Resisting Maxu (Clecanian #6)

by Victoria Aveline

“I enjoyed watching your dimples appear when you spoke of your job working with Earth beasts during your interview this afternoon. I wonder how I could make you smile so they deepen even more.” Camille’s grin widened at that, her dimples pulling in. “Marvelous,” Rikad breathed.

“Make her understand,” he grunted at the female guard. “I think that’s your job. Do better,” Daunet answered without an ounce of warmth in her voice.

“Stop flailing, or I’ll throw you over my shoulder.” “You wouldn’t.” He shot her a dark grin. “Wouldn’t plant your pert ass right next to my face? It’s all I want to do. Just give me a reason.”

Maxu twisted, snatching the black pillow off the bed. “You came for this? Why? What makes you so embarrassed about this?” “I’m not embarrassed,” she argued, lifting her chin and praying her cheeks wouldn’t turn red at that exact moment. “Lie.” He flashed his teeth in a grin before lifting the pillow to his face and inhaling. Heat flared over her face, her body tense and flustered. “Stop that!” He raised a brow at her and stood. “Why?” “Cause it’s…” Meg grappled for an explanation. “Weird.” Never in her life had Jeremy done anything like that. Why would that smell good to anyone? And why was the heat turning her skin pink not just from embarrassment? “It’s weird to enjoy the smell of my mate coming?” He tipped his head with a smile, and damn it all, he knew exactly how flustered he was making her.

Was he nervous? “They’re…” His voice died out, and he let out a long breath before continuing. “They make you feel less out of reach. By being surrounded by your things, I can imagine I’m surrounded by you.” Meg blinked. Emotion tightened her heart. Was this truth or manipulation? She studied the rigid set of his jaw, his hard stare, and the stillness of his chest. Is he…? Warmth spread through her. Yes. He was holding his breath. She leaned forward, holding his gaze until their lips were an inch apart. Her lids slid closed, and she kissed him. His fingers tightened on her hips while his lips over hers parted slightly but otherwise remained unmoving. She canted her head to the side, gave his lower lip a swipe of her tongue and sealed their lips, leaning as far forward as she could with her wrists still glued to the wall. Finally, his body came alive, his breath whooshing in through his nose as a loud purr rumbled out of his chest and caused a lingering vibration to pulse through his body.

“Okay, let me just get— Hey!” Meg had been reaching for the pillow she’d come here to get in the first place, but he snatched it out of her hands. He held it up. “Until I can bury my nose in your cunt anytime I want, this is mine.”

“But I bit you and screamed at you and ran away from you.” Meg let out a laugh. “I even shot you!” When Maxu didn’t seem fazed by the reminders of her horrid behavior, she went on. “My whole life, I’ve always felt too scared to be myself. I had a personality built for me, and if I didn’t fit into that mold, I wasn’t worthy of love. But with you…even when I’m being a pain in the ass and making mistakes…you’ve never made me feel worthless. You make me feel safe. Like I can say the wrong thing and I won’t be abandoned or judged. I don’t think you understand how liberating that is. I’ve never had that before.” Meg’s lips kept twitching downward as tears rose in her eyes. “I want you to feel that way when you’re with me. I don’t want you to hide from me.” The smile beaming out of him made her melt. She’d never seen it before. She’d seen smirks and grins and cocky flashes of teeth, but never anything this unguarded. A purr reverberated through his chest as he brushed his lips against hers, hands still tight on her jaw. His kiss was slow and languid. Meg sighed as he slid his tongue against hers. Maxu answered her with a groan of his own. “I think I like you most when you’re being a pain in the ass,” he whispered, brushing a thumb over her bottom lip.

“I’ve fallen in love with you. Neither of us can die until I’ve forced you to fall in love with me too.”