Chapter 23

Before Shemika could even process her thoughts, her body was already in motion. She tore open the front of Caturix’s pants, ripping through the button and clasps, and quickly discarded her own undergarments.

Once again, Caturix was inside her. She straddled his waist and rode him with a wild abandon, convincing herself that this would be their last time. It had to be. It would be.

Her body moved rhythmically, her nails digging into his chest as she bounced up and down.

Caturix had always been the dominant one in their previous encounters, but this time, he just watched her with heavy-lidded eyes and a slightly open mouth. She could feel his hips rising occasionally, a sign of his desperate desire to take control. But he must have known she needed this. And she ~did~ need it.

As her climax neared, her pace quickened. She rode through it, not allowing the climax to alter her movements. She continued until she saw his face contort with pleasure.

His head jerked up and his body flexed straight. He couldn’t help but thrust up into her as his own climax hit. With his self-control gone, he grabbed her hips, pulling her down as he thrust upward. After he finished, he leaned up, sliding his hands up her back. When they reached the nape of her neck, he ran his hands through her hair and pulled her in for another kiss.

Shemika melted against him. His lips were so soft against hers, a stark contrast to the way their bodies had just collided. She couldn’t control herself when he kissed her.

~Shit~, what was she going to do about Lyosha’s order? She had to end it. She just had to—

“I don’t want to stop,” he murmured against her lips.

“I don’t want to stop kissing either,” she purred back.

He pulled away from her and gave her a flat look. “No, Shemika. I don’t want to stop our association.”

Shemika reeled back in shock. She couldn’t believe it. She literally couldn’t believe it. She couldn’t trust it. Her heart pounded in her chest with excitement, but she didn’t want to betray her heart with hopeless delusions.

Shemika climbed off his lap to sit beside him. “Are you sure? Lyosha really doesn’t want us to see each other. He said his men will be watching me ~diligently~. We’d have to sneak and hide and…I’m sure you can’t imagine that’d be any fun,” she said carefully, hoping he’d disagree with her.

He leaned close, brushing her golden hair behind her ear. “What’s forbidden is always the most fun,” he mused with a delicious smirk.

The way his lips curved up humorously made her legs tremble and her stomach tense. “Are you sure?” she breathed.

He nodded. “I am. I can’t give this up, not yet. I haven’t been with a woman who enjoyed her time with me, Shemika. I haven’t gotten to give a woman pleasure,” he said.

Shemika shivered at his words. “You…you can call me Mika.”

He looked up thoughtfully. “Only if you keep calling me Cat. Not kitty cat, just Cat.”

Her heart pounded harder. “Yes,” she breathed, “Absolutely, Cat.”

His face softened at her words. “Absolutely, ~Mika~.”

The way he said her name, as if she was something to be worshipped, sent tingles all over her body, especially in her intimate areas.

Suddenly, Shemika jolted up. “I-I should go. I should wash your scent off and—” She stood.

“No,” he snapped, but quickly caught himself. He shook his head as if to dislodge some thought. “Please don’t wash me off of you.”

“Why not?” she asked softly, trying not to upset him.

He stood up, mirroring her action. “Just, please don’t and please don’t ask me to explain it to you, Mika.”

Damn, he called her Mika again. “Okay. I won’t, but…what if Lyosha calls for me again? He’ll know we’re still seeing each other,” she asked nervously.

“Just for today,” he said. “You can clean yourself tonight. Just leave my scent on you today.”

That seemed oddly possessive, but she didn’t push. They’d just started calling each other by nicknames. She couldn’t suggest he cared for her more than he was letting on. Perhaps, she could dream.

“I won’t,” she promised, but still moved to readjust her clothing and smooth her hair. “But I do have to get going. How…do you want to go about seeing each other?” she asked curiously.

He adjusted his own clothing and ran a hand through his dark, choppy hair. “You’ve been coming to my room this whole time and I’m sure people expect it, as I’ve never gone to a woman’s home. You’re also, probably, not stealthy. I’ll come to yours,” he said.

Shemika froze. Her place? It wasn’t ready for a man. It needed cleaning and prepping. “Right. When do you want to meet? Lyosha will expect it during dinner. I used to eat with him, but I stopped when I started following you,” she said, twisting a lock of hair around her finger.

He nodded. “I’ll meet you after dark, no one will know and you’ll wash after,” he replied, a look of intense concentration on his face.

~Oh, goody.~ “Do you know where my place is or do you need—”

“I know already,” he answered bluntly, but his skin started to redden as if he was embarrassed. “Not because I wanted to know where it was, every male in Rurik knows where you sleep.”

She didn’t like the thought of that, if she were being perfectly honest. “Okay. I’ll wait for you after dark,” she responded, her voice breathier than she’d intended.

He nodded and moved to open the door for her, guiding her down the cell corridor.

She felt like a traitor when she spotted Simu. Caturix had clearly beaten the man nearly to death, and she had just been intimate with his punisher.

She placed a hand on Caturix’s chest, forcing him to stop. “Cat,” she said softly.

He looked down at her curiously. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

She pointed at Simu.

“What about him?” he demanded, his eyes darkening with anger. “Did he do or say anything to you?”

She shook her head. “He’s from my pack. He came looking for me, to save me rather,” she said.

Caturix’s eyes narrowed, but he said nothing.

“Cat,” she groaned. “I’m not saying let him go, just please stop beating the shit out of him. He’s a good guy and he means well,” she said.

Caturix gave her a look of disagreement but shrugged. “I’ll go easy on him, but I can’t leave him be completely or Lyosha will suspect something,” he said.

She nodded. “Of course, just stop trying to kill him.”

“Mika,” he said, amused. “If I wanted him dead, he’d be dead.”

Her lips pursed. Was he trying to be funny? Because that would surely be a first. “Yes, well stop beating him please.”

“I’ll only beat him a little,” he suggested.

That would have to work. “Fine,” she huffed before sashaying away. She could hear him growl low and tried not to grin. “I’ll see you later,” she waved behind her. Every step was more difficult, every fiber of her being screaming to stay with him. But why?