Chapter 14

With the remaining contestants from the Horseman Dual contest drowning their sorrows in cheap beer and tits, I'd say it's back to business as usual here. Even after Maddox's little hissy fit about Kevinspending the evening with me, everyone appears to be enjoying the extra festive ambiance that is unique to Satan's.

Follow You Homeby Nickelback plays through the speakers, vibrating the floor as I scan the room for Delilah. If Maddox insists on sharing me tonight, I'm obviously going to pick her.

Neither one of us are strangers to knowing how to make each other feel good. That and she is one of the only people who knows, for the most part, what I did to deserve a madman like Maddox Crane on my tail. So, if shit goes south, which there is a high probability that it will, she will know what to do.

Even with the rowdy patrons and music blaring, I swear I can feel his eyes on me and, as I move past the stage and turn my head in the direction of the bar, I can see him staring. Just waiting for me to return to him, obliging to his request, like he knows I will.

I walk to where I see Delilah's vibrant blue hair cascading down her backside as she has some guy straddled. I see the familiar polyester pea coat that Kevin wore in the contest. Fuck, of course. She probably felt bad for him, or Glinda convinced her to ease the blow so he and his frat boy friends wouldn't go start something with Maddox. Not like they could, he'd annihilate them, but either way, it'd be a bloodbath.

Now standing behind Delilah, I tap her shoulder, lowering myself to her ear. "I need you."

"Oh, fuck no, you again," Kevin says, practically throwing D off him. "Where's your boyfriend?" he asks, panicked, his gaze flickering back and forth.

"He is not my boyfriend, first of all, and second, I'll make sure my friend Gwenn makes up for it," I say, motioning to Gwenn up on the stage.

"Forget it, fuck this place." He throws his hands up, signaling for his frat boy minions to follow him.

"Poor guy," D giggles. "Let me guess, this involves the one that shall remain "nameless" or whatever," she air quotes, shooting a glance over to where Maddox waits.

"Yep," I say, reaching for her hand, lacing her fingers in mine so we can head over to where my Boogeyman awaits.

"Are you sure about this?" she asks, yanking my hand closer to her side.

"It'll be fine," I reassure her, taking the lead as I guide us to the threshold of private rooms.

My vision begins to tunnel the closer we get to him. The red lights that line the hallway give off an eerie glow that somehow makes him look even hotter than he already is.

God damn it. Why are all the hot ones so damn crazy?

* * *

"This way ladies." Maddox casts himself aside, pretending to be the gentleman I know he's not, allowing Delilah and I to walk ahead of him.

Delilah flicks her eyes at Maddox, a disgusted scowl warping her beautiful face before she tightens her grip on my hand and leads the way.

The three of us move in silence, the only noise that fills the air is the distant echoes from the music out in the main room and mine and Delilah's heels clicking. Maddox's footsteps are surprisingly soft, not a thud or squeak from the soles of his large boots to be heard.

As we near the end of the hall, a rush of heat begins at my feet before traveling up my legs. By the time the odd sensation works its way to my spine, it's ice cold, much like the ringed hand that has mine trapped.

Maddox squeezes my hand as he moves from behind me to standin front of Delilah, who looks just as confused as I am.

"This room is off limits, asshole," Delilah says, yanking her hand away from mine.

"Um, yeah, you're not allowed back here." I chime in, stepping in front of both of them to block the door. My hand barely grazes the handle, but to my surprise and much to my dismay, it is unlocked.

As the door creaks open, I feel a prickling sensation on the back of my neck. Instinctively, my hands move from the handle to the collar that traps my throat. I notice the space between the choker and my flesh is significantly smaller. As I glide my thumb beneath the smooth leather, the tip of my finger is pricked by a semi dull spike that was definitely not there before but is now protruding on the interior.

Maddox moves against my backside, the sheer size of his body behind mine feels like I am being swallowed by a dark storm cloud that somehow feels more ominous than my own. He invades my every sense, holding my breath hostage in my chest and making every inch of my skin crawl in heated anticipation.

His masked face lowers to my neck. A guttural groan emerges beneath his mask, which echoes past my eardrum and all to way to my pulsing center.

I've spent so many years wondering what it would be like when he emerges from the shadows long enough to play with me and I have to admit, I don't like this neediness he brings out in me. I'm all for playing a submissive role, but if I'm not careful, he may trick me into submitting more than what waits between my legs for him, and I can't have that. Submitting means losing and losing means he wins.

Forcing myself to snap out of the trance his presence has put on my body, I turn around and face him.

"You know, you'd come off more threatening if I didn't have a thing for masks," I laugh, bringing my hand to the elastic that holds his mask up. Just as I'm about to lift the band up, he aggressively swats his hand at mine before snatching it in his palm. With my hand trapped by his, he forcefully guides me to the wall just outside the doorway, pressing me against it.

Swinging my other hand up, he now cuffs both my wrists above my head,

"You're hurting me," I seethe.

"Good," he murmurs.

Keeping me pinned against the wall, he turns to a stunned Delilah. "You can go ahead, we will be right there," he says to her, but she doesn't move.

"Go. D," I add.

"Any funny business and you're dead," she warns from the other side of the doorway.

He nods unconvincingly before redirecting his sudden burst of anger my way. "You," he breathes, his voice tight.

"Yes?" I grin, studying the way the lights highlight his mask. I realize it's a walking scrapbook of the highlights from some of our conversations when I was just Final Girl and he, the Boogeyman. Living carefree and oblivious to the maleficence that laid dormant in both of us. When it was just our screen names connected and not our twisted souls.

"You better behave yourself in there, you hear me?" he threatens.

I arch my back, forcing my body to brush against his. "I will," I begin with a pout that makes him tighten his grip on me. It feels like the rings on his fingers are digging into my skin…and I like it. "I don't want you to shock me with this collar you have around my neck," I wink.

Once more his grip tightens on me just as an unexpected gust of air invades my cheek. My brows bunch, tilting my head where I can see his mask, but I realize that now his lips and chiseled jawline are exposed, but the top half of his face is still concealed. My gaze travels further to where I see the blade style ring on his index is half turned, revealing a small button that the pad of his thumb is resting on.

"You wish this was a shock collar," he hisses. "Say anything about what you just felt and I will make sure those blades around your neck pierce your flesh instead of tease it," he hisses. "Now, get in the room and, for once in your god forsaken life, be a good girl." he commands, dropping my hands.

"You got it, sir." I wink, pivoting in the direction of the doorway. My heel lifts to take a step when an abrupt gust of air nips at my backside. Before I'm able to process where it came from a stinging sensation spreads on my ass.

He fucking spanked me.

Finally.