Page 15

EIGHT

AUDREY

MADDOX IS TRYING to make me feel better, but it’s not working.

“I’m pretty sure providing orgasms was not part of the contract.

” Technically, I didn’t sign a contract, but still.

I called my friend Lydia who put me in touch with Alaskan Security and I told them I needed help.

I didn’t also request someone to grind on to completion, so I’m confident that was not part of the deal.

“I’m not upset. And if I’m not upset, you shouldn’t be upset.” Maddox seems to think this is a simple sort of problem to resolve.

And that has me wondering.

“Does this happen a lot?” I try to climb off of him again, my embarrassment joined by humiliation. “Do you mess around with most of your clients?”

I shouldn’t be horrified at the possibility considering what I’ve just done, but I am. I don’t like the thought of another woman doing what I just did to Maddox and him reassuring her it’s absolutely fine. That he’s there to see to all her needs.

It pisses me off. Makes me feel like I want to swing my baseball bat at some unknown woman’s face.

And that’s probably an overreaction.

“No.” The denial jumps through Maddox’s lips as he pulls me back into place. Then he sternly repeats, “No.” He shakes his head, adding another layer of rejection. “This doesn’t happen with all my clients.” When I try to get up, he holds tight. “It hasn’t happened with any of my clients. Only you.”

I don’t know if that makes me feel better or worse at this point. Do I like the thought of him getting rubbed on by another woman? Hell no.

Do I like hearing I’m the only weirdo who’s done it? Also no.

I force myself to look at him, so he can see how much I mean what I’m about to say. “I’m still sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. It was inappropriate.”

Maddox studies me for a second, his blue eyes moving over my face.

“Maybe, but I didn’t stop you.” His gaze falls to where his hands grip my hips.

“Actually, I remember being pretty encouraging.” His attention comes back to my face.

“So if what just happened was inappropriate, we’re both equally guilty.

” He shakes his head again. “But I don’t feel like what you did was wrong. ”

I press my lips together, desperately wanting to not feel bad about something that felt so good. “I don’t think you did anything wrong.”

“Good.” Maddox lifts one hand to smooth my hair back. “Considering we’re both adults who get to make choices and decisions, I think our opinions are all that really matter.”

Technically, he’s right, but there’s still one sticking point here. “But I’m paying for you to be here. That makes you basically my employee, and?—”

“Have you sent any money to Alaskan Security?”

Now he’s splitting hairs. “Well, no. Not yet. But I’m sure they’re going to send me a bill at some point.”

Maddox shrugs. “Until money exchanges hands, I don’t see a problem.” He flashes that unassuming smile that’s probably confused more than a few people, coming from a mercenary. “And I’m really good at seeing problems, so there must not be one there.”

I narrow my eyes. “Stop trying to make me feel better.”

His grin widens. “Nope.”

Suddenly, I’m being lifted into the air. The change in altitude startles me, so I latch on to his strong body, linking my legs at his hips and both arms around his neck. “What are you doing?”

“I’m putting you to bed. You need a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow you’ll feel totally different about all this.” He easily carries me out of the room and down the short hall.

I reach out as he passes the bathroom. “I need to brush my teeth.”

Maddox stops, lifting a brow at me as he turns.

“You’re getting a little demanding.” He carries me into the small room and drops my butt to the counter beside the sink.

“Always gotta brush your teeth before bed.” He grabs my toothbrush and squeezes on a line of paste before handing it to me.

“It’s like I came in and screwed your whole routine up or something. ”

I take the prepped brush and start scrubbing, trying to wrap my head around how easily and quickly he defused the meltdown I was well on my way to having.

Maddox pauses brushing his own teeth to look me over.

“You’re starting to think about it again.

I can see it on your face.” He spits the paste from his mouth into the sink, rinsing it down.

“If you don’t quit worrying about it, I’ll have to figure out a way to even the playing field so you’ll stop feeling bad. ”

I nearly choke on my toothbrush, because me rubbing against Maddox and accidentally getting off is very different from him purposefully bringing me to completion.

And I am not as opposed to it as I know I should be.

Maddox’s blue eyes fuse to my face as he drops his toothbrush to the counter. After taking mine from my hand and slotting it into the holder, he stands in front of me, hips easing my knees apart. “Would that make you feel better? If I’m the one who makes things happen this time?”

I can’t answer him. All I can do is swallow hard, accidentally sending a mouthful of toothpaste foam to my stomach. I don’t even notice how gross it is, because the next second, Maddox is pulling me closer to the edge, bringing my body practically flush to his.

“I’m gonna need an answer for this, Audrey. It’s one thing for you to rub up against me, but I won’t be putting my hands on you like that without permission.”

Oh my God. He wants to use his hands?

Now, not only am I unable to talk, but I think I stopped breathing. And that’s a shame, because I’ll probably pass out before I know what it feels like to be touched by a man like Maddox.

A man whose actual goal is to get me off.

“So tell me.” Maddox’s voice is low and deep. “Do you want me to make you feel better?”

I bob my head in a nod.

He leans closer, his lips brushing against mine as he says, “Words, Audrey. I need words.”

I don’t think he’s going to be able to touch me after all, because I’m pretty sure I’m about to melt all the way to the floor. Turn into a puddle of Audrey at his feet.

I’m not sure where I find the strength, but somehow, my lips work and my voice says, “Yes, please.”

“Perfect.” His lips tease mine again in a soft hint of a kiss. “I knew you could do it.”

His hand brushes against my thigh, the slightly rough skin of his calloused palm skimming under my robe. And because I’m greedy and possess obviously loose morals, I spread my legs wider, trying to provide him as much room as I can.

When his fingers slide against me, we both suck in a breath. I hold mine, but Maddox exhales on a groan. “No panties, Audrey?”

I grip his shoulders as he teases along my slit. “I took a shower, and when I came out you were talking to Savannah and then I was talking to Savannah, and then—” I gasp as he delves deeper, gliding over slick skin.

But Maddox seems to want to keep talking. “And then?”

“And then,” I parrot. It’s difficult to find my train of thought when he’s touching me like this, but as I pull in a deep breath, the savory scent lingering in the air reminds me. “And then we had dinner, and then…”

I stop again, but this time it’s not because I forget. This time it’s because I’m still a little embarrassed.

“Then you climbed on my lap and took what you needed,” Maddox finishes for me.

I nod, because now he’s circling my clit, and I’m already climbing toward another release.

I’m not sure if I’m simply desperate for touch.

Or maybe my body realizes how rare it is to find someone interested in giving and not just receiving.

Or if Maddox is just really good at what he’s doing.

But in what feels like seconds, I’m coming again, my arms tight at his neck and my head dropped back.

My hips flex, working in time with his steady strokes against my clit as I chase every bit of it I can to claim for myself.

When I’m finally able to open my eyes, Maddox is studying me. “You’re beautiful when you come, Audrey.”

He was watching me ? Mortification races its way back in again, heating my cheeks and dropping my eyes.

But this time, Maddox doesn’t seem to notice.

He carefully steps away, keeping one hand on my thigh.

“Stay right there.” Reaching for the stack of washcloths on the shelf in the corner, he tugs one free and runs it under the warm tap.

He gently wipes away the slippery evidence of my misdeeds before tossing the washcloth into the hamper and lifting me off the counter. “Now it’s really time for sleep.”

He carries me into my bedroom and sets me on the edge of the bed before going to collect a set of pajamas from my drawer. He hands them off then starts peeling away his clothes. “I’m going to take a quick shower, and then I’ll be in.”

I swallow hard as he drags his shirt over his head, presenting me with his bare chest once again. Every inch of him seems to be sculpted from stone. Every muscle is perfectly developed. Every bit of skin is smooth and tan and?—

I point to a spot I haven’t noticed before. It’s an odd pucker of a scar that almost looks like— “What’s that?”

Maddox’s demeanor changes in the blink of an eye. He goes from the eager to please goofy grinning guy to Maddox the Murderer in a heartbeat.

His expression shutters as he turns away, but his voice is still gentle when he says, “Nothing. Go to sleep.”

Then he walks out of the room, leaving before I can offer to return either of the favors I owe him. Which is really disappointing. I was sort of looking forward to making things as weird as possible between us. Seeing if he would continue making it weird right back.

Except things really haven’t been weird between us. Not when I tried to hit him with a baseball bat. Not when he got a little excited while we were wrestling. Not even when I rubbed up against him or when he touched me.

But things did get weird when I pointed out that scar, and it makes me wonder what in the heck it is.