Page 7 of Wickedly Played (Checkmate #1)

Chapter Five

SERENA

Luckily, Max is about the same size as David was, making it easy for him to wear a suit tonight. If he’s going to represent me, I need to ensure he does it thoroughly.

Max has been my employee for two weeks now. For the last two weeks, he’s been a sentinel for me outside of my shows and walks me back to the car. As much as I feel this push and pull from him, I must admit he’s good at his job.

The problem?

The longer I’m with him or around him, the more I like him. He’s fucking hot. However, he’s made it clear that he doesn’t see me like that.

I can’t help but feel my heart jump every time he comes near me. He would have to be blind not to see the effect he has on me.

With everything packed, I bring my bag downstairs to see that Max is already waiting for me. Holy shit. He’s wearing a navy suit with a crisp, white shirt under it. The expensive material is stretched over his muscles, and judging by that cocky smile, he knows he looks good.

“The Escalade is up front for us,” he informs me before opening the door.

I sweetly smiled at him while I get situated in the truck. He takes the driver’s seat, leaving me in the passenger seat. I look over at him as he finagles the controls of the luxury SUV before pulling out of the driveway.

Damn. It should be illegal to look that good while driving in a suit.

With my mind focused on the material stretched over his taut muscles, I missed what he had said. It didn’t register that he said anything until he called my name. “Serena?”

“Uh, what?” I blink to clear my racing thoughts.

“You’re awfully distracted,” Max surmises.

Shrugging, I look out the window to clear my mind. “I guess. This stalker thing has been time-consuming, and all everyone wants to talk about,” I admit. “I get that it is a big deal. I understand that. I’m just tired of it controlling my whole life.”

“All right. Want to tell me how you got into all of this?” His deep voice is smooth as it washes over me.

For two weeks, we danced around each other. Max has grown accustomed to my home schedule, and I have grown accustomed to him being here. I’ve mostly been busy with my clients, caming, while he has been looking through the cameras in the home. I’ve noticed how thorough he is with his surveillance.

I need to get it together.

“Not really. Want to tell me why you aren’t a SEAL anymore?”

He doesn’t crack a smile, but his eyes are dancing with mischief. “That’s not how this works, little girl.”

Everyone loves to ask why I got into this. “It is one of those things that has a different million reasons why… type of situation,” I casually throw out. There are several reasons why I got into it, but one main reason stands out.

“You’re not going to tell me?” Max asks, his lips curled into a slight smirk.

Bastard.

I shrug as I dig my keys out of my purse to begin to get ready for the events tonight. “Anyway, for tonight, I would like for you just to hang back and watch how things play out. I don’t foresee there will be any problems,” I instruct.

Max pulls into the driveway of one of the houses we use for our events.

It is one of the more popular options, as it features numerous rooms, multiple stages throughout the home, and a built-in pool, among other amenities.

I like the sauna in the gym the best. It is nice to rest my muscles after working on scenes with my clients.

He's parked in the spot I pointed out, opens his door, and then opens mine for me. Max’s hand comes through the door as he waits for me to slide my fingers around him.

I place my hand in his, allowing him to help me out of the SUV.

After I grab my bag from the back, I let us in through the front door.

“Serena!” Raul chimes from the entryway. “I saw you were on the list tonight. I know there is a big crowd for you,” he whistles. “Who’s this?”

I watch as his eyes slide over my new bodyguard’s body. One thing I love about Raul… he’s very gay. Like every woman’s fantasy of gay best friends. Raul has been a constant for me while I climbed the popularity ladder, along with helping stack my schedule on the nights I will be here.

“Raul, this is my bodyguard, Max.” I wave my hand at both men, who assess each other. “Be nice, Raul,” I chide.

My friend can be a little overprotective of me to the point where he can be bitchy. I’ve seen him push some people away from me at these events with a growl.

He fakes indignation. “Excuse me? Moi?”

I wagged a finger at him. “I’m talking to you, babe.”

Max watches the exchange while also taking in the rest of the area. “Raul, do you have a map?”

My friend chuckles. “Oh, he’s cute.”

“Babe, I don’t think he plays for your team,” I giggle.

“For fuck’s sake. I’m here to work. If you’re not going to give me the map, I’ll go look for my damn self,” Max sternly replies.

Raul’s mouth drops. “Serena, did you get yourself a dominant bodyguard? I never thought I would see the day when you would take orders from others!”

I push his shoulder, causing him to fall back on the host stand.

“Stop being a bitch.” Looking back at Max, I hold my hand out for him to grab.

He’s staring at my hand as if he’s trying to contemplate something a lot heavier than the true meaning of me trying to save him from my horny friend.

“Suit yourself,” I reply flippantly, turning toward the dressing rooms.

Raul’s ready to pounce. “How often do you work out?”

I have to giggle when I hear the heavy footsteps from Max. “He doesn’t know when to quit, does he?” Max whispers.

I point at each of the rooms, their meanings, and then introduce him to some of the dungeon staff for the event.

He takes it all in stride, looking over everything as he gets to it.

Max shakes hands with some of the security guards, introduces himself, and then stands close to me to indicate he’s my bodyguard.

“Serena!”

I spin on my feet to see my friend, Stella, running down the hallway toward me. She jumps into my arms and wraps herself around me. “Hi, love!” I murmur into her hair. “I’ve missed you the past week.”

She kisses my cheek, then my mouth in a lazy kiss. “I’ve missed you more!”

Stella has been my acting sub in many of the exhibitions over the years. She’s a gorgeous woman, with short blonde hair, brown eyes, a curvy body, voluptuous tits, and a fantastic smile. The best part about Stella is the fact that she’s a switch.

She unravels herself from me, kisses me once more, and then I hear her boyfriend coming down the hallway. I smile and wave at him just as he gives me the same greeting as Stella.

Deacon has a hard time letting go of control and handing it over to me. He won’t admit it, but I know he’s jealous of my relationship with Stella- especially how I command her body. It is the little side looks he gives me when she submits to me that let me know how he truly feels.

“Deacon!” I kiss him on the cheek. “I told Stella how much I miss you both!” Even though I know he doesn’t like me, I’m still nice to his face. Stella is one of the best subs a woman can ask for.

He kisses me on the lips before grabbing his girlfriend back from my other hand. “You can have her back in half an hour. We’re going to use one of the rooms,” he winks.

“You’re a devil. And no.”

He places his hand over his heart. “What do you mean?”

“I’m not eating her out with your come dripping out of her in an hour,” I snark back.

Max scoffs with his eyes widening.

Shit. I forgot my new meat shield doesn’t know my lifestyle that well. I wonder how big his deep blue eyes are going to get when he sees what I’m about to do.

“Oh, this is my bodyguard, Max. Max, this is my partner, Stella, and her dipshit boyfriend, Deacon.”

“You got yourself a new bodyguard?” Deacon chuffs. “Poor guy. Serena has a lot of fans, and some of them are crazy.”

“What do you mean?” Max responds with his arms crossed over his chest.

My friend’s boyfriend shifts his weight like he’s intimidated by my new guard. “I just mean she’s popular.”

“You make me sound like a whore,” I retort. “Come on, Stella, we have to get ready to go on stage.” I grab my friend’s hand and then walk down the hallway. “Max, if you want to stand outside the door, you can.”

Before I can get too far, I feel a muscular hand grabbing my arm to pull me back. I turn to look at Max’s studious face and fight the urge to purr. It has been so long since someone has been this forceful with me, and I must admit, I like it.

He looks at Stella and Deacon, dismissing them, and they walk away quickly. “What is your problem?” I hiss.

Max gets close to my face, giving me a good sniff of his masculine scent. “You’re under my protection, Serena. You don’t get to dismiss me. Where you go, I go. Do I make myself clear?”

Again, the urge to purr is overwhelming.

“Are we going to have a problem?” I ask with my eyebrow raised. My arms cross my chest with my lips curling into a snarky pout. I can’t believe I’m reacting like this to a man I just met, but I feel like being the biggest brat to the man.

“Sweetness,” his lips are close to my ear, “we won’t have a problem if you stop playing these games with me.”

Feeling even more bratty, I level him with my stare. “What games am I playing?”

Max drops his hand from my arm to grip my hip in his firm grasp. “You keep pushing me, sweetness. You had better stop, because you won’t like the repercussions from it. Go get changed, and I will wait for you outside of the changing room.”

My feet stagger once he has let me go. Son of a bitch.

Once I’m in the changing room with Stella, she turns to look at me with wild eyes. “Okay, that was kind of hot!”

I shake her off while ripping my top off and yanking the corset out of my bag. She helps lace it from behind as she lays kisses up the column of my neck. “This is hot,” I redirect.

Spinning in Stella’s arms, I pull her closer to me and devour her mouth. “I’ve missed you,” I murmur against her soft lips. Her fingers trace my torso before stopping at the waistband of my pants. “Yes,” I moan.

“I can’t wait for tonight,” she moans in my mouth.

There’s a banging on the door to wake us from our lust. Deacon’s head pokes through the door as he clocks his girlfriend. “Baby, you guys have two minutes before the show begins.”

His eyes look at Stella in my arms, and a smile takes over his face. “Are you going to give me a show before the show?”

I kiss Stella once more. “You wish. You can get the show everyone else pays for, Deacon. Get out of here. I would hate to embarrass you once you see how hard I can make your girlfriend come with my mouth.”

“You’re such a bitch,” he utters under his breath.

“What did you just call her?”

Stella’s lips touch my ear. “He’s so hot for you, baby.”

I shake her off. “Yeah, right.”

“Want to make this an excellent show?”

I smile conspiratorially. “Always, honey.”

Inside the cup of my bustier, I feel my phone vibrating.

I check it quickly and wince when I see who’s calling.

Talking to this person is the last thing I want to do right now.

I can’t stand to hear the disdain dripping from their voice.

Even though I’m actively choosing to ignore the consequences, I’m not stupid.

I know that eventually the ramifications are going to come barreling after me.

Before we leave the dressing room, Stella pushes me against the wall. I love it when she thinks she can top me like this. She’s about my height with heels on, and her mouth latches onto my pulse in my neck. “Sorry, I had to get that out of my system.”

“Shit, baby,” I whisper. “I can’t wait to get my mouth on you. How hard do you think you’re going to come?”

She rubs her hands over the tops of my chest before trailing down to my navel. My body is already strung so tight from my new bodyguard, and now Stella is making me crazy.

I grab her hand and lay a kiss on her lips.