3. Marie

MARIE

W hat the fuck is going on? I try to clear my head and push down the overwhelming need to vomit as I get a good grip on the situation. Breathing's hard, but I concentrate on taking advantage of the little bit of air I can get through the thick fingers pressed against my mouth. The man in front of me, Blake, is fucking huge. His broad chest and muscular arms are on display with his Henley stretched taut. I could get lost in those steely blue eyes. He's got a bit of a beard, brunette hair that's just long enough to grab on to and tattoos scrolling up his neck on one side, making him look like a cold-blooded badass who'd fuck your shit up without hesitation.

Or pin your legs back and fuck you like he owns you.

I recognize him as the tears in my eyes finally clear. He was at the bar with Lexi's crush. That knowledge drops my fear levels down a notch. At least I've seen him before. I don't know who the fuck this guy holding me is. And I'm sure as hell not okay with it. As soon as I get a chance I'm elbowing him right in his dick. I happen to know right where it is, since it's digging into my back.

I realize I've stopped fighting while I was staring at Blake. He's got a stupid grin on his face like the cat who caught the canary.

" … more of a hellcat." Damn right I am. I'm racking my brain trying to figure out what the hell I'm going to do. I attempt to move again, but the brute of a man holding me has yet to loosen his grip.

"My hellcat wanted to spice things up and try something different tonight. We were just heading home to try out a little roleplay. You know I don't usually mind, but I'm not planning on sharing her."

His voice is calm and confident. My heart fucking stops at the thought of being shared by these two. Not going to fucking happen. Even though my pussy just clenched in longing and my core is instantly hot. Is that what the guy holding me wants? No fucking way. I start to fight again when I hear Blake speak up through a laugh.

"Come on baby, stop fighting him. Maddox's not getting your ass tonight and I bet all that wiggling in his arms got him hard." I look at him once more and something in his eyes is pleading with me to play along. For some strange reason, I feel an instant sense of safety with him. It's fucking crazy. I was just running for my life to get away from him, but now my body is pushing me to trust him.

Danger. I can feel it in every bone of my body. Whoever this Maddox is must be a threat. It makes sense if Blake has me playing a role. Maddox is a danger to Blake too. Although I don't see how anyone could be a danger to Blake; he looks like a man who gets what he wants and would slice your throat open if you stood in his way.

I don't have many options as it is. But if he's giving me a way to go from having to fight two men off to only having to fight him … I'll take it. I force myself to relax in Maddox's arms, which is difficult since his body against mine keeps me on high alert. He's holding me like he's done this before and I can't get away from the deep rumbling of his chest when he speaks. It's scary as hell.

I may have grown up a na?ve little girl, but I know better now. I need to play along and take the out that Blake's given me. At least for the moment. I mumble into Maddox's hand to let me down. Not that he can hear what the hell I'm saying. But it gets a laugh from both of the men and the brick shithouse finally lets me loose.

My first instinct is to run when he sets me down, but my legs are shaking too much. I shut down that train of thought and instead attempt to right myself and get into the mindset Blake wants me to be in. I'm his hellcat. That thought sends an instant wave of desire through me. My treacherous body can't get past the fact that he's ripped and sexy as fuck.

I look up at Blake and whimper, "I think I hurt my ankle." I try to sound a bit sexy and pout a little. I want this fucker to think I may actually be hurt and that I'm playing along with him. My heart's still pounding in my throat and I'm just hoping I read him right.

"Aw shit, let me take a look." He sounds sincere in his response and walks over with purpose, staring at the ankle I'm holding.

I think back to when he caught me on the street. Why the hell was he chasing me if he wasn't going to hold me down and have his way with me or mug me or whatever the fuck he had in mind? Why not let this Maddox guy have me? Why not let him join in? My filthy mind almost takes over and I have to push it down and rid my head of those thoughts before I lose my shit.

Blake

I drop to the ground and take her calf in my hands and slowly slide my fingers down to her ankle. There's a strap buckled around it, but it doesn't look swollen. I put a little pressure just under the bone. She doesn't even flinch at my touch. I look up at her to gauge her pain, but I swear my heart stops beating.

She's fucking gorgeous. She's panting a little and her lips are swollen from being held so tight, but I can tell that's how they would look if I were to give her a brutal kiss while fucking her. She'd be panting and writhing beneath me while I gave her just the right mix of pain and pleasure. My dick hardens instantly and I force back a groan.

I have to clear my throat to ask, "Does that hurt?" Those chocolate eyes find mine and she nods her head gently, her locks swaying across her shoulders. She's playing me. Her ankle doesn't fucking hurt. That's alright though, I'm playing her too. Tit for tat I guess.

I harden my voice a bit and search out Maddox, who's still behind my little hellcat. "Maddox, can you get me a chair real quick?" He stares back at me and his brow furrows.

"Why don't you just bring her in?" Fuck, I didn't think of that. Why wouldn't I bring her in? The clubhouse is less than ten feet away and it's a lot fucking warmer in there. I've got to be smarter than this.

"I don't really wanna stick around and I swear if I see Jace in there I'm going to knock him the fuck out." Maddox laughs at that. "He never shuts the fuck up."

"I hear ya." He turns toward the back doors which are propped open with a brick. "You want a drink, little kitten?" That nickname pisses me the fuck off. She's not his kitten.

She turns her attention toward him and in a syrupy sweet voice answers, "No thanks, Maddox," as if she's known him her whole life. Like they didn't just meet five minutes ago.

He looks at me and raises his brows questioningly. I answer easily, "I'm good." He nods and goes on his way inside. Not five seconds after he's gone, she starts acting up again. I feel her stiffen as my hand grips her calf. I'm not fucking stupid. She wants to fight me and take off again. I can see it happening before she gets a chance to move.

I look up at her and growl, "Don't fucking kick me and run." Her eyes widen and her whole body goes still. Yeah, I'm onto you, hellcat. "You wouldn't get far and it would be a very, very bad move on your part. Understand?" She clenches her teeth, but nods and I can't help but to add, "Good girl." I run my fingers down the inside of her knee, petting her.

"What's your name?" I stare into her gorgeous brown eyes, willing her to give me the truth.

"Marie."

"Marie," I repeat and let the soft word linger on my tongue, tasting it. I nod my head, liking the sound. "Just a few more minutes Marie, then I'll take you home." She stares back at me with disbelieving eyes that are slowly narrowing with anger and defiance. I chuckle, deep and low. "Your home, hellcat. I was just going to walk you home."