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Chapter 14

Thrill of the chase

Maddie

Two and a half years later - California

Y ou’ve got to be kidding me. He didn’t.

He wouldn’t.

I shake my head at myself. Of course he would.

Alan knocks at my hotel room door for the second time in five seconds. “Open up, Maddie. I know you’re in there.” Another series of knocks follows, substantially louder.

Impatient much?

“That’s creepy, Alan,” I quip, clicking through all the safety locks and removing the wedge my son insists I use when I travel.

Heaven forbid there’s a fire and I need to exit quickly. I’d be so screwed.

When I finally get all the contraptions unlocked, unfastened, and unlatched, I fling open the door and hit him with my faux glare. My hands go to my hips to help me sell my disapproval.

Secretly, I’m tickled he’s come all this way to ensure my safety. But I can’t let him know that right away. He’ll get a big head and start thinking he knows better than me.

“How did you know where to find me?” I ask, standing in his way with my eyes narrowed to slits.

He slants his head to the side, arching one brow. “You know I have trackers on you.”

“Stalker.”

“Concerned secret boyfriend,” he fires back, one of his fingers poking his own chest.

His face is weary from travel, so I take pity on him, moving aside to usher him into my room.

Besides, I’m glad to see him.

When this last-minute work trip popped up, I knew it would create tension. Not only with Alan but with my kids. Leo especially. After all, Sammy’s under twenty-four-hour protection after escaping an abduction attempt last week. So it’s not like this is an ideal time for travel.

I tried to get out of this trip, but my boss was quite clear that my job was on the line. And Redleg is short on guards, which I know because all the important people in my life are tethered to the company.

So I flew out this morning, much to everyone’s chagrin. But what they don’t seem to comprehend is I’m not the one in danger—my daughter is. And after everything she’s been through these last few years, I only want her to have some peace.

Learning she wasn’t dead was one of the most euphoric moments of my life. But the pain of what she went through in the years that followed while she was under lock and key by her abusive ex will always haunt me. And now someone’s after her again. It breaks my heart.

As much as I wish I could be there for her, she’s in the best hands. Leo and Sawyer are watching her around the clock. I’ll have guilt for months for leaving the way I did, but the last thing I wanted to do was pull another guard away from the ones who truly need it.

Alan was planning to send Henderson with me, and I flat-out refused. I told Alan we were through if he pulled that poor boy away from his wife and newborn baby for me. Permanently. I hated to bring out the big guns, but I’m serious about this. The men and women of Redleg already sacrifice so much. I won’t add to their burden.

And how does Alan respond? Flying from Florida to California to protect me himself. Stubborn man.

As he breezes into the room, he kisses my cheek. His masculine scent fills the narrow space of the entryway, setting off butterflies in my lower belly. After locking us in like we’re in a vault, I turn around to find him staring at the bed. He’s set his suitcase down on the stand at the foot of the bed.

I take a moment to soak up the view of his strong frame and firm backside. He fills out those jeans spectacularly. Talk about a perfect fit. If you told me he was the model the designer used, I’d believe you.

Strolling up to him, I don’t even bother resisting squeezing both of his ass cheeks. Rigid muscles clench under a cushion of warm flesh.

Delicious.

He spins around abruptly, making me flinch. His arms encircle me, pulling me close. And then his lips are on mine, searing me like a brand. Hot and unyielding.

In an instant, my body goes pliant, and I mold myself to him. He brings me to life, sending tingles to all my nerve endings.

This man can kiss.

Feels like forever since I’ve been wrapped up in his arms with his mouth commanding mine. With Sammy living at home, Alan and I have less time together.

Not that I’m complaining. Having her back is worth the world.

But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss spending time with Alan.

Suddenly, he breaks the kiss, startling me. His warm palms cup my cheeks, and he keeps our bodies tightly aligned. “You had me worried sick, woman.”

Instead of replying with words, I bat my lashes at him and play innocent.

He shakes his head at me, adding a tsk . “You like this, don’t you?”

I drag the backs of my knuckles along his cheek, reveling in the feel of his freshly trimmed beard. “Like what?”

“The chase.”

My neck quirks, tossing my head to one side. “Huh?”

After giving me a quick peck, he lets his mouth linger over mine. “I think you like the idea of me chasing you. It’s not about your independence, is it?”

My head spins with him this close to me, making it difficult to process his words. “What’s not about independence?”

“You refusing to admit that we’re in a relationship. It’s not about you asserting your independence like I initially thought. It’s a game. Like cat and mouse. You want me to chase you, don’t you?”

I rear back an inch or two to see him better. “Just because we’re having fun doesn’t make it a game. That’s a little insulting. I care about you. I’m not playing around.”

He lowers his face to the curve of my neck, running his mouth over my pulse point. The warmth of his breath fanning across my skin sends chills down my spine.

“Maddie, you fucking flew across the country without protection when we’ve got active and credible threats on your family. And you refused to take a guard with you, threatening to end our relationship if I defied you. That left me no choice but to come myself. Which tells me... you want me to chase you.”

Despite the somewhat flippant words coming out of his seductive mouth, his tone is calm and velvety. His body language remains loose. He peppers kisses against my throat, moving up to my jawline.

He’s not mad. Not even irked.

So why the hell is he bringing this up?

“Alan, perhaps it’s the way you’re touching me that’s got me lightheaded, but I’m struggling to follow this conversation. Why are you talking about this now?”

He brings his face back to mine, rubbing the tips of our noses together. A man that looks rugged like him shouldn’t be this tender. It makes no sense.

His hands roam over my body, from my neck to my shoulders, then curve around my back. He rumbles his response across my lips. “Because I had time to think about it on the plane. For more than fifteen years, I’ve been chasing you. And I think you like it that way.”

I have no good response to that. To be honest, his words ring truer than I’d like to admit.

Same as him, I always assumed my reluctance to commit and go public with our relationship was because I craved being my own person after a lifetime of being someone’s property. But now I’m not so sure.

He might be right about this damn trip too. Did I bait him?

If I’m honest with myself, I wanted him to come with me. And that makes no sense because by him coming, he’s all but confirmed everyone’s suspicions about the two of us.

But maybe... just maybe I do want him to give chase. And if so, is that bad?

And perhaps I’m no longer concerned about keeping us a secret.

Why else would I do this?

He yanks me from my deep thoughts, squeezing my ass harder than I grabbed his earlier. “Am I right or wrong, Maddie?”

Trying to distract him, I drop one hand from his shoulder to his waistband and dig the belt from under the loop. “I can’t think clearly when you’re wrapped around me like this, Alan.”

His gaze drops between us toward where I’ve progressed from unbuckling his belt to opening his fly. There’s a challenging glint in his eyes that I find utterly intoxicating. I try to decode what he’s telegraphing but fail. Again, I blame my addled brain on his arousing effect on me.

He licks his lips as he studies me. “What time is your first event or meeting?”

I hold his eye contact, working his erection free without looking down once. “Not until the morning. Do you need to check in with your team?”

“Already did on the way over here. There was an issue, but it’s been handled. Everyone’s safe. Including your kids.”

“Good. So long as they’re safe. Tell me about it later. Get on the bed.”

I give his broad chest a tiny shove. He barely moves.

But that’s Alan—an immovable presence in my life. No matter how much I push him away, he barely falters.

Why do I keep doing it? Why can’t I give him this? Leo might be upset at first, but he’d get over it. Ultimately, he’d probably love for his boss and mentor to be my romantic partner.

So why do I keep resisting?

Once more, I have to forcibly shake off my heavy thoughts. The sight of him lowering to the bed and kicking off his pants yanks me the rest of the way back into the moment. I strip quickly, my desperation for him simultaneously weighing me down and lifting me into the clouds.

My mouth waters when he tugs his shirt over his head, revealing his torso. As soon as I’m naked, I practically levitate to the bed. He reaches for me, easing me on top of him. He scoots us back toward the middle of the mattress, but I’m too impatient to wait.

Straddling him, I wrap my fingers around his cock, stroking and pumping in short, rough strokes. He’s already rock-hard and ready for me. Wasting no time, I line him up with my entrance and sink down on him.

A deep rumble makes his chest vibrate where my hands are resting. He flings his head back onto the mattress, closing his eyes and getting lost in the feel of our joining.

It’s heavenly. He fills me so deeply and exquisitely.

My hips start flexing to find the pace. As I work him in and out of my body, I rake my fingertips through his chest hair, giving it a little tug. His eyes spring open at that, and his upper lip curls into a snarl. He’s always liked it when I’m rough with him.

And I’ve always loved being on top. Being in control. This is the one time when it feels right.

Bending at the waist, I lean forward to kiss him. His fingers dig into my hips as he rocks into me from underneath. I let him help keep the tempo because his lips on mine are making me lose track of the rhythm. I swear this man kisses me stupid.

When he gets tired of my erratic pace, he bucks up and twists, rolling me under him. Rising to his knees between my thighs, he gazes down to where we’re joined. “Your body is so fucking perfect, Maddie baby. And so fucking mine.”

Considering he flew all the way from Florida for me, I don’t deny his proclamation with my typical bullshit.

When he’s inside me, I’m much less independent and snarky.

Besides, he’s right. I’m his.

Moaning and gasping, I snake my hand down to flick my clit while he thrusts in and out at a steady pace. Pressing my heels into the bed, I meet him stroke for stroke. My eyes roll back, and my back arches as pleasure assaults me.

Sex with him is unlike anything I’ve felt before. There’s just something special about this man.

Alan doesn’t screw me or fuck me. I’d call it making love, but that doesn’t feel right either. Somehow, it’s more than that. From the way he eats me up with his covetous gaze to the way he never lets his hands leave my skin. His moans and breathy gasps. The low rumbles coming from the back of his throat. All of those physical sensations add to the soul-shattering connection I feel with him.

After I remove my hand from between us, he bends down, taking one of my nipples into his mouth. Hollowing his cheeks, he applies gradually increasing suction, exactly the way I like it. Soft and gentle at first, warming me up for rougher nibbles and tugs.

“Oh, Alan,” I rasp, running my hands through his hair.

My back bows, shoving more of my breast into his mouth. He responds with an appreciative moan.

His pace increases, but he manages to add a grind against my clit with each downward stroke. When he’s done making love to my nipples, he kisses up my chest, over my collarbone, and along my neck.

Pressing himself flush against me, he swirls his hips decadently. Somehow, he keeps us joined while still managing to dive deeper into my pussy. No clue how he’s doing it, but if he keeps it up, I’m gonna explode.

“Don’t stop,” I order. “ Please keep doing that.”

“Bossy little minx.”

“Someone should tell you what to do every now and then,” I warble. “Just doing my part to balance things out.”

Grinning, he slams his lips to mine and sucks my tongue into his mouth, probably to shut me up. No complaints. Especially since he’s still doing that delicious stroke and swirl move, but harder and faster.

Digging my nails into his back, I bend my knees, wrapping my legs around his ass. All I can do is hold tight as he unleashes.

My body seizes and convulses as my orgasm rocks through me. I clench tightly around him, mewling and keening in ecstasy. “Oh my god, Alan. So good .”

Sparks skate along my skin in tingly ripples as my hips pulse of their own accord, helping me ride out my pleasure.

“Maddie, damn, you feel so fucking perfect. Pussy fluttering around my cock. Shit, baby.”

Out of nowhere, a playful snark hits me, and I’m too blissed out to stop it from flying past my lips. “Worth the last-minute flight to chase me across the country?”

“I’ll fucking chase you anywhere, baby.” He pumps his hips faster, outright slamming into me. “Good luck finding a place you could go where I won’t follow.”

When he climaxes a few seconds later, he buries his face into my neck. “I love you so damn much.”

My heart, which was thundering rampantly a second earlier, freezes. Although I’m flat on my back, the sensation of falling makes me dizzy.

We’ve never said those three words.

He’s referred to his feelings of love for me in the abstract, occasionally saying things that imply love. And I’ve done the same.

But neither of us has come right out with it.

Foolishly, I’ve been trying to pretend this was a fling. Something fun. Companionship and contentment with hot sex. I was lying to myself.

I knew what this really was. He did too.

And he finally let it out.

I long to do the same, but I won’t.

Thankfully, he can’t see the dumbstruck expression on my face. I don’t want to dull his pleasure or make him think I’m rejecting him.

I’m not.

I still want him. And I don’t want to hurt him. Ever.

Yet I won’t say it back.

I can’t.

Not because I don’t feel it. But because I think I do.

And if I give him that last part of me, what will be left of me?

? *

* ? Note: If you have not yet read “A Bossy Secret” ( free short story for Newsletter Subscribers ), this would be a great time to do it (based on the timeline of Big Al and Maddie’s relationship). However, it’s optional and not mission critical to the plot.