Page 23 of Maxim (The Syndicates #12)

I ’m pacing the house as the clock ticks. It’s four in the morning, and Maxim still isn’t home. He told me not to wait up, but I couldn’t help it.

I wish Thea were here with me. I understand why she’s not, though. It’s the middle of the night. She’s likely at home sleeping with her man.

I wish I was sleeping with mine.

When did I start thinking of him as mine? I guess around the same time as when he kissed me for the very first time. He admitted afterward that someone was watching us and that was why he was so rough, but I liked it. More than I think I should have.

Still, it’s four in the morning, and he’s not here with me. I’m starting to worry.

I have no idea what to do if he doesn’t come home. What if my father found out he is a double agent? He would kill him without a second thought. Would he even send someone to get me if that were the case? Maybe someone to kill me?

If not, Szymon would come collect me for sure. He’d use it as his excuse to finally claim me as his own.

I’m not his, though. I’d rather die than be taken by them.

“Come on, Maxim. Where are you?” I whisper to myself.

Another fifteen minutes passes before I finally see headlights. I’m scared to death that it won’t be him. That something went wrong and it will be someone here to hurt me.

When I hear the key in the door, I relax a little bit. None of my father’s goons would think to grab keys off of Maxim if they killed him. They would use brute force to get inside this house.

When the door opens and Maxim steps through, I feel like I can take my first real breath all night.

“You’re home,” I say quietly.

He spins, hand clutching his gun on his hip. “Fuck, Сонечко. You scared the life out of me.” He removes his hand, finishing putting the code in before he kicks his shoes off at the door.

“Sorry,” I mumble.

He walks straight over to me, wrapping his arms around me. “What are you doing up?”

“I was worried. I couldn’t sleep without you next to me.”

He kisses the side of my face, then my cheek, before finally my lips.

“Let’s get you back to bed,” he tells me.

“I don’t think I can sleep quite yet. Can we watch TV?” After seeing how tired he looks, I add, “Or if you’re tired, we can go to bed.”

“No, I’m too keyed up to sleep. Let me go change, and I’ll meet you at the couch.”

I watch as he takes off toward the room, his shoulders sunken in. Quickly, I turn the TV onto the comedy show we had started before running into the kitchen and getting us each a drink. By the time I make it back to the living room, Maxim is there waiting for me.

He opens his arms, and I go willingly into them, only he pulls me into his lap instead of letting me sit next to him.

“I need you close tonight. Is this okay?” he asks.

“It’s perfect. Are you okay?”

He nods. “I will be.”

“Do you want to talk about it?” I ask.

“Honestly, I will tell you anything you want to know, but I hope you never make me tell you the things I had to do to get us to our future.”

My heart hurts for him. This undercover stuff is causing him so much pain. I want to take it away.

Leaning forward, I press my lips to his softly.

He kisses me back, matching my energy. Taking the lead, I kiss him a little harder, slipping my tongue into his mouth.

His hand comes up to cup my face and neck as he deepens the kiss.

He presses me into him as he takes what he needs from me. I willingly give it all.

Shifting in his arms, I straddle him as I wrap my arms around his neck. His hands fall to my hips, squeezing them the way I’ve learned I love. My pussy tingles as I continue to kiss him. I let my body take control, gyrating lightly over his lap.

When his hand slides up the front of my shirt, I freeze. He feels it, instantly dropping his hand as he drops one last chaste kiss to my lips.

“Sorry, I got carried away,” he tells me.

I don’t want him to be sorry, though. I don’t even know why I froze. I think it’s because I don’t know what to do.

I can’t tell him that, though. I should, but I’m embarrassed.

“It’s okay. I did too. It felt good,” I tell him instead.

“Good.” He drops a kiss to my nose before moving me to sit on his lap sideways. “Let’s see what the Dunphys got going on tonight.”

“Probably more misunderstandings that will cause loads of laughter,” I tell him.

“They do seem to excel at that, don’t they? They all mean well, though. That’s how I imagine our family. Us being the parents who try their very best for their children while our children think we are annoying.”

I smile. “We are having a family now?”

“Well, I was hoping since you already have one with Daryna and Alek, that you would let me be part of that.”

My breath catches in my throat. “You don’t have to do that,” I whisper.

He turns my face toward him so he can look at me. “I know, but you are already their mother figure. I think they could use a better father figure too. If you’ll have me.”

This man is too good to be true.

“I’ll think about it,” I tease.

He laughs, focusing back on the TV.

Truth is, though, I’ve been waiting for the other shoe to drop. I need to think about what’s best for Daryna and Alek.

Is it him?

I think it might be.

We have been watching TV for about an hour now. I feel like this is how it is meant to be. Me and Olena, just like this. Having her in my arms makes everything all better.

Quickly, she took my bad night and made me forget all of the terrible things I had to do.

She thinks I saved her, but she’s saving me little by little.

I hate that I almost ruined it by moving too fast with her. She was moving over me so beautifully, though. My hands had a mind of their own. They wanted to finally feel what those perky, perfect tits felt like. I want to wrap my lips around each one and show her how good I can make her feel.

She’s not ready for that yet, though.

Olena laughs at something on the TV. I look back trying to decipher what I missed.

“Would you do that?” she asks.

“What?”

“Be upset if I missed all of the signs of what you wanted.” She turns, looking at me.

“I only want you, so no. Anything else you get me is an enhancement.” I lean forward, pressing a quick kiss to her lips.

Her breath catches. I love how it does that often when I touch and kiss her.

Nuzzling into her neck, I focus back on the TV.

“Maxim,” she whispers.

“What is it, Сонечко?”

“I want to try again.” She pulls away, looking at me.

“Try what again?” I ask.

“More than kissing?” She phrases it as a question.

“We don’t have to. I don’t want to push you too far.”

She bites her bottom lip, as if she is unsure of what she can say.

“You can tell me anything,” I remind her.

“I know. I liked what we did before. It made me feel good. I know all about how to make a man feel good. They made sure to teach me that, but I didn’t realize I could feel good too.

I’ve been sitting here trying to watch TV, but the truth is all I want is to turn around and do what we were doing before. ”

My mouth runs dry. She wants me to make her feel good. If that isn’t a goddamn blessing.

“I can make you feel good, but if I do, we don’t focus on me. It’s all about you,” I tell her.

“I want you to like what we do too,” She whispers.

“Oh, trust me, Сонечко. Any time I touch you, I like it. This is going to be my favorite activity. Do you trust me?” I ask.

“I do.” No hesitation.

“Are you sure you want to do this?”

Same determination. “Yes.

“Okay, turn around, lean your back against my chest.”

She does as I ask, settling in against me. Reaching up, I pull her chin over, kissing her roughly. She moans into my kiss, her body melting into mine. Pulling from her lips, I kiss my way to her neck as I let my hands move over her stomach.

“I’m going to touch your breasts now,” I tell her, trying to use more gentle language with her.

She is far too innocent to use such vulgar language. She deserves soft. Delicate.

“Okay.” Her tone is husky.

I slowly bring my hands up over her clothes until I’m at her tits. Gently, I grab each one, testing the weight. They are a perfect handful. Everything about Olena is perfect.

I knead her tits until she is moaning softly, her body moving almost as if it has a mind of its own. Once I’m sure she is lost in her feelings, I take my index fingers and thumbs and pinch each nipple simultaneously.

“Fuck.”

I chuckle at her curse. “Is that a good fuck or a bad one?” I ask.

“Mmm. Good. So good. How are you making me feel this way?” she asks.

“Have you never touched yourself?”

“No. Never.” She arches her neck, as if offering it to me as she says the words that send my head spinning.

Not only is she a virgin, but she has no idea what real pleasure is.

I’m going to teach her.

Leaning in, I bite her neck gently before sucking her skin between my lips while pinching and pulling on her nipples. When I pull back, I smirk against her skin.

“I’m about to show you how to touch yourself. I want you to take that power back. If you want to touch yourself, I want you to do it. Make yourself scream. Release the tension. Promise me.”

Her breathing is heavy now.

“I promise.”

“Good girl. I’m going to slide under your pants now,” I inform her.

She doesn’t tell me no, nor does she try to stop me, so I take it as my permission. Slowly, I slide under her pants and panties, finding her warm, wet, and so ready for a cock. Too bad I made a promise.

One day.

Slowly, I gather some of her moisture onto my finger before bringing it to her clit. I rub it up and down for a moment before I put slight pressure and start swirling it in a circle.

“Oh, oh. That’s…oh my. Ugh.”

“Good, isn’t it? So good,” I tell her. “You’re doing so well. Take the pleasure I’m giving you, Сонечко.”

She’s lost to the sensations. I doubt she can even hear my words. Still, I whisper them against her skin between kisses and nips I take. Just a taste of her to sate me.

She grows more wanton as I pick up the pace. I know I’ve hit the perfect spot when she arches her back, her moans becoming more high-pitched.

The moment she comes, it’s as if she grows tight before her entire body relaxes. I hold her through it all, slowing my pace on her clit to a slow, light touch. When she shivers, pushing me away, I kiss her on the cheek before pulling my finger out of her pants.

Bringing it up to her lips, I paint her lips with it before stealing a kiss. Her taste lingers on my tongue as I pull away.

“So fucking beautiful, Olena. You really are my Сонечко. How do you feel?”

She yawns. “So good. I think I need a nap. Is that normal?”

I chuckle. “It sure is. Let’s get to bed. I think we both could use some sleep.”

I help her stand before I do the same. Then I surprise her by picking her up in my arms, bridal style. She giggles the entire way to the bedroom, only stopping when I lay her in her spot and kiss her senseless.

Then I climb in on my side of the bed, opening my arms for her.

She comes to me immediately.

“Thank you, Maxim,” I hear her whisper.

I smile to myself.

Little does she know that was as much for me as it was for her. I’ll be remembering her screams for many years to come.