Page 44

Tank

It was nearing one in the morning, and I knew before I even parked that Maddie would be alone again. Part of me hated that for her—working nights without backup. But another part of me, the selfish part, was glad Diamond was still sick. It meant I got another night of Maddie all to myself.

The station looked the same as it always did—quiet, glowing under the fluorescent lights, like a beacon in the dark. I parked next to her car again, same as last night, cut the engine, and swung my leg over the seat.

When I stepped through the door, the bell jingled, and there she was.

Maddie.

Braced behind the counter, like she’d been waiting for me.

She gave me a small smile. “Diamond’s still out. Starting to worry about her.”

I nodded slowly and stepped toward the counter. “Yeah?”

“Yeah. She’s never sick this long. And she sounded terrible on the phone.”

“That sucks,” I said. Then I smirked a little. “But I’m not gonna lie—I’m not mad about it.”

She raised an eyebrow. “No?”

“Gives me more time with you.”

Her lips twitched like she was trying not to smile, but it happened anyway. “You here to hang out again?”

I leaned on the counter. “Unless you’re kicking me out.”

“Not a lot left to do. We knocked most of it out last night.”

“Then I guess I’m just here for the company.”

The next couple hours passed in that quiet rhythm I was getting used to. Customers came and went. Some just sleepy-eyed locals. Others? The drunk variety. The weird ones. One guy came in and spent ten minutes talking to the hotdog roller before buying a single Slim Jim and a Red Bull. Another guy kept asking Maddie if she believed in aliens.

But then there was that guy—the one who stumbled in smelling like beer and bad decisions.

He slurred through his sentences and tried way too hard to charm Maddie. Leaned on the counter, called her “sweetheart,” and “darlin’” like we were in some backwoods country song. I sat back on the stool behind the counter and just watched.

I didn’t say a word.

Maddie handled him like a pro.

Until he finally noticed me.

His eyes widened like he was seeing me for the first time—which was impressive considering my size doesn’t exactly blend into the background.

“Whoa,” he said and blinked at me. “You her brother or something?”

I laughed and shook my head. “Not her brother.”

He squinted, confused. “Then who are you?”

I smirked. “Let’s just say she belongs to me.”

He held up his hands and stumbled a step back. “Sorry, man. Didn’t mean to disrespect. You’ve got a spectacular taste in women.”

Maddie raised an eyebrow as the guy turned tail and practically jogged out the door.

Silence settled over us for a second. Then we both laughed.

She shook her head. “That guy was a mess.”

“You get a lot of those?”

“Only on the weekends.”

We fell into another quiet stretch, the soft hum of the cooler the only sound. Maddie shifted on her stool and turned to say something, but her foot slipped. She gasped, and before she could hit the ground, I was up and in motion.

I caught her easily, one arm around her back, the other across her waist, and held her tight. We were face to face. Close. Her breath caught. So did mine.

“Well,” she said softly as her hands gripped my arms, “guess you’re good for something.”

“I’m good for a lot of things, mama.”

She bit her lip, and it about did me in.

“I’m going to kiss you,” I said, my voice low and rough.

Her eyes flicked to my mouth. “Then what are you waiting for?”

I closed the space between us and kissed her.

Hot. Heavy. Her hands were in my hair while mine roamed her sides and her back. She melted into me, soft and warm and everything I hadn’t let myself want until now.

I pulled her into my lap as I sat on the stool, and she straddled me like she’d done it a thousand times. Our bodies fit together like puzzle pieces—like she’d always been meant to be right there.

This. This was what I’d been wanting since the first night I saw her walking up to the gas pump—walking up to me. Maddie. In my arms, on my lap, and her mouth on mine like I was the only thing she needed.

And for the first time in a long damn while, I wanted to stay exactly where I was.

Maddie

His lips were warm and demanding and moved against mine like he’d been waiting his whole life to do it. And maybe, just maybe, I’d been waiting too.

The second his mouth found mine, I melted. Everything else—the counter, the store, the cameras, the fact that someone could walk in at any moment—faded into nothing.

I kissed him back like I needed him to breathe. My hands slipped under his jacket, fisting the back of his shirt, and pulled him closer. His hands were everywhere—my waist, my back, and slid up my ribs like he was memorizing every inch of me.

And then I moved—my hips shifted forward without thinking and ground softly against the unmistakable hardness of his dick pressed between us.

He groaned into my mouth, deep and low, and it sent a jolt straight through me.

When we finally pulled back, we were both panting, our foreheads nearly touching. My chest rose and fell like I’d just run a marathon, and Tank… God, his face.

His eyes were heavy with desire, lips parted, and cheeks flushed. He looked at me like I was the only thing in the world he wanted. Like I was already his.

“What if someone walks in?” I whispered, and tried to catch my breath.

“Then they’ll get a show, mama,” he said with a crooked grin.

I laughed, breathless. “I don’t want to stop,” I admitted. “But I’m not into sharing.”

The second I whispered, “My office,” and looked him in the eye, something shifted. He didn’t need more than that.

He moved.

In one smooth motion, he stood and held me in his arms like I weighed nothing. I gasped and held onto him, arms around his shoulders, and my legs clutched around his waist as he stalked through the store toward the back.

My heart thudded wildly.

The second he reached my desk, he set me down like I was made of glass, and then his mouth was back on mine.

We were fire.

His kiss was deeper now, hungrier. His hands explored my sides and back. He tugged me closer until I was practically molded to him. I slid his jacket off him, then found the hem of his shirt and tugged it up. I let my fingers skim along the ridges of his stomach and up his chest and marveled at how solid he felt—like every inch of him had been carved with a purpose.

I caught myself just staring.

He was all broad chest and sculpted muscle, a few scars scattered here and there. Each one probably with a story. I bit my lip. Damn, he looked good.

Tank’s hands slid under my shirt next, and with one smooth motion, he peeled it over my head. My bra followed, pushed down just enough for him to cup my breasts. His hands were rough yet gentle.

When his mouth closed over my nipple, I threw my head back and gasped. The sound escaped my lips before I could stop it. His tongue was warm and teasing. I arched into him, and my fingers threaded through his hair.

My body felt like it was on fire. Everywhere he touched, it burned. I couldn’t think and only knew I wanted more.

He kissed up my chest, over my throat, and back to my lips. His hands settled on my hips and anchored me to the edge of the desk. I could feel how badly he wanted me, pressed between us, and it only made me more desperate.

I reached for his jeans, fumbling with the button, then the zipper. He laughed softly against my neck, and when they finally came loose—

“God,” I whispered, eyes wide as I realized he wasn’t wearing any underwear.

He grinned. “Surprised, mama?”

Shocked.

I wrapped my hand around him, and he groaned low. He leaned into me like I was undoing him one touch at a time.

His eyes stayed locked on mine, wild and dark and full of something that felt a little too much like need as I stroked him.

Then, suddenly, he stepped back.

“Enough,” he growled, voice gravelly.

Before I could ask, he grabbed me gently by the hips and pulled me forward. I reached behind me, unclasped my bra, and let it fall to the floor while I kicked off my shoes as he hooked his fingers into my waistband. My pants and underwear were gone in seconds, and just like that, I was standing there—bare, exposed, completely undone.

He looked at me like I was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.

“You are fucking gorgeous, mama,” he said, his voice raw with honesty.

Heat bloomed across my cheeks and chest, and I felt it all over. Not just desire but something deeper.

Before I could say a word, he lifted me into his arms again. I clung to him, with my heart racing as he held me close. He turned, leaned me back against the wall, and then he slid inside me.

“Tank,” I cried out. It had been a long time since I had been with a man, and Tank was living up to his name. He was large and stretched me wide. “Slow,” I panted. It felt good, but damn if it didn’t feel like the man was touching the bottom of my soul.

“You’re so fucking tight, mama,” he growled. He leaned forward and pressed his forehead to mine. “Are you okay?” he asked softly.

I nodded and bit my bottom lip as he slowly pulled out and then slid back in.

We fit together like we’d done this a hundred times before. Like our bodies had been made for this moment.

He moved with purpose, slow at first, then deeper. I clung to him like he was the only thing keeping me tethered to this world. I buried my face in his neck as I moaned his name as he pushed me higher and higher until I finally broke—my body shattered in his arms.

He followed with a low groan and held me tight as we both came down.

I didn’t want to let go. Didn’t want this to end.

I rested my head on his shoulder. “Wow,” I whispered.

Tank laughed softly, and his lips brushed my temple. “Wow doesn’t even cut it, mama. That was fucking amazing.”

I smiled against his skin. “That’s one way to pass the time I’ve never tried before.”

He pulled back just enough to look me in the eyes, his voice low and possessive. “And you’re not going to try it with anyone else.”

“Yeah,” I laughed, still breathless, “Diamond really isn’t my type, so you don’t have anything to worry about.”

Tank grinned and pressed one last lingering kiss to my lips before setting me back on the ground—with a sharp, playful slap to my ass. “Good. Get dressed, mama.”

We both started pulling our clothes back on, grinning like fools in the aftermath. I found my bra first, slipped the straps over my shoulders, and clasped it behind me while he bent to retrieve my shirt from where it had landed near the desk chair.

“Here,” he said and tossed it to me with a lazy smirk.

“Thanks,” I murmured and tugged it over my head.

He tugged his jeans back up, still shirtless, and my eyes trailed down his chest longer than they should have. I didn’t even try to be subtle about it. He caught me looking and winked.

“Like what you see?”

“Maybe,” I teased and laced up my sneakers.

Tank pulled his shirt over his head just as I finished tying my shoes. The bell above the front door jingled and echoed through the quiet store.

He held his jacket in his hand and chuckled. “Good call on your office. I know you said you didn’t want to share, but I sure as hell didn’t want anyone else seeing you either.” He winked, and with one last glance, sauntered back out to the front of the store like he hadn’t just rocked my world five minutes ago.

I exhaled a shaky breath, ran my fingers through my hair to smooth it out, and tried to gather my wits.

The desk was still slightly askew, and everything inside me felt the same way. Shifted. Rewired.

Sex with Tank wasn’t just good—it was toe-curling, world-tilting, and life-altering.

The man was sex on a stick, and I’d just gotten a taste of him.

I already knew I was going to want more.