“Because you’re upset with me.”
“Well, I wouldn’tbeupset if you’d been honest—”
“I promised to be faithful to you, and I have been. Just you, krasivaya. Always. I promise again.”
He rocked against me again. He aimed his next hip pump lower, as he lifted my hips with ridiculous ease. When he rubbed against my clit, my eyes rolled back and I wrapped my legs around his hips, causing him to chuckle.
“So gorgeous,” he murmured. “You’re right where you belong.”
“Gloating isn’t becoming,” I chastised.
“Maybe not. But it’s fun. Nearly as fun as dry humping you.”
I couldn’t argue with that because I was growing wetter by the second. “Maxim.”
“What do you need, Ida Jane?” He trailed kisses across my cheek, toward my mouth. “Tell me what you exactly need, and I’ll give it to you.”
I hated that I loved when he did this to me—forcing me to talk dirty. I preferred to remain safely inhibited, but Maxim forced me to use my words…and my lips and my tongue. He made me vulnerable as well as naked. Damn him!
He thrust forward, and I writhed, wanting more friction, wanting him inside me. My skin pebbled with goosebumps as I struggled to contain the emotions.
He swiveled his hips.
“You! I want you. I…I…”
“—can have me once we actually talk about what’sreallybothering you.”
I gasped, flinging my closed eyes open. Hurt and frustration warred inside me. “Is this all a game to you? Because you don’t like to lose?”
I sobbed, falling back into old habits I’d used with my brothers growing up. I struggled against him, and Maxim grunted.
“No. Be still. Ida Jane.Fuck!”
He grimaced as one of my flails caused discomfort…I hoped to his dick. I was horny and hurt, and livid that he’d use my desire for him to get his way.
“Put me down,” I snapped. Sobs hit me harder.
This wasn’t like the sparse tears I cried to get my way with my brothers. This was big…huge…a tidal wave of emotion I could no longer outrun.
He set me down immediately. That should have mollified me, but all it did was make me angrier that the sweet, luscious friction was gone. I scowled as I backed away. Blade chuffed, coming to my side.
“We’re going on a walk,” I said.
“Ida Jane—”
“Do notIda Janeme. You need to think about what you’re playing at, Maxim.” I dashed at the tears that sprang to my eyes. I drew myself up, leveled my chin and swallowed.
Time to face this head-on. At least part of the problem. I wasn’t ready to bare my full soul…not when Maxim hadn’t told me he loved me. Or that he wanted a full life with me. But I could be honest about this.
“I won’t let you manipulate me into doing something just becauseyouwant it—with no regard formyfeelings. If you want to have a conversation, we can do that, but do not use sex to get me to talk. If you want to spread me out on your bed—”
“Ourbed,” he growled. “It’sourbed, and you should sleep in it every night. With me. That’s where you belong.”
I snapped my mouth shut, unsure how to respond to that. It was…alpha-holedelicious, as Millie would say, but did I actuallywantthat level of controlling male in my life?
I’d run headlong into Maxim’s arms even though I knew I hadn’t fully processed Dillon’s machinations.
It wasn’t even about the photos of Maxim with other women. Once I’d calmed down enough to ask Maxim for them, I’d seen that his hair was different, and he looked younger, just as he’d said. There were multiple other athletes in those photos, and they weren’t his current teammates. I knew he’d told me the truth…whenconfronted. It was the fact that he hadn’t told me initially that worried me.
