xx

I audibly sucked in the night air, causing my lungs to burn from the cold.

And while I stood here and a storm brewed inside me, which raged much stronger than the weather around us, Malio said nothing. Nothing at all.

He just looked at me with an expression that didn't allow any interpretation of his emotional world, whereby I was sure that the swirling feelings inside me were clearly reflected on my face.

A barely noticeable smile crossed his lips. A smile that let me breathe a sigh of relief and all the tension that had spread through me because of the unwanted confession fell from me.

The next moment he leaned forward and, as if in confirmation, his soft lips laid gently on mine.

I wrapped my arms around Malio - automatically crossing them behind his neck. His hands traveled down my back, resting on my butt making me sigh longingly into the kiss.

It was hard to believe that even after those damn events, my body was still reacting to him. Still wanted more.

His nearness seemed to numb every pain in me - like a drug.

When, with a violent jerk, he pressed our bodies even closer together, I groaned loudly. The pain that shot through my side not only made me wince, it also brought tears to my eyes.

Malio immediately pulled away from my lips, breathing heavily, bringing a hand's width between us to be able to face me directly again.

A dark veil lay over his ice-blue eyes. Desire.

I knew that look. He had looked at me that way many times before. He sighed and bit his lower lip - apparently he found it even harder to hold back than I did.

"We should drive slowly," he finally said, although it didn't sound convincing at all. "Why?" I made an attempt to shake his self-control. Without much success. Malio was persistent and even pushed me a few millimeters away.

"If we don't drive right away, I'll fuck you hard," he pointed to my aching side, "and that wouldn't be a good idea. We'll drive!" The prospect of being taken by him here actually managed to dull my senses.

Which is why the next question came out of my mouth completely without thinking. "Where are we going?" A question whose answer was so obvious.

"To me, Jolien." Malio laughed and shook his wet hair out of his face. He apparently had himself under control again. It's a pity.

"But I can't stay!" I suddenly remembered when the initial joy at his words faded and was replaced by the oppressive feeling that the image of his father triggered in my mind's eye.

That arrogant laugh. The way he'd looked down at me like it was obvious he was something better. I'd rather sleep under a bridge than run into him again.

He'd made it very clear what he thought about seeing me in the garage anyway, I didn't want to risk what he had to say if he saw me hanging around the house. Maybe while I was making out with his son.

Oh God! Just the thought was terrifying.

"You can stay tonight!" Malio said, pulling me back to his car, this time much more gently than before.

"Night?" I snorted sarcastically. Because there wasn't much left of the night. According to the clock in his car, it was already 3:37 am.

I sighed and as if Malio had read my mind once again, he chuckled to himself. "What's so funny?" I asked dully. "What were you thinking about?" "Because I don't have my uniform with me and we have school today." His laughter got a tad louder in this filthy asylum." he said with a grin and steered the car back onto the road while I rested my head on the cold window.

Malio had turned on the heated seats and the mixture of warmth and exhaustion swallowed my answer and let me doze off instead.

"Hey Jolien?" Malio's soft voice woke me up only seconds later. At least that's how it seemed to me, but it must have been more than twenty minutes because he had long since parked the car in the underground garage of the house and was around the car came around to wake me up

"How long was I asleep?" I asked while rubbing my heavy eyes that just wouldn't stay up. "Not that long - it's okay. Are you okay?" I nodded, even though I wasn't sure if everything was okay - not only did I feel exhausted, like I'd run a whole marathon, I was also in pain, a lot of pain. It felt like a truck had rolled over my body.

"I'll give you something for the pain and I have to look at the site. Come on, I'll help you.", he held out his hand and carefully helped me out of the car.

It was only a few steps to the elevator, thank God, because I had the feeling that my legs and feet were resisting every further step and threatened to stop working at any moment.

Apparently Malio noticed it too, because he carefully put an arm around my waist to support me. "Why didn't you say you were sick?" he asked worried.

I saw his dark brow furrow as he continued to pound the elevator button with his free hand. ,, It's all right. I'm just tired." I lied, breathing against the pain he was causing with his arm. I didn't dare mention it to Malio though, knowing the only thing that would follow would be the option that he would carry me and the thought was even worse than the pain itself.

"What's wrong with that fucking excerpt?" he said sourly as he continued to push the button almost desperately. Over and over again. Like it would change anything.

I leaned my head on his chest. Wanted to pause for a moment. Just close your eyes for a moment to gather some strength.

"Jolien?" Malio's voice penetrated far into my subconscious. I felt him shaking me, but I had surrendered to the darkness. Slid more and more into the depths. Until it finally became completely silent.

When I next woke it was already light. Though the heavy gray curtains were drawn over the windows, rays of sunlight were fighting through the openings in the center and sides to tickle my arm gently and warmly.

Wait, something wasn't right. Sunbeams didn't literally tickle.

A shock ran through my body and terrible scenes played out in my mind. Images of a giant spider crawling across my bare upper arm with its eight hairy legs.

Oh God.

My heart was racing as I slowly lowered my head to look at the furry creature that had laid its head on my arm and gently nudged my cheek with a paw.

I laughed almost relieved. It was only Blue.

When I took a quick look around the room, I knew where I was. I was in Malio's room. To be precise, in his bed.

However, there was no trace of him anywhere. Hadn't he slept here? My hurt pride kicked in at the thought. Why didn't he want to sleep next to me?

His cell phone was on the bedside table next to a syringe. My stomach clenched with a rumbling. I hated syringes.

Blue must have noticed I was awake because he lifted his head from my arm, straightened up and meowed happily at me. "Good morning!" I said as a matter of course. I've always been one of those people who humanize animals. That also included talking to them.

"Where's your master?" I asked the cat and tried to sit up. It worked surprisingly well - I hadn't expected that. My headache was gone and my side didn't hurt that much either.

Did he give me painkillers? It would be possible.

Apparently they kept more than one first aid kit in this house.

Noises from an adjoining room made me sit up and take notice. The covers fell off my shoulders as I sat up completely and I was surprised to find that I was wearing a long black shirt.

Apparently he had changed my clothes. Did he also... No, I was still wearing the lace bodysuit under the shirt.

Blue pricked up her ears, hopped out of bed and scurried to the door, which now opened quietly.

And although I've seen Malio naked and we've even had sex, I felt my cheeks flush as he walked out the door - which obviously belonged to an adjoining bathroom - wearing only a bath towel.

"You're awake!", he stated surprised, grabbed Blue and went to the bed with the cat on his arm.

I watched Malio as he carefully placed Blue on the bed and then sat down next to me on the edge.

"How are you?" he asked and I still heard concern. "Better. You gave me painkillers didn't you?" He nodded and stroked the cat's back.

"I'm sorry I couldn't ask you if it was okay, but you suddenly passed out in the garage. Harry said you just needed rest and maybe some painkillers so you could sleep through the night. I then injected you with some. It only worked as a venous injection since you were unconscious."

"You undressed me too?" I asked further, not responding to what he had just told me. "Our clothes were wet." He explained with a grin and I knew what he was thinking.

"Are you mad now?" he asked cautiously and averted his gaze from me to a point on the opposite wall.

"Malio?" I crawled over to the edge of the bed next to him, when he made no move to look at me, I cupped his chin in my hand and gently pulled it around, forcing him to look at me. "Thanks," I said softly and kissed him softly.

For a second he seemed completely taken aback by my gratitude, he had probably long since expected that I would go completely crazy - sure, it was also bold in a way to just inject something, but it was clearly visible on his face that he really only did it to help me.

I liked that side of him. Liked that behind all the rough exterior there was also something soft. And it seemed like somehow I managed to scratch that shell.

My lips were still on his and finally he complied with my silent request and opened his mouth. Allowed my tongue the necessary entrance to play around his.

I felt a tug in my abdomen as the kiss increased in intensity. I greedily crawled onto his lap, feeling the need for his warmth.

Grinning, I found Malio's erection pressing hard against my midsection as I straddled him. My hands found their way into his thick, wet hair.

It was almost like yesterday. The only difference now was that I wasn't in pain.

"Jolien!" he said warningly. To hell with your decency!

In response, I pulled the annoying shirt over my head. "Damn girl!" he growled as I pushed my blond hair aside with a seductive smile to give him a better view. He bit his lip while there was obviously a struggle going on inside his head.

"What is? Don't you?" I asked challengingly. He snorted. Closed his eyes for a few seconds as if he were counting to five in his mind and then said: "First of all, wouldn't you like to tell me how the wound on your cheek came about? " Then he gave in to the impulse and lowered hot kisses down my neck.

"The men!" I said automatically, because I didn't want to talk about my father right now. I turned my head to the side so that he could better reach the spot under the ear and sighed contentedly as his lips met again and again laid on my hot skin.

His grip on my butt tightened as he began sucking on my neck. I threw my head back with a groan as he murmured under his breath, "Don't lie to me!"

His breath hit my tingling skin, driving me insane. "It's true!" I lied again.

Malio's hand detached from my bottom, slowly wandered up my back and then buried itself in my hair. "Who did that, Jolien?" His voice was serious, almost menacing. "Malio, do you really want to talk now?" I asked annoyed.

At that moment he pulled my head back. It didn't hurt - quite the contrary, it actually turned me on.

"I know injuries, lots of injuries. The wound on your cheek is clearly a cut, but the men had no weapons. So who did this to you?" he tightened his grip, which made me groan again. "And you should be honest with me now, Princess."

Princess? Fuck, he was mad. I had noticed by now that he only ever called me that when he was angry.

"It was an accident!" I admitted, feeling his grip on my hair loosen just enough for me to meet his narrowed ice blue eyes.

"That's why you ran away, isn't it? It was your father, wasn't it?" His voice was calm. Too calm. I knew what that meant.

" Calm down! He was drunk and nothing happened!" "Nothing happened?" he barked and gave me a challenging look.

Thin ice. I was walking on such thin ice that I feared that with every further word I would break it. I closed my hands around his face.

" Malio, I'm fine. It wasn't on purpose, please. Calm down." A rumble, like that of a wild animal, came from deep in his chest. I no longer knew if my words even got through to him.

"Do you want to go back to him?" he asked after a while, in which we had only looked at each other and the tension that lay between us was strained to the breaking point.

"No...", I took a deep breath. "...not yet.", I finally answered honestly.

I had to digest my father's outburst first - and I was sure that he did the same.

Now that he's sober, he's sure to regret it. He wasn't a bad person. Not a bad father. No bat. He was just a broken man. I knew it, saw it in his empty eyes every day.

He could say he was fine as often as he wanted. But eyes don't lie. The sadness, the hopelessness in them was omnipresent. Both have been there since my mother passed away. All these years he lived with these feelings. With this emptiness inside.

"What do you want to do now? You could stay here - I won't let anyone hurt you." Malio's words pulled me out of my thoughts. "I don't think that's a good idea."

He stroked my collarbone. Every part of my body that he touched burned, tingled and sent little electric shocks through me. "How so?"

I couldn't stand his piercing gaze. It was too intense - far too intense.

"I can't stay here because your father scares me." It was easy speaking the words against the wall instead of slamming them straight in his face. "Look at me!" An order. I hesitated. "Look at me, Jolien!"

I fixed my gaze on his face again. "I'm going to promise you something. I won't let anyone hurt you again. Do you hear? I'll be there, always. I will be here. By your side.

I swallowed and brushed his hair back from his forehead. "I know."

" But it's okay, Malio. I'm going to Bekka." I heard his throaty laughter. "What is it?" "You're not going to Bekka," he said resolutely.

"I beg your pardon? And why not?" I raised an eyebrow questioningly. "Are you serious, Jolien? I won't let you dance around in your hot underwear near Brandon".

"Seriously Malio, you're jealous?" He ran his free hand between my breasts. "And what if it were?" he asked challengingly. "This is ridiculous - Brandon is my boyfriend."

"Oh, is that him?" His voice got harder again, more provocative. "You're making a fool of yourself - but fine, then I'll just go to Gray!" Now Malio laughed out loud. Which was even more absurd than his jealousy towards Brandon.

"What's your problem now?" He grinned cheekily and slipped his fingers under the hem of the body, right in my middle. "Do you think I could do that in a house of worship?" I moaned as his finger ran over my most sensitive spot. "We're going to hell, Jolien." "So what?" I blurted out.

He lowered his lips to my neck again and murmured, "Your place is elsewhere, dear. I won't let you go to hell with me."

My breathing became shallow. deeper. Which made him grin meaningfully. "Any other suggestions?" he asked while I couldn't think straight. "Those were...oh god...Malio..." He laughed and sucked even harder on the sensitive area. At the point where the neck met the shoulder. "What about the little one?"

Suddenly there was that feeling again. Jealousy. The little one? Who did he mean?

I released myself from his caress by leaning back. "Which _little_ are you talking about?"

He smiled mischievously as he slid a finger inside me with agonizing slowness.

That bastard!

"It's so hot when you're jealous and horny!" He laughed maliciously. "Fuck you, Malio!" , I rose from his lap only to be pushed back onto his hand the next moment so he could continue what he had just started.

"Where are you going?" "Which little one do you mean?" , I tried to ignore the in and out of his finger but it didn't work.

I clutched his shoulders as he relentlessly pushed me toward my climax. "Fuck you!" I repeated my words, but it was only a gasp. "I think you're about to be fucked by me _Princess_. I mean the little blonde one. Pretty thing." He grinned again.

I knew he wanted to provoke me. And damn, he even made it.

"Elena?" "If that's her name." "Damn Malio!" I put my hand around his neck and brought my face closer to his. "What the shit do you want me to sort it out for you?" I asked angrily.

Damn. He had done it. I was bubbling with jealousy. And the only reaction I got from him was his crooked smile.

The next moment Malio had picked me up and laid me on the bed. He was bent over me, holding my wrists above my head with just his left hand while he gripped my hair with the other, forcing me to look at him. "Do you really think you can dominate me, _Princess_?" he asked in amusement, something dangerous flashing in his eyes.

"Do you think you can make me jealous?" I pointed my chin at him, which seemed to amuse Malio even more. "I'll show you how to dominate, sweetheart-" he said with a grin while kissing his lips pressed hard on mine and roughly pushed my thighs apart with his knee. "Just not today."

I looked at him in bewilderment.

,, Do not get me wrong. It would now be easy and more than an honor for me to fuck you into nirvana" "Damn it - then do it!" He laughed again. ,, That turns you on right now, doesn't it? But I didn't forget that you're hurt, so I won't give you what you're begging for right now." , his voice was arrogant again. Which made me even angrier.

I freed one of my hands and closed it around his neck again while wrapping one of my legs around his pelvis. So pressed him right against my middle. "_Fuck_!" he gasped as I leaned towards him.

He took a few deep breaths in and out, then let go, freed himself from my grip and, sweating and panting, climbed out of bed to stare down at me, dark eyes narrowed. "Well-intentioned advice, Jolien. I might try to change myself for you - but if you provoke me and try to get what you want in this way, it can end badly for you too. I don't want to hurt you, but I'm perfectly capable of doing it when I'm out of control - I was holding back yesterday.

I was breathing heavily. My desire had increased immeasurably. It was crazy not to find the whole situation and his warning threatening but exciting.

I fucking wanted more. Now and here. And him? He had actually resisted my provocation. She just dumped.

"Malio, are you mad now?" I asked carefully after neither of us said anything and we were silent for a few minutes. "I just don't understand why you're provoking me." "Because I want you!"

He gave me an irritated look as he went to the closet and pulled out a pair of boxer shorts. "We don't know about your ribs yet and you want me to fuck you?" You could say it like that.

"I'm fine." "These are the painkillers. We have to x-ray you." I pulled the shirt back on and rolled my eyes. "I'm fine, do you want me to prove it to you?" "Jolien, can you just lie back down?" But I didn't even think about it.

I was probably really high from his painkillers - at least I could blame the next one on the drug.

I walked over to him and dropped to my knees while removing the towel from his hips. "You're not serious." He said in disbelief.