Games 009

Maddie POV

I smirked back at him, defiance flaring in my chest like a spark catching fire. Maddox’s eyes narrowed, that infuriating smirk of his faltering for a split second and guess what? I savored it.

If Maddox thinks he could just waltz in here and bend me to his will, he was about to learn I wasn’t some fragile doll he could play with. I had spent too long fighting to survive, clawing my way through a world that didn’t give a damn about me, to let him treat me less now.

Tsk, “You always get what you want?” I said, my voice steadier than I felt, it sounded like a mockery. “That’s cute Maddox, but I think you should know I'm not one of your lackeys, and I’m not Eva. And I think you don't get that you have no right to snap your fingers and make me obey.”

His grip on my wrist tightened, his dark eyes bored into mine and for a moment, I felt scared but trust me, I wasn’t backing down.

“You think this is a game, princess?” he said, his voice low. He stepped closer, crowding me against the edge of the stage, his body so close I could feel the heat radiating off him. “You think you can just smirk and walk away? Maddie, you need to understand that you obey my rules. Don't forget, I still have to punish you for leaving the house after my warning.”

I yanked my wrist free from his grasp, surprising him with the force of it and took a step back, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might crack my ribs. “Your rules?” I laughed, the sound sharp and bitter, the sound echoing in the small room. “This isn’t your rules, Maddox. This is a shitty club with shitty lighting, and I’m here to do a job. You don’t get to control me just because you’ve got some creepy taste.”

His jaw clenched, a muscle ticking in his cheek, and I saw the flash of something dark in his eyes. It should be anger maybe, or something deeper and more primal. “Creepy taste?” he repeated, his voice soft but deadly like the calm before a storm. “You have no idea, princess, no idea how long I’ve waited, how much I’ve done to bring you here and you think you can just walk away because you’ve got a little fire in you?”

I crossed my arms, forcing myself to hold his gaze, even though every instinct screamed to run. “Yeah, I do because I’m not your prisoner. You can’t just… stalk me, manipulate my best friend and expect me to fall in line. Last night was a very big mistake, and I’m not letting it define me. I’m leaving, Maddox, deal with it.”

He chuckled, that dark rumbling sound that made my skin prickle, and stepped closer again, closing the distance I had put between us. “You’re not leaving,” he said, his voice a low growl, his eyes locked on mine like he could see every thought, every fear. “You can fight, you can run, you can talk all you want, but you’re not slipping through my fingers. Not after that night and not after I felt you.....cum undone for me.” he smirked

My face flushed, heat rushing to my cheeks as the memory of his hands, his mouth, his voice flooded back unbidden. I hated how my body reacted, how my breath hitched at the reminder, how a part of me wanted to feel that again. “Stop it,” I snapped, my voice shaking now, betraying the crack in my defiance. “That was a mistake. I was drunk, and you took advantage of it, you and Eva both played me.”

Maddox tilted his head, his smirk softening into something almost tender, but no less dangerous. “Took advantage? Is that what you’re telling yourself, princess? Because I remember it differently. I remember you begging, your nails in my back, your voice breaking when you called me Daddy.”

This freak, must he use that against me? His hand reached out brushing a strand of hair from my face, his fingers lingering against my cheek. “You can lie to yourself but you can’t lie to me.”

I slapped his hand away, my heart racing anger and shame twisting into a knot in my chest. “Don’t touch me,” I hissed, stepping back again, my back hitting the wall now, nowhere left to go. “You’re sick, Maddox. You think you can just… own me because of one night? Because you’ve been watching me like some creep? I’m not yours, and I never will be.” ok, I know I wanted him, but he was being too proud. Besides that's not how people flirt with each other.

His eyes darkened, and for a moment, I thought I’d pushed him too far. The air in the room felt heavier, the music outside muffled, like the world had shrunk to just the two of us.

He stepped closer, his body inches from mine, his breath warm against my face. “You’re wrong,” he murmured, his voice soft but unyielding. “You’re mine, Maddie. You’ve been mine since the day I saw you in that parking lot, laughing with Eva and I’ve waited too long to let you go now.”

"You really are insane and stupid."

“Maybe,” he said, his lips curving into that smirk again, his hand reaching out to cup my face, his thumb brushing my jaw. “But I’m your insane, princess and you’re not dancing for anyone else tonight, just me.”

I shoved at his chest, but it was like pushing a brick wall. He didn’t budge, he just leaned in closer, his lips hovering over mine so close I could feel the heat of him. “Dance,” he whispered, his voice sounded like a command in my ear. “Or I’ll carry you out of here myself.”

“Fine,” I said, my voice low and laced with defiance. “I’ll dance but not because you’re making me, but because I choose to and when I’m done, I’m walking out of here and you’re not stopping me.”

His smirk widened, his eyes glinting with something that looked like pride, or maybe amusement. “We’ll see about that princess,” he said taking a step back and sinking into the chair again, his posture relaxed and his stupid gaze predatory. “Dance.”

I turned to the small stage, my legs shaking but my resolve hardening. If he wanted a show then I would be pleased to give him one. I gripped the pole, the music rushing through me, and I started to move, my eyes locked on his with a smirk stretching on my lips.

He thought he had won. Tsk, I would show him, I wasn't one to be trampled on. Poor Maddox wouldn't believe his damned eyes.