Chapter 10—Madison

I rolled onto my back, stretched my arms over my head, wiggled my toes, and yawned. I glanced at the clock—5:17 p.m. I’d wasted the entire day. I guess that’s what happened when you spent an entire night having wild sex and intense orgasms. Sexually, I felt fantastic. Steven definitely knew how to treat a woman in the bedroom.

The thought of him brought a smile to my face. A smile that quickly faded when reality seeped in—last night had been it, and I’d never get to experience another night in his arms again.

When I’d snuck out of his bungalow, I was okay with things because I’d ended it on my terms. But when I rolled over and he was in my bed, I couldn’t stop the flames of hope that ignited in my heart. I should’ve known better. He’d shown up for a booty call. “I’m such an idiot,” I grumbled, covering my face with my pillow.

“Yes, you are,” Steven said, his voice strong from across the room.

I flung the pillow from my face and sat up. A flurry of emotions wracked my already fragile psyche. Surprise and shock, insecurity, anger. What the hell was he doing here again? Why had he agreed that I’m an idiot?

He walked further into the room, coming closer to where I sat on the bed, naked save for the sheet I wrapped around me. “How could you do it, Madison?”

“Do what?”

“Let me have you last night? If you’d just said no…”

I stared at him, too dumbfounded to speak. He was upset because I had sex with him? It had always been my experience that men got angry when you didn’t have sex with them. “Uh, I’m sorry?” I said with an apologetic shrug. What the hell else was I supposed to say? I stood, keeping the sheet tightly wrapped around me. “You know what? No,” I said, shaking my head. “You’re not going to make me feel guilty about last night.”

“I can’t be the man you deserve. I’m not Connor or Travis. I won’t profess love and ask you to be mine forever,” he said.

Ouch. That hurt. I took a deep breath. “I don’t recall asking you to do any of those things.” I’d hoped he would. Fantasized about it every moment since I’d met him, but I’d never voiced that to anyone.

“You didn’t have to ask me, Madison. I can see it in your eyes. It’s what you want.”

“You have no idea what I want,” I said through clenched teeth. How dare he fuck me last night and then stand there and criticize me for it?

“I gave you a choice. Why didn’t you take forever?”

I couldn’t believe it. He actually looked upset about it. “You’ve got a lot of nerve coming in here and dumping your regret on me. If you really wanted me to choose Craig, you never would’ve touched me last night, and you know it.”

Shock and hurt flashed in his dark eyes, and I knew I’d hit a nerve. Good. If he wanted to piss me off just to make himself feel better, then I’d get good and pissed. But I was taking him with me.

“Seriously though, Steven thanks for last night. Now that I’ve gotten it out of my system I can concentrate on finding a man who does deserve me. One who will profess his love and get down on one knee.”

That did the trick. His eyes turned to black puddles of anger, his nostrils flared, and God love him, he lowered his head and pinched the bridge of his nose. I clamped my lips closed before the laugh that was building in my throat escaped.

“I know I’m new to the whole one-night stand thing, but is it normal to have this type of conversation the morning after? Because honestly, it kind of kills the whole thing. I mean, really, it shouldn’t be this complicated, should it?”

He didn’t answer, and he didn’t look up at me, either. I noticed his shoulders rise and fall in controlled, steady intervals.

“I’ve been in relationships that were simpler than this,” I said, walking to my dresser and pulling out a pair of cotton shorts and a tank top. “Hmm, I wonder if Craig’s working tonight.”

“Madison,” he growled in a dangerous voice that made the hairs on my arms stand at attention.

I very slowly turned around and met his stare. The look in his eyes was murderous. Why was Craig such a hot button issue for him? “Speaking of work, shouldn’t you be there?”

“I took the night off.”

“Oh?” I waited a moment for him to respond. When he didn’t, I asked, “Hot date tonight?”

He scowled.

“Or is it hot one-night stand?” The vein in his neck throbbed, and the muscle in his clenched jaw ticked. I knew I should shut up, but I didn’t. “I’m really not clear on what the accepted vernacular is for this type of thing. Hot piece of ass seems a little crass, but I guess that’s what guys say.”

He took a step toward me, and I tensed. Nice going. You just had to keep poking at the hornet’s nest, didn’t you?

“It’s more like a hot, impossibly frustrating, strawberry blonde who doesn’t know when to shut the hell up.”

My heart slammed into my chest, knocking the wind out of me. “She sounds like trouble.”

He took another step. “She’s been driving me crazy for months now.”

Months? I licked my lips, enjoying our little game, wondering where it would take us. “That explains a lot.”

A smile and another step. “She has a bad habit of walking around in short skirts, low cut tops, and shoes that makes a man wonder just where her gorgeous, long legs will lead.” Steven stood in front of me, and I held my breath. “And she has the most delicious pair of lips. They’re pink and plump, and she’s always licking them. That is such a turn on.”

I watched his lips as they lowered to mine, stopping before they touched.

“I’ve been a walking fucking erection since you’ve shown up, Madison. And I thought if I had just one night with you, it would get rid of this raw, aching need I’ve had for you.”

“Did it?” I averted my gaze from his lips to his eyes. They had that same hungry look from last night—only it was more intense.

“I think it only made it worse,” he said, kissing my bottom lip. “Because now I know what it feels like to have you beneath me. To feel your legs wrapped around me as I bury my cock inside of you.” His tongue slid between my lips, tasting me. I closed my eyes and moaned.

He left my mouth and trailed kisses down my jaw and neck. “The sound of your moans,” he whispered, gently removing the sheet from my body, “have haunted me all day.”

“Steven,” I said, wrapping my arms around his neck and arching into him.

“All I can think about is making you moan for me, feeling your hot release around my cock, your fingers digging into my arms and back, clawing and clinging to me as your orgasm rips through your body.”

“So stop thinking about it and do it.”

“You’re too damn tempting,” he said, wrapping his arms around me, crushing his mouth over mine.

“I want you, Steven,” I said, lifting his shirt.

“My God, Madison,” he groaned as he yanked his shirt off. “I can’t stand how much I need you.”