by Alice Ward
“This smells good,” Kenzie said, sticking a bottle of shampoo up to Madalyn’s nose. She did the same for the conditioner, body wash, and lotion. There was a hair dryer, and an assortment of other beauty products and pallets of makeup.
“Wow, you’ve thought of everything,” Madalyn said.
Lydia smiled. “I hope so. I imagined myself in most scenarios, and since our coloring is so similar, I chose the same colors I’d wear. But if there’s anything you don’t like, just let me know and I’m happy to replace it.”
“Everything is perfect.” Madalyn picked up a large brown purse with a long strap. “I love this.”
Lydia sighed. “I’m in love with it too, and I’m so jealous. It’s the new Bencku bag. I noticed you only had the small purse, and with the kids, I thought you might need something bigger. And Mr. Armstrong’s instructions were to buy anything I thought you needed…” she grinned over at me then back to Madalyn, “so I hooked you up.”
I’d never cared much for fashion or girly things, but when Kenzie begged Madalyn to “do a fashion show,” I sat back, brandy in hand.
Lydia fussed over the fit and made notes on other things Madalyn might need while Kenzie tried on all the pieces of jewelry.
Beside me, Kylian slumped down, his chin nodding to his chest before he jerked himself up straight. Still watching the girls, I pulled him closer to my side. He tensed, then relaxed, and I decided to take that as a good sign.
I was still very worried about him. Over the course of the day, he’d been very quiet. Too quiet. I needed to check on getting him into a therapist to offset any of the emotional turmoil he must be going through.
“Tired?”
He yawned. “I guess.”
“Me too, bud. Me too.”
I ruffled his hair, and he pulled away when it got into his eyes. “Can I get a haircut?”
I could have cheered, but I stayed neutral. “Of course. We’ll make an appointment tomorrow.”
He stiffened and looked up at me. Unlike his sister, he’d inherited my brown eyes. And I could see fear in them. “Will there be reporters?”
Earlier, I’d been told that there were still a number of them at every door of the building. I chewed on my lip. Damn it. I hated being a prisoner in my own home.
“I’ll see if I can get someone to make a personal visit.”
Kylian nodded toward Lydia. “Like her?”
“Yeah. Like her.”
But we couldn’t live like this forever, or even a few days. The ocean called to me again, then I thought of my schedule this week. My calendar was packed. “You know, I’ve been thinking about us going up to the beach house next weekend. What do you think about that?”
Kylian’s face brightened. “Yeah. The beach would be good.” He frowned. “Will there be reporters there?”
“I don’t know,” I said honestly. “But remember, our house is set behind the dunes and we have the gate. Besides, by the weekend, some celebrity or another will have probably done something stupid and all the reporters will be focusing on them.”
Kylian didn’t laugh like I hoped he would.
Footsteps came down the hallway, and I looked up… and stopped breathing. Everything went still on my body, except my damn cock.
“Tada!” Kenzie yelled, and like a pin in a balloon, her high-pitched voice took care of my little problem quick enough.
Madalyn was wearing a dress that fell to her ankles, and she took my breath away.
It was more of a sundress, nothing fancy. And it was made of some silky looking cotton that wasn’t tight but still clung to her every curve. There was nothing indecent at all, but the way her shoulders were exposed, her spine, the sharp jut of her collar bones. The way the material fell over her ass… damn.
Kylian elbowed me in the ribs. “You’re staring,” he whispered. It was the only thing that could have torn my eyes away.
I took another drink of the brandy, then drank another until the damn fashion show was finally over.
Lydia left, pleased with the enormous tip I’d given her, and I promised to let her know if we needed anything else.
“She’s very nice,” Madalyn said as she gathered up the new clothes. “Are there laundry facilities in your residence?”
I smiled and studied her. She spoke so properly. If I closed my eyes, I could better see her in some ball gown versus the jeans she currently wore.
Looking down at my sleeping son, who’d given up trying to stay awake about a half hour ago, I said, “Yes. Let me get Kylian to bed and I’ll show you where everything is.” I looked at my daughter, who was smearing some of Madalyn’s new lotion on her legs. “You too, princess.”
Kenzie batted her lashes at me. They went up and down very slowly and were accompanied by a giant yawn. “But I’m not sleepy yet.”
I shook my head. She was practically tottering sideways. “Go brush your teeth and you will be.”
She frowned. “But Kylian didn’t brush his teeth.”
I looked down at the curled up boy again. She was right, and I didn’t have the heart to wake him. What the hell.
“Well, if you want to have nasty teeth when you wake up, so be it.” I scooped Kylian up and draped his limp form over my shoulder.
Madalyn stood up, wiping her palms down her jeans. “What do you need me to do?”
Slip out of those jeans and crawl into bed with me.
I shook my head. “Um, if you can help Kenz get changed, she’ll probably want you to read a story.”
“Four.”
I wrinkled my nose at my daughter. “She’ll probably want you to read four stories.”
Madalyn held out her hand, and Kenzie didn’t even hesitate to tuck her smaller one in it. It was amazing how easily this stranger had slipped into our little family. Like she had been destined to be with us. Like she belonged.
Whoa there, I admonished myself as I followed them down the hallway. I was only offering protection and assistance to someone who badly needed it. Someone who’d helped me, in return.
Just because her ass was absolutely perfect didn’t mean I had the right to look at it. Or touch it. Slide my tongue over the curve of it.
Dammit to hell.
I had to stop this. Thankfully, the two girls turned into Kenzie’s room while I headed to the next one and pulled Kylian’s comforter and sheet down, laying his near comatose form on it. Pushing his hair back, I kissed his forehead before covering him up.
My son.
I sat on the side of the bed and just stared at him for a while. Guilt stabbed at me again, and I shoved it away.
I hadn’t been there when he needed me, and that was something I was going to have to live with. But I was here for him now.
“I’ll never let anyone hurt you again,” I promised.
Turning off the lights, I pulled the door almost closed, leaving it open a couple inches.
In the next room, I heard Madalyn’s soft voice as she read a story.
Leaning against the wall between the two rooms, I just listened. Her voice was beautiful, especially as the accent got thicker. Would two years make someone sound so French? I didn’t know.
When I heard the click of the lamp, I pushed away from the wall, but there wasn’t time to make my escape down the hallway before she stepped from the room.
“Oh, you startled me,” she said when she saw me standing there.
“Sorry.” I turned toward her and slammed my hands into my pockets. “I got Kylian down too, then overheard you reading. I didn’t mean to seem like a lurker.”
She licked her lips and crossed her arms over her breasts. “It’s okay. You didn’t. I think I’m still just jumpy from today. But, she’s sound asleep. Only two books did it.”
There was something about her that was just so very attractive. Her hair was a mess, and if she had worn any makeup earlier, it had all been cried off, but there was this pull toward her that I’d never experienced before.
I cleared my throat. “She sh
ould be out all night. Are you ready for bed too?”
Her gaze dropped to my throat. “If it’s okay, I’d like to wash the nightclothes you so generously purchased. The dye from new clothes tends to give me a headache if they aren’t washed first.”
I jumped at the chance to do anything but stand here and stare at her like an idiot. “Of course. Grab what you need, and I’ll show you where everything is.”
Like a puppy, I followed her to the guest suite, but went no farther than the door as she gathered up the clothes strewn all over the room.
“This should do for the night,” she said, hugging the bundle to her chest. “Thank you again for everything. You went overboard though. I had much less than this in my bag.”
That was something I didn’t understand. Why had she been so empty-handed? Something didn’t add up. But I’d wait and ask her more about it another day. Not today, though. She looked like she was on the very edge of exhaustion.
“If you’d like to go on to bed, I could lend you a clean t-shirt,” I offered. “I don’t think anything else I own would fit, but it should be okay for the night.”
She stifled a yawn so big that her eyes watered as she tried to hide it. She gave up and smiled. “Actually, I was hoping to bathe in that lovely tub while I waited.”
Oh dear god. Now I’d be imagining her naked.
“If you change your mind, just let me know. I promise I don’t mind.”
Off the kitchen was the laundry room, and I watched as she examined the dials and buttons, looking like she’d never seen a washing machine before. “Um… do you need some help?”
She blushed. “Yes, please. I’ve not used such a fancy machine before.”
I stared at it, then laughed, scratching at my beard. “I’m actually not entirely sure how to use it either. My housekeeper takes care of any laundry that isn’t picked up by the cleaning service.”
She softly laughed, and we put our heads together. I punched what I thought must be the power button and she clapped when the display panel lit up. She found the quick cycle setting and tapped the screen, then we both stared at each other after she tossed everything in.
“Well, this is embarrassing,” she said, and her blush was evidence to how embarrassed she truly felt. “But do you know what I’m supposed to do next?”
“Um, add detergent?” I hazarded a guess and wondered if I was blushing too. The silver spoon in my mouth hadn’t prepared me for things like this.
Her eyes lit up, and she bopped herself on the forehead with the heel of her hand. “Yes, that does make good sense.” She looked around, chewing her bottom lip. “Where is it?”
I did know that much. Opening the cabinet, I pulled the orange bottle down, then the blue bottle of fabric softener beside it, then watched as she carefully read the labels. She filled both cups to the proper line, then stared at the washer.
She gave me a sorry face, then asked, “Any idea where I put it?”
I laughed. “I have no idea.”
“Oh look!” she exclaimed, excited as a child with a present when she pulled out a tray with the words “detergent” and “fabric softener” inside. “I found it!”
I stared at her as she poured the correct fluid into the correct place, then shut the tray and pushed the “on” button. I thought we were both sweating by the time we got the small load finally started.
“We did it,” she said, smiling up at me. Her blue eyes were almost purple now under the lights.
I raised my hand, palm facing her, prepared to give her a high-five. She winced and scuttled backward, lifting her hands in front of her face. I froze, stunned by her reaction. Her eyes were wide as I slowly lowered my hand to my side.
“Madalyn…” I didn’t know what to say. “I… I wasn’t going to hit you. I’d never do that.”
She was breathing hard, and it broke my heart when tears welled in her eyes. Then she laughed, but it was a forced little sound. “Of course not.” She lifted her hand, palm out, mimicking my earlier action.
Very slowly and carefully, I tapped it with mine.
When a single tear fell, I didn’t move toward her like I wanted to. I opened my arms instead.
If she wanted my comfort, I’d comfort her all damn night. But it had to be her decision. Her choice.
A tiny sob escaped her, then she burst forward and buried her face in my chest, and I was holding her tight against me. It broke my heart. She cried so hard and for so long that my entire shirt was soaked by the time she stopped trembling. I stroked her hair, murmuring words of comfort the entire time.
“I’m sorry,” she said, pulling away. She took off her glasses, placing them on the washing machine while she wiped at her face with the hem of her t-shirt.
“Don’t be. You’re exhausted. Let’s get you in your bath. I’ll put the clothes in the dryer when they’re done so you can relax.”
When she just stood there, I took her hand and led her down the hall. In her bathroom, I turned on the water while she gathered her new toiletries from the bedroom. “I’ll go grab that t-shirt in case you decide you don’t want to wait for the clothes.”
She wiped at her cheeks again. “Thank you. You’re very kind.” Her lips looked so soft, puffy from crying, and I longed to touch them with my own.
Because I didn’t trust myself with her another second, I told her I’d be right back with the shirt, then got the hell out of there while I still could. In my own bedroom, I scrubbed my face with my hands, trying to pull my shit together.
She was fragile, I reminded myself. No, not fragile. Vulnerable. She was under my protection, and I damn well needed to protect her. Not act like some dirty old man.
Yanking my favorite New York Beasts t-shirt from my dresser, I stalked from my room, intent on delivering the garment and getting the hell out of there. I wouldn’t gawk. I wouldn’t linger. In and out.
Thank Christ, only her shoes were off by the time I got back, but damn, even her toes were perfect and sexy as hell.
I cleared my throat. “Need anything else?” I asked from the door, tossing the shirt in her direction.
She caught it and held it to her chest. “No, thank you.”
My heart began to pound as I fought my need to go to her, my fingers gripping the doorjamb to keep me on the other side. “Well, goodnight then. Sleep well.”
She smiled, and that inner radiance returned. In the caress of the dimmed lights, her dark hair spilled over her shoulders, her bangs sweeping across the top of her eyes, bringing attention to how blue they were. “Thank you. Sweet dreams.”
I slowly and softly closed the door. I knew exactly what I’d be dreaming about tonight.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Maddie
The water was hot, perfect on my tired muscles, and the bath salts Lydia had purchased surrounded me with a heavenly mix of jasmine and vanilla.
In less than twenty-four hours, my entire life had been upended, but right now, in this moment, I felt safe.
And something else that was unfamiliar. I felt needed.
I also felt desired.
I opened my eyes and turned my head to look out at the city lights glowing on the other side of the window.
Xander Armstrong didn’t have the long flowing blond hair like the man on the front of that romance novel, but he had all the traits of a hero that mattered. Handsome, of course. Gentle yet strong. Brave yet oddly vulnerable.
I wasn’t sure what had happened to his family before returning to New York earlier today, but what happened in the park would have caused a normal man to explode. And he did explode… a little, hitting the cameraman like he did. But for that, I didn’t blame him. Anyone would have been pushed to that limit, and the big, hulking man with the wide chest and strong arms had been at his limit, I knew.
Xander was a protector. That much was clear by the way he’d pulled us all into the shelter of his arms, even the small dog. The little CeeCee. I dearly hoped they either found the animal’s true home or they bro
ught the little thing back to us.
Us?
I shook my head.
There was no us.
There was them… Xander, Kylian, and Kenzie. And there was me… for a while.
Ducking my head under the water, I began to focus on getting clean. There was no need to focus on anything else, after all. For the moment, I had food and shelter, and that needed to be enough. I would help care for Xander’s children until he hired a proper nanny, or I had enough money saved up to move on.
With my mission firmly in my mind, I shampooed and conditioned my hair, then washed every nook and cranny quickly. Especially there… the place that suddenly ached to be touched. When my fingers moved between my legs, my entire being stirred to life, and I wanted to linger there, stroke and touch, soothe the throbbing.
Would that be so bad? To think of Xander’s face while I moved my fingers over and around my sensitive clitoris? Would it be so bad to imagine it was his fingers… his tongue?
In the novel, Jacob moved between Nellie’s legs and kissed her there. And from Nellie’s reaction, it was the most pleasant of experiences. Could it be true?
Or was the novel pure fiction? A fantasy of the mind that couldn’t be replicated in the physical world?
I didn’t know.
What I did know was limited to my sexual tutor’s instructions. And she only focused on the various ways to please a man.
“Stimulate his mind, my dear, before stimulating his body.” So, I’d practiced smiling with only one side of my mouth, lowering my head and looking up through my lashes. I learned to walk with a sway to my hips that could only be used in private.
Then, there had been the sensible details about being clean and thoroughly waxed at all times. “For no one knows when your husband might want you, and you must be prepared and willing at any moment.”
After that came the more embarrassing topics, such as how to kiss, caress. Perform oral sex. That had been mortifying as I’d watched the sterile video tutorial on the subject. Did women really enjoy being used in such a way? And when the man in the movie ejaculated… I shuddered at the memory.
