8. Maryse

CHAPTER 8

MARYSE

T he elevator doors slide open with a soft hiss. I pull out my holo and type another message to Bruticus.

"Hey sexy, I'm here! Hope you're ready for me ;)"

No response. The message shows as delivered but unread. My heels click against the polished floor as I head to his condo first.

"Bruticus?" I knock on his door. Nothing.

A chill runs down my spine. He always answers my texts within seconds. Always.

I punch in my override code to his condo. Empty. The bed's still made, exactly like it was this morning.

My own condo next door beckons. The door reads my biosignature and slides open with a whisper. I step inside, but the lights don't flicker on like they should.

"Computer, lights." Nothing happens.

My fingers find the manual switch. Click. Click. Still darkness.

A low chuckle echoes from somewhere in the shadows. Deep. Masculine. Familiar.

My heart pounds against my ribs, but not from fear. Heat pools low in my belly as I recognize that sound.

"Someone's been a very naughty boy, messing with my lighting system."

Another dark laugh, closer now. The sound sends shivers of anticipation down my spine.

"Maybe I should call station security?" I tease, taking a careful step forward. "Report an intruder?"

The darkness shifts. A warm breath ghosts across my neck.

"Nothing can save you from me…"

I spin around. "Aha! Caught you!"

Empty space greets me. The darkness swallows any trace of him.

"Oh, so that's how we're playing it?" My bare arms prickle with goosebumps. The thrill of the hunt - or is it of being hunted? - makes my breath catch.

A whisper of movement behind me. The air shifts, stirring my hair. A shadow darker than the rest flits past, too quick to track. My pulse quickens. His ebony skin makes him nearly invisible in the darkness.

The soft thud of the closet door catches my attention. Got you now.

I creep forward on tiptoe, careful not to let my heels click against the floor. The closet door looms ahead, a slightly lighter rectangle in the darkness. My fingers curl around the handle.

One quick yank and-

Empty hangers sway gently. The closet holds nothing but my clothes.

Hot breath caresses my neck. The heat of him radiates against my back.

I arch back against him, my breath hitching as I realize Bruticus is completely naked. My fingers brush against his rock-hard cock, a jolt of desire shooting through me.

"Bruticus..." His name escapes my lips like a secret.

He kisses my neck, his lips hot and demanding. I nearly swoon, my knees buckling, but he holds me firm. Then, abruptly, he pulls my arms roughly behind my back.

"What are you?—?"

Before I can finish, he's tied my hands with my scarf, the silky fabric now a binding constraint. I struggle, more out of instinct than genuine resistance. The knots hold fast.

"Bruticus?" I whisper, a thrill of excitement coursing through me. I'm at his mercy, and I love it.

He vanishes again, leaving me to struggle helplessly. The darkness swallows him whole, but I can feel his presence, a palpable heat that makes my heart race.

"Oh no," I say, playing along with the game. "I'm all tied up. Anything can happen to me..."

I can't see him, but I sense his smirk, the satisfied curve of his lips. My pussy throbs, growing moist with anticipation. I'm his captive, his plaything, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Bruticus springs from the shadows, a blur of ebony skin and bone spurs. His claws, sharp as sin, rend my jumpsuit in one swift motion. The fabric flutters to the ground, leaving me in nothing but tiny pink panties. I gasp, the cool air kissing my exposed skin.

"Bruticus!" My voice is a mixture of shock and delight.

He embraces me from behind, his body a furnace against my back. One hand grasps my throat, firm but gentle, a promise of dominance that sends a thrill down my spine. The other hand finds my breast, kneading it with a possessiveness that makes me moan.

"You're mine, Maryse." His voice is a growl, low and primal.

I arch into his touch, a shiver of pleasure coursing through me. "Yes," I whisper, giving myself over to him completely.

His index finger traces my lips, a silent command. I obey, taking it into my mouth, sucking on it with fervor. His taste, wild and intoxicating, fills my senses. He groans, a sound that vibrates through me, igniting a fire in my core.

"You drive me mad, woman." His breath is hot on my ear, his voice a rasp of desire.

I release his finger with a pop, a smirk playing on my lips. "Good. That's how I like you."

He chuckles, a dark sound that promises retribution. His hand leaves my breast, trailing down my stomach, dipping into my panties. I gasp, my hips bucking against his touch.

"Bruticus..." His name is a plea, a prayer on my lips.

He explores me, his fingers expertly playing my body like an instrument. I writhe in his grasp, my breath coming in ragged gasps. His touch is electric, sending jolts of pleasure through me. I'm his, completely and utterly, and I exult in it. I glory in the way he enjoys my body, the way he makes me feel alive.

His grip on my throat tightens slightly, a reminder of his control. I moan, a sound of pure, unadulterated pleasure. This is what I want, what I crave. Him, wild and untamed, taking me, possessing me. And I give myself over to him, willingly, eagerly, exulting in every touch, every caress, every sensation.

I tumble onto the bed, a gasp escaping my lips as I land face down, ass up. A thrill courses through me, a mix of anticipation and excitement. I wiggle, trying to tug down my panties with my hands still tied behind my back. The silk restraints limit my movements, but I manage to shimmy the fabric down a few inches.

Bruticus growls, a low, feral sound that sends a shiver down my spine. He grasps the panties with his teeth, the sharp points tugging at the delicate fabric. With a swift jerk of his head, he tears them off completely, leaving me bare and exposed.

His lips press against my ass, kissing each cheek with a reverence that makes me squirm. Then, without warning, he bites down, just hard enough to make me yelp.

"Oh yes," I cry out, the sensation sending a jolt of pleasure straight to my core.

He chuckles, the sound vibrating against my skin. His tongue traces a path down, running through my ass crack, and I can't help but moan. The sensation is intimate, taboo, and utterly intoxicating.

His fingers find my pussy, spreading my lips wide open. I can feel his hot breath on my exposed skin, the cool air of the room contrasting with his warmth. I'm on the edge, every nerve ending alight with desire.

"Bruticus," I whimper, his name a plea on my lips. I'm so close, teetering on the brink of an orgasm. His touch, his breath, every sensation pushes me closer to the edge. I'm at his mercy, completely and utterly, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

"Bruticus, please," I gasp, my body taut as a bowstring. His tongue, that wicked instrument of torture, dances around my clit with a skill that has me teetering on the edge. Again.

He pulls back, a low chuckle rumbling against my thigh. "Not yet, Maryse."

A whimper escapes my lips. "You're killing me."

"Patience, little flame." His breath is hot on my skin, sending shivers up my spine. "You'll come when I'm ready."

"I'm ready now," I plead, trying to arch against him, but his firm grip on my hips keeps me pinned to the bed.

"Almost," he murmurs, his voice a dark promise. He dips his head, his tongue circling my clit with a precision that has me seeing stars. My body tenses, the pressure building, building...

And then he stops. Again.

"Bruticus!" His name is a curse on my lips. I'm a writhing, panting mess, every nerve ending alight with need.

"Now, Maryse," he growls, his voice a command. "Come for me."

His mouth closes around my clit, suckling hard. The world explodes in a white-hot burst of pleasure. I scream, my body convulsing as wave after wave of ecstasy crashes over me. My legs shake, my toes curl, and I'm pretty sure I black out for a moment, the orgasm so intense it's an out-of-body experience.

When I come back to myself, I'm gasping for breath, my body limp and sated. Bruticus's red eyes meet mine, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips.

"Good girl," he purrs, the sound vibrating through me, sending aftershocks of pleasure coursing through my veins.

I reach for him, wanting to pull him up to me, to kiss him, to thank him. But he's not done with me yet. His eyes darken, his smirk turns into a wicked grin, and I know I'm in for a long, wild night.

And I can't wait.