Page 60

Rhue

It takes a colossal amount of self-control not to blow up once Madison tells me what happened tonight.

I’m furious at my father—not her. But I’m also furious because that Jake guy implicated both himself and my father in a single breath, and we don’t have a record of any of it.

What is it going to take to pin these fuckers down?

“Have you ever seen this Jake guy before? If he works for your father, maybe he came by the mansion?” She’s still shaking, even after I lock the front door behind us. I help her out of her coat, and she slips out of her pumps.

“He doesn’t sound familiar,” I reply. “My father rarely brings his business home, let alone his associates. It was one of my mother’s rules, that the sanctity of our home could not be tainted in any way. Any work they did was in their private studies and rarely did it involve anyone else.”

We go into the living room, and I pull the curtains.

The lights of Ithaca disappear beneath a layer of mustard yellow velvet.

I turn around to find Madison settled in one of the armchairs, her gaze fixed on the coffee table, toes curling on the heated floorboards.

There is something sweetly vulnerable about the way she sits, her shoulders slumping.

She’s tired. She could use a little bit of peace.

That Jake fella got too close. I should’ve been there. “Do you want a glass of wine?” I ask, heading for the fridge. “I think I still have an open bottle here.”

“Sure. White?”

“Yeah.”

She exhales sharply and begins to relax. At least one nightmare is over. She’s safe tonight.

But I have to find a way to get to Jake and stop him before he does anything worse.

Legally, there’s isn’t much I can do. There was no contact between their vehicles.

Nobody saw Jake with Madison, unless there’s CCTV outside Robert’s.

My mind catches fire. There should be at least one camera outside the restaurant.

Okay. That’s a lead. If I get a look at his face, I’ll have something to work with.

Until then, however, I return to the living room with two glasses of pinot grigio. Madison takes hers with both shaky hands and a shy smile. “Thank you.”

“I can slip some vodka in there to help take the edge off,” I reply with a grin.

“Normally, I’d say no, but I’m conflicted,” she chuckles.

“I was hoping it might pass as a joke.”

“It did, don’t worry. I’m just so tightly wound up, Rhue. Where does this end? Do I have to move to another planet or something? What will make Julian stop with this circus? Me resting six feet under?”

The mere thought makes me furious. Terrified. “No. Never. Don’t say that again.”

“I wish I didn’t feel the need to say it.

But everything about this situation points to a bad ending for me,” she says.

The pain in her blue eyes is all too real.

It sends daggers through my heart. I set my glass on the table and kneel before her.

She looks so small in the dark grey armchair, flanked with cushions and battered by fate.

“You know, I still remember the day you walked into my life, Maddie. With crystal clarity,” I tell her as that fateful moment unravels in the back of my head.

Every second of it feels as fresh as though it just happened.

“You were a storm, a perfect storm just waiting to happen. I thought I could intimidate you, but I got my ass handed to me in front of the others. And you know what the funny part is? I remember you in high school, too. Those group study sessions.”

Her cheeks flush a rosy shade of red, her gaze locked on mine. “Group study,” she laughs.

“God, I wanted to impress you so bad, but I was so fucking nervous.”

“Seriously?”

I nod, trying not to laugh as I remember exactly how that moment felt. It was as if the universe itself had conspired to render me speechless in front of the most intelligent woman I had ever met. The most intelligent woman I would ever meet.

“My palms were sweating. My heart was thumping,” I tell her.

Gradually, the warmth returns to her expression.

There’s no point in talking about my father or Psycho Jake at this point.

Madison is in my living room, drinking my wine, and the heat is on, making every inch of this place into a comfortable corner of urban heaven.

She deserves all the pampering I can give her. “I was terrified of you, Maddie.”

“And now? Do I still scare you?”

“I think so, yeah.”

She laughs lightly, and the sound makes me melt. Watching her intently, I take hold of her right foot and slowly massage it, from the heel to the tips of her toes. “I never considered myself to be intimidating,” Madison whispers.

“With your smarts? Any man would crap his pants,” I reply, smiling.

My thumb works deeper into her sole, and her breath becomes ragged.

I need her to forget about everything for a while.

I need to see her unravel at my touch. “It seems like you’ve forgotten just how powerful a brilliant mind can be.

I don’t mean to be condescending, but you have allowed my father’s transgression to—define you. ”

She stills, but she doesn’t pull her foot away. I hope a small dose of hard truth will flip the fear switch off. Madison is still trembling, though I don’t think she realizes it.

“You’ve allowed him to corner you, to scare you,” I add.

“You’re smarter than him, Maddie. You’re smarter than most of Rochester.

Mensa would probably kill to have you within their ranks.

What my father did—it can never be undone.

But you leave the punishment to me. I will break him.

I will make him pay. You, on the other hand—your future is still yours.

Your freedom, your happiness. He hasn’t taken those.

He’s just trying to make you think he has. If you rise, nothing will stop you.”

“Short of a bullet,” she sighs.

She slides into my hand, letting it travel up her calf, feeling the silky fabric of her sheer stocking stretch. I touch her knee as she hovers half-off the chair. Madison sucks in a breath. “We’re treading dangerous territory. But you’re not alone, Maddie. I’m here.”

“You are.”

“So give me a chance to see this through to the end. I didn’t choose to be born into this family, but I do have the strength to walk away from it and do the right thing.”

Madison gives me a pained look. “I’m so sorry you got dragged into this.”

“I chose to get involved,” I remind her.

She settles to the floor, allowing my hand to move higher up until it reaches the lacy band of her stocking. Finally, my fingertips find her warm, soft skin. My cock jumps with excitement, while Madison’s expression softens. A greyish haze settles over her eyes as she leans back against the chair.

“Rhue…”

I hesitate, remembering my promise. This is her ride—I’m just here to enjoy it. I let my hands linger on her warm thighs as she meets my gaze. She swallows hard and I see the shadows of fear flicking in her eyes. I withdraw, then cup her face in my hands.

“Whatever you want,” I tell her. “Whenever you want it.”

She kisses me, testing my control. Her thighs straddle mine, the heat of her sex warming the front of my jeans. She wraps her arms around my neck, pressing her breasts against my chest as she devours my lips.

“I want you,” she breathes.

That is all she has to say. She slides back into the chair as I squeeze her thigh, then slowly spreads her legs. There it is. Hidden beneath a layer of flowery black lace, the very center of her sexuality. The folds of pink flesh I hope to conquer and consume.

“We are long overdue for this, don’t you think?” I ask.

She nods. Her lips part, hot and full with desire. Madison is so responsive—that much I got from our little foray during hazing night. But what I’m about to do here will reach a whole other level.

“I need you to say it,” I whisper.

She nods again. “Yes,” she whispers. “Yes, please.”

My cock swells, pushing harder against my pants. “We’ll go slow,” I reply, my other hand finding her left thigh. I’m already as hard as a rock, but she needs to be eased into this.

My hands move farther up while I push away the hem of her dress.

Almost instinctively, Madison lifts herself from the armchair for only a second, making it easy for me to roll the fabric of her dress over her round hips.

She’s got the figure of an hourglass, her ass round and plump and firm.

I sink my nails into her flesh, loving the way she gasps as I drag her down a bit.

A second later, I’m hooking my fingers into the band of her panties, and pulling slowly, prying fabric from the moisture that has gathered between her thighs.

Madison keeps her gaze locked on me, while I take a moment to admire the rosy folds of a clearly slick and hungry pussy.

I would like nothing more than to fill her up, right here, right now, and pound away until I lose myself inside of her.

But I hold back. Madison is willing. Ready, even.

And if that look in her eyes is anything to go by, then she’s starving for me just as much as I’m starving for her.

Except, I also know that there’s a very thin line between pleasure and pain.

One wrong move and all the memories of him will come flooding through her.

I have to guide her away from the darkness. I need to drown her in the light.

“How does this feel?” I ask, slipping my index and middle finger between folds. Her clit puckers up, a hard button aching to be stroked relentlessly.

“Yes…”

Her eyes are closed. Her legs spread wider, and she pushes herself against my fingers.

With one hand, I work her over with deliberately slow moves, while I use my other hand to gradually remove my jeans and boxers.

Maddie’s hips rise, and the movement inches my fingers just that much deeper into her pussy.

She’s getting wetter now. And the wetter she gets, the thirstier I become.

Unable to get the need to taste her out of my head, I grip her thighs and lower my head, replacing my fingers with my tongue.

A minute later, she’s writhing in my hold, exhaling sharply as I lick her pussy and tongue-fuck her until her legs end up on my shoulders.

She’s whispering my name, mingling it with a pleading string of desperate moans as I suck her clit harder and harder. I flick my tongue over it, faster each time. I can feel the tension rising. Her sweet core ignites, and her fingers dig into the sofa’s armrests as I bring her closer.

“Yes, right there, yes!” Madison cries out, suddenly stiffening. Her back arches as I penetrate her with my thumb while playing over her tender little nub. It takes a brief series of circular movements to break her down completely.

Her whole world disappears.

Her breath breaks altogether.

Her pussy tightens and ripples around my thumb, and her clit pulsates against my lips.

She’s coming apart at the seams, the flesh soft on her bones as she rides the waves of her orgasm. I won’t stop until I’ve squeezed the last drop from her. I won’t stop until her eyelids are heavy with sleep and her pussy deliciously sore.

She’s mine, now. Her glorious pussy is mine. Her elegant curves and toned ass. Her perky breasts and silky skin.

Maddison trembles in my mouth, but it’s a different kind of tremor.

This isn’t fear anymore.

It’s naked, spicy bliss.