Silence, A New World Series Novella

by Janelle Stalder

  She made him crazy. And then she’d coolly told him to calm down and it was though his body listened to her more than it did him. Right away he’d started to cool, his eyes finding hers and getting lost in their depths. Just like that.

  What. The. Fuck.

  He needed to stay away from her, that was all there was to it. He didn’t have time for distractions like her, especially if she was up to something nefarious as he suspected. What he needed to do was figure out what the hell she and her friends were up to, and then put a stop to it.

  Sebastian Black was never bested by anyone else. He was in control at all times. Especially under his own roof. Whatever they thought they were going to achieve here, he was personally going to make sure they failed – miserably. Which meant he needed a clear head, away from pretty girls with mouths that were too full for their own good, and pink like a ripe raspberry.

  Christ, he was practically spouting poetry now. For the next hour he did everything he could to get his mind back on target, but it was futile. No matter what he did, visions of Pixie in those tight workout clothes, nothing on beneath them, filtered through his mind on a constant repeat that tortured him. With another curse, he got up and headed to her room, knowing she’d be back there by now. He would go in and finally get out of her what she was really up to, and then he’d drag her to the regular cells himself.

  No more of this shit of keeping her close to him. Having her next door to his bedroom was the worst idea he’d ever had. He needed to get her to speak, no matter what it took, and then he needed her gone – fast. Except, as he neared her room, thoughts of her with the other fighter kept popping up in his mind, returning his earlier feelings of jealousy with a vengeance. By the time he stood outside her door, he was just as worked up as he’d been in the gym.

  He stopped, facing the wood, not entering. Taking deep breaths, he ordered himself to calm the fuck down, but it was useless. She was just beyond the door, so close…he was a goner. Opening the door, his eyes found her instantly. When she met his gaze, his heart did some crazy flipping thing that made him feel like a young lad again, crushing on some girl for the first time.

  Except this was so much stronger than anything he’d felt before. No matter what he told himself, the second he looked at her, all he thought was – mine. As though the universe had decided it, placing her in his path for exactly this reason. He slammed the door shut behind him, closing them off to the world.

  As he drew closer to her, he could see fear flit through her eyes, mixed with her own anger as she tried to put on a brave face in front of his wrath. It would do her no good. She was going to learn soon enough just who she was messing with, and regret the day she’d ever come here.

  He didn’t stop until he had her pressed against the wall, his chest inches from hers. Those big blue eyes widened as her slim, delicate fingers gripped the wall, reaching out as though she hadn’t even realized she’d been backing up toward it during his advance. He liked that. Liked that he made her do things she didn’t even notice, her attention so focused on him. Whatever she may think of him, her body had decided she liked him, that much he was sure of.

  The soft pink blush that coloured her cheeks told him all he needed to know, as did her dilated pupils. Oh yes, she wasn’t immune to him, especially at this proximity. It made him want to howl in some primitive way. He stepped even closer, feeling her chest quiver against his as her breathing turned ragged. Electricity sparked between, something he could not refute. Whether he wanted this woman as a distraction or not, there was something undeniable between them that crackled in the air. It drew him to her, despite his best efforts.

  Anything he had planned on saying to her had disappeared from his mind. The incident in the gym, her real reasons for why she was here, who she really was…none of that seemed important anymore now that he stood this close to her, smelling her sweet scent.

  He leaned in closer, breathing her into his lungs, savouring it. When he spoke, his voice was so gravelly he barely recognized it. “You drive me crazy,” he said, not meaning to say the words but they fell out before he could stop them.

  Her eyes widened in surprise as her chest rose and fell rapidly. “Well you drive me crazy,” she said, her brows furrowing accusingly.

  Something light filled his chest, making him suddenly want to smile. There wasn’t much left in this world that could elicit a smile from Bastian Black, but the indignation and desire written on her pretty face did so effortlessly. “Is that so?” he asked.

  “Yes,” she all but huffed. “And I don’t like it.”

  “Well guess what?” he said, leaning in until their noses brushed.

  “What?” she whispered.

  “I don’t like it either.” Silencing her before she could speak, Bastian covered her lips with his, snaking an arm around her slim waist to press her tightly against him. She stiffened within his hold for only a moment before he felt her melt against him. Her lips parted on a sigh and he took advantage, finally tasting the sweetness that was Pixie.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  As her Gran used to always say – Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.

  There was a day when Pixie had been living out on the streets, before she’d met Phoenix and the others, when she’d spotted a couple stumble out of a bar and sneak into the alley she’d been calling home at the time. From the shelter of the cardboard box she’d found, she had seen the two of them kiss each other against the wall as though their lives depended on it.

  Never in her life had Pixie experienced that type of passion or lust with anyone. She’d never understood the magnetic pull some men and women seemed to have on each other. Charlotte and Pete, and Bridgette and Roman had that sort of electric chemistry. It was something she’d never really expected to experience herself.

  But here it was, clouding her senses and driving her wild. She hadn’t been lying when she’d said Bastian drove her crazy. He did. In so many ways. He was cruel, deceptive, underhanded, and just all around bad. He ran a fighting ring and had kidnapped her friends, for Christ’s sake. He was also overbearing, domineering and rude.

  The problem was…he was also sinfully handsome. His body moved like she imagined a panther would, if they were human. He was all sleek muscles and smooth lines. When he walked toward her, he was a predator incarnate. Everything from his chiseled features to those blue eyes had her captivated any time she was in his presence.

  It made her angry to know that this person she should despise also seemed to raise feelings in her that no one else ever had, in her entire life. When he’d trapped her against the wall she’d been equal parts excited and terrified. And she didn’t know which emotion had to do with her attraction, because the way her stomach dipped and her hands shook terrified her as well.

  When his mouth had met hers, she’d instantly gone to push him away. But that had only lasted a second, as her body seemed to recognize his. His tongue slipped past her lips to tangle with hers, both of them moaning on contact. He pushed her harder against the wall, his hips lining up with hers.

  Pixie slid her hands over his stomach, up to his chest, and across those broad shoulders that had caught her attention the first time she’d laid eyes on him. His hands gripped her waist in a bruising hold that spoke loudly of his loss of restraint. Moving up to his hair, Pixie gripped the soft strands, crushing herself against him tighter. She needed more. More. If she’d somehow managed to melt inside his body, it probably still wouldn’t be close enough.

  He growled against her lips, his hands flashing to her thighs and picking her up effortlessly. Wrapping her legs around him, he pinned her there, his hips and hardness exactly where she needed him. She whimpered at the raw sensation.

  “Is this what you want?” he asked, breaking their kiss to look at her. He ground against her, causing her eyes to roll as fierce arousal shot through her entire body.

  “Yes,” she panted.

  “You’re shaking,” he said, his voice low and almost in a sense of awe. All the
cockiness she was used to from him vanished to be replaced by a look that spoke loudly of worship as she opened her eyes to meet his.

  “I need you,” was all she could manage.

  He rumbled loudly, saying something under his breath she didn’t catch, before crushing their mouths together again. This was all sorts of wrong, she thought. The smarter part of her brain was screaming at her to stop what she was doing. He was the enemy! Was this how Bridgette had felt when she’d first fallen for Roman Adamson?

  Pixie didn’t know…and quite frankly, she didn’t care at that moment. It might have been wrong, but it felt sinfully right. Her body was his as he brought her closer to the edge from just his kiss. If a connection as strong as this only came once in a lifetime, wouldn’t it be wrong to not indulge in it? Sure, there was no future for them, and once she managed to get them all out of there, she’d likely never see Bastian Black again.

  But at least for these fleeting moments, she’d know what it was like to be with someone that set her aflame. She’d know true passion. The kind that made you lose all thought, leaving you a slave to your baser needs. As far as she was concerned, everything outside that room could wait. At that moment, all she wanted was Bastian.

  She moved her hips, increasing the delicious friction between them, moaning against his expert lips. His hands moved to the hem of her shirt, slipping under to splay against her heated skin. She sucked in a breath at the feel of him, suddenly desperate to have his hands on every inch of her body.

  As if reading her mind, Bastian made quick work of removing her shirt and his, without stepping away from her. They both gasped as their naked chests met.

  “You are so beautiful, it hurts,” he murmured, peppering his kisses down her neck. She arched, giving him all the room he needed. “I want you so badly, I can’t think straight.”

  His head lifted and their eyes met. Were they really going to do this? Pixie hadn’t been with a man in years. Quite frankly, she’d never really felt like she was missing out on much. The men she’d been with in the past had all been boys she’d grown up with, and none had known much about how to please a woman. They’d been sloppy, unmemorable couplings. It had always made her wonder what the fuss was all about.

  Yes, they were definitely going to do this, she decided. Even if it was just this one time. She needed this. Her body was strung so tight, if she didn’t get some release, she was bound to implode. And to have someone like Bastian be the one to make her feel this way was…well she didn’t know what it was. Her mind was too clouded to really put her actions into perspective.

  She had a strong suspicion that she’d regret it later – or at least convince herself she regretted it. But all that could wait. The world was too fucked up not to live in the moment just once. This was her moment.

  “Take me to the bed,” she said, her eyes trying to convey all the things she was feeling. Could he read her desire for him there? The way he stared back, she was sure he could.

  He didn’t answer her at first, his eyes just taking her in slowly, their panting breaths the only sound in the room. He took in her tightly bound hair, down to her eyes, then her lips that she licked slowly when he did, making his hands flex on her thighs. Then he looked lower, his hungry gaze devouring her naked breasts.

  She wasn’t a well-endowed woman, but he didn’t seem to mind. When he looked back up into her eyes, the look there had her shivering in anticipation. When he spoke next, she knew she was truly a goner.

  “Fuck the bed.”

  The ripping sound of fabric assaulted her ears as he tore away the thin tights she’d been wearing. She gasped in shock, but didn’t have time to process anything else as his mouth bent down to latch on a nipple at the same time his thumb brushed against her most sensitive spot.

  She moaned loudly, gripping his head against her. A single digit slipped through her silky folds as his thumb continued to drive her insane. He groaned against her skin as he felt how ready she was for him.

  “You’re so hot and wet,” he said reverently. “I want to do so many things to you and draw this out, but I don’t know how much longer I can wait now that I have you in my arms.”

  “Then don’t,” she said, her voice pleading. She didn’t need foreplay, she just needed him. She felt empty, and something told her he was the only thing that could fill her up. He set her down on shaky legs, stepping back just enough to pull his pants down, kicking them off to the side.

  Pixie let herself take all of him in, appreciating the sheer beauty of the man before her. He was perfect, every inch of him. His manhood stood long and thick from his body, making her core tighten at just the thought of him entering her. She licked her lips, unconsciously, not realizing she’d done so until his chuckle caught her attention.

  “See something you like?” he asked.

  She nodded, swallowing. “I’d love to taste you, but I want you inside me too much to wait.”

  If possible, his pupils dilated even more, his breath coming out in a puff. “Fuck,” he gasped, moving forward to pick her up, plastering her back to the wall. He didn’t move though, just held her there as their breaths shared the same space. “Where have you been?”

  “Nowhere,” she whispered. She’d been nothing but the shadow in the background of life, head down, mouth shut. But Bastian saw her, and in his eyes, she felt more beautiful than ever before. She felt wanted, needed, and it was intoxicating.

  In one move, he drove inside her, her insides flexing at the sudden intrusion.

  “Bastian,” she moaned, her head falling back against the wall. They froze there as her body grew accustomed to his size. It was more than anything she’d experienced before, and it had been a long time since the last. The feeling was the perfect mixture between pleasure and pain. After only a short while, he began pumping inside her, setting a grueling pace that had her making sounds she’d never made before. She ought to be embarrassed by it, she thought fleetingly, but couldn’t seem to hold them back.

  There was something to be said for Bastian Black’s stamina, as he never slowed, his rhythm continuing on, building her release higher and higher. Pixie’s entire body hummed with pleasure as he hit the spot deep within that had her flying. He shifted slightly, finding a new spot that nearly drove her mad. On and on he went, her insides fluttering until finally she felt her climax come within reach.

  She cried out just before his mouth covered hers, swallowing her sounds as she soared and then fell, his constant rhythm dragging out her climax until she thought she might cry. Finally he tore his mouth from hers, bellowing out as his hips ground against hers before stilling, his release warming her insides.

  His forehead dropped to rest on her shoulders as she absently stroked his hair, letting her breathing slowly return to normal.

  Fuck. Shit.

  Shit fuck.

  What had they just done?

  CHAPTER SIX

  “That can never happen again.”

  They both froze after speaking at the same time, their words echoing each other’s. What the fuck? His anger instantly boiled. What. The. Fuck. Sure, he’d said the exact same thing, and meant it (of course). But to hear her say it made something ugly rear up inside him. He hesitated over the buttons of his pants, looking at her as she pulled his shirt over her naked body since her pants lay in ruins, hiding the sight from him.

  The fabric skimmed over her shape, making him remember the feel of her smooth skin beneath his fingers. It fell to mid-thigh, and fuck if she didn’t look damn cute wearing his clothes. Cute? He was crazier than he thought if he was thinking a girl was cute. This woman messed with him, which was exactly why he’d gotten her out of his system. Or had he? Because if he was being honest with himself, he was already ready for round two.

  Her wide eyes met his, their blue depths shuttered now, telling him nothing of what she was thinking. Did she regret it? He hoped not. It might have been a onetime thing, but he knew she had wanted it just as badly as he had. Hearing her scream his
name had been literally music to his ears. His eyes trailed up to her face, hating how composed she looked again.

  He focused on her tight bun, wishing he had torn the strands from the band to see just how long and soft they were. Next time, he thought. No, wait, there wasn’t going to be another time. Hadn’t he just said the same thing?

  Bastian cleared his throat, gathering himself. The important thing to do now was to figure out what she was up to. His desire for her had clouded his judgement before, but now that he’d gotten it out of his system, he could refocus. Yeah. Right.

  Slowly he rubbed his chin as he regarded her, trying to figure out how best to get her to talk. Torturing her didn’t really sit well with him. While he’d love to have his marks on her pale, smooth skin, he didn’t want them there out of anger but from passion. He’d just have to figure out another angle. First, he needed to send her away to the fighter’s cellblock. Keeping her close to him was no longer an option. Clearly they had something between them, and if they were truly going to stop it, space was crucial.

  “Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked, fidgeting, giving away how nervous she really was after what they’d just done.

  He walked toward her, stopping in front like he had before. This time, however, he ignored the sparks flying between them. “Tell me what you’re doing here,” he said slowly, keeping his face blank.

  She did the same, no emotion emanating from her delicate features. “To fight,” she replied simply.

  Little liar, he thought. His mouth twitched but he fought back his grin at her open defiance. “Lies,” he said, leaning in. “Tell me why you’re really here.”

  “How did you get the orange?”

  He paused, not expecting that. She was still thinking about his food, was she? He smiled then, but it didn’t reach his eyes. No, this was the smile he reserved for his enemies, and as far as he was concerned, that was exactly what Pixie was now. She always has been, he reminded himself. Just because he’d had his dick in her didn’t mean they were suddenly on the same side.