Chapter 9—Steven

I had no idea what time it was, but it didn’t matter. I’d made arrangements with Craig last night to have him run the club tonight. It was Madison’s scheduled day off, and I had plans for her. I smiled remembering how it felt to have her writhing beneath me, screaming my name, her nails clawing at me, desperate to get me deeper inside of her.

I rolled over, eager to feel her warm body cradled against me, needing to feel my erection sheathed with her hot, wet…

“What the fuck?” I sat up. Madison was gone. In her place was a note. I read it slowly, my anger building with each word.

Steven, I enjoyed the hell out of everything you did. One night was definitely worth giving up forever.

~Madison Did she think that was funny? I crumpled the paper and threw it across the room. Women didn’t sneak out of my bed. I got up and yanked on a pair of jeans. Then again, I’d never allowed a woman to sleep in my bed. Now I knew why. I pulled a T-shirt over my head. She wasn’t going to get away from me that easily. I slipped my feet into a pair of sandals, stuffed a few condoms in my pocket, and left. I was far from finished with her.

“Madison!” I shouted, banging on her door. No response. I banged louder. Still nothing. I turned the handle—it was unlocked so I let myself in. “Madison?” Where the hell could she be? I checked each room, saving the bedroom for last. That’s where I found her, lying flat on her stomach, hair strewn across her pillow, sound asleep, not wearing a stitch of clothing.

I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at her. In one night that woman had made me break every single sexual rule I’d put in place. Don’t get emotionally involved. I’d lost all ability to think when I was with her. All I had were emotions. Shit, I’d told her that no man in their right mind would share her. Me included.

Don’t use terms of endearment or pet names. They’re too personal. What had I done? I’d told her she was beautiful and sexy. I’d called her baby, sweetheart, and darling.

Always go to her place. It was easier to leave than it was to kick them out. I had insisted, nope, I’d demanded that Madison go to my place. Why on earth had I done that? Oh yeah, because I didn’t think she’d fucking sneak out.

Only give them one night. Anything more and they start to dream of a future. So, what in the hell was I doing standing over her? Hoping she’d wake up and be happy to see me? Hoping she’d invite me into her bed? In the past, one night had always been enough. But just one night with Madison wasn’t even close to being enough.

Okay, so maybe she didn’t make me break them. She didn’t even know about them. I’m the only one to blame here. I really was pathetic. I kicked off my sandals, took off my shirt, and dropped my jeans. Well, I’d broken every other rule, might as well break a few more.

* * *

Aw shit. Falling asleep hadn’t been my intention. I cracked an eyelid open and saw Madison staring at me. She was propped up on an elbow, the blanket wrapped around her body, and she was fighting to hide a smile. “Morning, beautiful,” I said, my voice raspy.

“What the hell are you doing here?” she said.

“Not a morning person, huh?” Wow, she looked fantastic. Her hair was a frizzy mass of curls, and her eyes were a smoky shade of green, her lips a soft pink.

“What’re you doing in my bed, Steven?”

“You snuck out of mine, so I figured I’d sneak into yours,” I said with a smile. I rolled onto my side, settled on my elbow, and tucked a loose curl behind her ear. “Mind telling me why you did it?”

“One-night stands don’t usually spend the night, do they?”

“No.” I cringed. Hearing her say she was just another one of my one-night stands irritated the piss out of me, but it was true. One night was all I ever gave, and it was all I promised her.

“Well, there you go,” she said with a sigh. “The night was over, so I left.”

“Maybe I didn’t want the night to be over.”

“Oh, now I get it.” She laughed. “You’ve never had a woman sneak out of your bed before, have you?”

“I’ve never given one the opportunity,” I admitted.

“I’m sorry. It’s just, well, last night was my first one-night stand. I didn’t know what—”

I slanted my mouth over hers, silencing her. I didn’t want to hear that. I didn’t want to know that she’d wanted me so much she’d been willing to do something she’d never done before. I yanked the blanket from her, kissing her hard until she rolled onto her back, and I could feel her bare skin against mine. Her fingers bunched in my hair, holding my lips to hers as her tongue twisted with mine. Christ her kisses were addictive.

“Steven,” she moaned into my mouth.

“Shh.” I cupped her breast in my hand, and my thumb plucked at her nipple making it hard. “Give me once more.”

“You realize if we do this now it will no longer be a one-night stand.”

“That’s the point,” I said, rolling over and pulling her on top of me. The last thing I wanted to be to her was a one-night stand. She didn’t deserve the Steven Lane love ‘em and leave ‘em routine.

“It is?”

“Yes.” I cupped her face in my hands and brought her mouth down to me, giving her a long, fervent kiss. “I dare you to tell me last night was enough for you.” I grabbed a condom from where I’d set them on the nightstand and ripped it open. “It wasn’t for me either, honey.”

“It wasn’t?”

“No—” She cut me off with another searing kiss. I reached around her and rolled the condom on. “I need to feel you again, Madison,” I said, lifting her hips and guiding her onto my cock.

Her nails cut into my chest as she sat up straight, taking all of my cock inside of her. “Ah, Steven, God yes,” she said.

“Fuck, baby, you make me want to come already,” I said when she started rocking on me. I’d never had trouble controlling my release, and I sure as hell hadn’t ever come within the first few moments. But being inside Madison did something to me. I had zero control. And I kind of liked it.

She was too far away. I palmed the back of her head and brought her down on top of me, dying with the need to have her soft breasts pressed against my chest, her silky skin covering my body. I grabbed her ass in both of my hands, guiding her up and down on my dick. She nipped at my neck, and I shuddered.

“Steven,” she breathed.

Her pussy clenched my dick so hard I wanted to cry in pain. I wrapped my arms around her back, held her tightly to me, and thrust into her hard and steady. “I know, baby. I can feel it.”

“I’m gonna come,” Madison screamed as she bore down on my cock, her clit grinding on my pelvis, her breathing ragged at my ear.

She’d done that last night, too—announced when she was going to come. I’d never had a woman do that before. It was so fucking hot, and it had the same effect on me every time. My vision started to gray, my eyes rolled back in their sockets, and I plunged headfirst into an orgasm. My legs stiffened, my knees locked, and my toes curled. “God damn, Madison. I think you’re trying to kill me.”

Madison let her full weight collapse onto me, and she giggled into my neck. “I think you’re just suicidal.”

I laughed, hugged her, and kissed her shoulder. She rolled off me, and I groaned at the sudden lack of contact. “If I come back from the bathroom and you’ve snuck out of this bed, too, I’m going to find you, and then I’m going to paddle that sexy little ass of yours. Understood?” I said, getting out of bed.

“I couldn’t get out of this bed if it was on fire,” she mumbled, burying her face in the pillow.

When I came out of the bathroom, she was still lying in the same position. My gut wrenched. I should leave. Just walk out right now and never look back.

“Steven?” she said in a dream-like voice.

“Yeah?” I said, looking away and tugging my jeans over my hips.

“It’s okay if you don’t stay. I know what this is.”

Her words were like a noose around my heart. Stop being a sentimental sap and get the hell out of there.

“Thank you though.”

“For what?” I said, turning to look at her. She hadn’t moved.

“For not making me a one-night stand. I’ve spent my life trying to avoid being that girl,” she said softly.

The noose tightened, and my heart stopped beating. What the hell had I done? “I have to go, Madison.”

“I know.”

I wanted to tell her that she’d never be that girl to me. I wanted to tell her how much last night and this morning meant to me, but I couldn’t force the words past my mouth.