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Maddox stared intently at me, his expression hardening into something unrecognizable. “You’ll always be mine, Mave. It’s crazy that you’d ever think otherwise.”
I made a noise of frustration and shoved the joint into his hand. “You’re still fucking impossible, you know that?”
Pulling my favorite knife out, I set the bag on the dresser and turned the sheathed blade over in my hands. A double sided blade, it was more of a dagger than a knife. Maddox watched me with growing intrigue. The heat in his gaze made me feel on display under his scrutiny. Finally, I broke and said, “What?”
“I always did love watching you handle a blade.” Maddox shrugged, draining the last few drops from the whiskey bottle before dropping it on the carpet. “Almost tempts me to let you keep it for your punishment.”
I stiffened. Oh, hell no. I gripped the black leather hilt especially tight as I slid the blade from its sheath. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Have I not already been punished enough? If your goal was to make me regret coming back, then congratulations, it worked.”
Maddox shot off the bed with the joint clamped tight between his lips. He closed the space between us, forcing me to crane my neck to peer up at him. “You’re going to regret ever leaving when I’m through with you.”
With a flick of my wrist, I brought the knife up, forcing him to take a step back. “I’m not sure what fantastical delusions you’re entertaining but I won’t be part of it. Back off, Maddox.”
He did no such thing. Instead he puffed on the joint, standing his ground. When I pressed the tip of the blade to his chest, he spread his arms in invitation.
“Do you want to hurt me, Vixen? By all means, go ahead. Carve your anger all over my body.” In one smooth motion Maddox dramatically tugged his t-shirt over his head. Letting it hit the floor, he pressed close so the tip of the blade bit into his chest.
My brain tripped over itself as I ate up the sight of him. Maddox was bigger than he’d been before, broader with more muscle. Evidence of time spent in the gym showed in the hard planes of his abs. He had a few more scars than I recalled, although I too bore the marks of my past.
The black flames that climbed up the side of his neck erupted from the mouth of a dragon on his chest. That was new since I’d last seen him. My gaze went to the fox tattooed on his ribs. He’d always said he wanted to get ink that symbolized me. I wasn’t sure how to feel about it.
“Don’t do this,” I whispered, struggling to find my voice.
“Why not? It’s what you want, isn’t it?” Maddox plucked the joint from his lips and stubbed it out on the dresser. “Let me feel your pain. We both know you won’t feel any better until you do.”
I swallowed hard, finding my throat dry despite the whiskey. My hand trembled slightly. “Do you think that throwing yourself on my blade will make me feel better about being your captive? Or do you want me to hurt you so that you can stop feeling guilty about what happened to me?”
Maddox’s eyes seemed to darken several shades. “I want you to carve your name in my skin. I want you to scar me with the anger and hatred you’ve carried all these years. Purge it all over me, Vixen. It’s the least that I deserve, don’t you think?”
I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about hurting him. Many nights the anger consumed me until I vibrated with rage, imagining the many ways I would make Maddox hurt. With him standing at the end of my knife, I was suddenly overwhelmed with the reality of my fantasies.
“Do it, Maven,” Maddox murmured, voice husky with want. “Show me how you really feel.”
A flick of my wrist was all it took to slice a large V in his chest. I stared at the cuts, watching blood well up and spill down his stomach in crimson rivulets. Together we watched the drops hit the carpet.
“Come on, baby,” Maddox sneered. “You can do better than that. You know how hard I get when you hurt me.”
Fury surged through me, making my temper flare dangerously hot and high. Any remaining hesitation fled as I pulled back to take a swing at him. Because I knew that he’d intercept the blow, I aimed for his jugular. Maddox’s blue eyes widened in excitement as he raised a hand, catching my wrist before I could bury my blade in his neck.
“Is this what you want?” I hissed, trying to pull free. “Is this how you atone for what happened? What about what I want, Mads? Does that matter?”
“You’re all that matters. That never changed because you left.” In a swift motion, Maddox bent my wrist at an awkward angle, forcing me to drop the knife before stepping in painfully close. “I’ll never be able to atone for what happened. Now get on your knees.”
I stood my ground, fists clenched, refusing to step back and show weakness. No way in hell was I doing what he said. A dark laugh slipped from my lips. “I don’t fucking think so.”
Maddox surprised me by shrugging. “Fine. Then I’ll get on my knees.”
Hooking the knife handle with a toe, he flung it across the room, well out of reach. Then he went to his knees before me. There was no hesitation when he reached around to cup my ass and press his face to my belly.
I sucked in a sharp breath and tensed. “Not really interested in another tease session, Mads. I think I’ll pass this time.”
Having him touch me so intimately sent a tremor of longing skipping through me. So badly I wanted to reach down and run my fingers through his inky black hair. Somehow I resisted with nothing but hardheaded willpower.
“Fuck, you smell good. Like flowers. I missed this more than you’ll ever know.” The stretchy leggings I’d thrown on after my shower came down easily when Maddox slid a finger in the waistband and tugged.
Inside my head I waged a battle with myself. I should stop him. Hell, I should knock him the fuck out while his guard was down and vamoose out of here. But then his mouth was on me, and I melted.
Maddox kissed me through my underwear, effectively stealing my voice. He pulled the thin black fabric to one side, breathing me in before his tongue darted out to taste me. It had taken me years to get over losing Maddox and the others. I stopped letting myself think about him when I touched myself. In mere seconds he’d undone all that work.
