weren’t regular fights,” he pointed out.
“Pshh. I’ve seen worse.”
The muscle in his jaw ticked. “The whole setup is illegal.”
“Again, I’ve seen worse.”
He lifted his hand to count off, raising one tattooed finger after each item. “Minimal rules. Drugs. Women.”
I lifted my hand and counted right back. “I’ve. Seen. Worse.”
“Christ, what kind of life have you had?” he muttered, his own fire burning in his eyes.
“Not a good one. Not until you.”
The words were out before I could think. Vulnerable and raw, I wanted to inhale them back. I needed to keep my pride—it was the only thing I had.
Maximo’s body went tight, his face so scarily blank, my brain screamed at me to look away. To run.
But I couldn’t.
He started talking, his voice even and cold. “The fights aren’t the worst thing I do.”
“You act like this is the first time I’ve seen you do something illegal. Are you forgetting how we met?”
“I want to make sure you know that wasn’t a single blip in an otherwise saintly life.”
I hated to think about that night. It put me in a dark place—but not for the reason it should’ve. I’d locked the memory deep inside, and I’d rather it never saw the light of day.
But I forced myself to talk about it for the first time. “The night we met, you made it unmistakably clear who you are and what you do. But I’m still here. With you. Because of you.”
His dark eyes glittered as he rubbed his hand across his jaw. Thumb dragging across his bottom lip, his voice was low with warning. “Make sure you know what you’re saying, little dove. I’ll control you. Completely. Every damn aspect of your entire life. You’ll follow my rules. When you break them, I’ll punish you until you hate me and then fuck you until you don’t.” As he stalked toward me, I stood my ground. It made his lips twist into something between a smirk and a sneer. “Too stubborn for your own good.”
My heart raced, slamming so loudly, it should’ve echoed around us. My stomach was a tight knot, my thoughts were racing, and my blood rushed in my ears.
And I was wet.
So unbelievably, stupidly wet.
Gripping my waist in one hand, he speared his other into my hair, twisting the strands as he fisted it. He tugged my head back, making my scalp sting. “I’ll take care of you until you’re just as wrapped up and addicted to me as I am to you.”
No hesitation. No bracing. No thoughts or worries or pride.
Automatic and honest, I whispered, “I already am, Daddy.”
The cold, aloofness he’d carried himself with all day was gone. Like his blank mask had been torn away, lust, happiness, and relief flowed unencumbered across his face.
He’d been worried.
That was the desperation in his kiss. The distance he’d placed between us.
He’d been scared I’d leave.
He doesn’t want to lose me.
Mouth crashing down on mine, his tongue didn’t tease my lips, coaxing them open. It forced its way in, taking what he wanted. What was his. What I’d willingly given.
When he released my hair to palm my ass and lift, I wrapped my legs around him. He tore his lips away like it physically hurt, and I whimpered, stretching to get them back.
“Not going to risk falling down the damn steps and hurting you,” he explained, starting up them.
Since his mouth wasn’t an option, I kissed, licked, and nipped at his throat and jaw.
“Fuck me, you’re gonna make me shoot off in my pants.”
There was something so heady about knowing the effect I had on a man who was as controlled as Maximo. A shiver went through me, and I bit harder, making him groan.
Speeding up, he carried me to his room, unlocking the door and letting it slam behind us as he lowered me. My feet had barely touched the floor when he kissed me, his large hands cupping the sides of my head.
It was possessive and dominating and intense.
Just like Maximo.
Ending the kiss, he took a step away so he could untie my belt. His fingertips teased my thighs as he gathered the material of my skirt and lifted the dress over my head, leaving me in my bra, panties, and heels. His searing gaze started at my feet and slowly moved up, as though he were trying to memorize each freckle, dip, and curve of my body.
Shrugging off his jacket, he dropped it to the floor with my dress. He toed off his shoes before ordering, “Undress