New Orleans

18. Sick Pleasure

My thoughts could barely organise themselves as horror and outrage fought to take control. "Max?" Clenching my jaw, I grated his name out. Wrapping his arms around my waist he dropped his chin to my shoulder. Flinching at the action, I tensed. My eyes covertly scanned for anything I could fashion into a lethal weapon.

My stomach turned, desperate for distance; any attempt to oblige had the mentally unstable prick securing his hold on me, painfully. "Hey beautiful." Kissing the side of my neck he forcefully spun my body to face his. He shoved me back against the basins lip, hard. Wincing, I bit down on my tongue as the shattering pain darted from the base of my spine up to my shoulder blades.

Studying the empty stalls, I shot a look to the door. "Please do give it a try..." He drawled, craving the thrill of the chase. His pupils dilated in anticipation, his lips curving up into a menacing smirk.

The bravado in me refused to give him the satisfaction. Slackening in his hold, I tilted my head. Watching him with a concerned look, I clicked my tongue. "A little confused, are we Max?" Cupping the side of my mouth, I leaned in a little closer. "This isn't the little boy's room." Throwing my head back I laughed, mocking his manhood...or rather lack thereof.

Gripping my chin, his fingers pushed my cheeks in violently. Coughing on the sharp release of air, I reached for his throat instinctively. Catching my wrist before I could get my fingers around him, he twisted my arm to my back. "Watch your mouth." He growled, cracks of instability beginning to show.

Shooting a look at the door again, I began to squirm against his hold. "You better run, Jose won't be so easy to restrain." I warned, struggling to speak.

"He's a little distracted." Smirking, he pressed his lips against mine. The wet sensation of his tongue slipping into my mouth had me gagging. I bit down hard on the muscular organ attached to the floor of his mouth. Crying out, he released me abruptly. Soothing my wrist, I spat out a pool of saliva mixed with the crimson streaks of his injury. The metallic taste sent a violent shudder through me.

Wiping my mouth with the back of my hand, I moved towards the door. "Best keep all your appendages out of my mouth." I scoffed, curling my finger around the door handle; only then noticing how hard my heart was pounding. Fear was expected. Fear would be the correct emotional response to my current situation; evidently the adrenaline coursing through me was charged with some kind of sick pleasure. The revelation was sobering to say the least.

Feeling his gaze on me, I looked over my shoulder. Half sitting on the counter, he crossed his legs at the ankles. Brushing his thumb over the blood tinting his lips, he sucked the finger into his mouth and cleaned it. Savouring the flavour. I felt the acidic flavour of bile rise to the back of my throat. "I'm going to kill him you know." He spoke casually, folding his arms with a shrug. "Reece... he is going to die." Exhilarated by the idea he shuddered, so fucking sure of the future he desperately coveted. My free hand flexed at my side. "I'll see you tomorrow, beautiful." Puckering his lips he kissed the air.

"Fuck you." Grinding the words out I yanked the door open, my eyes darting in every direction in search of Jose. Finding the large man flirting with a group of girls, I stalked towards him. Shoving two brunettes aside, I lifted the hem of his shirt and snatched the Glock tucked into his waistband. The group of girls disbanded with frantic squeals. Dismissing their genuine terror, I shoved Jose back. My mind was no longer buzzing, it was now oddly silent. The heavy weight of Jose's gun had me feeling fortified as I marched towards the bathrooms.

Whether it was the threat to Reece's life or Max's misguided audacity to stick his tongue in my mouth, emptying a clip into his head was the only thing I could rationalise in that moment. Jose's protests only fuelled my rampage. Tearing the door open, I pointed the gun into the empty space.