Search Me

by Katie Ashley

  “But—”

  “I swear to God if you don’t get your ass down the hall right now, I’ll drag you to the shower myself!!”

  “You wouldn’t dare,” I countered.

  With a low growl from deep in this throat, Maddox stalked over to me. The intensity of his glare made me shudder. “You have always been and always will be an epic pain in my ass,” he roared before grabbing me around the waist.

  “Stop it,” I screeched, trying to wriggle out of his grasp.

  Despite my protesting and thrashing around, he threw me over his shoulder in one swoop. My chin banged against his shoulder blade as he adjusted his hold on me under my butt.

  “Put me down!” I pounded his back with my fists before sending a stinging smack along the curve of his backside.

  “Ooh, Lane, I didn’t know you could be so kinky,” he mused as he hauled me through the bedroom and into the dark bathroom.

  “I’m not kinky, you asshole. I’m pissed off.”

  Shifting my weight on one of his arms, he used his other to turn the shower on. “Maddox, no—”

  My cries were drowned out as he plopped me onto my feet directly under the stream of water. I screamed as the icy pellets stung against my skin. When he started to pull away, I fisted his shirt with both hands and jerked me to him. We stood there, inches apart, my chest heaving, and me shivering so hard my teeth chattered as we gave each other death glares. “Y-You’re a f-fucking c-caveman!”

  He inched closer, his mouth hovering precariously close to mine. The heat from his body slightly warmed my freezing one. Memories of our one night together assaulted my mind—the way his lips felt on mine, the way his strong hands had worked over my body. Cocking his head to the side, he smirked down at me. “You know you’re kinda sexy soaked to the bone like that.” He licked his lips. “It highlights all your delicious curves.” With his breath scorching against my cheek, he said, “It makes me want to kiss you.”

  Be strong, Lane. Don’t fall for his bullshit like before. “You know what you throwing me in the shower makes me want to do?”

  “What?”

  “This,” I replied before lightly kneeing him in the balls.

  “Ummph,” he muttered.

  “Now, if you’re done with your little tirade, I’d like to take a shower.”

  After huffing and puffing for a few seconds, Maddox staggered out onto the tile. I followed on his heels, soaking the floor. “Where are you going?” he asked through gritted teeth.

  “I need one of the lanterns.”

  “I’ll bring you one.” When I opened my mouth to protest, he held up his hand. “You don’t need to be dripping all over the house.”

  “Okay.” While he was gone to get the lantern, I poked around under the counter for shampoo and soap. Luckily, I was able to come up with some good stuff by the time he returned.

  “Here,” he grumbled before shoving the lantern at me.

  “Thank you,” I replied sweetly.

  When Maddox rolled his eyes, I slammed and locked the door behind him. I then made the mistake of glancing in the mirror. Dammit, he was right. I was a mess. My hair was matted and tangled, not to mention I had to pick out a few stray leaves. Dirt streaked across both of my cheeks, and my clothes were caked with mud. I quickly disrobed and then hopped back into the shower.

  As I slipped under the stream of steaming water, I moaned. After a full day at work coupled with being on the run, my muscles screamed in agony. I turned the water on full force and let it pound my body. I closed my eyes to try to shut out the events of the day. Instead, they crashed over me again and again.

  The thoughts caused a boulder-sized lump to lodge in my throat as the sobs built in my chest. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get the image of Maudie crumpled on the floor out of my mind. Sobs began to roll through me, and I didn’t bother fighting them. Instead, I clung to the sides of the shower and gave in to the desperate heaving of my body. I knew with the water on Maddox couldn’t hear me. I shouldn’t have cared what he thought, but I was tired of appearing to him like a total and complete emotional weakling.

  When my sobs finally dried up into hiccupping sighs, I scrubbed the mud off my body and shampooed the grit out of my hair. I could’ve stayed in the shower forever, but then I remembered that Maddox needed hot water too. After I turned off the water, I stepped out and eyed my muddy, torn, and soaked clothes. I guess I would have to check the closet for something to change into. Of course I was a little scared of what I would find in there after the pictures in the hallway of the owner and his trophy wife.

  I was contemplating wrapping the towel around me when I spied a robe hanging behind the door. I pulled it off the satin hanger and cocked my head. It was a slinky, red silk robe. It looked like something you would see in a Victoria’s Secret window.

  Reluctantly, I slid it on. A glance at my shadowy reflection in the mirror reiterated how little skin the robe actually covered. But it would have to do until I could find something to wear.

  I opened the door and smacked right into Maddox outfitted only in his boxer shorts. I jerked the barely there fabric tighter around me. “W-What are you doing?”

  “While I was waiting on you to finish, I thought I’d hit up the master closet for some clothes.” He held out his arm where he’d draped a pair of jeans and a polo shirt.

  I barely heard his response. Instead, my gaze trailed over his broad chest. While he’d boasted the chiseled abs before, the multicolored tattoos were new since the last time I had seen him shirtless. Suddenly, my mouth ran dry. I glanced up to see he was smirking at me.

  “Nice robe,” he mused.

  “Whatever,” I grumbled, pushing past him. Knowing his eyes were still on me, I tugged at the hem to keep my ass from showing. Thank goodness for the dim lantern lights. I had a feeling the shadows were keeping me covered from his leering gaze.

  I stopped for a tissue on the dresser. “You’ve been crying,” Maddox noted.

  The sudden tenderness in his voice caused me to freeze. I refused to turn around to let him see my face again. “No, it’s just the steam got to my eyes.”

  In an instant, he appeared at my side. “Listen Lane, I, uh, I shouldn’t have talked to you that way before. And I sure as hell shouldn’t have thrown you into the shower like that. I’ve been kinda programmed to handle my emotions a certain way in the last few years.”

  I snorted. “The last few years? Try your entire life.” When he didn’t respond, I glanced back at him over my shoulder. In the shadows, he didn’t look like the hardened jerk-face I usually saw. Instead, he had the puppy dog expression he used to wear when we were kids and he truly wanted me to accept his apology.

  He rocked back and forth on his heels as he tried to get the words out that always gave him so much trouble. “I know that. But anyway, uh, I’m sorry.”

  “Thanks. I appreciate it.”

  He gave a slight nod and turned to head to the bathroom, but I reached out for his arm. “Maddox?”

  “Yeah?”

  “I’m here for you whenever you want to talk. Okay?”

  Instead of acknowledging me, his gaze honed in on something on the ceiling. He cocked his head. “I’ll be damned. I’ve never actually seen one of those in real life before.”

  Craning my neck, I peered up to see a mirror. I gasped when I realized it was directly over the bed.

  He collapsed onto the mattress, gazing up at his reflection. “That’s hot.”

  “Ugh, I think it’s disgusting—it and the obvious sex fiend people who live here.”

  “Of course you do, Princess.” He propped up on his elbows and grinned at me. “But I agree with you on the owners being freaks. I mean who still owns a waterbed?”

  For the first time, I noticed he was swaying on the rolling bed. “Ew, is it really?”

  “Yep.” He patted the spot next to him. “Wanna try it?”

  “No thank you.”

  He chuckled. “No matter how long I�
��ve been gone from home, some things never change. You’re always going to be the cautious good girl.”

  Wanting to wipe the smirk off Maddox’s face, I stalked over to the bed and hopped on. My exertions caused both of us to sway back and forth like we were riding ocean waves. When I had steadied a little, I turned to him and smiled sweetly. “Don’t underestimate me, Maddox. I’m not the same girl you left three years ago.”

  The corners of his lips quirked up. “Is that right?”

  “Yes, it is.”

  His gaze left mine to scan down my body. “You know, I think you’re right. Your tits have seriously grown since I left.”

  I huffed with exasperation. “I shouldn’t even dignify that statement with a response.” Rising up on my elbows, I motioned to his crotch. “Of course, I’ve always got another knee ready and waiting.”

  Maddox grinned. “I think you have an unhealthy obsession with my balls, babe.”

  “I’m well acquainted with your balls, and I can’t say I was too impressed.”

  The next thing I knew Maddox had rolled over to straddle me. I hissed in both aggravation and the fact that only a thin pair of boxers and my panties underneath the flimsy robe separated us. Memories of our lovemaking assaulted me, and I fought to mentally escape them by thrashing against Maddox’s chest. His hands quickly swept to pin my wrists above my head. His exertions sent us rolling on the water-filled mattress. My chest rose and fell with pants of angry and sexual frustration. Stop it right now with the feelings, Lane. Just because you’re alone in the middle of nowhere with a guy who possesses a righteous bod, and who you used to love, does not mean you need to get all hot and bothered. I screamed at my traitorous body. Yeah, Maddox might’ve saved your life today, but he is still the epic douchewad who broke your heart.

  Maddox stared down at me with a cocky gleam in his eyes. “Not impressed with my balls, huh? I call bullshit because if I remember correctly, you came twice that night—once when I was inside you, which is pretty impressive for a first timer.”

  Pursing my lips, I fought myself from countering with, It’s a little creepy that you have an almost photographic memory of our sexcapade. Instead, I replied breathlessly, “And what does that have to do with your balls?”

  He rolled his eyes. “Duh, they’re attached to my dick—the epic love wand that gave you that orgasm.”

  I busted out laughing. “Oh come on. Do you normally wow chicks by calling your…” I swallowed hard before I could even say the word, “penis a ‘love wand’?”

  Maddox grinned. “No, not really. Usually they don’t need any verbal persuasion or summation of my sex skills to want me.”

  I snorted. “Ugh, if you consider banging bimbos a challenge, than have it.” I pushed against him. “Let me up.”

  “Nope.”

  My eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Excuse me?”

  He shook his head slowly back and forth. “Not until you fully acknowledge that I’m a sex god.”

  “Oh please, we were together one measly time.”

  Waggling his eyebrows, he countered, “I bet ya I’m still the best you’ve ever had.”

  As much as I hated to admit it, he was right. Sex with Eli was sweet and tender, but it was nothing like what I had had, although briefly, with Maddox. How can you ever top sex underneath the stars with the love of your life?

  But instead of giving him the satisfaction, I narrowed my eyes at him. “Do you really want me to take another stroll down memory lane? I don’t think our versions of what happened that night will exactly match.”

  His expression became almost quizzical as he stared unblinking and unmoving at me. “You think I stole your virginity, don’t you? That I took something I never should have.”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  He grunted. “You didn’t have to. It’s written all over your face.” Shaking his head, he replied, “Regardless of what you think happened, you wanted it just as much as I did.”

  I huffed out a frustrated breath. “Yeah, I wanted it because I loved you, and loving you meant I was willing to do anything for you—including losing my virginity to someone who would never appreciate it.”

  The color slowly drained from Maddox’s face as his expression turned wounded. He stared so intently at me that I finally had to look away. “Jesus Lane, I’m sorry. I’m a fucking asshole, okay? I was just teasing you before. I guess I got a little carried away. I didn’t mean to hurt you—not now and not then.”

  I snapped my gaze back to him. “You never knew when to stop when we were kids, and you still don’t. I’m sorry if the truth hurts, but yes, you hurt me.” Under my breath, I murmured, “Worse than you could ever imagine.”

  “I’m just a callous douchebag who can’t handle emotions.” His hands released mine, and he rolled off of me. “I’m too like my mother, and I hurt the ones I love.”

  Maddox’s pain was palpable. Even though it pained me, I scooted a little closer to him. “Listen, it’s been a long day, and we’re both worn out physically and emotionally. So we can’t really be held accountable for what we’re saying. Let’s just forget all this happened, okay?”

  “You mean, call a truce?”

  I nodded.

  “Sure.” He rose up to a sitting position. A genuine smile curved on his lips. “Even if we’re calling a ceasefire, I’d like my apology to be noted. You know, for the record.”

  “Apology accepted and noted,” I replied with a grin.

  “Good. I’m glad to hear it.” He held out his hand to help me up from the bed. “I better get cleaned up.”

  “Okay. As soon as I find something to wear, I’ll go see if there’s anything in the kitchen I can cook for us.”

  “Sounds awesome,” Maddox replied as he headed into the bathroom. When he closed the door, I took my lantern into the closet. Just as I had suspected, Trophy Wife’s wardrobe left much to be desired that wasn’t spandex, bedazzled, or midriff. I finally slipped on some black yoga pants and a T-shirt that no lie read, I Got Shucked at Nooky’s in Panama City, which I gathered was an oyster bar. I also grabbed up a pair jeans that would probably be tight on me along with the one non-halter shirt in case I needed something for tomorrow.

  Then I made my way to the kitchen, which thankfully seemed to be the most normal room in the cabin. The fridge was wiped clean, but the pantry was pretty stocked. After checking the expiration date on a jar of spaghetti sauce, I grabbed some noodles and got busy. I was used to cooking at home from time to time, but it was a new experience cooking by lantern light in a stranger’s kitchen. I guess in the end it was a little like camping out.

  Maddox appeared behind me just as the sauce started bubbling on the stove. He sniffed the air appreciatively. “That smells awesome. Man, I’m starving.”

  I glanced over at him. His hair was still wet from the shower, and he had only thrown on a white “wife beater” undershirt with a pair of boxers that had hot red peppers all over them. “Nice shorts,” I mused as I drained the water off the noodles. The truth was although the design was pretty funny, he looked practically edible in them, and I certainly didn’t need to be having those thoughts about him.

  He chuckled. “Yeah, these were about the only pair of clean underwear I could find that weren’t tighty whitey’s or a Speedo.” He shuddered. “I don’t even want to think about what that dude is doing wearing a Speedo.”

  I giggled. “Of all the cabins we have to break into, we pick one owned by trashy perverts.”

  “No joke,” he murmured, pouring a glass of water.

  After spooning a heaping helping of spaghetti, I handed Maddox a plate. By the time I’d fixed my plate and poured something to drink, he had gobbled most of his down. “Um, hungry much?”

  “I told you I was starved not to mention after all that running, I need to refuel with some carbs.”

  “Go on and sit down. I’ll fix you another plate.”

  I measured out a decent portion for myself before pouring the rest for Maddo
x. In the dim light of the lantern, he hunched over the coffee table. He had unfolded the map and was staring at it as if he hoped it would suddenly all make sense. I guess whatever doubts he’d had about the map’s validity had been erased with Jensen’s arrival on the scene. I passed him his plate, and for a few minutes, the only sounds in the room were scraping silverware and chewing. I took a swig of water. “So what happens in the morning?”

  He shrugged. “I was going to ask you the same thing.”

  I twirled some noodles on my fork. “Call me crazy, but I never thought I’d have to make the decision of going to the police or going treasure hunting.”

  “Tell me about it,” he murmured, his fingers running over the faded letters. “If we just had someone who could read this shit...”

  “Yeah, that one shouldn’t be too hard. Last time I checked, Cherokee wasn’t on the list of possible foreign languages I could choose to take in school.”

  Maddox snorted through a mouthful of pasta. “We did as little as possible on the Native Americans when I was in school. I think my teacher, Mr. “Bug-eyed” Boyer was secretly a racist.”

  We fell into silence for a few minutes. Neither one of us could stop staring at the map. “What do you think Maudie would want us to do?” I questioned softly.

  Maddox’s jaw tightened as he tried to keep his emotions in check. “Hell, she put herself in harm’s way just to keep the stupid thing, not to mention how much she wanted us to get it!” He jabbed his fork into his bowl, spearing some more noodles. “She’d want us to find the gold. Use it for college or something like that.”

  I smiled at the thought. But before I could argue with him about how dangerous it would be, a thought flashed in my mind, and I almost dropped my plate. “New Echota.”

  Maddox stared at me like I’d lost my mind. “What?”

  “I can’t believe I didn’t think of it before. It’s the former Cherokee capitol, and now it’s a state park…I think we went there in Eighth grade on a field trip. It’s not too far from here. It’s over in…uh, Gordon County where those outlet malls are.”

  “How in the hell do you know that?”