24. Alyssa
CHAPTER 24
ALYSSA
I wake up in the middle of the night with a start.
Voices.
Are they here to kill me?
I creep towards the bedroom door, my heart pounding in my chest. The voices are clearer now, and I recognize one of them as Maar's. Carefully, I crack the door open just enough to peek through.
Boss Sneed's bulky frame fills my vision. He's lounging in one of our cheap chairs, looking entirely too comfortable for my liking.
"Your girl's quite the dancer, Maar," Sneed drawls, his voice oily. "Can't keep my boys off her much longer. They're itchin' for a... private show, if you catch my drift."
I feel bile rising in my throat. Maar's voice is tight when he responds. "Anyone touches her, they die. Simple as that."
Sneed chuckles, the sound grating on my nerves. "Now, now. No need for bloodshed. I've got a proposition for you."
"I'm listening," Maar says cautiously.
"One job. That's all. Take out one of my partners, and you're free. Both of you." Sneed leans forward, his eyes glinting. "I'll make it worth your while. Enough creds to be your own man. Protect whats yours. And word'll spread – no one'll dare touch your pretty little dancer again."
I hold my breath, waiting for Maar's response. He hesitates, and my stomach twists.
"I left that life behind," Maar says slowly. "Alyssa... she's my jalsaghar. My fated mate. She makes me want to be better."
Sneed's laugh is harsh. "Sometimes, boy, you gotta get your hands dirty to keep the good things clean. Ain't that the way of the galaxy?"
There's a long pause, and I strain to hear Maar's reply.
"You're right," he says finally, his voice heavy. "I'd lose my soul to save her life."
I stumble back from the door, my mind reeling. Quickly, I slip back into bed, pulling the covers up to my chin. My thoughts are a jumbled mess as I try to process what I've just heard.
Maar, agreeing to kill for me. To protect me. The man I've been angry at for so long, still willing to sacrifice everything.
"Who is it?" I hear Maar ask.
"Odex down at Club Cirrus," Sneed says. "Goes by the name of Gracchus."
"I'll come down with you now," Maar says. "Alyssa is asleep. Let me just post some security outside our door."
I stay still as the two men talk and then hear the door to our condo close after a while.
It's still.
Maar gave up his life of crime and killing for me.
Because he loved me.
And because of that love, he's willing to sacrifice everything.
I pace the living room, my nerves frayed and my mind racing. The call to the club was easy enough - a raspy voice, a fake cough, and I'm off the hook for tonight's performance. But waiting? That's the real torture.
Hours crawl by. I try to distract myself - reorganizing drawers, scrubbing imaginary stains from the counters, anything to keep my hands busy. But my thoughts always circle back to Maar.
The sun dips below the horizon, casting long shadows across our dingy apartment. I perch on the edge of the couch, every muscle tense. The clock on the wall ticks relentlessly.
Finally, just as I'm about to scream from the tension, I hear the soft beep of the door lock. My breath catches in my throat.
Maar steps inside, his movements slow and careful. He freezes when he sees me, his eyes widening in surprise.
"Alyssa," he breathes. "You're... awake."
I stand, taking in the sight of him. His clothes are rumpled, and there's a dark stain spreading across his chest. Blood. So much blood.
"Looks like you had a rough night at the tables," I say, my voice steadier than I feel.
Maar's jaw tightens. "It's not what you think-"
"Really?" I interrupt, taking a step closer. "What blood is that?"
He pauses.
I watch Maar's face, the tension in his jaw, the flicker of something raw in his eyes. He takes a deep breath, shoulders sagging.
"It's Odex blood," he admits, his voice barely above a whisper. "I did a job... to protect you."
My breath catches in my throat. He didn't lie to me. He told me the truth. No matter how terrible, he wants me to trust him. I should be horrified, disgusted even. But all I feel is a strange, twisted sense of understanding.
"You don't have to explain," I say softly. "I... I heard you talking to Sneed earlier."
Maar's eyes widen. "Alyssa, I-"
I hold up a hand, silencing him. "No, let me finish. I've been angry for so long, Maar. Furious at you for lying, for dragging me into this life. But tonight... hearing you agree to go back to that world, just to keep me safe?" I shake my head, a sad smile tugging at my lips. "I finally understand how much you love me."
He looks stunned, like he can't quite believe what he's hearing. I gently take his hand, feeling the roughness of his skin, the slight tremor in his fingers.
"Come on," I murmur, leading him towards the bathroom. "Let's get you cleaned up."
In the harsh fluorescent light, the blood looks even more stark against his skin. I start to unbutton his shirt, my fingers working methodically.
"You don't have to do this," Maar says, his voice hoarse.
I look up at him, meeting his gaze. "I want to."
As I peel the fabric away from his skin, I can see the tension slowly leaving his body. I run the water, letting it warm up as I finish undressing him.
"You're not disgusted?" Maar asks, sounding genuinely confused.
I dip a washcloth in the warm water, wringing it out before gently pressing it to his chest. "I'm not saying I approve," I say carefully. "But I understand. And... I'm tired of being angry, Maar. Tired of pretending I don't still care about you."
He stays silent as I clean the blood away, revealing the familiar planes of his body underneath. When I'm done, I look up at him, really seeing him for the first time in months.
"What now?" he asks, his voice barely audible over the running water.
"Alyssa," Maar breathes, his voice a low rumble that resonates through me. His eyes search mine, reflecting a storm of emotions I can't begin to untangle. I step closer, feeling the heat radiating from his bare skin, the raw power contained within his muscular frame.
I raise a hand, resting it against his chest. His heart beats strong and steady beneath my palm, a stark contrast to the turmoil I know is churning inside him. "Maar," I whisper, my voice catching in my throat. "I need you to know... I still care about you. More than I should, given everything that's happened."
His breath hitches, eyes widening slightly. Before he can respond, I slide my hand lower, feeling the muscles in his abdomen tense at my touch. I trace the outline of his cock through the fabric of his pants, watching as his pupils dilate with desire.
"I need you," I continue, my voice steadier now. "Here. Now. No more running. No more hiding. Just you and me."
Maar's response is a deep, guttural growl that sends shivers down my spine. His hands find my hips, pulling me flush against him. I can feel his cock, hard and insistent, pressing against my stomach.
I unfasten his pants, letting them fall to the floor. His cock springs free, thick and veined, pulsing with raw need. I wrap my fingers around it, stroking slowly, teasingly. His breath quickens, a low moan escaping his lips as I increase my pace.
"Enough," he grunts, his voice barely recognizable. He grips my wrist, stilling my movements. "I need to be inside you."
I release him, stepping back with a coy smile. I turn around, presenting him with my backside. Glancing over my shoulder, I catch his eye as I reach down, hiking up my skirt to reveal the slick heat between my legs. "Then take me, Maar," I say, my voice thick with desire. "Fuck me hard."
He needs no further invitation. With a swift, powerful motion, he closes the distance between us, his hands gripping my hips tightly. I feel the blunt head of his cock probing at my entrance, eliciting a shuddering gasp from my lips.
And then, with one powerful thrust, he's inside me. I cry out, the sheer intensity of it nearly taking my breath away. He doesn't give me time to adjust, setting a punishing rhythm that leaves me gasping for air.
Each thrust sends waves of pleasure coursing through me, igniting every nerve ending in my body. My fingers grip the edge of the countertop, knuckles turning white as I struggle to maintain my balance.
"Maar," I gasp, my voice barely more than a whimper. "Harder. Please."
He obliges, his movements becoming more frenzied, more desperate. I can feel the tension building inside me, a coiling spring threatening to break free at any moment.
"Cum for me, Alyssa," Maar growls, his voice a possessive rumble in my ear. "Let me feel you."
His words are all it takes to push me over the edge. With a cry that echoes off the walls, I succumb to the waves of pleasure crashing over me. My inner walls tighten around him, triggering his own release. He buries himself to the hilt, his cock pulsing inside me as he fills me with his seed.
For a long moment, we stay there, joined together, neither of us willing to break the spell. Eventually, Maar pulls out, and I straighten, turning to face him.
"That was... intense," I murmur, my body still trembling from the aftershocks.
We stand there in the quiet aftermath, holding onto each other as if our lives depend on it. Because, in a way, they do. Our love is a complicated, dangerous thing, but in this moment, none of that matters. All that matters is us. Together.