The Skull Crusher Read online

  “I never look like shit.” I pumped out the reps then racked the weights.

  “Trust me, you do.” He grabbed his bottle of water and took a drink. “I know you didn’t change your mind about Yvonne because I took her home last night. Best two thousand euros I’ve ever spent. She can take big dick in the ass like a pro.”

  That was information I didn’t need to know. “Just like you did in prison?”

  His smile dropped. “I’ll throw a weight plate at your head.”

  “Like you could lift it.”

  Heath’s anger slowly faded away. “See? You’re in a really good mood.”

  “Because I’m talking shit?”

  “No. Because you’re making jokes. Last night, you were a little girl with her panties up her ass. Your jaw was clenched so tight, and you looked like you wanted to strangle someone.”

  “Well, you were sitting beside me…maybe I wanted to strangle you.”

  He studied me for a while, as if he were trying to read the look on my face. “Get laid?”

  All night long. “Fuck off, Heath.”

  The corner of his mouth rose in a smile, just the way mine did. “She finally put out? Took her long enough. Or did you force her?”

  I’d never forced a woman in my life. I didn’t need to force a woman to get laid. Only men like Lucian did. “Your question is offensive.”

  “Which one?”

  “All of them.” I grabbed my earbuds. “I’m tuning you out so I can get something done.”

  “So you can hurry home and get laid again?”

  I popped the buds into my ears and let the music drown out his voice.

  WHEN I GOT out of the shower, she was still asleep.

  Was she ever going to wake up?

  I pulled on my boxers then stared at her, seeing the way she stretched out across my bed and managed to take up the entire thing. She seemed to be reaching for me, and when she couldn’t find me, she kept stretching.

  Staring at her got me hard, so I dropped the boxers I’d just put on and got into bed with her. She was on her stomach, so my hand palmed her ass and I pressed a kiss to the nape of her neck. Slowly, I kissed her along the spine as my fingers moved to her entrance just below her asshole. They gently made their way inside, getting through her tight entrance and finding the wetness that always greeted me. I could feel my come inside her too, sticky and warm. My fingers pulsed as I kissed her.

  She moaned with her eyes closed, and slowly the pleasure forced her to wake. Her eyes opened, and she looked at me over her shoulder, her pussy immediately tightening when she was aware of my fingers. “Not a bad way to wake up…”

  “Get used to it.” I pulled my fingers out of her cunt then moved on top of her. She was flat on her belly so I couldn’t see her tits, but my dick was rock hard because of her beautiful face. I directed my head inside her and slowly sank in, her asshole just a few inches above. When I was deep inside, the most sensual shiver ran all the way down my spine. There was nothing better in life than being balls deep in this pussy. Money was irrelevant, power was overrated. This was true bliss—fucking this woman.

  My hand fisted her hair, and I yanked her head back, keeping her spine curved at a sexy angle. Then I turned her head to the side so I could seal my mouth over hers. I kissed her as my hips thrust into her hard, hitting all her slickness deep.

  She moaned against my mouth and could barely return my kiss. She was falling apart right off the bat, the pleasure between her legs so good that she couldn’t focus on anything else.

  I’d missed her pussy so much. Two weeks was my longest drought, and she’d made it an unbearable two weeks. After I had her bare pussy in Lucian’s home, I couldn’t keep sharing her with the asshole. I wanted to pump my come deep inside her every single night—without sharing. My dick was obsessed with her perfection, with how unnaturally wet she was. Anytime I went anywhere near her pussy, she was practically dripping. A woman had never been so wet, and seeing how aroused she was only turned me on more. She swallowed those olives at the bar like she wished they were my balls. She had the appetite of a whore but the class of a queen.

  I pushed her hard against the bed and made her clit drag against the sheets. My hands were balled into fists against the mattress, and I used my ass muscles to really get inside her. At this angle, it was so easy to hit her deep, to feel her at a better angle.

  She came a second later, so she must have liked it too. She came against my mouth, her kiss absent because all she could do was moan. Her nails clawed at the sheets, and she bucked back against me, wanting more of my dick even though there was no room.

  Once she was finished, I let myself go—adding another load into her already full cunt. I lay on top of her as I filled her, dumping my seed inside her where it would remain until I fucked her again. I didn’t moan the way I had last night, not when the sensation felt so raw. My eyes locked on to hers as I finished because I wanted her to understand how much I enjoyed her. I hadn’t fucked around since I’d met her because I wasn’t an idiot. I knew she had the best pussy I’d find anywhere.

  I slowly pulled out and admired the white come dripping from her entrance. The sight was enough to turn me on all over again. Lucian was at home plotting his revenge against me, knowing full well I was coming inside his wife—over and over.

  Soon enough, she would have so much come inside her that he wouldn’t even want her back.

  I got off her then pulled on my boxers.

  She laid her head back down and closed her eyes, like she was ready to go back to sleep.

  I stared at her beautiful body on the bed, the endless curves and the sexy olive skin. She was the only woman who held my attention even after I came. Everyone else was forgotten the second the fun was over. “You want some lunch?”

  “Only if you’re making French toast.”

  “That’s not lunch. That’s breakfast.”

  “Whatever.”

  “And no…I don’t eat French toast.”

  “Do you ever have a cheat meal?” she asked incredulously. “What’s the point in working so hard if you don’t enjoy yourself once in a while.”

  “I do enjoy myself—with pussy.”

  She sat up and finally got out of bed. “That’s not the only reason women want to sleep with you.”

  “Then why else?” I knew this woman was insanely attracted to me. I could see it in her eyes, the way she gripped my ass and pulled me deeper inside her.

  She pulled out a shirt from one of my drawers. “I’m not going to inflate your already big ego.” She walked into the kitchen, in just my t-shirt and a new thong from the pile she’d started to keep in my dresser.

  I followed behind her, mesmerized by the sexy way her hips shook back and forth. I entered the kitchen and watched her make a bowl of cereal while I prepared my usual salmon. “My ego is already pretty big, so I don’t think you can make it bigger.”

  She leaned against the counter and ate while I cooked at the stove. “Forget it. I’m not telling you.”

  “Ever?”

  “Ever.” Her teeth crunched against the cereal in her mouth.

  “Seems unfair. I admit all the things I like about you.” I flipped the salmon over and grilled the other side while the veggies sautéed in the other pan.

  She kept eating, her hair a mess because I’d wrapped it around my hand so tightly. “You’ve admitted no such thing.”

  “I disagree.”

  “Then what?” she asked. “What do you find so fuckable about me?”

  “I’ll answer you—if you answer me.” The fish only took a few minutes for each side, so I was done quickly. I slid the food onto a plate and abandoned the dirty pans on the stove. I glanced at her before I carried my food to the kitchen table.

  She followed me, bringing her cereal with her. “Fine. You go first.” She sat in the chair across from me with her bowl in front of her. She left the spoon in the milk and let the pieces of cereal grow soggy.

  “Alright
.” I took a bite and swallowed. “I wanted to fuck you the moment I saw you because of your confidence. You sucked that olive into your mouth without the least bit of shame, hinting at all the sexy things you could do to my dick. Instead of coming over to me, you successfully called me over to you. That’s impressive because I’m not much of a chaser. I couldn’t turn down that olive skin, those firm tits that pushed against your dress. You were playful, mysterious. You’re the most desirable woman in the world. Why else would Lucian make you his wife? He didn’t have to take a spouse. He could have just had you as another mistress. You were too valuable of a prize not to claim. Now when I fuck you, I feel like I’m screwing a very talented virgin, someone so enthused it’s like their first time. You pull me up against the car and ask me to fuck you underneath the night sky even though I already made you come several times. You’re voracious, insatiable. You’re the kind of woman that makes me feel like a man.”

  She listened to every word without a reaction, probably unsure how to respond to such blunt compliments. She looked down at her cereal and stirred the remaining pieces without taking a bite. After she cleared her throat, she lifted her gaze to look at me. “Women don’t just want to fuck you because of your eight-pack and rock-hard chest. You’re confident, intense, and mysterious. You get this look in your eyes that’s just so possessive… It makes me feel naked even when I’m fully clothed. You’re strong, so it makes me feel safe, like nothing could ever hurt me. Lucian is a powerful man, despite what you think. He’s executed dozens of men right before my eyes. He has incredible allies. I’ve never seen anyone disrespect him and terrify him the way you do.”

  I noticed she didn’t mention my wealth. A lot of women wished they could be the woman on my arm so they could be decorated in jewels and expensive things. They wanted my money as well as my power. That didn’t seem important to this woman. All she really cared about was being protected.

  Probably because she hadn’t felt safe in so long.

  The man she trusted betrayed her and let her become a prisoner. She wasn’t gone long before he moved on and married someone else. Then a cruel man made her life unbearable every single day. Now she had a new owner. More than anything else in the world, she just wanted to feel safe.

  There was no safer place in the world than by my side.

  I cut into my salmon and kept eating.

  She stirred her cereal and looked down into her milk. Now the bits were too soggy to be eaten, but she continued to play with them.

  “So, you hate me?” I had been sheathed to the hilt when she’d said those words to me. She despised me, but she still wanted me.

  “Yes.” She got tired of playing with her food and pushed her bowl away.

  “You hate me but want me all to yourself?”

  “Hatred and lust aren’t mutually exclusive.”

  “But they don’t go hand in hand either.” I kept eating. “And why do you hate me so much?” I didn’t raise a hand to her or force her to do something she didn’t want to do. Even when she threw a tantrum, I put food outside her door so she wouldn’t starve. Her living arrangements could be much worse.

  “It’s pretty clear.”

  “Not to me.”

  Her green eyes flashed in hostility, her rage palpable with just a look. “I’m locked up in a tower with no rights. I have a tracker in my ankle, and I’m not allowed to leave. If you’re as much of a man as you seem to be, you wouldn’t need to keep me locked away. As a free woman, I would keep bedding you because I like it. Only a shadow of a man coerces a woman.”

  “I’ve never coerced you.”

  “I woke up last night, and you were inside me—”

  “Because you were saying my name with your fingers inside your panties. We both know you wanted it, so let’s not pretend.”

  She still wore that angry expression but didn’t argue with me.

  “And we both know I did you a favor. You prefer me to him—a million times over.”

  “That was before you captured me.”

  “You want me to give you back, then?” I challenged. “Because I will.”

  She didn’t call my bluff. Going back to Lucian was far too appalling for her to gamble. “I thought you were rescuing me.”

  “I did rescue you.”

  “Then why don’t I have any rights?”

  “I told you if you wanted freedom you had to earn it.” And she’d started to earn it last night when she confessed she didn’t want to share me with anyone. She pulled me deep inside her and revealed her possessiveness. Maybe she did hate me, but she was also obsessed with me. My bed was the only one she wanted to sleep in every night.

  “And what was last night?”

  “A good start.”

  She sighed with irritation, her eyes showing her frustration. “What kind of freedoms can I earn?”

  She could have whatever she wanted if she played her cards right. “A special team will escort you wherever you want to go at any time. You’ll have my cash so you can buy anything you want. If you want to visit your family, you can. If you want to go out with friends, you can. But you will always sleep here with me. It’s the safest place for you.”

  She probably wanted her own apartment for independence, but she didn’t argue with me when I offered most of the things she wanted. “And when will that start?”

  “When you’ve earned it.”

  “I need a time frame. My brothers haven’t heard from me in a long time, and they’ll get worried.”

  “I gave you a phone.”

  “I can’t remember their numbers. Who memorizes phone numbers anymore?”

  “Then they’ll have to worry about you a little longer.”

  She turned angry, like she wanted to throw the bowl at my head again. “This is a two-way street. You want me to work for the things I want, but you need to give me the things I need. My family is everything to me, and I can’t make them suffer like this. You will take me to them so I can explain what’s going on.”

  No one else would attempt to make demands when it came to me. They would just accept what was offered out of fear of being stabbed in the throat. But this petite woman fought for the things she wanted and held her own in an argument. It was impressive. “I’ll consider your request.”

  “No, you will—”

  “I said I would consider it.” My plate was empty, so I rose to my feet and carried it into the kitchen. I took her bowl too since it was obvious she was done with it. I enjoyed watching her make her demands, but I had to keep the authority in the situation. She had to understand she couldn’t get what she wanted simply by issuing commandments. I responded to action, not words.

  9

  CASSINI

  Instead of arguing with my captor, I needed to accept my situation. Balto wasn’t as cruel as Lucian and respected me to a certain degree, but he wasn’t a pushover. He had all the control in the situation, and he refused to accommodate me. Unless his demands were met, he would hold out forever.

  I had to give in.

  I had to be whatever he wanted me to be, to be so valuable that he would never want to give me up. He wanted me to be his lover, the woman who satisfied all of his needs. Once I upheld my end of the bargain, I’d finally reclaim some freedom.

  It was bullshit, but that didn’t matter.

  Life wasn’t fair—and it certainly wasn’t fair to me.

  My tantrum lasted the entire day and past dinner. I stayed in my room and tried to subdue my stubborn attitude. I examined this situation from every single angle, and there was no escape. There was no possibility of me ever walking free. Even if I could, Lucian would hunt me down, and I’d be back to square one.

  Balto was right about one thing—he was the only one who could protect me.

  Making the best of this situation was the only option I had.

  I went into the dining room and found him at the table. He’d just finished a plate of grilled chicken with a side of broccoli. He skipped the carbs for every single m
eal, and it was so extreme that it was nauseating.

  I couldn’t eat like that if I tried. My family owned a pasta company, so forsaking carbs simply wasn’t possible. My mother had made pasta at least three nights a week. It was how I grew up.

  Balto relaxed in his chair as he looked at me. “I have extra if you want any.”

  “No thanks.”

  He rose from his chair, set his dishes in the sink, and then headed to his bedroom. He wasn’t bothered by my coldness. He seemed completely indifferent to it.

  “Are you leaving tonight?” I dreaded the nights when I was left alone. I didn’t have a choice but to sleep on the couch and wait for him to return. There was a powerful man hunting me. Lucian wouldn’t give up so easily. He might be afraid of Balto, but he was extremely intelligent. He wouldn’t let me go without a fight.

  He stopped and turned around, wearing nothing but his black sweatpants. The muscles of his back were always so tight, so thick with strength. Even the slightest movement caused a rippling effect. “No.”

  I couldn’t hide my relief. When I’d slept in his bed last night, it had been the greatest evening of sleep I’d ever gotten. There were no depressing dreams or nightmares. I didn’t have a care in the world because this behemoth of a man was beside me.

  He stared at me like he expected me to say something else. When I didn’t, he turned around and walked off. His footsteps receded into his bedroom then he shut the door.

  I stayed put and stared down the hallway. I’d ignored him all day, and then when I was ready to look at his face, he disappeared. Maybe he was avoiding me on purpose, or maybe he wasn’t going to let my presence dictate what he would do next. It was only eight o’ clock, so I doubted he was going to sleep.

  I returned to my bedroom and looked through the clothes in my drawers. There was an assortment of lingerie he’d gotten me. All black and slutty—he had very specific tastes. He never asked me to wear them, but the fact that he bought them indicated that was what he wanted. I picked a one-piece that pushed my tits together with a crotch that unfastened and looked at myself in the mirror.