Free Possess (The Syndicate: Crime and Passion Book 1) by Kaye Blue Page A

need, would give Senna power over me that would destroy me. I couldn’t give anyone that power.
    Not ever.
    I heard the door open, knew that it was her, and continued to punch.
    It seemed the universe had a sense of humor or was taunting me, putting my resolve to the test.
    For what other reason would she be here, now, as I resolved that I would stay away?
    I continued to punch, but the motions were mechanical. All of my attention was riveted to her, focused on her completely, and as she watched me, I was equally desperate to touch her and for her to go away. We stood there in silence, me unwilling to look at her, and her in seemingly no hurry to leave.
    She cleared her throat, but I didn’t look at her. Then she cleared her throat again and spoke. “Maxim, do you think I’m pretty?”
    I missed my next punch, her question, the fact that she thought it was a question at all, throwing me off. After a moment, I again resumed, still not looking at her.
    “You should be sleeping,” I finally said, continuing to hit.
    She moved closer to me. “That wasn’t an answer,” she said.
    Her voice was a whisper, and I realized that I’d seldom, maybe never, heard her raise it. But always, always, there was the steel in it, a gentle strength that demanded a response.
    I dropped my hands, looked at her.
    Her feet were bare, the small nightgown she wore falling about midway down her thighs, tucking in at her waist, and leaving no doubt that she was not wearing a bra.
    Her nipples were beaded tight under the thin material, practically begging for my attention, the rest of her body tantalizing, pulling me in.
    “Are you trying to throw yourself at me, Senna? Do you want to play the whore again?”
    I spoke scornfully, hoping my voice, my rough words would send her away. I’d apologize tomorrow, but now I needed her gone. Needed some distance because she was threatening to undo me.
    My little flower never did as I expected, though. Instead she lifted her hand, sent her fingertips gliding along my chest, her touch gentle, soft, and stirring a tornado of sensation across my skin. Then she met my eyes.
    “Yes.”
    I grabbed her wrists, stopped her hand, and then searched her gaze with mine.
    I didn’t know what I expected to see there, didn’t know if whatever I did see was something I should have seen before, but I saw her want, as deep as mine, and it broke me.
    I held her wrist tighter and brought her body close to mine, reached up and pulled the strings of her nightgown down until her full, dark-tipped breasts were bare.
    I move my hand down her silky skin, squeezed the tight buds, my lungs freezing at her low moan.
    “Do you even know what that means?” I asked, still scornful, but more with myself than her.
    “Why don’t you show me?” she said.

Fourteen
    S enna

    I was taunting him , just as he had tried to taunt me.
    Maxim was the smartest man I’d ever met, but he was a fool if he thought a few harsh words, an insult, the insinuation I was a whore would be enough to send me away.
    Because it wouldn’t.
    Coming here had been rash, foolish, but I was grateful I had because I saw something in him.
    Maxim wasn’t immune to me. His reaction, the anger that he had lashed out with, told me that, and made me as happy as I could remember being.
    Because I knew now, knew that I hadn’t been in this all alone for all these years, knew that even if he couldn’t say it, something of what I felt for him was returned.
    I moaned when he squeezed my nipple, and was faintly aware of the sound of ripping fabric.
    But I paid little attention to it, nor the cool air that brushed my skin as the ruined gown fell around my waist and then down to the floor.
    I couldn’t, not when Maxim had pressed my back against the wall and hitched my legs onto his hips. I was only barely aware of the fact I was no longer standing on my own two feet, and instead the feel of his hardness, his skin against mine, had me spinning.
    He rocked against me,