki says as he comes to stand next to my shoulder. His gaze is focused on her face as a delicate little flush blooms across her cheeks.

Her thighs rub together but she doesn’t say anything.

Niki reaches out and traces a finger over the mound of her breast, down the centre of her sternum, over her stomach, stopping when he reaches the lace of her tiny black panties.

Echo’s eyes widen as he brushes his finger over her clit through the lace and a tiny little mewl sneaks through her lips.

“ She’s fucking soaked.” His fingers tremble a little when he signs, and I know he’s worked up.

“Again.” I order Niki, wanting to hear that delectable little sound leave her mouth again.

Niki’s thick digits dip inside her underwear and she wriggles in her restraints. I push the tip of the blade deeper into her skin, warning her to stay in place.

“Don’t move now,” I whisper. “Wouldn’t want to mar this pretty skin.”

“Don’t,” she breathes.

“Scared you might enjoy it?”

Her entire body judders as Niki sweeps his fingers through her wet folds. I can hear how wet she is. The sound is fucking obscene.

Niki pulls his hand out her underwear and his fingers are glistening with her juices. I don’t even think about it. I wrap my free hand around his wrist and suck his fingers deep into the wet heat of my mouth. His eyes blow wide, his nostrils flare, and his chest heaves as I lick every single drop of her juices off his fingers.

She tastes fucking divine.

I suddenly have the need to sink to my knees and worship her pussy like it’s my fucking alter. I want to destroy her and then cherish her. Ruin her then take care of her as I put her back together.

Niki releases a breath, a look of surprise in his eyes like he didn’t realise he’d been holding it in.

He looks from his fingers to my face then back again. Almost like he can’t believe I just did that.

I step forward, a cocksure grin plastered on my face and I’m very much aware of Echo’s eyes following our every move.

“You two gonna make out?” she asks, a little excitement making her voice tremble.

I throw a glance at her. “You want that?”

She shrugs her shoulders. Well, I’m guessing it’s a shrug. Hard to tell with the restraints.

“Not like I’ve got anything else to do with my evening.”

I cock my head at Niki. “What do you say, brother?”

His blue eyes darken, and I know he’s interested. Maybe we’ll finally cross that line we’ve drawn in the sand.

“ Don’t call me that.”

“Why not?”

“Because it makes me want to do dirty things to your mouth. ”

Fuck me.

“That’s hot,” Echo says on a groan, and I have to agree.

I’m not one to easily fluster, but Niki seems to manage to steal my ability to respond. I swallow past the lump in my throat, nerves chasing away my usual arrogant charm. “Who knew you were such a smooth talker?”

Niki smiles wide. “ With the things I want to do to your mouth, you won’t be talking at all. ”

“Is that right?” I provoke. “You’re all talk and no?—”

His mouth collides with mine. It’s so unexpected, so brutal, I have to sink my hands into his blonde hair just to stay standing. I knew this moment had been building between us, coming to a head until it reached the point where it would explode. And fuck… this kiss is fire. It’s poison, and I am completely, utterly fucking addicted.

My back arches under the sheer force of Niki’s kiss. His fingers dig into the side of my cheeks, forcing my mouth open wide so he can sink his tongue deep into my mouth. There’s no finesse, no subtlety, just sheer power and brute force.

Hot damn, Niki. Where had all this been hiding?

Niki slows the kiss and eventually pulls back. He stares at me, his ice blue eyes stormy as if he’s battling a decision. He drags his thumb over my bottom lip, rolling it before digging his nail into it. I hiss at the sharp sting and my cock twitches at the threat.

It’s like looking into the face of a predator as it plays with his food. I know I’m not going to escape, so I’m just going to lie and wait and see how long it takes for him to devour me.

The metal door slams open and Angel storms in. He slams to a halt when he sees me in Niki’s arms.

“What the fuck do you think you’re all doing?”