Chapter 11 Morning After
Maddie’s POV
I woke slowly, every muscle deliciously sore, my body feeling used in the best possible way. Sunlight filtered through gauzy curtains, turning the room golden. Rose petals were crushed beneath me, their scent heavy in the air. For a moment I stretched languidly, smiling at the memory of Alexander’s hands, his mouth, the way he’d worshipped every inch of me.
Then reality crashed back.
I sat up too fast, wincing as tender places protested. The bed beside me was empty, sheets still warm where he’d been. He’d left before dawn, smart, but the absence ached anyway.
I padded to the en-suite bathroom, the marble cool under my feet. The mirror showed a woman thoroughly claiming: love bites blooming across my breasts and throat, lips swollen, hair a wild tangle. I looked like sin and satisfaction.
The bath was heaven, deep, claw-footed, already filled with steaming water and rose oil by some silent servant. I sank into it with a sigh, letting the heat soothe aching muscles. My fingers traced the marks he’d left, each one a secret brand. Between my thighs I was tender, swollen, a delicious reminder of how many times he’d taken me.
I stayed until the water cooled, mind replaying every moment: the way he’d growled my name when he came, the reverence in his touch, the way our bodies fit like they were designed for each other. The mate bond hummed contentedly under my skin, no longer a whisper but a steady song.
But doubt crept in with the cooling water.
I was married to Ben. On paper, yes, but still married. Alexander was my… stepfather-in-law. The scandal if this ever came out would destroy everything: the money for Mom’s treatment, Lily’s future, my degree. And yet none of that seemed to matter when he touched me.
I dried off slowly, wrapping myself in a plush robe. Back in the bedroom, the bed had already been discreetly made, petals swept away, evidence erased. Only the faint ache in my body and the lingering scent of him on my skin remained.
I dressed in soft leggings and an oversized sweater, pulling my hair into a messy bun. My phone buzzed on the nightstand, texts from Clara and Sophia checking in, one from Lily saying Mom had a good night. Nothing from Ben. Nothing from Alexander.
A soft knock sounded. “Mrs. Hargrove? Breakfast is served in the morning room when you’re ready.”
Mrs. Hargrove. The title felt like a slap.
I took a deep breath and opened the door.
The morning room overlooked the gardens, sunlight pouring through tall windows. A long table was set with silver and crystal, but only two places were laid, mine and one other.
Alexander sat at the head, impeccably dressed in a charcoal suit, reading a newspaper as if he hadn’t spent half the night inside me. He looked up when I entered, and the heat in his eyes made my knees weak.
“Good morning,” he said, voice low and intimate. He stood, pulling out my chair with old-world courtesy. As I passed him, his fingers brushed the small of my back, a fleeting touch that sent sparks through me.
“Morning,” I managed, sitting quickly. My body reacted to his nearness instantly, nipples tightening under the sweater, heat pooling low.
Servants brought in plates, fresh fruit, eggs benedict, pastries, coffee. We ate in charged silence at first, every clink of silverware amplified. I felt his gaze on me constantly, possessive and tender at once.
“You slept well?” he asked finally, a hint of amusement in his tone.
I nearly choked on my coffee. “Eventually.”
His lips curved. “You look beautiful this morning. Thoroughly… satisfied.”
Heat flooded my cheeks. “Alexander…”
“No one’s listening,” he said softly. “And even if they were, I’d still tell you the truth. Last night was…” He broke off, jaw tightening. “I’ve never felt anything like it.”
“Me neither,” I admitted, voice barely above a whisper.
His hand reached across the table, fingers brushing mine. The contact was electric. “This isn’t over, Maddie. I won’t let it be.”
Before I could answer, footsteps echoed in the hallway.
Ben strolled in, still in last night’s clothes, hair tousled, smelling of alcohol and cheap perfume. He froze when he saw us, eyes narrowing between me and Alexander.
“Well, well,” he said, dropping into a chair. “Look at the happy family.”