CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: WINTER
My heart feels like it's going to fall right out of my chest as my gaze clashes with Maximo's. He stares at me, his eyes traveling from head to toe. It's freezing but the heat that his gaze leaves seems to outweigh the winter air. A lump forms in my throat and I back away, pain biting into the soles of my feet.
"What are you doing?" he asks, his voice barely above a whisper, eerie in the otherwise silent alleyway. "You know what's about to happen is inevitable."
All the anxiety and dread from before comes racing back at me ten times stronger. The last time I was along with Maximo...
My head whips around looking for any help that I can find, but I know it's a lost battle. The long alleyway is dark and the street that bisects it hasn't had a single care pass by despite the club being busy tonight.
A whole fucking shooting happened here and everyone ignored it. You think they'll pay attention to Giovanni's supposed mistress trying to get away from his brother?
I reach up, rubbing my throat with my hand, trying to get words to come out as I shake my head. My eyes burn and a tingling sensation in my nose lets me know tears aren't far off.
"Please don't." The words finally manage to escape, but as quickly as they appear it seems they drift right into the air, unheard.
Maximo prowls closer, his hands still tucked into his pockets. "You think pleading will make me stop?" he inquires and the question seems to be genuine as he inclines his head slightly.
"M... maybe."
"Then you didn't learn from last time, mouse."
I turn, pain shooting through my ankle as I once again twist on the heels wrong. But I don't care about the pain as I start to run.
Fuck it, I'd rather deal with Giovanni's wrath than Maximo's madness.
I don't even make it a step before pain shoots through my scalp and I go falling backwards as my hair is roughly yanked.
I let out a cry, expecting to hit the ground but instead my back collides with a firm, warm chest. I'd much prefer it was the cold, hard concrete.
"Now, now," he hisses. His warm breath dusts along my skin, feeling like a furnace in the freezing temperature. "I told you I like a good game of cat and mouse, but it feels like you didn't even try," he taunts. One of his arms wraps around my waist hard as steel, holding me to him. I try to move away with no success.
"Don't do this," I try again, my voice somehow firmer this time.
"Do what?" I recognize that he's playing with me. From the hardon I can feel pressing into my lower back, he's enjoying it, getting turned on by it, by my helplessness.
I should have taken Vito up on his offer to escort me out.
Maximo's fingers move across my neck. A sob racks my body and he shushes me before his finger brushes across my face, capturing a tear. Through blurry eyes, I watch as his hand leaves my face and I listen to him let out an exaggerated sucking noise. "Salty," he says as he tastes my tears. "It doesn't taste as good as your cunt, though," he taunts. "The last time I had it, the flavor sat on my tongue for hours, making me want more."
I jerk as his hand returns to my body, this time my chest, stroking the exposed skin in a way that has goosebumps forming along my skin. His touch is slow and torturous, languid as if he isn't molesting me in a public alleyway.
His warm hand slides beneath the top of my dress, scooping under the cups of my bra. When his rough fingers pinch my nipple, I wince. He doesn't stop, pulling on my nipple and tugging it away from my body until another sob leaves my lips.
"That's right, mouse, let me hear you," he encourages, moving his hips against my backside, grinding his hardon against me. "You weren't nearly vocal enough last time."
He gives my nipple another twist and tug until I'm whimpering and more tears flood my face. Finally, he stops. Before I can feel any sense of relief, he pushes me up against the wall. My head slams back against the bricks and a ringing noise feels my ears. My vision goes sideways and black spots appear before it clears and I find Maximo's evil face staring right back at me.
I thought he looked crazed and evil when he trapped me in the stockroom. But now, out here in the darkness, the malice seems to be turned up to new depths, making him look like a shadow god as he stares at me. The sharp angular cuts of his face enhanced.
He tilts his head to the side slightly, his brown eyes piercing.
A shudder runs down my spine.
The corner of Maximo's lips twitch before he moves forward, his lips touching my neck in the briefest of motions before he shoves a hand up, forcing it around my throat. He applies pressure. "I'm tired of playing, so now you will be a good girl and obey and I'll let you enjoy this." His eyes meet mine. "Just like last time."
Shame runs through me. I'd tried to forget about the fact that he'd forced an orgasm out of me last time. Disgust, guilt, and embarrassment took over any time I remembered.
"Do you understand, my lovely little mouse?" he asks, cutting my thoughts off. The amusement has dropped from his voice.