Basically, my cock screamed, “Y.O.L.O., Max!”
I grabbed her face with my hands, thinking about what my dick was trying to tell me.
Yeah. You’re right. You only live once.
I tasted her mouth. She moved against me more. Her sweetness hit my lips, and the taste of her reminded me of how desperate I’d been to be touched by anyone. Em had me busy. Darryl had me busy. Even Xavier sometimes had me busy.
But this night, this moment, it was all about me.
And I craved Valentina, ever since the first time she woke me up in Harlem, batting her eyes and forcing me to wear some over-priced designer shit.
Damn it. Em is going to kill me for doing this. Let’s hope the Russian doesn’t help her.
I kissed her, drinking her in. Not taking sips but pulling in gulps. I felt like I’d been starving, drying in some basement, chained up for weeks. Desperate for human contact. In need of someone’s touch. Kiss. Hug. Pussy. God, I’d been in need of pussy.
And so, I drank from her, and one sip didn’t satisfy my urge to be inside of her. It just drove me even more crazy. Our lips slipped against the other. I thrust my tongue into her mouth, and she tried to devour it. I never knew lips could be so soft. So warm. So yielding. She trembled against me and I wanted to warm her up. Make her scream my name.
I pulled back from her a little, so I’d have room to slide one of my hands between her creamy thighs. I went straight for that throbbing bud. She raised her hips.
Moaning, her pussy soaked my fingers.
“Damn.” Dropping my head down to one of her breasts, I sucked in a nipple into my mouth. I rubbed that moist lush place, stroking and caressing. Her body jerked against mine. And although my cock was still in my pants, pre-cum leaked out the tip.
Chill. Chill.
I dragged myself away.
Goddamn it. I’m already coming in my pants. No, man.
I let go of her face and rose from the bed.
Shocked, she mumbled something in Russian.
I found my shirt and picked it up. “Speak English.”
“Fuck me!”
I paused from getting ready to put on my shirt. “Are you a friend or foe, Valentina?”
“What?”
“Did you have anything to do with my uncle or yours getting shot tonight?”
“Of course not.”
“Then, what did you do?” I asked.
“None of your business.”
I put my shit on. “I covered for you.”
“And you will continue to.” She sat up. “You tore my dress off. You are going to fuck me tonight.”
“What did you do, when you left the castle? Did you even leave it? Is there something up with the ballerina or is it something else?”
She glared at me. “Just get naked and fuck me.”
“Friend or foe?”
“That’s a stupid question to ask. Kazimir is my brother. If you’re his friend, then I’m your friend.”
“I actually haven’t decided, if he’s my friend yet.” Shrugging, I walked off.
She called out to me. “Maxwell, are you serious?”
Am I?
My dick was surely pissed. It weighed heavy as I rushed out of there.
“Maxwell!”
I hurried before I raced back in there and fucked her.
But when I opened the door, someone stood there, scaring the fuck out of me.
Valentina yelled from behind. “Maxwell! Fuck me!”
Em’s Russian glared.
“Maxwell, please!” she called out again.
I left her suite and closed the door behind me.
The Russian studied my clothes, probably spotting the wrinkled shirt and pants.
Valentina’s voice traveled through the door. “Maxwell!”
I held my hands out. “I didn’t sleep with her.”
“Apparently.” He walked off, heading toward the elevator.
I checked my watch. “Fuck.”
“I told you six.”
“Yeah.” I yawned. “Your sister didn’t want to leave.”
“She never does. That’s why I don’t club with her anymore.”
Several of his men stood by the elevator. One kept the doors open with his foot.
The Russian wasn’t big on words, so I assumed I should follow.
We got on. I stood to his right and looked at him. “Have you heard anything about Xavier?”
The elevator doors closed. He continued to look at them as we lowered. “Yes. He didn’t make it. I’m sorry.”
I dug my hands into my pockets and held back the pain. “What happened to the two guys we caught?”
“They’re dead.”
“And the other one?”
“He’ll be dead soon.”
“And what will you do about Sasha?”
“Make a list, Maxwell.” The Russian turned my way. “Anyone you want will be gone.”
“Meaning?”
“I owe you.”
“Because of Xavier?”
“Because of everything.” The Russian faced the elevator doors again. “But anybody that had something to do with Xavier’s death, you’ll get first hand at them.”
“Thank you.”
I forced all sorrow away. Now was not the time to cry or even think about the loss that would come from Xavier’s death. I couldn’t let it out. The Russian and his men would not be there to comfort me.
“Em knows?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“How is she?”
“Sleeping for now.”
I nodded. “Keep her busy. If she’s not, there will be more bodies.”
“I’m starting to see that.”
The elevator doors opened.
We stepped out.
Several uniformed men stood on the outside. They stepped forward and greeted the Russian, speaking Czech. After an uncomfortable exchange, they let us in.
“I need your help.” The Russian moved the police tape in front of the suite’s entrance. “My ex was killed here. I don’t know if you’ve heard of a ballerina named—”
“Olesya Pavlova?”
“How did you know her name?”
“We heard the news report when we were riding with your sister.”
“What was her reaction?”
The question made me uneasy. “What is all of this about?”
The Russian grinned. “You’re trying to protect her?”
“Who? Em? No.”
The Russian shook his head. “No, you’re trying to protect Valentina.”
“Why do you say that?”
“You avoid questions, when you’re being protective.” He tilted his head to the side. “What was Valentina’s reaction to the news?”
“She didn’t appear sad or anything. She did try to switch the channel.”
“Why didn’t she?”
“Oleg smacked her hand away.”
The Russian raised one eyebrow. “Interesting. Why do you think he did that?”
“Because…I think Oleg let her do something…and realized that—”
“Valentina had got him in a lot of trouble?”
“Maybe.”
“Lucky for both of them, I don’t have any feelings for Olesya, although I didn’t think she had to die. She had a career and promising future ahead of her.”