Tommy's hoarse words send a shiver down my spine, making the hairs on my arms stand. I want him so much that it hurts. "I'm not scared of you," I whisper into his ear, bringing my cheek next to his. He slowly pulls his face away from mine, letting go of my wrists. Without warning, he pushes me onto the bed, and the towel that had been covering the lower part of my body slips away, leaving me completely naked.Now I'm so aroused that I want to squirm, but I try to play it lightly. Gods, he's gorgeous. I watch him head over to the windows and close the curtains, though it's clear he's having a hard time keeping his gaze away from me.He roughly tugs at them and they're closed, and he turns his full attention to me. Like a predator, he circles the bed, his eyes devouring every inch of my bare body lying on the bed in full display. I slowly stretch my arms and pull apart my legs just enough so he can't really see me. "I should shower," I say, and yawn. Then I start to sit up. He grab

☽ MAXIMILIAN ☾ "Useless." Petra wipes her sweaty brow and bends to pick up her shirt from the mat. "That's what you are unless you learn how to shift and fight." Without glancing in Lena's direction, she heads over to the locker rooms, still panting from beating up Lena. The Princess is on the floor, also catching her breath. Dark blue and purple bruises are beginning to form on her stomach, ribs, arms, and legs. I'm not sorry for her. Ok. Maybe Petra had gotten a little carried away. She could have paced herself once she realized Lena really couldn't shift or fight. But everyone in the pack undergoes this ritual. To become stronger your first need to break. I would know. She stands and sways a bit as if gathering her strength, giving me a deathlike glare before stepping outside. I find her leaning against the car, her head resting on the top. Her neck and chest drip with sweat, threatening to give me a hard-on. I wish I could say her messy hair and beat-up look make her le

"Get up," Petra says after I've spent a few seconds panting on the mat floor. Tommy dropped me off at the gym this morning without speaking a word to me during the ride. Then he drove away, leaving me alone with Petra. This time, however, Petra is going easy on me. It seems Maximilian has instructed her to actually teach me something instead of just beating me up. I stand, wiping the sweat off my forehead. "Don't get distracted by my words. When someone's lunging at you, it doesn't matter what they're saying. You move out of the way or block them." I nod, preparing myself for another attack. Despite disliking Petra on principle -my body is still covered in the bruises she gave me yesterday- I find that I'm actually liking this. Petra rushes toward me, intent on grabbing my legs again. This time, however, I'm ready for her. Instead of getting out of the way, I stand my ground and kneel. Her arms wrap around my own and with a cry of rage, I throw her off me before she's able t

We take a ferry out of the mangrove maze out into the open ocean, approaching the city from a different, more crowded port than the one Alexei used to get Tommy and me to the island. This is not good. Naranjos may be a prison, but it's still a very nice one. I shudder thinking about the hospital bed and the restraints. Hopefully, Tommy hasn't told Maximilian why that situation sent me into a panic attack. The last thing I need is to let this man in on the darkest secret of my past. It would be like giving him complete power over me, though he technically already has that. Even though I'm angry with Tommy, the thought of never seeing him again is pressing against my heart. I have a feeling that wherever we're going, Tommy will be out of the picture for the foreseeable future. "Don't blame Tommy for today," I say tentatively, trying to get Maximilian to talk. He's been silent ever since he threw my own words back at me. "It wasn't his fault. I really just wanted to explore the isla

The second I step out of the elevator, Maximilian drops his jaw and immediately tries to compose himself, pretending not to be shocked or surprised by how I look. The change is minimal- instead of the baggy pants and shirt, the jeans and top I chose hug my curves- but I know that it's causing an impression.An army of assistants follows Farrah down the stairs, and they arrive just as I join Maximilian near the lobby. "It seems like you got everything you need." Maximilian's eyes wander over to the assistants who are carrying dozens of bags and boxes. "I'll have to get them picked up. They won't fit in the car." There's a hint of annoyance in his voice, and that makes me smile. "Yes. I was very thorough," I say in a sweet voice. I can't tell if he's annoyed that I'm making him spend so much money or because the sheer volume of clothes presents a logistical challenge to whatever his plans are. "We can have everything delivered to your apartment, Mr. Thorn." Farrah hands me a smaller