Page 25

Chapter 24

Will she ever stop coming?

Big Al

I gaze at Maddie over the top of my computer monitor, grinning at how precious she looks when she’s engrossed in a book. Judging by her facial expressions, this is a good part.

Her eyebrows dance, and her feet start bopping. Perhaps the character’s running, and she’s mimicking the motion. A gasp escapes her rounded lips. It’s soon replaced by a pouty frown.

I could watch her all day. She’s more entertaining than any movie I’ve ever seen.

She turns the page, inhaling sharply and shaking her head. It reminds me of the mom glare I’ve seen her use when Sammy’s being Sammy or Leo’s being overprotective. I wonder if she’s mentally chastising the characters for doing dumb shit.

Unable to bite my tongue any longer, I ask, “What are the chances you want to make this arrangement permanent?”

She rests her open paperback on her lap and hits me with a faux scowl. “Was that another proposal?” Her eyes dart from one wall to the other comically. “If I didn’t say yes when you had the fancy dinner on your boat with the flowers and a ring, what makes you think the outcome will be better this way?”

I laugh softly, holding out my palm and preparing my rebuttal.

She continues before I have a chance. “Free tip, Alan. If you want something from a woman, don’t interrupt her when she’s reading or hangry . And you just did both.”

To be fair, I knew she’d say no when I asked that night on my boat. We’d talked about marriage a few times beforehand. I’m well aware that she never wants to get married again. And she’s aware that I’ll be asking relentlessly. Just like I used to ask her if it was someday yet.

For a while, we joked she’d only say yes if the proposal was elaborate and over-the-top. The cheesy type that a girl just can’t say no to.

I’ll have to aim bigger next time. Ice sculptures and fireworks, perhaps.

On the bright side, she gave me the best blow job of my life that night to make up for it. She called it a guilt job . We laugh about it now. I harbor no hard feelings over it.

I push back from my desk and saunter toward her. “For the record, I wasn’t talking about marriage. Not this time.”

“What arrangement were you talking about then?”

“You. Here. While I work. I like having you with me.”

When I reach the couch, she closes her book, tucking it under her thigh. “You mean you want me to be a paperweight? Shall I sit on your desk? Or perhaps it would be better if you hung me on the wall like a painting?”

Her amused tone and sexy smile make my heart pound faster.

“Beats working for a living, doesn’t it?”

I plop down beside her, pulling her against my side. She shuffles the book to her other thigh.

“Speaking of working,” she starts, looking at me from under her lashes in a pseudo-pout.

“Did your manager call you back?”

“Yeah. He did.” She shakes her head subtly. “Three more days. That’s all he can give me.”

I’ve been holding out a foolish hope that we’d bust Lenkov before her employer gave her an ultimatum about returning to work. I knew it was a long shot.

Time is up.

And I have no idea how I’ll handle it if she insists on going back.

Clinging to my only remaining morsel of hope, I ask, “No chance of working remotely?”

She cuddles around my waist. “No. They like paper too much there. And I can’t push it from across town.”

I force out an exasperated exhale. “I’m so fucking done with this shit, Maddie. I want you to be able to go to work and live your life however you choose to live it. But I have no fucking idea who I’d assign to you without sacrificing someone else’s protection. And selfishly, I want you here. When will it fucking end?”

“Every day, Costa Rica looks better and better, doesn’t it?”

“It sure does. But we can’t leave the children unprotected.”

“Damn kids,” she jokes. “It’s about time they move out and get their own lives.”

“Isn’t that the truth?” I kiss the top of her head. “I guess we’ve gone full circle to my original question.”

“About me becoming part of your office decor?”

I tilt her chin to look up at me. “You gotta admit, though... you improve the aesthetic value of this place tenfold.”

Her indulgent smile soon tarnishes with anxiety. “I love you and don’t want to add to your stress, but I don’t know if I’ll be able to find a new job once this Lenkov threat has passed. The market is terrible. I need to go back.”

“What if you didn’t need to get another job?”

She scoffs. “Oh, right. Because money isn’t real, and we live in a fantasy world. Silly me. Problem solved.”

“Maddie, I could?—”

Using her palm, she shoves herself into an upright position, breaking free of my hold in the process. Her brows draw in tight, and she all but seethes at me. “You could what? Give me a job like you did Lettie?”

“Okay, if your tone is anything to go by, you wouldn’t like that type of offer, so that’s absolutely not what I was going to suggest.”

“Very funny. But no, Alan. I’m not going to work for Redleg. I’m certainly not in the market for a charity job.” She crosses her arms and rolls out her lower lip. “I mean, I’d work for an actual charity, like a nonprofit. However, I don’t want to be given a job out of charity.”

“I got your meaning, babe.” I can’t hold back my smile. Even when she’s ticked at me for making another dumb suggestion, she still makes me fucking happy. “To be clear, that was a joke. I wasn’t going to suggest hiring you. I had another idea. However, if you wanted to work here, I’d?—”

Her sharp glare cuts off my words. “Don’t you dare.”

“Maddie, listen to me for a second. There’d be nothing wrong with you working here. I happen to think it’s a great company. The people are friendly. Great benefits. It’s safe and modern. Clean. And...” I glance over my shoulder, lean in close, and lower my voice. “The guy who runs the place is quite the looker. And I bet he’d eat you out under your desk if you wore a skirt.”

Her jaw drops to her chest, and her eyes double in size. “Alan Lancaster. You cad.”

“Cad?” I point at my chest. “Me? Never. I’m a gentleman. The boss of Redleg, though? He’s another story.”

All her earlier ire fades, making way for more favorable feelings. Arousal, perhaps.

I slide my hand across the top of her thigh, internally lamenting her choice of clothing. Sadly, she’s in jeans instead of a skirt. Her line of sight drops to my hand, and her mouth quirks. Tension sizzles between us.

It’s been far too long.

She glances at my mouth, then up to my eyes. “What were you going to suggest, if not a pity hire?”

“What if you retired and sold your house?”

“Then I’d be homeless and jobless. Quite a combination.”

I slant my head to the side, staring her down and probing under the surface. In her eyes, there’s a lot less defiance than I expected. Dare I say, there’s a flash of optimism flickering to life. Unless it’s my wishful thinking making me see only what I want to see.

“Maddie, you will never be homeless as long as my heart is beating.”

What little hope I had for a favorable reaction is dashed away when her eyes flash with a familiar wildfire.

“Move in with you? That’s what you’re suggesting, right?” Her volume increases steadily, and she swats my hand off her thigh. “I’d have to give up all my independence and rely solely on you to provide for me. Essentially, I’d become your property.”

This is the reaction I was expecting. Stupid of me to hope for something different. On the bright side, since I was expecting it, my rebuttal is ready to go.

“First off, if you sold your house, you’d have money of your own. However, you wouldn’t need to touch it. But more importantly, Maddie, have I ever treated you like a possession?”

Her spine loses some of its tension, her frame melting. “No.”

“And I never will.”

“Sorry. It’s an instinctive reaction.” She makes a fist, pressing it to her stomach. “But you know I don’t want to be dependent on anyone ever again. Why would you suggest this? If I give up my autonomy in order to be safe, I’m trading one cage for another.”

My jaw clenches, and I stifle a growl, forcing myself to stay calm. “Trying not to take that personally, Maddie. But you know there’s a big difference between forced dependence and a voluntary partnership.”

“Is there, though? The outcome is the same. Someone else makes my decisions, holds all the power, and I need to ask permission to buy a pair of shoes or splurge for the good wine. I’ve already done that, Alan. I have the scars to prove it. Literally.”

Each word drives a stake deeper into my heart.

I know she needs to reach this decision on her own. As much as I want her to have all the time she needs to do so, my patience is wearing thin.

“Maddie, do you honestly think a life with me would be that way?”

While I wait for her response, I remind myself how her life was before me. It’s all she’s ever known.

“I’m doing that thing again,” she says, massaging her forehead punishingly.

I pull her hand down, lacing our fingers together. “What thing?”

“The thing where I lump you in with Travis and my father. The thing where I forget how different you are and how you’d never treat me the way they did. The thing where I assume the worst of you.” She squeezes my hand. “Why do I keep doing that to you?”

“It’s your knee-jerk reaction, Maddie. You’ve been conditioned to view it that way. You’re trying to protect yourself.”

Her cheeks and chin quiver as she struggles to suppress a tearful reaction. “How do I stop doing it?”

“Just keep talking to me like you’re doing now, and I’ll share what I’m thinking. We’ll meet somewhere in the middle. Every time I think you’re painting me with the same brush as them, I’ll ask you to give it a second thought. Same as we just did.”

“Will it ever get easier?”

“I sure hope so. But if it doesn’t, I have another suggestion.”

Her eyes brighten. “Yeah?”

“Start wearing more skirts, and every time you think I have ill intent, I’ll prove you wrong with my tongue on your clit.”

A salacious grin decorates her face. “Alan, that’s the second time you’ve mentioned putting your mouth under my skirt.”

I give our joined hands a tug, bringing her back where she was before she got spooked. “It sure is. And if you’d like, I can bring it up a third time. It’s one of my favorite topics.”

She bats her lashes at me, her tongue moistening her supple lips. “Is there a reason it’s so top of mind?”

“Perhaps.”

She twists her body, angling herself toward me. In the process, her book flops onto the floor at my feet.

I bend down to get it, and my attention catches on an unexpected phrase. Holding that page open, I bring it in for a better look. My eyes must be deceiving me. Sweet and proper Madeline would never.

She attempts to snatch the book from my hands, but I deflect.

If her earlier grin was salacious, mine must be downright lewd.

“Maddie, what the hell are you reading?”

“A book. Give it back.”

I shake my head. “Oh no. This looks far too interesting.” I peek at the cover. “ Possessed by the Vampire King. Catchy title.”

Feigning offense, I shake my head at her and click my tongue. “When you said you read paranormal stories, I thought you meant like ghosts and witches. Not vampires with bites that can—wait, wait, wait. What did it say the bite does?”

“Alan, come on.”

I find the line that caught my eye earlier, reading it aloud. “ His fangs sank into my tender flesh, triggering the most intense orgasm of my life. As my body quivered, something inside me snapped into place like a key slipping into the perfect lock. It happened so fast my simple mortal mind could barely comprehend the onslaught of emotions as they blended with wave after wave of carnal pleasure. My spine bowed off the bed, and my eyes rolled back as I shook and convulsed in his arms. He moaned with pleasure, his hold on me tightening. His throbbing manhood pressed against my core, teasing me with ecstasy that’ll remain out of my grasp until I willingly give myself to him. With each vicious tug at my throat, he pulled my lifeblood deeper into his body. Somehow, his essence flowed into me at the same time. I could feel him take root in my soul as if he were implanting himself there, where he’ll linger forevermore. Through it all, my climax persisted, shaking me to my core and blurring the line between pleasure and pain. I began to fear I wouldn’t stop coming until his thirst was quenched. ”

Maddie capitalizes on my shock, yanking the book out of my hand and slamming it shut in a huff.

“Hey, wait. What happens next? It was getting good.”

“Don’t judge me for reading vampire smut. What else am I supposed to do for entertainment around here?”

“I’m not judging you, babe. Just surprised.” I grab for the book, narrowly missing it. “But seriously. What happens next? Does she give herself to him willingly? Will she ever stop climaxing? And how did he drink her blood and inject her with his essence at the same time? What was up with that? Is it dark magic? Is he a magic vampire, Maddie? Wait. No. Don’t spoil it for me.”

“Very funny.” She rolls her eyes and giggles. “It was his bond coming to life. When he bit her, it activated a dormant mating bond. She’s his one true mate. No royal vampire has found his true mate for two centuries.”

“Well, that’s fantastic news. I’m sure they’ll be very happy together. With her simple mortal brain and his throbbing manhood.”

She gently smacks my leg with the book. “You jerk-face butthead. You have officially ruined this story for me.”

I take the paperback from her hand, tossing it to the side so I can grab her. “Aww, come on, gorgeous. Don’t be mad. I’m taking an interest in your hobbies. I thought you’d be happy about it. I think it’s kind of hot that you read sexy romance books. Maybe we can read some together.”

In response to my persistent tugging at her arm and waist, she slowly eases onto my lap. I settle my hands around her waist, encouraging her to straddle me.

Once she’s in place, I bare my teeth at her and make an over-the-top hissing sound. With one hand around her nape, I dive in, pretending to bite her neck. “I vont to suck your blood.”

Her laughter fills the room as she squirms on my lap, attempting to pull away.

“Ah, ah, ah, Maddie. You’re not going anywhere. For the vampire king must feast on your lifeblood.”

I go back in for more, nipping and kissing her neck, barely able to contain my own laughter. She writhes and bucks in response to my tickling.

“Easy there, sexy,” I caution her, bringing both hands to her waist to halt her movement. “You keep grinding on me like that, and my manhood will be throbbing.”

“Oh no.” She mock gasps, hand to her chest. “But will I give myself to you willingly?”

“I’ve been fucking wondering that for years and years, Maddie.”

She flexes her hips, a devilish glint flickering behind her enchanting blue eyes. “You already have me willingly and then some.”

My head falls back against the couch cushion, affording me a better view of her body swaying over me. “Is that right?”

She leans forward, chasing my mouth. “You know I’m yours, right?”

In an instant, the vibe changes. It’s no longer flirty and fun. It’s more. The way she holds my stare telegraphs her meaning explicitly. She’s genuinely asking how I see her. How I see... us.

It feels as if I’ve climbed another flight of stairs in my quest for her heart. This time, instead of running away from me, she paused at the next landing, waiting for me to catch her.

I answer truthfully. “It’s getting easier to believe now that we’re not hiding our relationship.” I fill my lungs, my eyes searching hers. “I’m sorry for how it happened, but I don’t regret being outed. Do you?”

Her face goes lax, and her body stills. She doesn’t speak, and for the first time in a while, I struggle to get a read on her. My hands flex around her waist as I wordlessly encourage her to respond.

“I’ve hidden something from you since the night I was shot.”

My breathing slows, but my gut is calm as a lake at dawn. In her eyes, I see that what she’s about to say is significant. Yet I’m not scared to hear it.

“What?”

“Well, I didn’t tell you until now because I worried you wouldn’t believe me. I thought the timing was too coincidental, and you certainly didn’t need something else to distract you. I promise I made this decision before?—”

My head cants to the side. “Spit it out, Maddie.”

Her chest heaves with a deep breath. “In the restaurant that night, I started processing some feelings I’d avoided for a long time. I was willfully blind to the truth because it was painful and frightening. So I avoided it and perhaps blamed my actions on other things. And then...”

Despite fiercely craving the rest of her confession, I don’t prompt her to continue. I won’t rush her. She needs to do this in her own time.

She always has.

I’ve known it since day one.

That’s why I’ve given her so much patience and leeway. Although not a game in the traditional sense, she’s always been the endgame for me. Maddie’s so fucking worth it. Not just worth the wait but the pain too. The longing. The loneliness. The hurt she caused me each time she denied me.

I had to teach her what loyalty means by showing her loyalty. What patience means by being obstinately patient. I had to show her what love is by loving her unconditionally and with a tenderness she’s never known.

Oddly enough, she wasn’t the only one learning all these years.

I needed to teach myself I’m worthy of the love we were building.

While worrying her lip, she holds my stare and glides her hands around my nape. “You did something before we left the restaurant that was the final push I needed. By the time we got outside, I had made up my mind to stop hiding our relationship. I was gonna discuss it with you when we got to your place.”

My chest swells as warmth spreads through my cells. “Thank you for telling me.”

I tilt my chin and lift my face toward hers in a silent invitation. Right before she presses her lips to mine, they thin into a radiant smile. Our mouths linger together, both of us content to enjoy the connection.

When I finally pull back, I say, “I’m curious. What was it that finally made you cave?”

“I’m on to you, Alan Lancaster,” she jests, arching a single brow. “You want to know so that you can do it again in the future, don’t you?”

“Do you blame me for wanting a get-out-of-jail-free card?”

She kisses me again, joining our smiles sweetly.

“Fine, handsome. I’ll tell you what you did to win me over.” She tugs in a breath and licks her lips. “It was how you didn’t chastise, tease, or punish me for getting emotional and ruining our meal. Silly for such a small thing to be an impetus for this, isn’t it? But nobody has ever been so compassionate with me like you were. Behaving in that way would have triggered a negative response from... you know who. Your reaction was so comforting. One of the many ways you’ve earned my trust. And I wanted to repay that in a way I could without sacrificing all my independence.”

Although she likely doesn’t intend for this conversation to circle to my earlier suggestion, her comments slingshot me back there.

“Yet moving in with me, retiring, or marriage would require a sacrifice like that, wouldn’t it?”

She nods solemnly. “Until recently, I thought it was too big of a risk.”

“And now?”

“The more moments we have like this, the more I see it differently. Even in this single conversation, I feel better about it. I was ready to storm out of here when you suggested moving in with you. And now, it’s not as scary a prospect. I don’t say that to get your hopes up. I’m still unsure if I’ll ever get where you want me to be.” She flutters her lashes, blinking away the pooling moisture. “Nonetheless, I’m beginning to want more with you.”

She shakes her head, eyes slamming shut. “No, that’s not right.” Her eyes open, and a renewed strength shines through them. “I’ve always wanted more with you. I’m beginning to feel strong enough to accept it.”

“In other words, someday’s finally on the horizon.”

Love dances vibrantly in her smile and lights up her eyes. “Someday has never been closer.”