Read Online Loving the Bastard by Marteeka Karland - Free Book Online Page B

all that anger inside him into that kiss, Zeta rapidly lost the battle to keep her wits about her.
    Somewhere in the back of her mind, Zeta knew she needed to stop this, stop the lustful way she kissed Max back, but there didn’t seem to be a way for her to deny him. She wasn’t a fool. Zeta knew Max was punishing her as much as he was releasing some of the pent-up anger inside him. Maybe he was even punishing himself as much as anything else. All she knew for certain was that he needed her as much as anyone had ever needed her—or more.
    She made a weak effort to break away from him, but Max simply wrapped a hand around her throat to hold her steady. He didn’t hurt her, but the restraint was impossible to break. So much anger and hurt was in his kiss that it made Zeta’s heart ache for him even as her body went up in flames.
    Just when Zeta was sure she’d gone past the point of keeping her sanity, Max ended the kiss. His hand still circled her throat, but he no longer seemed like he might hurt her at any moment. In fact, Max pressed his forehead to hers, his eyes closed as he caught his breath. Zeta was in no better shape. It was only now that she realized she’d been clutching his shirt in a death grip. Worse, she realized she might not have stopped him if he’d tried to take more from her than that kiss.
    “Come on,” he said, though he made no move to leave. “We’re going home.”
    “I think it’s best,” she managed, not sure what she meant. She needed away from him, but Zeta had the feeling Max wasn’t going to let her out of his sight any time soon. He’d passed the point where he’d be able to let her go willingly, and Zeta was woman enough to recognize it. She just wasn’t sure what she was going to do about it.
    “Damned straight,” he growled.
    Finally, Max started down the hall back to the gym and the front entrance. Only he snagged her hand, not letting go until he helped her into the car. Then he only let go long enough to climb in beside her and put the car in drive. Once on the road back to the house, he snagged her hand once more. Zeta wasn’t even sure he realized what he’d done but he clutched her hand like a lifeline. His jaw clenched, the muscles there bulging each time he ground his teeth together. The fierce look on his face mirrored the look at the Y and didn’t alter all the way home. By the time they pulled into the garage, Zeta was a mass of nerves and unfulfilled desire.
    The only question was, did she dare act on those feelings? Even more, did she dare let him act on them? She had the feeling she might not have much choice. One thing she’d learned since this whole thing started was that Maximilian Roth always got what he wanted.

Chapter Fourteen
     
    If he didn’t get Zeta into his bed, Maximilian thought he might go stark raving mad. There were a hundred reasons why this was a bad idea, but he couldn’t think of a single one of them right now. He’d wanted to sleep with her, intended on her having his baby. Hell, he was going to marry her ! Sex would be a big fat necessary part of all those things. But he was too close now. Too…goddamned emotional. In his gut, Max knew sex with Zeta now would form a bond with her he wasn’t certain he could break in the aftermath.
    It wasn’t only that either. He wanted—needed—Zeta in his bed. Taking her in the guest suite where she currently resided wasn’t what he wanted. Max needed to stake his claim with her, show her he meant business even though he would never admit it to her. Somehow, he had to resist the urge to lock her away in his rooms and never let her out. As far as she was concerned, this would be just sex between two adults who had an intense lust for one another. But taking her in his suite, in his bed, would be giving too much of himself. Would cement all these unfamiliar feelings so that he might not be able to hold himself back. With a force of will he hadn’t known he possessed, Max detoured to her