Chapter 12
Riley
I wasn't sure he was going to stay, but I could still feel the cold hands against my skin from the remnants of my nightmare. Inside, it felt like I was going to fall apart from fear and the only thing that could keep my entire world from crumbling was if Maxim wrapped his arms around me right now.
His stormy blue eyes held mine, firm and unwavering and just a tiny bit unsure. His hesitation was written clearly across his face, the lines of concern etched around his eyes and the slight furrow in his brow. I could see the conflict there—the need to comfort me warring with whatever reservations were keeping him away from me.
Was I not enough?
The vivid memory of my nightmare flickered before my eyes, causing me to shiver involuntarily.
Cold fingers trailed down my back, the darkness enveloping me, whispers filling the air, echoing with threats and shadows darting just out of sight.
I needed the safety that came from his touch, the assurance that I wasn't alone in that dark, haunted place in my mind.
"Maxim, please," I whispered, my voice breaking slightly. The vulnerability in my plea seemed to break through whatever was holding him back.
Slowly, almost tentatively, he climbed into the bed beside me. His movements were careful, deliberate as he pulled me into his arms. The moment his embrace closed around me, a sigh escaped my lips, my body relaxing instinctually into his warmth.
His arms were strong and secure around me, and as he pulled me closer, I nestled my head against his chest. I could hear the steady beat of his heart, a soothing rhythm that grounded me in the here and now. The warmth from his body seeped into mine, banishing the cold remnants of my terrible dream.
It felt so good, so right to be held like this. The fears that had seemed so overwhelming just moments before began to melt away under the protective circle of his arms. I felt cherished and utterly cared for.
It was different than anything I'd ever felt before.
"Thank you," I murmured, my words muffled against his shirt. Maxim's hand stroked my hair gently. His constant tender touch made me feel even more secure.
I wanted more of it.
"You're safe here, with me," he said softly, his voice a deep rumble that resonated with promise and I believed it.
I really did.
He felt like a fortress, a solid, immovable wall that could withstand anything, even the most horrendous storm. I curled into his warmth, pressing my body against his even more closely.
"Try to get some sleep now," he urged.
My core swelled with heat. I tried to ignore it as best I could, but it was difficult, so I focused on the steady rise and fall of his chest. It was hypnotic, lulling me into a strange sense of calm despite the rhythmic pulse of the tiny bundle of nerves between my legs.
What was my body doing? I'd never been with a man before. I was still a virgin. For fuck's sake, I had never even been past first base. I didn't want this to turn into something else.
Right?
I wasn't sure.
His hand continued to stroke my hair, petting me until I closed my eyes, just focusing on his constant touch.
"Promise you'll just lay here next to me? Promise you won't leave?" I asked.
Sometimes I liked to play the part of a girl that was more experienced, like I did with Gregor, but right now I wasn't trying to be coy.
The truth was I was just an innocent girl who didn't really know what she was doing.
"I promise, Riley-girl. I'll stay and keep the nightmares away," he said softly, and I couldn't help the feelings and emotions swelling inside my heart. Warmth spread through me, easing the tight knot of anxiety that had built up in my chest.
Lying there, safely encased in his strong arms, I felt a security I had never known before in my life. The steady rhythm of his heartbeat against my ear was forever soothing. Each breath he took seemed to chase the lingering shadows of my fear further away.
I shifted slightly, burrowing deeper into the comfort of his arms. The soft fabric of his shirt was smooth against my cheek, and the subtle scent that was uniquely him—a mix of aftershave and something rugged—filled my senses. It was comforting, grounding, and for the first time in a long while, I felt utterly safe.
As Maxim's steady breathing mingled with mine, the tension in my body slowly unwound, my muscles relaxing one by one as his presence reassured me that no harm would come to me as long as he was there next to me.
Gradually, my eyelids grew heavier with each passing moment, a deep, peaceful sleep beckoning and drawing me in. I resisted at first, clinging to the wakefulness that kept me aware of his closeness and everything about him, but as his hand gently stroked my hair, soothing and repetitive, the last remnants of my anxiety melted away, and I finally allowed myself to drift off to sleep.
When I woke up again, it was still dark outside. My breath stuck in my lungs as I realized that Maxim's arms were still around me.
He hadn't left.
He'd stayed after all.
My core pulsed to life yet again. A deep shuddering breath escaped my lips, and I bit my lip, trying to keep quiet. A knot of desire built up deep in my belly and it took everything in me to keep it to myself.
But my body kept growing hotter, my arousal coiling tighter and tighter until I feared something inside me might break.
I could feel my nipples pebbling beneath the fabric of my pajamas, the sensation sending a delicious thrill of pleasure through me. I was wearing one of the sexy nighties that I'd ordered, a lavender-colored lace-trimmed cotton number that only went to mid-thigh and had ridden up to expose the matching pair of panties.
At least I was still covered by the blankets.
My core throbbed, and I could feel the wetness gathering there, the slickness between my legs becoming harder to ignore. I chewed the inside of my cheek when I noticed something else.
His cock.
Curled against him like I was, I could feel every inch of his iron length pressing into my belly. He was enormous and it took my breath away in a quiet gasp that seemed to echo throughout the room.
Quickly, I glanced up to see if he was awake and thankfully his eyes were still closed. I listened to his breathing, noting it was still long and steady and I swallowed back a very quiet whimper.
My arousal continued to spiral out of control.
As more time passed, I started to feel restless. I was so turned on and there was literally nothing I could do about it, which was more frustrating than I'd ever imagined it could be.
Well, there was one thing I could do, but I shouldn't… right? I could reach down and try to slip my fingers between my legs, but there was literally zero chance that wouldn't wake him up so that he could catch me in the act.
I couldn't have that. It was far too shameful.
So instead, I just laid there, trying to gain some semblance of control over my forever intensifying need and getting nowhere. I shifted slightly, trying to alleviate the desire between my thighs and he cleared his throat.
The sound made every muscle in my body freeze.
Had I woken him up?
Fuck.
Fuck.
Fuck.
"You're not sleeping, Riley-girl," he observed quietly. His voice was low, a rough rumble in the silence and a tiny, barely audible gasp fell off my lips.
"I…" I began, but I didn't know what to say, so I closed my lips and didn't say anything at all.
"Is something the matter?" he asked, and I watched his eyes open.
"No… I…" I replied, but I pressed my teeth into the pillow of my lower lip, quieting myself before I said too much. My pussy was clenching hard, my clit pulsing like a second heart, and my whole body felt flushed, the heat coming off my skin in waves.
Could he feel it? Did he already know?
I tried to quiet the whimper that escaped my throat, but it slipped out before it was too late.
I knew he heard.
His gaze sharpened and he studied me intently, his eyes locked with mine. I couldn't stop the way my breath shuddered at the heat in his eyes.
"What do you need, Riley-girl?" he asked gently, and I chewed my lip even harder.
My shoulders bowed in just a little bit as I gazed up at him. His cock throbbed against my belly, seemingly harder and longer than before and it made me nervous.
Not nervous that he was going to hurt me.
Nervous about how hard he might fuck me.
Nervous about how hard he might make me come.
It was the kind of nervous that made my thighs press together. His gaze darkened and then he was looking at me like he was a man starved and I was the only food for miles.
I swallowed hard and then I drew in a breath, trying to figure out what to do.
"It's okay," he encouraged, his voice soft, the tone reassuring.
But it wasn't that simple.
How could I explain what I needed?
My pussy throbbed, the pressure between my legs so intense that my clit pulsed with every beat of my heart.
I couldn't take much more of this. I needed relief and more than anything, I wanted him to be the one to give it to me.
I wanted him to touch me.
For a long moment, I just stared at him, my breathing coming in short little pants until I eventually did the unthinkable.
I kissed him.
It was a soft, hesitant brush of my lips against his, barely a touch, and as our mouths met, a shock of electricity jolted through me. He didn't move, and the lack of his response made a wave of mortification crash over me.
"Riley-girl…" he growled and my stomach flip-flopped inside of me.
Maybe I'd overstepped.
Maybe I'd made him angry.
Maybe I shouldn't have…
Then his kiss brushed against my lips again, steady and sure and so much harder than mine had been. Another whimper escaped my throat, and as his mouth captured mine, I lost all self-control. My hands flew up, wrapping around his neck, and his arms tightened around me, pulling me flush against him.
The kiss deepened and fiery tendrils of desire burst all over my body. I felt like I was going to implode from the pressure between my legs, and I arched my back, desperate for relief.
My lips parted, and Maxim didn't hesitate, taking the opening and plundering my mouth with his tongue. He ravaged my mouth with his, taking and possessing me with the first real kiss of my life.
I didn't fight the moan that escaped my lips. The sound was loud and obscene and filled the air around us. Upon hearing it, a cloud of shame billowed up inside of me, but he quickly dashed it away. His arms tightened, pulling me even closer as his tongue claimed me, his lips moving hungrily against mine.
Maxim groaned, the sound rumbling through his chest, vibrating through me and sending a shiver down my spine. I gasped and he kissed me even more firmly before his arms pulled back and his hands grazed over my body, touching and exploring me, from the curve of my hips all the way up to the hard plane of my shoulders.
I gasped when his hand passed over my breast, but he only paused for a moment, just long enough to pinch my nipple softly through the fabric of my nightie.
Then he took hold of the tiny shoulder straps of my pajamas and pulled them taut.
Without warning, he tore right through them, first the left and then the right. I went to push him away, but his fingers wound around my wrists and expertly pinned them above my head.
He easily ripped through the rest of my nightie with just one hand. The tearing sound sent another shiver racing through me. The ruined nightie fell away, baring my breasts and my belly and the rest of me, and I sucked in a sharp breath.
A low growl erupted from his throat, and his mouth claimed one breast while his free hand palmed the other.
A surge of pleasure spiked through me, more intense than I'd ever felt in my life.
I moaned and twisted against him, writhing in his arms, and he groaned in response, the sound reverberating against my sensitive skin. His tongue circled around my nipple, and when he sucked it into his mouth, I arched against him, moaning with wild abandon.
I tried to squirm out of his grasp, but his hold on me was firm. Pinned not only by his grip but also the cage of his body around me, there was no hope of escape for me.
But why would I want to? I just wanted more.
Much, much more.