“Yes, he actually offered us a job,” Elias said, turning to everyone. “But he was trying to be coy.”
Liam reached over the table and pulled Elias’s hand on his lap so he could squeeze it. Elias smiled at him and then Liam turned back to everyone with a bright smile.
“So, El goes, 'do you have any idea what I do for a living'?” Liam said mimicking Elias’ voice and mannerisms, all the while stroking his hand that was now resting on his thigh, “The guy stared blankly at him because he really had no idea who El was. He must not have watched the news very much because El had just finished this high profile case that got national attention so he was constantly on TV for a good month it seemed.” Liam shook his head and then arched his brow at Elias. “Tell them what you did?”
Elias was trying desperately not to smile because he had been a smart ass to the owner. But, in reality, the owner was being a smart ass to them as well. He shook his head and took another sip of water, slightly embarrassed.
“What did you do?” Olivia asked, generally curious.
Elias couldn’t stop smiling and then Liam chuckled and whispered something in his ear which caused Elias to laugh as well. Jayden snickered and motioned for everyone to come closer as if he was going to tell them a big secret.
“My dad whipped out his phone and pulled up a YouTube video of his latest press conference. So the guy just stares at him with his eyes big, like freaking saucers, and then actually had the audacity to ask if he could take a picture with him. He was all Mr. Bennett this, Mr. Bennett that, after that. He offered us a private tour and everything. It was the craziest thing I had ever seen.”
Elias grinned and shrugged while Olivia covered her mouth, trying to stifle a laugh and Aaron shook his head, chuckling. Andrew wasn’t entirely sure what was so funny but hearing Madison giggle next to him made him smile and laugh as well.
“I bet he went around showing that picture to anyone who went by. He probably had it framed so everyone could see it and now tells the tale of how he met the famous Mr. Bennett,” Aaron said when he finally stopped laughing.
“He did give us a special tour of the vineyard,” Liam interjected with a smile.
He glanced at Elias, who smirked, and then got a feral look in his eyes. Liam remembered the tour very well, and based on the look on Elias's face, he did as well. The owner had allowed them to walk off on their own while he visited with Jayden about the unusual carts they used to travel between the vineyards. Liam subtly licked his lips as he remembered what occurred when they were alone and how they had found this lovely tree that overlooked the vineyard. Liam’s mind wandered to what they had done under that tree and how perfect everything had been. He finally took a deep breath and looked down, needing to break eye contact with Elias before he did something he would regret. They never showed affection in public. It was something they carried with them from Texas and was now a way of life.
“The vineyard was beautiful,” Elias interrupted. “Something I know I’ll never forget.”
Elias stroked Liam’s fingers before squeezing his hand. It was then that Liam looked up at him with complete adoration before finally turning back to everyone else.
“Jayden refused to go with us the following day,” Liam finally said with a chuckle. “He just stayed at the hotel, video chatting with Callie. I think he thought we might embarrass him,” he said, grinning at his son.
Jayden rolled his eyes while Callie giggled next to him.
“What a lovely story,” Olivia said sweetly.
“You guys should go to Italy or something. Go to the source,” Madison said enthusiastically.
“That is definitely on our 'to do' list,” Elias replied with a smile as he squeezed Liam’s hand again.
Elias gave the waitress their wine order and a few moments later she came back around and poured wine for everyone. She then told them she would be back in a couple of minutes to take their dinner orders. Elias raised his glass once she was gone.
“To justice!” he said with a smile and then added, “And second chances.”
“Second chances!” Everyone said in unison and then took a sip of their wines.
People continued to talk and visit with one another throughout dinner, but as the night went on and the wine was refilled the stories became wilder and wilder. Even Madison’s grandmother told several stories, mostly about her late husband, who it was obvious she still missed greatly. Soon the musicians came out and said they would be playing and to feel free to dance. Aaron and Olivia were the first to go out, followed by a very tipsy Jayden and Callie.
“Are you getting tired, Grans?” Madison asked, rubbing her shoulders.
“I’m fine, Maddie. You two don’t need to babysit me,” she said, smiling. “In fact, why don’t you go dance.”
“Do you want to dance?” Andrew asked, loving the idea of holding her close.
She nodded and he took her hand. He pulled her close to him as they gently swayed to the music. They weren’t necessarily keeping in time with the notes being played like the other couples on the floor. They were in their own world, enjoying one another. Andrew unintentionally moved his hips against her in a way that immediately elicited a response from the two of them. As they slowly moved against each other their desire began to escalate. Madison needed him desperately and the thought that she would still have to wait several more hours to make love to him was driving her insane. By the time he walked her back to the table, Madison felt as if she were on fire. She quickly excused herself, thinking she needed to throw some water on her face to try and calm her raging hormones.
Andrew watched her make a hasty exit and gently tapped his fingers on the table. A few minutes later he jumped up, excusing himself as well. Liam and Elias, who had been watching the exchange, looked at one another and smirked, knowing exactly what would be happening next. Andrew waited in the hall and as Madison exited the bathroom his tongue swept across his lips as he jerked her inside the men’s bathroom and locked the door.
“What’s...?” Madison began to say but was stopped when Andrew pushed her up against the door.
Madison moaned as his tongue penetrated her mouth and his hand slipped under the hem of her dress. Madison wrapped her hand in his hair, pulling on it tightly while her other hand deftly maneuvered his pants undone. They both knew this was probably not the time or place for any of this but neither cared. All the pressure of the last several weeks, the worry and fear needed to be released. They needed to connect with one another desperately.
“Andrew...” she moaned against his mouth.
Andrew let out a deep and guttural growl as he lifted her up, one hand holding on to her and the other against the door. His mouth claimed hers once again in a wet and sloppy kiss that intensified when she wrapped her legs around his waist. Andrew was breathing hard as he tried to keep the steady and vigorous pace. He was so close, he needed this and based on her response she needed it as well. He was putting all of his chaotic up and down emotions throughout the day into this, releasing everything with every thrust he made. Madison’s hands were pulling and tugging on his hair with such force that she thought she was actually going to pull some of it out as she seemed to have no control over herself any longer. They were both gasping and panting and moaning loudly as their motions turned into what can only be called a primal frenzy. She was aroused beyond anything. She liked when they were out of control, when they could take each other with reckless abandon.
Madison screamed out for him once again. His mouth clamped down on hers as his tongue consumed her yet again. His grunting carnal as his pace quickened even more until the palm of his hand hit the door near her head just as he found his release. Madison continued to pant against him as her legs released the vice grip they had around his waist. He laid his head on her shoulder as her hands gently played with his hair, both coming down from their erotic high.
“Mmmm, Helios, that was...” Madison licked her lips and then kissed his temple. “That was beyond amaz
ing.”
He turned his head and kissed her softly and gently. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
“Oh, baby, you could never hurt me,” Madison said against his lips. “I liked it, so much,” she said as she engulfed his mouth with a heated and passionate kiss.
“We better go back before they send out a search party for the two of us,” he said with a smile as he slowed their kiss.
“Mmmm, let them search,” she replied, kissing him once more.
Andrew chuckled and stepped away from her. He breathed in deeply, getting his bearings before wetting a paper towel, and then, catching sight of himself in the mirror, chuckled at his reflection. His hair was sticking up in all directions and his lips were dark red from the intensity of their kissing. After he handed Madison the paper towel, he tried in vain to manage his hair but the hair gel he had put in it earlier made that task nearly impossible. Madison came up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist.
“Why Mr. Harrison, you look like you’ve just had magnificent, mind blowing sex!” Madison teased with a playful wink. He gave her a sideways glance before kissing her again.
“That’s because I have, Ms. Ellis,” he teased back, tugging on her bottom lip.
“I can’t wait to have you again tonight,” Madison whimpered against him.
He smiled and they kissed again for several more minutes before he draped his arm over her shoulder as they headed towards the door. But, to their surprise, as they opened the door they found Jayden waiting outside. He was leaning against the wall with one leg bent and his foot planted against the wall. He had his eyebrow raised and his arms crossed with a knowing smirk on his face. Andrew and Madison looked at him and then each other before casually walking past him, back towards the dining area as if nothing had happened. They could hear Jayden snickering behind them and they both broke out into a fit of laughter knowing that he had heard them having sex.
32 A SON’S REVENGE
Madison had woken up giddy. Andrew had ridden home with Madison and her grans from the restaurant and, for the first time in several days, they both felt happy and joyful. They had made love and fallen asleep in each other’s arms, not weighed down by the possibility that he might be sent away. Madison was planning on talking to Andrew when he came over tonight about New York. She had come to a decision. She was not leaving. She couldn’t. She could find another job, but she would never find another love like the one she had with Andrew. As she had fallen asleep, she kept hearing her grandmother’s wise words, 'Just make sure that whatever you lose is something you are comfortable being without.' Well, she was not comfortable losing Andrew and she was even less comfortable losing her grandmother which made the decision an easy one.
“Perfect!” Madison said, grinning at the passion fruit nail color on her grandmother’s toes.
“Maddie, I am too old to have painted toes.”
Madison closed the polish and waved it at her grandmother. “You are never too old for painted toes.”
Grandmother Downing rolled her eyes at her granddaughter which caused Madison to laugh. “Grans, did you just roll your eyes at me?”
Her grandmother laughed and waved her hand in a dismissive gesture, “Oh, leave me alone and let me watch my game in peace.”
Madison chuckled and kissed the top of her head. “I’ll be back in a little bit, okay? No more than two, three hours’ tops.”
“Take your time, Maddie,” she said as she flipped the station to the game.
Madison grabbed her phone and money and headed out the door. She hit the bookstore first to pick up a variety of newspapers. If she was going to find a job out in California then she needed to start getting an idea of where there was work. Although she didn’t need to find a job immediately, she did need to know what the market was like. She picked up the Los Angeles Times, the Bakersfield Tribune, the Orange County Register, the Pasadena Star and the San Gabriel Valley Tribune. A wide variety of sources, she had thought. She then headed towards the mall. She wanted to buy some more of the Moroccan Rose body lotion because Andrew really liked the way it smelled. She then grinned as she thought about getting some sexy lingerie as well.
After strolling through the mall for an hour, Madison sat at Starbucks, flipping through the pages of the catalog from Body Wonder as she sipped her iced coffee. She was extremely happy that Body Wonder was nearby as she preferred it over the other store. She looked at her watch and slipped the catalog in the bag, grinning as she glanced at the bag from Rec Time and the Intimates bag inside that one. She couldn’t wait to see Andrew’s face tonight. She looked at the large clock on the wall and realized that she had already been gone for close to two hours and she still needed to go to the grocery store. As Madison walked to her car, she turned suddenly, having the distinct feeling she was being watched, but as she eyed her surroundings she didn’t see anyone.
“You’re not in New York, Madison. Calm down.”
She shook her head and tossed her bags in the backseat and made her way to the local Safemart. She glanced at the clock above the register and wondered where the time had gone. She was bordering on three hours now and she needed to get home soon. She unlocked her door and slipped her keys back in her pocket as she started putting the groceries in her car. She felt her phone buzz in her pocket and just as she went to reach for it she felt someone come up from behind her and a hand soon covered her mouth.
“We have unfinished business, Madison,” Jimmy said viciously.
Madison was not having this, not today, not ever. She bit down on his hand causing him to release his hand from her mouth.
“Fucking bitch!” he sneered as he pushed her forehead roughly on the roof of the car.
Madison closed her eyes as everything started spinning. She suddenly felt nauseous and her vision felt out of focus. She tried to use the self-defense techniques she knew but when she went to kick the inside of his ankle her equilibrium was so off kilter that she barely scraped him. She heard him laugh as he pulled her to a car that was parked behind hers. She tried to scream but he brought his hand to her throat, squeezing and trapping the sound.
“Now, be nice, Madison,” he hissed in her ear.
He suddenly put his arm around her shoulder and leaned down kissing her ear while his other hand remained firmly on her neck. Madison closed her eyes, hoping she could get her balance back so she could actually run. She heard a car door close and then he removed his face from her ear but not before tugging on it. It was then that Madison realized that what was going on did not look hostile at all to the outside observer. In fact, if anything, it looked as if Jimmy was being intimate with her. He opened his back door and set her inside.
“I’m going to gag you, Madison, but I promise it’s just for a little bit,” he said sweetly as if he really cared about her.
Madison could feel tears streaking her cheeks as he put the gag on her. Jimmy smiled as he wiped under her eyes and then proceeded to tie her hands behind her back. The door shut and, a few minutes later, Jimmy was starting the car. Madison was unable to move as Jimmy had pushed her onto the floor of his vehicle and she was just wedged in enough that she couldn’t wiggle herself up. She felt the car turn and then stop. Soon the back door opened and Jimmy slid inside and pulled her up on the seat.
“Madison, Madison, Madison,” he said as he moved a piece of her hair behind her ear.
Madison narrowed her eyes and started to swing her legs up to kick him. He grinned and threw his legs over hers and wagged his finger at her.
“Madison, now I thought we agreed you would be nice,” he said, smiling widely.
She glared at him and then quickly glanced around to see where they were. It looked like a park. She could see people in the distance playing some game of disc golf but there were no other vehicles in the vicinity. There wasn’t anyone who could help her.
“I like this park,” Jimmy said, looking around. “It’s really quiet and no one ever bothers me.”
He smiled and push
ed her back against the door so that she was slouching in the seat. He then pushed her t-shirt up and yanked on her bra, releasing her breasts. Madison began kicking and he chuckled as he pulled her down in the seat and got on top of her, spreading her legs. Her hands were now underneath her as the weight of his body held her in place, limiting her ability to move.
“Mmmm, Madison, you are a challenge, aren’t you?” he said, devouring her with his eyes. “This might be a bit rough but you will like it.”
His smile was making her sick and when he began grinding his hips against her she wanted to die. His mouth clamped down on her breast, sucking crudely. Madison immediately started bucking, trying to get him off of her but again he laughed.
“You’re such a tease, Madison.”
He sat up just a bit, his body keeping her still. He watched her for a moment and then gripped his hand tightly on her jaw as he narrowed his eyes at her.
“You mocked and belittled my family, Madison. There has to be recourse for that.” He arched his brow and nodded a minuscule amount before his face became hard. “My father is very angry.”
At that point, Madison really looked at him and could see that he had a recent bruise on his face. Madison began to wonder, with the way he mentioned his father just now, if his father had done that to him. It wouldn’t surprise her if he did.
“So, I figure if I am already gonna get shipped off then I might as well go out in style, don’t you think?” he said with an evil smirk. He ran one of his hands down to her pants while the other one rested on her neck. “We are going to have some fun, Madison.” He grinned maliciously. “By the time I am done with you...” He licked his lips and smiled. “Every time you screw that loser you will see me.” He slipped his hand inside her pants. “You will feel me, not him.”
Madison closed her eyes as he moved his hand out of her pants so that he could unzip his own. Madison brought her knee up, landing it perfectly. She smiled as he winced in pain but her smile faded quickly when his hand applied pressure around her neck. She coughed around the gag, trying her best to bring air into her lungs, but he only applied more pressure when she did.
Helios Awakened (The Helios Chronicles #1) Page 31
