When I drew back, her eyes were shocked and her lips swollen.
“What was that for?”
“Because you wanted me to.”
She rolled her eyes, but she didn’t deny it.
I crooked my arm. “Shall we?”
She reached up, wiping my lips. “I don’t think you need the gloss.”
I captured her hand, kissing her delicate fingertips. I tried not to smirk as we went past our shocked group.
I failed.
By the time Richard, Graham, and Becca arrived, we had been seated and ordered wine. The last one to join us was Reid. I tried not to laugh at the look of delight when he saw the one empty seat was beside Becca. He wore his suit, a white shirt, with a wildly patterned tie.
He worked the table, shaking hands and kissing the girls. When he reached Becca, he bent over her hand, kissing her knuckles with a flourish and making her laugh. He sat beside her and winked at Bentley.
Bentley sighed with relief.
Becca leaned over, patting Dee’s hand. “Your dress is gorgeous. You must tell me where you got it. I have to find all the good places in Toronto to shop.”
All our girls looked lovely tonight. Emmy was in Bentley’s preferred shade of blue, Cami in her favorite purple, and Dee rounded out the jewel tones in her green. She was the most beautiful in my opinion.
Dee smiled, touching the lace on her sleeve. “Cami designed and made me this one.”
Becca’s eyes widened as she looked at Cami. “You designed it?”
Cami nodded, her cheeks pink. “Yes.”
“Your dress too?”
“All of our dresses,” Cami admitted. “I take fashion design, and I did these as part of a presentation. Dee is my sister, and Emmy is my best friend. They’re my go-to guinea pigs.”
Becca clapped her hands. “If you need a fourth anytime, I’m your girl. You are so talented! I love these dresses.”
Aiden beamed with pride, sliding his arm around her shoulders and dropping a kiss to her head. “That’s my wife. Talented.”
Richard lifted his glass. “Here’s to talent. I think this table is filled with it.”
I raised my glass in agreement.
I shook Richard’s hand. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Looking forward to it.”
I wished Graham a safe trip home. He was catching the last flight out, heading back home to BC. Richard and Becca were staying one last day to go through some more details. At dinner, Becca had asked for advice on where to live, and I offered to show her an apartment I knew was coming up for rent shortly which coincided with her arrival.
“It’s close to the office—a few blocks away. The building is older and it’s one bedroom, but it’s clean, secure, and a decent size for Toronto. The rent is reasonable for its location.”
“Is the landlord nice?”
I chuckled. “He’s okay.”
Becca’s eyes narrowed. “Is it you?”
“Yes. I lived there when we were first starting BAM. I bought it as an investment. My tenant is moving, so this would work. No pressure, but you can have a look,” I explained.
“Sounds good.”
I watched their taxi pull away and waited for the valet to bring my car. I tugged Dee close.
“You were wonderful tonight. Thank you.”
“I like Becca.” She laughed. “So does Reid. He barely took his eyes off her.”
“I noticed.”
“I think she did as well.”
“I hope it doesn’t cause problems.”
“They’re both adults. I’m sure they can act accordingly.”
“Given Reid’s, ah, goals, I hope so.”
Her brow furrowed. “His goals?”
I lowered my lips to her ear. “Reid’s a virgin. He doesn’t want to be one anymore.”
Her mouth formed a small O. “Maddox Riley—that is personal. You shouldn’t be telling me such things!” she scolded, dropping her voice. “Really, though, at his age—he’s a virgin? How do you know that?”
I chuckled, resting my chin on her shoulder. “You little gossip-lover. He told Aiden and me he was a virgin when we interviewed him.”
“What? He said that in an interview?”
“Yep. We asked him to tell us ‘all’ about himself, and he dropped that tidbit in.” I recalled the look Aiden and I had shared when he informed us of his unwelcome . . . situation. “He keeps us updated on his status.”
“Oh my God.”
“Aiden informed him he is never gonna lose it if he spends all his time in the office lying on the floor writing code.”
Dee nudged me with her elbow. “Maybe he will now.” She waggled her eyebrows suggestively. “I like it on top. Maybe Becca does too.”
I threw back my head in laughter, hugging her close to my side. Dee looked sexy, relaxed, and I loved it when she was being funny. I didn’t see that side of her often enough.
“Let’s get you home. I think I want you to show me just how much you like riding me.” I wrapped my mouth around her lobe, tugging on it.
“Yes,” she breathed out.
Unable to resist, I kissed her. It was long, slow, and deep—the exact kind of kiss I would never give in public. And for the second time of the night, I didn’t care.
My car pulled to the curb, and I helped Dee inside, shutting the door. As I walked around to the driver’s side, a car pulled past me. It was moving slowly and was too close to my side of the driveway. Unable to move, I pressed against the door, waiting as the car crawled past. I glared at the driver, my body suddenly frozen on the spot when she turned her head and I met the eyes of the woman behind the wheel.
Cold, icy blue eyes I recognized.
My heart rate sped up, and I grasped the handle in shock. Memories, ones I had buried and refused to think about, tore through my mind’s eye.
In a split second, the connection was broken, and the car sped up, tearing out of the driveway, cutting off another vehicle. The blare of a horn startled me back to the present, and I blinked and shook my head.
I slid into the car, still staring toward the road. My car was running, the heat blasting from the vents, yet I felt a long shiver race down my spine.
Dee laid her hand on my arm. “Maddox? Are you all right? That car was awfully close!”
Turning my head, I met her gaze. Her green eyes were warm and concerned—nothing like the frosty look of hatred I had seen a moment ago.
I looked to where the car had been. It couldn’t be. I’d either imagined it or read more into the glance than there had been. Lots of women had icy blue eyes. It was similar because of the glare. She obviously felt I was in her way instead of the other way around.
That was all it was. I was certain of it. I forced the memories from my mind, locking them away where they belonged—the past.
I patted Dee’s hand. “Sorry. I thought she was going to hit the car. She startled me.”
“I thought she was going to hit you.”
“She looked . . .” I shook my head and laughed self-consciously.
“What? She looked what?”
“Like someone I knew at university. Impossible, probably.”
“Someone you were close to?”
I swallowed heavily. “No. Just a girl. No one special. I’m sure I was mistaken.”
I clicked my seat belt into place and pulled the car out into traffic. “Let’s go home.”
Luckily, she dropped the subject. “Mine or yours?”
I made a fast decision. “Yours.”
“Okay.”
Dee’s hair shimmered in the moonlight that streamed in the windows. She arched, bending so far backward, her hair brushed my legs. She moaned low in her throat, her muscles constricting around me.
“Oh God, Maddox. You feel so good.”
I gripped her hips, thrusting up hard. I was desperate to feel, to lose myself in her. I tried to focus on her sounds, the way she looked riding me. Her breasts were full, nipples glistening
and red from my mouth. Her neck and collarbones bore patches of pink from my scruff where I licked and nipped at her skin. Her pussy was drenched with desire, filled with my cock, and milking me.
Icy blue eyes kept distracting me.
With a roar, I sat up, winding my arm around Dee’s waist and tipping us over. We fell into the mattress, my weight pressing her down. I wrapped my hand around her wrists, raising them over her head. Her legs went over my shoulders, and I sank deeper inside of her.
She gasped, her neck straining as pleasure tore through her body.
“Who do you belong to?” I snarled, pounding into her. “Who?”
“You.”
“I take you how I want. When I want,” I commanded.
“Y-yes,” she whimpered, pulling at her hands, arching under me.
I stilled suddenly, looking down at her, a strange feeling tugging at me. My chest heaved, needing oxygen. My mind raced, needing peace. My body ached, needing her.
But in a different way.
Not commanding, not taking.
Giving.
She widened her eyes as I leaned down, covering her mouth with mine. Releasing her hands, I wrapped my arms around her back, tugging her up to me. Smooth, languid strokes of my tongue on hers made her groan. I explored her, fusing our lips together as I began to move again. I immersed myself in her. Her touch, her taste, her heat. I rocked into her, the motion slow and easy. I brushed kisses over her face, down her neck, kissing and caressing all of her. Adoring, loving her the one way she would accept it. I slid one hand between us, finding her clit, stroking it until she stiffened and cried out, shattering around me. My orgasm rolled through me, long, lazy tendrils of ecstasy rippling down my spine, tightening my balls, making me bury my face into her neck as I released into her body, her name a kiss on my lips.
Once we were spent, I rolled, keeping her with me. I pulled her to my chest, needing to feel her. To know she was real and what happened earlier was nothing. A mistaken identity and nothing more.
I sighed, my breath stirring her hair. She ran her fingers through my hair as I stroked her back. Aimless brushes of my fingers up and down, tracing her spine, touching her skin.
“Maddox?”
“Hmm.”
“Are you all right?”
I kissed her head. “Yeah, I’m good.”
“You seem . . . off.”
I knew she was right, but I refused to admit it.
“Off, Deirdre? That wasn’t good for you?”
She lifted her head, her eyes sleepy. “It was amazing.” She traced my jaw with her finger, teasing my scruff. “It was different for you.” Her brow furrowed. “Tender.”
I captured her finger in my mouth, teasing it with my tongue. I kissed the end, letting it drop to my chin.
“I was changing it up, Deirdre. Give me ten, and we can go again. Hard.”
She snorted, cuddling closer. I liked it when she did that since it didn’t happen often. “Ten. You’re not seventeen.”
“Is that a challenge?”
“Maybe,” she mumbled, her voice heavy with sleep.
I didn’t reply, staying still, and let her drift off. When I knew she was out, I carefully moved away from her, tucking the blankets around her shoulders.
I dragged on my pants and shirt, picking up my shoes and jacket. It was late, and I knew no one would be on the elevator with me. I paused in the doorway, looking back, a sense of foreboding filling my chest.
I let myself into my condo, the silence too loud. Tossing my jacket over the sofa, I poured a generous whiskey and stood at the window, gazing out into the city. I noticed the red light of my answering machine blinking with a message. I hesitated, the glass partway to my lips. I had no idea why I kept my old home phone and number. I’d had it for years and never canceled it, even though most of my calls came on my cell.
I pushed the play button, the haunting voice filling the room as clear as if she were standing in front of me.
Jill.
“Hello, Maddox. Fancy seeing you again. I think we should talk. I’ll be in touch.”
The call ended.
My glass of whiskey hit the floor, exploding into thousands of shards, the liquid spraying my pants and feet.
I dropped my head.
I hadn’t imagined it.
It wasn’t a case of mistaken identity.
My biggest regret had found me.
Maddox
I SPENT THE night prowling my condo, the oblivion of sleep eluding me. I was in the office early, desperate to lose myself in work. Anything to stop the barrage of thoughts and squelch the sense of dread in my stomach remembering her words.
We should talk.
I had nothing to discuss with her. I never wanted to see her again.
I went through the motions all day. I showed Becca and Richard the apartment. She was pleased with the unit, especially when I promised fresh paint and refinished floors prior to her arrival. The kitchen and bath had been updated a couple of years prior, and it was in great shape. As she looked around, I leaned on the counter in the kitchen, unable to keep my fingers from drumming restlessly on the edge.
“You okay, Maddox?” Richard asked, concerned. “You look tired today.”
I waved my hand, keeping my face impassive. “No, I’m fine.”
“If you say so.”
Becca came into the kitchen, interrupting us. “I think this will do for me. It’s smaller than what I’m used to in Victoria, but not as bad as I thought I might end up with here. Some of the places I looked at on the internet were like shoe boxes!”
“Square footage is a premium here,” I agreed. “I lucked in to this place, and when the owner decided to sell, I bought it. When I moved, I decided to keep it and rent it out. The value keeps going up, so it was a good investment.”
She nodded in agreement. “Renting is good for now, until I discover the city more. And figure out my plans.” She flashed a grin. “See how long you put up with me.”
She made me smile. “I have a feeling that isn’t going to be an issue.”
Richard’s phone rang, and he excused himself. Becca peeked in the cupboards, shutting them with a satisfied nod. She leaned against the counter. “So, Reid, what’s his story?”
I bit back a laugh at her attempt to be casual. I played along. “Story?”
“He is, ah, single?”
“Yep.”
She traced the countertop, not meeting my gaze. “Seeing anyone special?”
“Becca,” I began, “I’m not in the habit of talking about my employees’ personal lives, but I will say this. Reid is single, not seeing anyone that I know of, and is a really genuine guy.”
I held back the fact that he was more than interested in her.
She flushed. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to put you on the spot.”
“You didn’t.” I huffed out a long breath. “We have no policy against relationships in the office, but we do expect our staff to behave appropriately at all times.”
“Of course.”
“That being said, I think you and Reid have a lot in common and that you’ll work well together,” I advised. “What you do outside the office is none of my business.”
“Okay.” She smiled.
I leaned forward with a wink. “Here’s a little clue—Reid loves peanut butter cookies. Any kind, any brand. If they have peanut butter, he’s all over them.”
A huge grin broke out on her face. “Okay, thanks for the tip.”
“No problem. I’ll have my lawyer send you a lease agreement.”
She held out her hand. “Perfect.”
After Becca and Richard left, I tried to work. It was a useless effort, and eventually, I gave up, instead, studying the boards Richard had left.
Today, Bentley had planned to inform the other two companies they were no longer in the race and we would move forward with The Gavin Group. It was a swift decision, but based on what we had seen and heard, it was right, and there was no use wa
sting time.
Aiden came in, carrying two cups of coffee. He offered me one and sat in front of my desk. He stretched out his long legs and sipped on the steaming brew. He had his shoulders hunched and a frown marred his usual cheerful expression.
I waited a few minutes, expecting Bentley to stroll in, but he never appeared.
“What’s up?”
Aiden scrubbed his face. “Bent asked me to do something for him this morning.”
“Okay. From the look on your face, I’d say it’s something you don’t want to do.”
He took a sip and set his cup on the desk.
“Emmy asked him to have me look for her brother, Jack.”
“Wow. That’s out of left field.”
“I know.” Aiden looked past me, staring out the window. “She told him with the wedding coming up, she wanted to reach out. Have her brother there with her, or at least give him the chance.”
I thought about what I knew of the situation. Jack had left her alone when she was seventeen, informing her she was on her own. He’d decided he had looked after her long enough and it was time for him to live his own life, and he disappeared. She had been longing for contact from him since then. Her upcoming wedding must have triggered that longing.
“You don’t agree?”
“Bentley is concerned that if I find him and he refuses, it will break Emmy’s heart. I agree with him.”
“There is that possibility. He could also do the opposite. At least, either way, Emmy has an answer.”
He nodded, not speaking.
“What are you going to do?”
He met my gaze. “I’m torn. Part of me wants to tell her I tried but couldn’t locate him. Except, knowing Emmy, she won’t give up. Eventually, she’ll want to try again. If she finds out I lied, she’ll be furious. The other part of me tells me I have to do this and give her closure, even if it hurts her.” He hunched closer, his voice low. “I have a bad feeling in my gut about this.”
I knew Aiden and his instincts. He was usually right.
“Bent asked you to do it?”
“Yeah. He’s torn too, but you know he can’t say no to her.”
I pondered the situation for a few minutes. “I think you have to try, regardless of your instincts.”
Maddox ~ Melanie Moreland Page 10
