Page 20

Play Time

F inished feeling sorry for myself, I drag my horny ass to the bathroom, grabbing my clothes that are folded on the sofa on the way. I slam the bathroom door behind me. I have a quick cool shower. It’s not cooling my lust in any way.

When I come out dressed and washed, the others are sitting around the table with food spread out between them.

I slump into my seat next to Thorn and grab a plate.

He leans over and quickly kisses my cheek before going back to eating.

I look around and the others don’t even blink at it.

Jesus, did Maxen mean all of them? I shake my head and start eating.

Jax slides a piece of paper towards me as he munches on some fruit. When I quirk my eyebrow at him, his lips split into a small smile before going back to eating. I put down my food and pick it up.

I know your job is finished, meet me at the training grounds tomorrow – D

Well fucking shit balls, that’s my plan of avoiding him out of the window. I stare at it long enough that Thorn ducks his head and catches my eyes.

“What’s the plan?”

Nibbling on my lip, I debate our options.

Turning down his invitation wouldn’t be smart.

So, it looks like we are waiting unless they want to go without me.

The guys must notice my mood because they stay quiet and watch me with wary eyes.

Feeling the need to do something, I stand up and move over to my things.

“I have to wait. I’ll find out what Dray wants and then get you wherever you need to go. Either that, or you go on without me. Your choice,” I strap my weapons on as I speak, unwilling to admit I want them to stay with me.

“We stick together,” Thorn declares. Jax nods and Drax throws me a wink. I look to Maxen.

“What he said.” He smiles at me and I find myself smiling back.

“Looks like we have nothing to do today, apart from Taz,” Drax smirks, clearly eyeing me up. Finished with strapping on my weapons, I saunter to him, making sure to meet his eyes while I lick my lips.

His nostrils flare and he quickly stands and steps forward. I stop in front of him and lean up on my toes, using his chest for support. I breathe on his neck and he shivers. Leaning forward, I put my mouth to his ear so with every word he feels my breath hit his sensitive flesh.

“You couldn’t handle me. I like it rough and hard,” I step back and throw him a smirk as I turn away and head for the door.

“Holy shit, I think she just might kill me.” His voice is strained and the others laugh. I hear them scramble to follow after me.

“So, where are we going?” Drax asks, obviously recovered.

“I’m going to see Major. Something is obviously going on and I need to know what. Why don’t you go check the bikes?” I stop and turn to them when I hear grumbling.

“I'm with Taz!” Drax shouts and darts to stand at my back. Maxen grins at me and I almost smack him.

“Me and Jax will check the bikes. You can have Drax and Thorn.” I cross my arms and glare at him.

“I don’t need babysitters.” The snark is obvious. Maxen steps up to me and I concentrate on his bare chest, grinding my jaw to stop myself from snapping. He tilts my chin up until my eyes meet his.

“You don’t have to fight us, Mi Alma. No, you don’t need babysitters, but I want Thorn with you in case anything happens.

You just said yourself something is wrong.

Trust us Taz, please?” I swallow my anger and look into his open expression.

So full of hope and tenderness and I just can’t turn him down.

“Fine,” I grumble, uncrossing my arms. Arms wind around my stomach from behind as a body meets my back.

“What about me?” Drax whines.

“If anything, she's looking after you.” Maxen throws Drax a smile before leaning down and kissing my forehead.

“Be good Mi Alma, let us know what you find out.” Jax steps to his side and offers me a meaningful look before following Maxen’s retreating back.

“Now we can play,” Drax whispers while nuzzling my hair.

Thorn watches from where he is standing leaned against the wall with his arms crossed.

My eyes run along him, lost in all that bare muscle.

When I flick my eyes back up, he’s watching me, the hunger clear.

He drops his arms and pushes off the wall.

Stalking towards me, moving like a predator, his strength is clear to see.

He stops when our feet touch and I have to lean my head back against Drax’s chest to see him.

“Why?” I clear my throat, then try again “Why all of a sudden are you all coming after me?” He stares at me, obviously assessing the question .

“Maxen.”

I blink, er okay? Drax’s chest rumbles as he lets out a bark of laughter.

“What he means is Maxen made his move. Plus, I told them all how much you liked the idea of us sharing you, so now you’re free game.”

My eyes narrow with anger and I’m pretty sure they are spitting fire.

“Get used to the idea, baby. We all want you and now we aren’t hiding it anymore. Now let's go get your information shall we?” Thorn throws me a sweet smile which pops my anger like a balloon.

“Fine.” I wiggle out of Drax’s arms and stomp down the corridor. A thought pops into my head like a light bulb and I spin to see them stumble back at my quick movements.

“You know that means you are all free game too. I can play with all of you.” Thorn’s smile is slow and sexy this time but Drax looks shocked at my forwardness. I throw him a wink and strut off in search of Major.

After searching for over an hour and asking at least four guards, I give up my hunt for Major. With a grumble, I turn to the training grounds as the midday sun beats down on us. With an annoyed huff, I walk towards the wooden fence. Leaning against it, I look down into the sand-covered enclosure.

Easily the size of a football pitch, the enclosure is where fighters - mainly slaves - train for the fights.

Weapons are laid out on a table just below us, from swords to a mace.

There are a few fighters dotted around here and there, watching intently as they spar with each other.

It brings back memories, but I push them away and focus on a woman down below us.

Sweat drips down her body as she ducks swing after swing from the skinny kid in front of her. She’s tall, probably a bit taller than me, with short spiky black hair. Her green eyes flash in fear as the kid's fist heads towards her unprotected stomach.

Something touches my hand and I glance down in surprise. I'm gripping the fence so tight my knuckles have turned white. I look to Thorn who doesn't even bother glancing at me as he uncurls my fist and twines his fingers with mine.

A scream has me spinning back to the fight to see the kid is on the ground holding his bleeding leg.

Well, shit. The woman is bent over, her breath sawing in and out as she sucks in air.

A knife clatters to the floor. Ah, so that’s how.

My heart stutters when I realise what she just did.

Before I can shout a warning, a big guy marches out of the shade and towards her with deadly intent.

When he reaches her, he backhands her and she falls to the ground, cupping her now red cheek.

“Why did he do that?” Drax sounds angry, but I don’t look away from the woman.

“She’s a slave. Weapons in the training grounds are only for chosen fighters, which are hardly ever slaves.” The big guy stands over her shouting, so hard spittle flies from his mouth. He spits on her and then kicks her stomach. She curls around herself, crying openly.

Shit, don’t interfere Taz.

I try to count backwards in my head but as insult after insult is thrown her way, punctuated by kicks, my anger rises.

Memories of me being punished flash through my head and I know I can’t let this happen.

I might be able to kill without blinking, but I can’t sit by as someone suffers. Maybe I'm not a monster after all.

Steeling myself, I hop over the fence and land softly on the balls of my feet.

All the other fighters stop and watch as I strut confidently to the big man.

He doesn’t even notice me, too engrossed in his slave.

My fury ratchets up a notch when he unthreads his belt and palms it.

He lifts it in the air. Rushing forward, I catch the lash mid-swing, the leather slapping against my palm with a resounding smack.

I don’t let the pain show, instead, I use his surprise to yank on the belt.

He stumbles forward as it drops to the floor.

“You stupid bitch. Do you know who you are messing with?” His face darkens to a deep red as his eyes bulge. I turn sideways so I can see the girl but keep the master in my eye line.

“You okay?” I try to make my voice as soft as possible.

She nods, still cupping her cheek. She eyes me cautiously as she pushes to her feet. The guy moves as if to push her back down and I waggle my finger at him.

“Nope, you stay right there.”

He turns his fury on me, forgetting about the slave. This time, I keep my eyes trained on him, the bunching in his muscles letting me know he doesn’t plan on letting this challenge lie.

“Go.” The girl looks at me as if I am part of this and tricking her only to drag her back and beat her.

Sighing, I offer her a small smile. I know that distrust and that look.

I nod and she hesitantly takes a step backwards.

When I don’t move, she turns and spins. She sprints to the edge of the arena where Drax and Thorn wait.

Drax catches her arm and keeps her between them.

I crack my neck from side to side as the man advances on me.

“You’re going to pay for that, cunt. ”

Bouncing on the balls of my feet, I grin at him.

“Can’t wait,” I taunt.

He falters for only a moment before running at me with a roar.

I sidestep his charge and he spins wildly, his nostrils flaring.

I feign disinterest and eye my nails. He steps forward, more reserved this time, and when I don’t move, he launches himself at me with surprising speed for a big bastard.

I manage to twist out of the way and grab the belt from the floor in one move.

I run it through my hands as I watch him, he's getting even angrier now.

Good, it will make him stupid. The first rule in the fights was to let your rage be present but not rule you.

He starts to circle me, obviously looking for a weakness. This time when he rushes me, I don’t move. I block the punch aimed at my head with the belt, wrap it around his arm and twist it behind his back. Using it as leverage, I kick off, pushing him away from me.

I want him to suffer, to be humiliated. I can hear the crowd from here as more fighters and trainers stumble over to watch.

Keeping light on my feet, I stay out of his reaching distance.

He starts to get frustrated and overreaches himself trying to hit me.

He puts more power in his wide swings, overexerting himself until he starts to slow.

I let him closer and he grins obviously thinking I’ve made a mistake.

I duck under a punch and instantly straighten, throwing a powerful punch at his unprotected head.

He stumbles back, the shock evident. I don’t give him time to recover, I whip my leg up, kicking with all my strength.

He falls back further, bending over, clutching his wounded ribs.

Rushing forward, I bring up my knee and hear a crunch when it connects with his unprotected face.

He howls and falls to his side. I step back and watch in grim amusement.

“Get up.” I jump up and down on the spot as I snarl at him.

He groans, but manages to glare at me.

“Get up, pussy,” I shout. The crowd laughs and chants at him.

Snarling, he pushes to his feet but staggers.

I wait until he's standing to end this. With the belt wrapped around my arm, I run and twist around him, leaping on his back like a monkey.

I lock my legs around his waist and wrap the belt around his wide neck.

He jerks and twists, trying to throw me off.

I hold on, keeping the pressure around his neck.

He staggers over the ground heading to the wall.

Ah fuck, this going to hurt. Turning as he gasps for breath, he throws himself backwards, my back smashing against the dirt wall.

The breath is knocked out of me, but I manage to hang on.

He starts to get desperate as he claws at my hands until he falls to his knees, his breathing harsh and wheezing.

“Do you give up?” I shout to be heard over the crowd.

When he continues to claw, I increase the pressure on the belt until he falls face first into the dirt.

I ride him down to the floor, planting my feet on either side of his body.

When I’m sure he’s unconscious. I let go of the pressure and hop off.

Strolling away, I hum to myself. The crowd goes silent as I reach the girl.

“Thanks for letting me take that, I haven’t had that much fun in a while.” Drax is bent over laughing so hard, I see tears.

“Oh god, I think I’m in love,” Drax says between chuckles.

He wipes his eyes but I can still see the laughter in them.

Thorn smiles at me as he eyes me, the desire clear.

The girl blinks at me incredulously so I throw her a wink and turn and run and jump at the wall.

I catch the bottom of the fence and pull myself over.

The spectators part as I stroll through their midst. Knowing that Thorn and Drax were watching and found it hot has me turned on as all hell, the adrenaline still coursing through my body, wiring me up, the lust from this morning rushing back with a vengeance.

I need to let out some of this excess frustration and pent-up desire and I know just the people. I’m really hoping they follow me. When I hear running feet behind me, I grin to myself. I’m about to show them how a champion celebrates.