The Gate (Dark Path Series) (18 page)

She rode the empty elevator up to his penthouse. When the doors opened, she found him waiting for her, looking sexy as hell barefoot with his shirt unbuttoned halfway down into his slacks. He was a wet dream come to life with his welcoming smile, dark as sin eyes, and hair that for once wasn’t styled. The need to kiss him was overpowering.

“I expected you an hour ago.” His voice held a slight roughness, and her stomach pitched.

“You look like you just woke up.” She slipped past him without greeting him.

“I fell asleep on the couch waiting for you.” He shut the door.

She took off her coat, leaving it along with her purse on the coat rack.

Taking her by the arm, he rested his palm on her throat. “Your eyes are bloodshot, your face is swollen, and your lips chapped. It’s cold out, but not so much as to make you look unwell.” He examined her face, running his thumb across her cheek.

She twisted away from his inspection. “Are you the weatherman now? I took a walk to calm down before I came to see you. I’ve had a shitty ass day.”

His eyes widened in surprise. She never cursed in front of him unless she was overcome by passion when they made love or he tormented her until she was mindless with the need.

“Sit down. Tell me what happened.” He guided her to the couch, but she dug her heels into the rug.

“I don’t want to sit. I need to move around. Release the anger I have.” Twining a piece of her hair around her finger, she strode over to the windows to look at the city as the sky darkened, descending into night.

“There’s a way I can help you get rid of your anger.” Coming up behind her, he ran his hands down her arms then around to cup her breasts.

“No, Max. I’m not in the mood.” She elbowed him away. How in the world was she so supposed to have a civilized conversation with him when all she wanted to do was yell accusations?

He released her but didn’t back away. He nestled his chest to her back, his stiff cock prodding her ass. She gave a weak laugh, catching her reflection in the windows.
He’s always revved up. Even with concern apparent on his face, he’s looking at me like he wants to devour me.

With a shiver, she dropped her arms to her sides. She wanted to lean on him for support but needed the distance between them, no matter how small.

“Talk to me, Erika.”

His command didn’t annoy her like it should have, given her current state of emotions. It had been some time since he called her by her name when they were together. Since he’d used his strap on her, he simply called her
precious
, a nickname she loved hearing from his lips.

“I learned something disturbing today. Is it true you’re trying to take over my father’s company after he retires because it’s almost bankrupt?”

“Who told you that?”

The harshness in his voice and the sudden stiffness in his body didn’t go unnoticed. She stared straight into his beautiful face. “Chris told me.”

Sweeping a hand through his hair, he cursed. He moved in closer, boxing her in. She stared at his chest while he let go a few more curses. When he grew silent, she moved her gaze up to his throat. If she looked at his face, seeing the range of emotions there, she would lose the courage to speak.

“Is it true, then? You’re going to steal Walsh Publications away from my father, a company he poured his heart and soul into?”

“I’m in talks to—”

“Max! Don’t try to spin this or lie to me. I find it interesting that while you’re trying to ruin my father, you’re fucking me behind the scenes. Was it some sick
…?”

Growling, he locked his arms around her. When he grabbed her by the back of her head, forcing her to look up at him, she gasped. His face was thunderous, his teeth clenched, his lips quivering.

“I had planned on acquiring Walsh Publications long before I even knew who you were. The company has been in deep trouble for a long time. Your father kept it a secret from the public. When he retired, I planned to approach the stockholders and investors with a deal to pull certain pieces of the business into my own.”

“You piece of shit!” She raised her hand to slap him, but he imprisoned her wrist, twisting her arm behind her back.

“Calm down and stop cursing! You’re acting irrational and bratty.”

She blinked away her tears. He had no right to treat her so, especially after admitting to his sneaky, underhanded plan.

“I can say whatever I want. You’re not my father or a—”

He tightened his hold on her hair. “I’m your lover and soon to be master. I expect you to obey me.”

Red-hot rage swirled through her body. She lifted her knee with the intent to kick him in the crotch, but he twisted her around until her back was pressed into his front.

“Let me go, you asshole! Or I’ll—”

“Or what, Erika Rose?” He nipped her ear. “I have complete power over you. If I wanted to, I could bend you over my dining room table again and fuck you within an inch of your life. Your body would milk my cock, and it would be the best sex you ever had because of your anger.”

The urge to scream rose in her throat. But instead, she stopped squirming and counted to ten. As she regained control, she figured out how to get the upper hand. He might have strength behind him, but the truth lay on her side.

“You think you can discipline me like you did Page?” she challenged. “Chris and I had an interesting conversation about your relationship with his sister.”

His hands flexed around her wrists, but from what she could see of his reflection in the window, he showed no other reaction. “What did Milton say about his sister and me?”

“How she cheated on her husband with you. How after you got what you wanted from her, you dropped her. You ruined her with your sick, sexual needs.”

“Milton has no clue what happened. Did he tell you she was separated from her husband long before she met me, she was mentally unstable to begin with? By the time I figured that out, it was too late, and she tried to—”

She tore out of his hold. He stepped back. Dashing behind one of the couches, she inched her way to the front door.

“You won’t get very far. I won’t let you leave until we talk the situation through.” His threat was clear as he spoke in a steady, not-to-be-crossed-with tone that matched the frustration on his face.

“You can’t keep me here.” Her voice shook. “If you try to stop me, I’ll fight you.”

It was an empty threat. He could overpower her at any time. She needed to say something to get him so upset he would be disgusted and throw her out.

“Do you want to test me?” Cracking his knuckles, he rocked onto the balls of his feet. “We can sit down and talk like reasonable adults. I’ve never lied to you before. I won’t now.”

“You say you haven’t lied, but you haven’t been entirely forthcoming either, knowing I’m good friends with Chris.” She eyed the door as she reached the edge of the couch. “Let’s talk honesty, shall we? Before I came here he kissed me. And I let him.”

Max went as still as a statue. He seemed to grow taller—if that was even possible. He cocked his head to the side. “Oh really, Milton kissed you? Did he touch you? Did you let him fuck you on his desk?”

“S-stop being crude.” Her breath echoed in her ears. Her heart pounded.

“Crude?” He walked to the door with his hands in his pockets. He appeared relaxed, unconcerned, but his eyes told a different story. Fire floated in them, a heat she saw little of unless it was when she was at his mercy when they engaged in his sexual game of choice. “Are you going to answer me, and be as honest as you’re asking of me?”

His question came out biting. She stepped back behind the couch for protection.

“If I told you Chris did all those things to me, what would you do?”

He gave her a frosty smile. “I would kill him for touching what’s mine.”

She huffed in indignation. “I’m not your property—”

He launched toward the couch, vaulting over it in a blink. Scooping her off her feet, he carried her toward his bedroom.

She struggled, calling him all types of horrible names. Her heel clipped his inner thigh. He twined his arm between her legs then thrust her back.

Her nose bumped the wall as he enclosed her throat in a binding clench. She shoved back to get him to release her. “Let me go!”

He laughed, jabbing his crotch into her ass “Keep moving around, and I’ll be inside you in ten seconds flat.” Catching her earlobe between his teeth, he bit down.

She arched away to escape his touch, the way her body responded to his manhandling. It didn’t make any sense! How could she be so turned on when she wanted to hit him?

His hand moved away from her throat to curve around her breast, his thumb circling her nipple. She pressed her lips together to stop from crying out in pleasure.

“Did you know angry sex is the best kind?” he whispered. He dipped his hand in the opening of her shirt, his palm flattening over her breast.

Rising onto her toes, she dug her nails deep in his arm, scraping them across his skin.

“My precious wants to play?”

“Oh, God!” she moaned as his hand curled around her mound.

He would have easy access since she’d worn thigh highs. All he had to do was drag her panties down, and he could slip inside her.

He ground his cock into her back, inching her skirt up until it bunched around her waist. She rocked into him, trying to play his game, to gain control, but every dip and rub aroused her more. Her body gyrated along with his, growing wetter with each expanding sensation taking over.

He slipped his hand under her panties. Sighing, he slid two fingers inside her. She cried out.

Spreading her legs, she shot him a glare over her shoulder. “Fuck me, now.”

Gritting his teeth, he ripped open her shirt, buttons flying everywhere. Plucking her breasts out of her bra cup, he pinched her nipples. Her nails scored the wall while she rocked over his hand, fucking his fingers, drenching them with her feminine musk.

His tongue laved her throat, his teeth scraping her flesh. He nibbled and bit, causing her to release more juices that soaked her inner thighs, seeping down, wetting her garter belts that kept her stockings in place.

Her inner pussy muscles clenched around his fingers, a sign she was going to come, but he fell back. A mewl of displeasure left her. With a rough jerk, he swung her around, slipped his hands under her ass, and lifted her up. She wound her legs around his waist for leverage just as his mouth slammed down on hers.

Using her teeth to punish, she tugged and bit down hard in order to make him bleed. He counteracted with thrusting his tongue into her mouth, licking every free space. Their breath mingled, their sucking echoing in the room. She ate at his mouth, wanting more, for him to fill her. But he didn’t.

She took matters into her own hands, reaching between them to unbuckle his belt and unzip his pants. He wiggled his hips, his pants riding low on his hips. When she drew down his briefs, his cock sprung out. Grabbing the steely flesh, she licked his lips then moved forward to take him inside her.

He didn’t help guide his manhood into her core. He kept kissing and pinching her breasts until she aligned the head of his cock at her entrance. Pausing his assault, he ripped off her panties, tearing her garters away until they flapped against her thighs. With her heel dug into his back, he thrust inside her.

Yes!
Her eyelids drooped in pleasure from the red-hot burn of his cock invading her. Max’s hand circled her throat. Her eyes opened. His mouth twisted as if he was in pain. Jerking up fast, he shoved his cock farther, hitting right on her G-spot.

“Don’t look away from me,” he ordered, pumping deep.

His palm slammed down near the side of her head as he drove into her deep. She tore open his shirt, scoring her nails down the front of his chest, laughing when angry red lines appeared.

“More, harder!” She urged him on, rocking with him.

His grip on her throat lessened, and he shifted his hands to cup her breasts again. His nails jabbed her flesh, scratching, marking her as she did him.

She never looked away from him, her moans resonating along with his until she started to shake. Her mind went blank as something warm and rumbling rushed over her. With one last downward push, she came, latching around his cock, feeding from it as she found her release.

“Erika!” He pressed his mouth to the crook of her shoulder. As he bit down, he erupted along with her, his release shuddering through him.

With each milking of her cunt around his cock, she trembled, collapsing until he landed on the floor with her on top of him, a first for her. She lay limp, well sated, although her mind churned.
No protection. He didn’t wear a condom!
Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit
—

“Oh, my precious girl.” He combed her hair back.

Sitting up, she straddled him, staring down at the man who brought her to orgasm like no man before. He smiled in satisfaction, lifting his mouth toward hers.

Raising her hand, she slapped him across the cheek. He fell back on the floor, a stunned look on his face, and she stood before he could stop her. In a stumbling run, she grabbed her coat and purse and rushed to the foyer. As she reached for the knob, she glanced over her shoulder.