Page 25 of Wickedly Played (Checkmate #1)

Chapter Twenty-Two

SERENA

I stretch like a fat, lazy cat after hearing the doorbell ring and then the lock mechanism triggering.

The fresh smell of man surrounds my senses, and I purr from the sensation.

“Good morning,” I whisper to Max. I’m curled on his chest with his arms still protectively wrapped around me.

His chin is over my head, tucking me closer to him.

This shouldn’t feel this good.

Max is still waking up, which is a good thing because his guard is still down around me. Last night was incredible. We stayed up late, sharing secrets, eating snacks, and getting to know each other a lot better. It was probably the best first non-date I have been on.

My eyes began to get heavy around four in the morning.

The thought of walking upstairs to my room alone was the last thing I wanted to do.

Instead, I made Max my bed. It took him a couple of seconds to let his walls down to hold me.

He wrapped me in his arms, kissed the top of my head, and whispered a good night to me.

“Good morning, sweetness.”

“Before the craziness begins,” I murmur, “I wanted you to know that last night was great. Thank you.”

He strengthens his hold on me. “It was great.”

Bill, Jim, and Adam come strolling into my living room, causing me to push off Max. The last thing I needed was for Jim to think something was going on with my bodyguard. Well, I wish there were. The more time I spend with him, the more I like him. I should dislike him, but I actually like him.

“Ser, what the fuck happened? Are you okay?” Jim demands as he plops down in the seat across from where I am.

“I’m fine.”

Adam has his eyes squinted as he looks between the two of us. “We need to talk about security measures moving forward. With the murder of someone who looks like Serena, we need to step it the hell up.”

Bill has tears in his eyes. “I’m glad it wasn’t you that died. I was worried it was.”

Max’s hand flexes next to my thigh. I fight the urge to lace my fingers with his. “She’s perfectly safe under my protection,” he bites out. I hear his jaw click from him grinding his molars.

“No one said she wasn’t, bro,” Adam snaps. “The fact that someone was killed where you were at last night makes me wonder what the actual fuck is going on.”

Bill stutters a little. “I run a safe business. There has never been a problem like this before. A waitress was found dead behind the venue. I wish it hadn’t happened at all.

I don’t want anyone to get hurt. The Checkmate Club is meant to be fun, sexy, and pleasurable.

Not this type of danger. My club is safe, but we are also stepping up our security measures.

Especially when it comes to Serena’s demonstrations. ”

“I think Serena should put a hold on her shows,” Adam begins.

“Are you insane?” I snap. “I have appointments and clients to see. I have a life to live here, too. I’m not stopping anything.”

Max’s brother stands up to stare me down. “I wasn’t suggesting quitting forever. I was suggesting to put a hold on it, little girl.”

Max stands in front of me to challenge his brother. “She has been safe since coming under my protection. You don’t need to come over here and start flexing how big your balls are to my client.”

Adam’s eyes narrow. “Are you fucking your client?”

My eyes widen from shock. “Excuse me?” I blurt.

“I didn’t stutter. I asked my brother and my employee a question. Are you fucking your client?”

I stand next to my bodyguard, but he pushes his hand back for me to fall back on the couch. “Watch yourself.” The threat is thinly veiled. “What kind of bullshit question is that? I’m a professional.”

Max’s words hit me a little more complicated than they should. I have felt an attraction to him, but his words have me questioning whether I've imagined everything. Am I that delusional that I imagined a whole budding thing in my mind?

My body tenses as I slide a little further down the couch. Max’s hot and cold reactions to me made my head spin. He could have slapped me in the face, and I would have felt less of the sting of betrayal like I feel now.

“We’re not sleeping together,” I bite out. “Even if we were, I don’t see how it would be any of your business.”

Max’s fists form. “I have never crossed a line with any of my protectees, and I will be fucking damned if my brother is going to treat me like some novice.”

“The way it is looking right now,” Adam begins, “it looks like you guys are getting awfully close.”

Do I sense a twinge of jealousy? Where the hell did this come from?

There is a knock on the door to break the tension. Max stays with me as Jim opens the door to the detective.

“Serena,” Jim begins, “this is Detective Wood. Detective Wood, this is Serena.”

I shake his hand, and his grip is weak around mine. “Please have a seat,” I point to one of the couches in the living room. “This is my bodyguard, Max,” I point to the growling man in front of me. I point to the remaining people and introduce them to the detective.

“I want to know what you can tell me about what happened,” Bill requests.

Detective Wood begins to explain what took place. “We received a call from a local that there was a dead body located in the river behind the venue you were at yesterday. We went to investigate, and the woman’s body-” Wood stops himself before giving me a cautionary glance.

“Please continue,” I encourage. “I need to know what happened.”

He sucks in a breath. “The woman was brutally raped, and it is expected that she died from the assault. However, when we found her, she was facedown in the river with a heavy branch on her back.”

“Fuck!” Jim stutters out.

Bill begins to pace the room with anxiety coursing through him. “I can’t believe this happened at one of my events. This is insane,” he mutters.

Max sits next to me with his fingertips reaching out to touch my thigh. I fight the urge to lean into him for the comfort he would provide for me. I know it would make me feel better, but I can’t let myself fall into that trap again. It's clear to me that I’m just a job to him.

For once in my life, I would like to be more than an object to someone. I want to be more than the trophy someone tries to win.

“Are there any suspects?” I whisper.

Wood shakes his head. “We are pulling video feeds around the area. So far, there isn’t much to go on. The suspect was wearing a hooded sweatshirt.”

“Okay, thank you,” I murmur. “I’m going to get ready. Please let me know if there's anything else you need from me. Jim can answer questions on my behalf.”

Max’s hand grabs my wrist to turn me to face him. I shake my head at him. I can’t do this right now. Having this conversation with Max regarding feelings is not going to go anywhere. I don’t even know if he has feelings.

ME: Hey, want to go to dinner?

STELLA: Of course. What time?

ME: Let’s plan for 2 hours. I’ll meet you at Le Chet.

STELLA: Mistress, are you trying to seduce me?

ME: All it takes is a fancy dinner to get in between your thighs?

STELLA: Haha. Don’t tell Deacon

ME: Tell me more at dinner

STELLA: See you soon, Mistress

After I have showered, done my hair, and slipped on one of my jumpsuits, I’m ready to leave. I did my makeup lightly, and now I’m going to have a good time with Stella. I need to discuss what's been happening with Max over the past couple of weeks.