Defiance (New Adult Romance) (Isaac & Maya) (5 page)

6

Maya

When I wake up, it takes me a few seconds to figure out where I am and once I do, I really wish I wasn’t here. Piper and her mother are arguing about me in hushed voices in the living room.

“What do you mean he can’t do anything about it?” Piper says. Is she crying?

“The van wasn’t registered to Luke, honey,” Lynn explains. “They didn’t find any fingerprints, there was no sign of forced entry in the house, there weren’t any witnesses, and—”

“I’m a witness!”

“Piper… your father and I don’t want you caught up in this.”

“Well, it’s too late because I am,” Piper shouts as her mother shushes her. “Maybe there wasn’t much of a case if I’d just found him assaulting her, but—”

“Maya said that didn’t happen,” her mother interjects. This is all my fault.

“That’s not what I meant. He punched her in the face right in front of me. She has a black eye. That was not a kinky game.”

“It’s a very gray area, you know that.”

“Yeah, it was until you add the freaky torture van, Mom. I can’t believe he’s just going to let Luke off the hook. It’s Ashlyn all over again, only worse because there is hard evidence this time. What the hell does it take?”

“Well, maybe if you girls had come to us months ago when it all started—”

“Why? Would Maya’s lack of consent have mattered then? Because apparently she signed it away for life and she’ll never get it back.”

“That’s not true. Your father has a plan to handle this, you just have to trust him.”

“What the hell kind of plan involves Maya going to some bullshit party where she has to see Luke three days after he almost fucking murdered her?”

Party? I don’t want to go to any party, let alone see Luke. “We need to present a united front,” Lynn says. “Luke needs to know that Maya isn’t alone and he can’t do this.”

“Obviously he can! Because Dad could arrest him right now and he isn’t!”

“It will get thrown out. Your father knows what he’s doing. And maybe it would help if Luke saw that he didn’t break her.”

“But he did! She’s about to crack. I am not asking her to do this, let alone telling her it’s a good idea when it’s not. You know that it’s not, I can see it on your face. You’re just as confused as I am. Why aren’t you doing anything?”

“Because I trust your father. This is not your decision. It’s Maya’s.
I’ll
explain it to her when she wakes up.”

“Why did I even come here?” Piper laments. Her mom doesn’t answer and I hear a door slam.

My phone beeps behind me. It’s probably Luke sending me yet another horrible picture to remind me just how helpless I am. I’d ignore it, but ever since I got that message from a restricted number, I have to check every time. It was just breathing, but it was only a few hours after it happened. I’m positive it was Isaac. He knows, there’s no way Jace didn’t tell him.

But since then, it’s always been Luke torturing me. Ten times now. I steel myself and peek at my phone. I will not look if it’s a pic, there’s no point. But the text isn’t from Luke’s number, it’s from an unlisted one.
Go. Please. Me too.

Holy shit. That has to be him. My heart skips a beat before it starts pounding in my chest. It’s too risky to text him back, but it’s nearly impossible to resist. I read it over and over. Piper and her mother were just arguing about whether or not I should go to a party, that has to be what he means. It can’t be a coincidence.

I open my door and find Piper’s mom tapping her foot nervously, waiting for me. “I’ll go,” I announce before Lynn can ask me a question that she doesn’t want to ask. Piper’s door flies open. “I heard you guys arguing. I’ll go. If Carl thinks it’s a good idea, then I should go.”

“Maya, you don’t have to do this,” Piper says.

“It’ll scare the shit out of Luke to see me there. He will be totally blindsided. Does your Dad even go to this gala every year?”

“No,” Lynn answers. “No, he doesn’t.”

“Then it will be crystal clear that he only went to send a message. It’s a pretty good message to send, Piper.”

“Are you sure you can handle it?” she asks.

“Yeah,” I respond as she eyes me skeptically. “We’ll be in public. What could happen?”

“I guess.” Piper shrugs. “I hate these things, but there is no way you’re going by yourself.” My best friend should be absolutely livid at me, but she’s not. She’ll hold my hand and walk right into the fire by my side. The only problem is, she’ll be walking out alone.

“So when is it?” I ask.

“Tomorrow night.”

“Okay. Well, I suppose we’d better figure out what to wear. It’s formal, right?”

Piper sighs and her mother smiles at me, which is the reaction I’m used to whenever I want to go shopping with the two of them. It’ll be closet and online shopping today though, because I look terrible. Lynn says my shiner isn’t that bad, but Piper can hardly look at me for more than a few seconds. The black eye probably isn’t the only reason.

I tried to explain about Jace and the surveillance, but she won’t talk about it. She says it’s because her mom’s around, but it’s not. Once we have that talk, it will become real. The perfect boyfriend that she foolishly let herself fall so hard for wasn’t that perfect after all. I guess it’s selfish to push her so I can clear my own conscience.

If Isaac decides to scoop me up at that party and run, I won’t even hesitate. I may never get a chance to explain. For all I know, I’ll never see Piper again. It’s too painful to think about, especially if it means leaving it like this. But it would be better for her in the long run. I’ve done enough damage as it is. Piper will survive, that’s what she does. She’s a fighter. I’m not. I can’t do this anymore.

Lynn brings in her stylist to do our makeup. Luckily, she has an amazing concealer and does an incredible smoky eye. By the time she’s done with me the evidence of Luke’s brutality is practically invisible. I insist that I wear my hair down, I feel naked with it up. Piper still thinks this is a horrible idea and I almost wish she wasn’t going because if she loses her temper, it could ruin everything.

We arrive fashionably late so we don’t have to socialize before it gets started. I nearly have a panic attack at the sight of all the people we have to walk through to get to our table. Luke practically falls out of his chair when he spots us and Piper growls under her breath, but she keeps it together. I refuse to look in his direction. I’ll fall to pieces if I do.

Taking my seat, I scan the crowd and my surroundings for whatever opportunity or sign that I’m praying is there. I do not want to stay at this thing, I won’t make it through the night. I can’t stand being so close to Luke. He brought a date, so he can’t exactly confront me, but he keeps staring at me. I can feel his eyes.

What am I supposed to see? Isaac would have made it subtle, yet obvious to me. There’s no note taped under my chair or hidden beneath my plate. I keep looking at the waiters in case he’s one of them, even though that would be far too risky. And then I see her. Gloria. Our eyes lock and she grins at me. It’s an odd smile, apologetic and friendly at the same time. She knows. Holy shit, he must have told her. I stiffen up as blood rushes to my face. There’s a dark haired man beside her, but it isn’t Isaac. My former mentor keeps looking back and forth between me and the gift table at the back of the hall.

The lights go down and everyone starts clapping except for me because I’m staring at a large pillar near that table. It’s big enough for someone to hide behind and it’s in front of the fire exit door that’s slightly propped open. Isaac is over there, I know it. He has to be.

This is it. Everyone’s attention is on the stage, it’s the perfect moment. All I have to do is get up and walk away. My breath catches in my throat and I lean over to my best friend, startling her.

“Love ya, Pipes,” I whisper into her ear, resting my chin on her shoulder and nudging her head with mine. “Don’t stay mad forever. It’ll eat you up inside.”

“What?” she whispers back, but I’m already on my feet.

Piper tries to get up to follow me, but her father grabs her arm and pulls her back down into her seat. I can barely hear him telling her to keep looking forward as I begin making my way through the maze of tables. I should have went with my first instinct and worn black, but it’s Luke’s favorite color on me and I just couldn’t do it. The pale blue dress I chose instead makes me feel like I’m being followed by a spotlight, even though no one actually turns their head as I pass.

“Walk to the table, Rookie,” Isaac whispers when I get to the pillar. It takes every ounce of willpower I have to listen to him. “Pick up a gift bag and then turn toward the stage. Don’t look in Luke’s direction and don’t say anything.”

Okay Coach.
Hands shaking, I do what he says, but I can’t help but move a little closer to the pillar.

“You look incredible,” he says softly. “I can’t wait to touch you, but we have to. Carl wouldn’t let me interrupt the opening presenter. But as soon as she’s done, a waiter will drop a very loud tray of glasses right next to Luke’s table and everyone will look. I’ll grab you anyway, but you want to come with me, right?” he asks with just a hint of the little kid voice. It’s been so long since I’ve felt all melty inside like this, it’s so much better than the cheap imitation I create with my memory. “Shift your weight if you do.”

I’m standing perfectly straight, so I shift my weight to one leg and put my hand on my hip as he exhales in relief.
Of course I want to go with you, silly.

“I didn’t fuck her.”
I don’t care if you did.
“I just couldn’t go through with it. Instead, I went out on limb and fessed up. She was so pissed off until she figured out it was you. And speaking of tree limbs… Gloria told me everything.”
Holy shit!

“Maya,” he chokes. “I’m so fucking sorry.”
Me too.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Because she’s a horrible person and you can’t trust her.
“You could have told me, baby. I can’t imagine what I put you through.”

Subtly, I take a step backward. “Don’t,” he orders. “It’s almost over.” I can’t resist scooting just a tiny bit closer. “
Maya
. Just wait. It’s literally thirty seconds,” he assures me and I make this pathetic little squeak. “I know you’re scared, but don’t cry, Rookie. I’m right here. Just hold still.”

The presenter finishes her speech and everyone starts clapping. Luke’s looking at me, I know he is. “Any second now,” Isaac says as the applause fades away. “C’mon…”

7

Maya

Right on cue, glass shatters loudly and a man’s voice calls out in the darkness as Isaac’s strong hands wrap around my waist to pull me backwards. My feet lift off the ground and suddenly I’m in his arms. I’ve had dreams like this so many times, it can’t be real. He pushes the door open and my head bounces against his chest with each rapid step he takes down the stairs.

A limo is waiting for us right by the exit. As soon as we’re inside, it takes off a little faster than it probably should considering we’re in a parking lot. Breathing heavily, Isaac just holds me tightly for the first few seconds until we turn onto the road and start to pick up speed.

Squirming out from under his chin, I press my forehead against his and stare into his gorgeous kaleidoscope eyes. “Hi,” I whisper.

“Hi.” Tentatively, he kisses me softly and I feel his lips curl upwards against mine. “I’m so happy to be looking at your face right now,” he says, pecking the tip of my nose.

“Me too.” I study the rest of his perfect features and don’t find all the stress and worry that I’m expecting. “Are you taking me with you?”

“Yes,” he answers. “But I’m not running away.” He looks so happy, it chases my anxiety away until I’m smiling just as much as he is.

“So where are we going?” I flip one of my legs over his lap so that I’m straddling him.

“To the hotel where my top secret restaurant is.”

“Really?” I squeal. “I finally get to see it?”

Isaac nods, staring at me with wide eyes and parted lips. His thumb skims across my tender cheekbone as his excitement fades to something darker. “Maya, are you okay?”

“I am now.”

“Take these off,” he says, pulling at the long satin gloves that are separating him from what he craves.

“Just this one.” I slide my right glove down to my elbow and let him finish removing it.

Taking my wrist, he brings my hand to his mouth and savors each one of my fingertips individually. I shudder at the contact and lean closer to kiss his brow. “Now let me see your other arm,” he demands as I slide my fingers into his hair.

“Don’t ruin it.”

His eyes flutter closed as my touch soothes him, but the distraction won’t last long. “Nothing can ruin this.” Gently, Isaac removes my gloved hand from his hair and holds it, keeping his eyes locked with mine. He slowly slips the soft fabric down to my wrist, exposing the hand shaped bruise that wraps around my forearm. “Fuck,” he mutters when he sees the damage, inhaling sharply. Carefully inspecting my wounded flesh, his eyes narrow when he realizes there’s a scab on the end of each fingermark where Luke’s nails tore through my skin. Even in his wildest mania, Isaac has never left such brutal marks on me. “I’m so sorry, Maya. I should have been there.”

“You were there. You saved me just like you promised you would.”

He shakes his head. “I should have done it myself.”

“Isaac…” Some of that self-hatred fades into the background when I say his name, bringing both my hands up to skim my fingers over his contorted features, But he’s still inwardly cursing himself. I don’t want him to feel this way, so I caress his face the way he likes me to when he fucks me, wordlessly trying to assure him that I’m ready for the inevitable next step in our reunion. Our eyes meet as the atmosphere charges. Lurching forward, his lips crash into mine as his hand threads into the hair on the nape of my neck, making my entire body tingle. But then it starts to close into a fist as he pushes his tongue into my mouth and I freeze up, drawing backwards. “Don’t pull it,” I murmur shakily, reaching behind my head to grab his wrist.

“Hey,” he whispers, gently bringing
my face closer to his. “Relax. It’s me.” Kissing my face all over, he twists his forearm into the length of my hair around and tickles the back of my neck. It feels fantastic, but I start to tear up. “Rookie, it’s
me
. It’s just a kiss.”

“I know, but… my scalp is really tender,” I tell him.

Isaac’s grits his teeth as his fingers still. “Did he hurt you there, too?”

“Yes,” I reply, choking on my breath. “He pulled it way too hard, he always does. He likes to throw me around like that because he knows I hate it. I always got scared when guys touched me there until it was you.”

“Oh, God,” Isaac spits in disgust, cupping the back of my head as his shaking lips press against my hairline. “It’s okay now, baby. It’s over. I will never, ever let him hurt you again.” He holds me close for a long time as we speed down the highway. It’s been so long, my body has forgotten how to relax in the comfort of his embrace. “How else did he hurt you?” His kisses dart around my blackened eye, so he must know about that. “Maya… did he fuck you?” he asks, wincing. “You can tell me, it won’t change anything between us.”

“No.”

“Don’t lie,” he says firmly, but he isn’t accusing me. “Please don’t do that to me. I won’t look at you differently, I swear. But I need to know, you
have
to tell me.”

“Of course I’d tell you. You’re the only person I would tell. But he didn’t, I promise,” I assure him. Isaac’s next exhalation is a groan filled with relief as he lets his head fall into my shoulder and hugs me tighter. “Like I said, you saved me.”

His lips linger on my collarbone as his arms rest on my hips. “He was alone with you for almost two minutes,” he whispers. It felt like so much longer. “What did he do?”

“I don’t want to think about it.”

“Maya,” he rasps, lifting his face to look at mine. “I can’t stand it.” There’s more than concern in his eyes. He knows that his territory was violated and he needs to know how. “Did he kiss you?”

“Yes,” I admit, dropping my chin.

Lifting my face, he runs his thumb across my lips. “Did he put his mouth anywhere else on you?”

“Not really. A little bit on my neck.”

“Did he make you put yours on him?” he asks, clenching his jaw.

“No.”

“What about his hands?” Isaac tries to keep his rage in check and does a pretty good job, but I can’t answer him out loud, so I nod. “Where?”

“Everywhere,” I croak, my stomach churning as I flash on the memory. Isaac growls, but interlocks his fingers with mine and takes a deep breath. “Not inside me, though. I woke up and he was in bed with me, touching me. He said he wanted to show me that he didn’t always have to be mean and I froze up like I always do. But I kept thinking about you. All I could think about was what it would do to you, so I started struggling. He ignored me at first and kept being kind of sweet, but I started fighting harder and he got frustrated pretty quickly. And then he asked me if there was someone else. I didn’t answer, but I couldn’t hide it… That’s when he got angry and starting slamming me around.” I say, my voice cracking as he puts his hands on the sides of my face, stroking my cheeks as I exhale raggedly, the tension leaving my shoulders. It feels so good to tell him. “Luke knew just by looking at me. He knows I’m in love with someone else.”

“Good,” Isaac snarls, surprising himself a bit. It doesn’t bother me in the slightest, his reaction is exactly what I’m craving, so I squirm for him, pressing downwards on the erection he’s trying to ignore. I want to feel like I’m his again. Leaning forward, I drag my lips across his clean shaven jaw as he shudders. “I’m not going to fall for this,” he murmurs, but he grinds against me slightly. “It’s too soon.”

“It’s the perfect time.”

“No.” He leans me back into his arms and I watch the beast in his eyes slip away, taking the rage with it until the only thing left is pure Isaac. “I don’t need to fuck you to prove anything. I don’t want it to have anything to fucking do with him,” he explains. “You are still all mine, Rookie. You always will be. All of you, not just your body. Nothing can ever change that. Nothing.”

I bite my lip and blink up at him. “I love you.”

“I love you, too,” he says, grinning. His hand cups the back of my head as his lips kiss that spot below my ear and that shiver I’ve missed so much travels through my body. I gasp as his mouth dances around my face and neck slowly as he toys with my fingertips. Then his deep kisses become pecks and get faster, his ragged breathing starts to sound like laughter as his lips tickle me everywhere. I giggle along with him and try to catch his kiss with mine, remembering how much I love this game. “That’s what I want to hear,” Isaac whispers as I relax in his arms, letting the full weight of my head fall into his hand. “And this smile,” he laughs, his own smile pressing into mine. “This beautiful smile proves everything. This is what’s real. This is what matters.”

“I know. But I
am
horny for you,” I whine, tempting him.

“
Me. Too
,” he breathes, bucking up. “Holy shit, me fucking too. But you hate car sex.”

“I don’t hate it.”

“Yes, you do,” he chuckles. “And those days are over.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I have so much to tell you, but I don’t want to get into it yet. Unfortunately, we still have to get naked in the car, and I know that’s about your least favorite thing to do, but this ballroom dancing get up will stick out way too much.”

“You look incredible yourself, by the way,” I tell him, sitting up and getting a better view of his perfection. “You need to wear a suit more often.”

“Oh really?”

“Yeah, really.”

“Too bad I have to strip it off now,” he teases. “Try not to succumb to your urges. I know you’re easily overwhelmed.”

“Hey,” I retort. “I’ll be stripping, too. Let’s see who gets overwhelmed.”

Isaac scoffs and starts to take off his tie, flashing me that insanely hot tilted smile. I have missed that cocky look on his face so much, I never thought I’d see it again. My eyes playfully narrow into his favorite seductress stare and I blow him a kiss. The corner of his mouth drops as my breathing starts to get faster.

“We don’t have a chance once our clothes come off, do we?” he says, his eyes raking over the fine satin that conceals my body.

“No, I don’t think we do.”

Our laughs collide, his arms encircling me. Our resistance didn’t last long, but it did push Luke out of the picture for both of us. Now is the perfect moment because it’s just us.
There’s no apprehension of the next inevitable separation and wondering how long it will last, no fear of getting torn apart forever in the background. Our fingers explore the exposed flesh of the bodies they’ve longed to touch for so long. The only time our eyes pull apart is when our lips lock together. It’s just me and him, cuddling and making out, exchanging ‘I love yous’ and giggles.

The car stops and I turn my head to see people walking by on the street. I really do hate car sex. Isaac pulls out his phone nonchalantly and I start to look away so he doesn’t have to ask.

“You can look. I’m just checking the GPS to see how much time we have,” he says, kissing the crown of my head as I snuggle against his chest. “No more secrets, Maya. I’m so fucking tired of secrets.”

“Me too.”

“We don’t have to be quick, but we can’t exactly take our time. I’m sure my dick will appreciate the excuse, I haven’t come since the last time we had phone sex,” he breathes, kissing my fingertips as his hand slides down to grab my ass.

“I haven’t either,” I say, pulling at his collar. “I knew I wouldn’t survive the crash.”

“No more crashing, baby. No more horrible goodbyes or waking up all alone.” He draws in a hitched breath and stops groping me, his fingers tickling my hair. “That’s all in the past. It’s all fucking over.”

“Isaac…” I start to choke up, resting my forehead against his.

“I’m right here and I’m not leaving. And if I ever do, you are coming with me.”

He kisses me, gently at first until my lips part and his tongue slides against mine. I can’t believe he’s back. And it’s forever this time, he’s not just saying it for my benefit. It’s all over his gorgeous, smiling face. Both of our hands link together, his fingers spreading mine far apart as he grips them tightly and his kiss gets more intense. God, I’ve wanted a kiss like this for so long, I can’t believe it’s finally happening. I’ve missed the way he tastes, the way he smells, the way his groan reverberates into my mouth when everything starts to heat up between us. I missed
him.

His lips leave mine and travel across my jaw, stopping beneath my ear to tease me. The excitement radiates from that spot until every inch of my skin is on fire. I writhe against him and make one of those involuntary moans that sounds so needy it makes me blush.

“I missed your little noises so fucking much. Get used to making them for me,” he rasps.

Locking his forearm across my back, he pulls me so close my legs spread farther apart. My inner thighs savor the sensation of the unyielding torso between them and I can’t wait to get this shirt off so I can see it too. His lips devour my throat as he starts to unzip my dress, his hand sliding down the bare skin of my back, leaving a trail of sparks behind it.

“I’m really skinny,” I confess in a tiny voice as he undoes my bra. “My boobs won’t bounce.”

“That’s okay, Maya,” he says, his lips dancing around my face. “You know I don’t care about that.” He laughs a little, shaking his head at my skepticism. “Hey, I have a surgical scar on my abs now.”