28. Nat

I'm genuinely shocked about what's happening. Not once in my life have I had sex in a public bathroom. Mostly because it's unhygienic, but also because I've never met a guy like Max. A guy who takes what he wants and is completely unapologetic about it.

The good girl in me wants to protest and push him away, but the rest of me is here for this. The first swipe of his tongue on my clit has me arching my back. Then his mouth is on me and I can't breathe. All I can do is feel.

With each caress, every lick and suck, I am pushed closer to the edge. This is a public space so I try to stay silent, but it's impossible. Max is giving me too much pleasure. Every nerve in my body comes alive, each synapse firing like a million stars exploding in the sky.

When he pushes a thick finger inside me, I clench down on the intrusion, wishing it was bigger, thicker. Then I feel a second finger stretching me, and his tongue licking my clit. He finds a rhythm, guided by my moans and whimpers, and I'm coming.

Loudly.

My gasps and cries echo around the tiled room, bouncing off the walls. He carries on sucking and licking me until it's almost painful and I yelp. I hear him chuckle and then he stands, wiping his face with a hand towel.

I don't know where to look now my orgasm has faded. Should I be embarrassed or grateful? Or both?

"Now do you see?" He stands between my wide-open thighs, with what must be a painful erection pressed against my bare, wet pussy. The subtle rocking motion of his hips is enough to send aftershocks through my body, making it hard to form a coherent reply.

"Huh?"

He chuckles. "How much I want you. How sexy you are, Natalya." God, his voice is like caramelized sugar, smooth and divine. "This is just a taster, malyshka."

"Is it?" His hand slides up my torso and reaches my breast. My nipples are like bullets, desperate for attention, but he merely brushes over them before cupping my face.

"Yes, we're going to go back to my apartment and then I will spend all night worshipping you until you no longer have any doubts about how attractive you are to me. Is that clear?"

Max phrases it as a question but I'm almost certain my attendance is not optional. I'm not sure I could force myself to go home alone now even if I wanted to. My legs are like jelly and my brain is blitzed.

Normally, I'd blame alcohol, but this time, it's not the booze.

It's Max.

He lifts me down from the counter and we leave the restaurant bathroom. Once we're back inside the main dining area, he hands over a credit card and then leads me outside. The usual car is waiting, with his guy, Artem, behind the wheel.

Artem is a vault. He never says a word or even looks at me directly. It's like I don't exist. But tonight I'm relieved because I know my face is probably flushed and my hair in disarray.

Max pulls me against him once my seat belt is securely clipped in. He nuzzles my hair affectionately, not caring that Artem can see us if he glances back in the rearview mirror.

The streets flash by and we pass the entrance to the park. I'm momentarily taken back to the evening when the gang of young men harassed me.

Max must sense my reaction and his arm squeezes me tighter. "You're safe with me," he says in a low voice.

For some reason, I believe him. Not once has he made me feel anything other than safe. Even though we've only talked about superficial things this evening, neither of us broaching the more difficult topics, and I still have no clue what he actually does, my gut tells me Max isn't the bad guy.

At least not where I'm concerned.

Of course, the niggling reminder that I thought Rick wasn't a bad guy either refuses to disappear completely. But I shove it down. Max has never been anything other than respectful to me, and I have to start trusting again.

Living my life inside four impenetrable walls is exhausting and lonely.

And I am so tired of being alone.

So just for tonight, I will let him in.

It may turn out to be a terrible mistake, but that's a problem for tomorrow's Nat.