Page 83 of Scarred Ruin

“I don’t think I like knowing that you frequent bars.” He pulled me by the waist, requiring me to give him all my attention.

“You have no say.” I fiddled with his shirt, realizing he looked a little bit like Zorro in white and black.

He pinched my chin, forcing me to look him directly in the eyes. “That’s where you’re wrong. Very wrong.”

How was it that a few simple words could have such a strong effect on me? Yet if he truly believed he could rule the night or me, he would soon learn I refused to back down from anyone.

Since I was determined not to allow the rules and tight security to ruin the night, I grabbed Maxsim by the hand, leading him to the dance floor.

At least he didn’t fight me, but he did keep a watchful eye even as I immediately began to move in time to the heavy drumbeat. I had no idea if he could even dance, although I found it impossible to believe there was anything he couldn’t do.

He stood barely moving, watching me as I twirled around him, always keeping me in his sights. I did it at least four times before as he’d done outside, he yanked me against him, immediately wrapping one arm around my waist and crushing his body against mine.

Apparently, we were slow dancing even though the music reflected the wild, freeing, and very haunting feeling of such a hallowed night. This was the time when adults came out to play and the hunger furrowing inside had nothing to do with craving chocolate.

Although a few very wicked thoughts traveled through my brain as he gyrated his hips.

He looked at me with a possessive heat that made my pulse race. While part of me bristled at being the sole focus of such an intense, consuming stare, another part melted under the sheer devotion in his eyes. The heated haze was a silent, powerful demand for my attention, one I found myself utterly powerless to resist.

I gripped his arm as he slowly captured the moment and the rush of sensations drifting between us. Maxsim was completely electrifying. Not only in his presence or in how he managed to manipulate an entire evening, but in the way nothing stopped him from getting what he wanted.

And for tonight, that something was me.

The heat was oppressive and as lights flashed across the dance floor, nothing strained his attention. We moved as one, the feel of his thick cock pressed between my legs keeping me quivering. He knew exactly what he did to me. How did I know? From the way the corners of his upper lip remained upturned.

He was tormenting me on purpose.

One dance led into a second, the music even more provocative. I pushed away from him just enough so I could twist my hips in the dance. It was my time to torment and taunt. After dragging my tongue across my bottom lip, I squeezed my legs together and slowly did a little dance while bending my knees and lowering my body.

The way he commanded a room never changed, although perhaps he was even more so by standing still as I rubbed the flats of my hands down his chest to his muscular thighs. I twisted back and forth in time to the music, brushing my fingers between his legs until I was this close to the thick bulge, yet never touching it.

His chest rose and fell from my tease. His jaw was clenched and while I couldn’t see the look in his eyes, I was well aware his mind was churning. As I slowly danced my way to a standing position, he stopped breathing altogether.

He had a way of making me feel as if I was his next meal.

As soon as he grasped my hand, he led us off the dance floor and back to the table. I could sense Hope was trying very hard to work her magic.

The moment continued to be oppressive. No words spoken. The wild music. The roar of the crowd. And the way Maxsim continued to watch.

“If you’ll excuse me.”

“Where are you going?” Maxsim asked while gripping my elbow.

“Don’t worry. Just to the ladies’ room.”

“I’m going with you.”

“Maxsim,” I said tersely. “Where am I going to go and what’s going to happen? I can handle this all by myself.”

“Do not go far.”

A command and not a request.

His entire face was devoid of expression, but I couldn’t help but wonder if his teeth hurt from how hard he was grinding them.

I pushed myself off, backing into the crowd. Even still, I could feel his eyes on me until I could no longer see him. I also had a feeling he’d motioned to one of his men to follow me. Everything about the thought was annoying, enough so I needed a little space to breathe. No, I had no intention of leaving the bar, but I knew of one location only those who frequented the bar knew existed.

Instead of going to the downstairs bathroom, I moved to the stairs, remaining in the shadows. I slipped past a couple dozen people and into the shadows of a hallway almost no one realized led to anywhere.