Page 52 of Burning Ember

I’m about to push Star to the side, when I catch Doll peeking over at me. She tries to hide behind her waterfall of crimson waves as she wipes down the bar; cleaning up after the dinner she made everyone. The dinner, where with every bite I took, I thought . . .If she keeps cooking like this . . . there’s no way in hell the boys will be on board with me kicking her out when her time’s up.It’s not only the food they love. While serving us, she kept bending forward over the bar, giving all the brothers a perfect view of her ample tits in her tight, black shirt. Bastards are already fucking drooling all over her. They can’t wait to get their hands on her.

“Mav?” Star’s voice draws my attention back to her.

“Not—”tonight.

Dozer sits down in front of Doll and she graces him with a welcoming smile. My insides twist. Dozer’s never once paid this much attention to a girl. Well, besides Bethany. It makes me wonder if he’s thinking about making her more than just another clubpiece.

I watch them flirt with each other. The only thing that accomplishes is now I’m daydreaming about laying a brother out. Or breaking something.

Jesus! You’re jealous . . .

I shake my head trying to clear it.

My cock nearly felt the warmth of her mouth and I’ve had fucking blue balls ever since. Clearly, it’s just been a while since I had sex. Too long. That’s all it is. Far past the time I usually use a clubpiece to take the edge off. Without thinking too much about it, I grab Star’s hand and drag her toward my office. She giggles and I look back to see her waving at Doll.

Doll’s standing there staring at me while she’s holding a pile of dirty dishes in her arms. But I note with satisfaction that her smile’s gone.

I ignore the instinct I have riding me that tells me to toss this blonde aside, and grab the girl I really want in my bed.

But fuck, don’t I know that would be a mistake.

I don’t close the door after pulling Star inside my office. Why should I? I’ve never cared about taking my pleasure somewhere private before now. Except with Dana, only she preferred to do things out in the open. Which worked fine, since that’s how shit works around here.

Star rubs my arm.

“Don’t touch me. Lose the skirt,” I command.

She quickly follows my instructions. She’s been around long enough to know how I am and what I like.

I yank my top-drawer open and pull out a condom. After ripping the package, I unlatch my belt, unzip, and pull my cock out. I stroke myself a couple of times before I cover myself to the hilt. I know exactly where Star’s been and if we didn’t get all the girls tested as often as we do, and pumped full of birth control, there’s no fucking way I’d go anywhere near her.

Thank God for the good Dr. Alister.

Star walks to me. She lifts her hands to touch me. I instantly feel like my skin’s crawling. She keeps trying to touch me and I grind my teeth to hold in the irritation circling inside me.

I spin her and push her forward over my desk.

In a split second, I’m behind her, grabbing her hips. I line up and, without warning, slam into her.

Star cries out, but it’s fake as hell. She needs no prepping, no stretching. The notion has my stomach revolting and my dick threatens to soften. But I fight it.

I growl, “Hands.”

Star crosses her arms behind her back. I hold her crossed wrists with one hand, and reach around her to grab her throat with my other hand. I don’t choke her hard enough to leave a mark, but enough that it gives me what I need.

I imagine it’s Dana. I take her roughly and don’t let up. And all the while, I revel in the sounds Star’s making. Small pleas. “I’m sorry.” She’s been coached to do what I like, but tonight it’s not working. Slowly this kind of sex has lost its luster. It’s dull and no longer lights a fire inside of me. When she says “Maverick,” it sounds all wrong. And it yet again throws me off.

“Don’t talk. Just take it.”

She doesn’t speak again. And the only sound is our grunts filling the room.

I don’t know how much time has passed, maybe ten minutes, twenty, but I feel her approaching. Doll and Dozer walk by my door. Her aqua irises land on me. That zing I feel when our eyes connect hits me like a battering ram and heat infuses my hard-on, spreads like a brush fire through my body. I close my eyes and throw my head back. Images of Doll, not Dana, barrel through my mind. My hand cupping her angelic face. My thumb rubbing over her dotted cheek as her luscious lips wrap around me. Lastly, her crimson strands tangled around my fist. Groaning out, I pump my release into the condom.

All of the darkness that constantly fills me instantly leaves my body. For a few seconds, an intoxicating sort of bliss cools my chest. My mind clears, and my limbs slacken.

All from a look. One. Fucking. Look.

Christ.