by London Casey
“Sorry, sugar,” I whispered. “This is what you do to me.”
She opened her mouth to say something, but I never gave her a chance. I wasn’t in the mood to flirt or play any games of seduction. I craved her body, and I took what I wanted. The tip of my tongue connected with her clit, and Hazel’s hands moved from my hands to the bed. She arched her back and drove her ass hard into the mattress. My hands eased from her ass around to the front of her body. My left hand slid up while my right hand rested against her lower belly.
That’s where I stayed. Kissing, suckling, devouring her sweetness as she gave it all to me. In return, I gave her pleasure that soon brought her to climax. Her body slowly began to arch up, up, up, as I guided her to the edge. I groaned, growled, tasted her harder and faster, needing her to come. As I turned my head slightly, my tongue moved right to left against her body. That was all I needed to do.
Hazel crashed to the bed and pulled back a little. My hands grabbed her hips, and I drove my mouth forward at her again. She let out a loud cry, threw her left leg over my shoulder, and clawed at my hair. There was no escaping my love. My desire. The wildness that I brought to her life. And I would never apologize for that, but at the same time, I would never forgive myself for it either.
My aggressive tongue began to ease up after a minute. I let myself slow down to soft and gentle kisses, wet kisses, then inched up her body, nuzzling into her belly button.
Then I pulled away.
That’s when Hazel grabbed for my shirt. She gritted her teeth, eyes wide, still trying to catch her breath.
“Try me, sugar,” I whispered to her. “Right now.”
I slid my hands to her back and pulled, bringing her up from the bed.
I stood her before me, but she didn’t stand long.
Hazel put her nails to my face and scratched my cheek with force. Then her hands touched between my legs, opening my jeans.
She quickly dropped herself down before me as though she was begging me.
But that wasn’t the case.
She may have been on her knees, but it was me…
I would forever beg for her love with my shattered heart.
The second she touched my hard skin, I sucked in a breath and felt life shoot through my body. That’s what Hazel was. She was life. She was beauty. Her green eyes were a constant reminder of that. And those green eyes looked up at me as her hand scaled from my thick root to my tip. She squeezed and moved her hand back down. Her other hand dug into my leg.
She pressed her lips to the bottom of my shaft, then her eyes moved forward, focusing on my cock instead of my eyes. Her tongue came forward, and she drew a straight line all the way up me. Swirling around the tip of my cock, I bent my knees a little and sighed. Hitting that sensitive spot was dangerous, forcing me to collect myself a little. Hazel kept me on edge twenty-four-seven, and just the feel of warm breath on my dick was enough to make me want to release.
Her mouth moved over me, and her lips closed tight, sliding down my hard skin as far as she could go.
I groaned. “Fuck, sugar. Hazel. Yes…”
She groaned, sending warm vibrations to all the right spots and beyond.
Slowly, she inched back and pulled away. Her hand gripped my root tight. For a split-second she looked up at me, then went right back at me. This time with speed. This time with purpose. Her mouth enveloped my cock, sliding up and down, sucking, her hand squeezing, working in unison to try and bring this big man to his knees. And she came fucking close to it. My knees were bent far enough that it looked like I was starting to do a squat.
Hazel groaned as she tasted me, her lips sliding against my thickness as her tongue wrestled its way against the bottom of my shaft, moving in random directions, constantly leaving me with the sensation that I was about to come.
When she came up for air and pulled away from me, her hand took over, sliding with ease. But that was only for a few seconds. Then her hand went back to its position, and her tongue playfully flicked against my tip, over and over, almost enough to piss me off, but then she would put her mouth right back on me.
Everything about her was perfect. Head to toe. On her knees. On her back. But well beyond all the stuff that brought me pleasure. Heart to soul to body to mind. This connection ran so twisted and so fucking deep it was hard to wrap my mind around it.
Hazel had both her hands to my legs. It was just her mouth and her groans that were doing all the work now.
“Fuck,” I whispered.
I felt everything starting to build up.
Then she did something. She looked up at me. Her mouth was busy pleasuring me, but those green eyes were looking up.
The moment our eyes locked, I needed her. Not on her knees before me, but I needed her.
My hands shot to her shoulders and guided her away from my cock.
I then stepped back and dropped down to my knees, next to the big and comfortable bed. She fell back on her knees, leaning against the bed. Her lips were pouty and her mouth was guilty.
Fuck, she was everything. It was almost overwhelming.
We didn’t speak a word but we acted together as though it was all planned out.
She turned and dropped back, throwing her hands around my neck. I moved at her with force, her legs opening, my cock positioning itself right between her soft legs. By the time I felt the swell of her slit against the tip of my thickness, she was on her back, and I was ready to have her.
I thrust and sank into her.
Hazel cried out and bit at my neck like she was desperate to taste me.
I held her tight and fucked her hard.
My lips rested against her ear as our bodies came together over and over, right there on the floor next to the bed.
“Sugar,” I growled. And in between heavy thrusts, I spoke the truest words I had ever spoken to another person in my life.
“I…fucking…love…you…and I…will…forever…take…care…of you…”
45
HAZEL
PRESENT DAY
We opted for a second breakfast, but not before Maddox grabbed a blanket and pulled it to the floor to cover us. He sat with his back against the nightstand and I was cuddled up tight to his chest. My body was shivering and my muscles felt so achy and tired that I just wanted to sleep for days.
I had never felt that kind of connection before. Not that sex with Maddox before wasn’t good…but this…now that we were fully exposed…I couldn’t wait to do it again. Just like that. Nothing to hold back from. Nothing to hide from.
Maddox touched my head. “I figure a tall stack of pancakes to start. You’re supposed to eat carbs after a heavy cardio workout, right?”
I laughed. “How would I know? You’re the fit one.”
“Fit? Nah.”
I kissed his defined chest. “Trust me, whatever you’re doing, it’s working.”
“I’m not sure the fitness world is ready to accept my routine of whiskey, anger, and wild sex.”
I looked up at Maddox. “I’d buy that workout program.”
Maddox grinned. “Sugar, you’re helping me write it.”
He always knew how to make me blush.
I kissed his chest again and playfully nipped at him.
A few seconds passed.
Then I whispered, “Am I in trouble?”
“For what?”
“For what I did…”
“Hazel…”
“No. I’ve held that for years. I killed someone, Maddox. I did that. I grabbed the wheel…”
He touched my head. “I know, sugar. I know. The guilt is eating you alive?”
“Yes,” I admitted. “It always has. I mean, I know what I did saved myself. And saved other people, I’m sure. But I didn’t save everyone.”
I looked at Maddox again.
I saw the pain in his eyes.
It was a little weird feeling bad about him losing Ava while I was naked and my body still tingled with what he had done to me. Because if Ava h
adn’t…you know…then he and I wouldn’t have been able to be together.
“There was more than just what Night did to her,” Maddox whispered. “Not that I’m making excuses. I should have done more, but I was young and stupid. So fucking stupid. I should have helped her get help. I knew she was sad. I just didn’t get how bad it was. I never showed anyone the letter she wrote. In my stupidity and anger, I kept it. I stole something from her parents that I can never apologize for. Because of you, Hazel, I’m sending her parents that letter. Maybe it’ll help them understand or find closure. I never had closure until I met you. I know that’s a lot to put on your shoulders, sugar, but it’s the truth. You give me closure because you give me a sense of future.”
I touched Maddox’s face. “You’re my future. You saved me. I was on that ledge too, Maddox. And you pulled me back. And you showed me a different way. She would be proud of you. And I love you for it.”
Maddox drew me forward, making me straddle him. I pulled the blanket over my shoulders. We were still naked, which meant body parts were already lining up.
His hands touched my waist, and that’s all it took to bring me back to life. My inner thighs quivered with new heat.
“What I can do,” he whispered, “is talk to the police here in town. I know them, Hazel. So, if you want to get that guilt off your back, then do it. Tell them what happened. And let the pieces fall as they may. I will be with you one hundred percent of the way.”
I swallowed hard.
Fear rippled through me.
What if they put me in jail? What if they charged me with murder? What if…
I put my mouth to Maddox’s. I chased my own thoughts away. I slowly began to move my hips.
I felt him, all of him.
And it was perfect.
Really perfect.
It was a moment I would never forget.
If that moment was heaven, then hell was waiting for me just hours later…
“I have to meet with Tate and get my camera,” I said.
“I thought Prick took it,” Maddox said.
“He did. He left it at the shop. I need to get that and I need to talk to Tate.”
“Okay,” Maddox said. He kissed my forehead. “I’m going to grab a shower and then go for a ride. I think I’m going to take a ride to the ridge, Hazel. I think I want to get my closure now.”
I nodded. “You should.”
“I’m going to drop that letter off at her parents’ house. I’ll look them up and make sure they live there still.”
“I’m proud of you, Maddox.”
“Shit, sugar, there’s nothing to be proud of here. It’s facing the truth. Facing life. I’m just glad I can face it with you.”
I grabbed his hand and kissed it. Those beautiful hands of his. Hands that not only explored every inch of my body, hands that brought me pleasure, hands that touched my face at the times when I needed it the most…they were the hands that brought art to life. They brought images to life on people’s skin. Something so precious. Helping people expose themselves like he had done to me.
And yet I had been the one who helped Maddox expose himself to me. That was something crazy to think about.
“You better get going,” he whispered. “You stay another five seconds, and I’m taking you into the shower with me.”
“That isn’t the worst thing that could happen to me,” I teased.
The worst thing would happen in a little while.
“One,” Maddox said. “Two…three…”
“I love you, Maddox,” I said. I pushed myself up on my toes and kissed his cheek.
“Four…”
I turned.
Maddox grabbed me and spun me back around. “I love you. Hazel with the green eyes.”
“You’re past five now,” I said.
“That I am.”
We stared at each other for a few more seconds.
My toes curled in my shoes.
“Want to know the best part about a shower?” he asked.
“What?”
“You could take more than one a day,” Maddox said. He winked at me. “I’ll see you later, sugar.”
We kissed.
I walked away.
I was smiling.
I couldn't stop smiling.
My life was out of control.
And it was about to start spiraling…
46
MADDOX
PRESENT DAY
I opened the door to the old house and walked right in. I sighed, shaking my head. Ada lived as though it were a different time.
I walked right through the house and into the kitchen where she stood at the counter, cutting up vegetables. Some jazz music played through the set of wireless speakers I bought for her. It took me a solid hour to teach her how to connect the speakers to her phone, but she was a pro at it now.
I cleared my throat, and Ada let out a yell.
“Maddox? Maddox!”
“What are you doing?” I asked. “You have the front door unlocked. Anyone could just come walking in here. That’s dangerous.”
Ada lifted the knife and pointed the tip right at me. She squinted her eyes. “I’d like to see someone try and take this old lady down.”
I put my hands up. “Fair enough, you win.”
I walked to the island and reached across, grabbing a chunk of raw potato. I reached for another, and Ada swatted my hand.
“You always used to tell me to eat,” I said.
“You’re a grown man now,” Ada said. “Feed yourself.”
“Harsh.”
Ada grabbed a potato, unpeeled it, and set it in front of me. Then she grabbed a knife.
“Here. Make yourself useful.”
I laughed and started to peel the potato. “Who are you cooking all this food for, anyway?”
Ada shrugged her shoulders. “I cook. I eat. I donate what I don’t eat. It keeps me busy. Gives me something to do, Maddox. I can’t sit around and wait to die.”
“Point taken.”
“Why are you here?”
“Passing through.”
“Horse shit,” Ada said.
Nothing like a woman in her eighties throwing curse words around like that.
“Is this about Hazel? I hope you haven’t messed that up.”
“Wow, thanks for the vote of confidence.”
“Maddox, you’ve never been an easy person to deal with. It takes guts to put up with you.”
“And you’ll get your gold medal soon,” I said. “I promise.”
Ada snickered. “So, what is it?”
I took the envelope out of my pocket. “This.”
“Which is?”
“The letter Ava wrote and gave to me before she…you know.”
Ada put the knife down. “Oh, dear.”
“Yeah. I was so pissed at the time I kept it. Her parents were just…”
“I know. They didn’t like you.”
“They didn’t like her either,” I said. “But I can’t change what happened. I was going to drop this off at their house. Am I crazy for that?”
“No,” Ada said. “You were young. You were confused. I remember when that happened, Maddox. I cried for you. I knew she mattered. And then we got harassed so much over that. Constant questioning. The pictures. The rumors. It wasn’t fair to you.”
“Or you,” I said. “You spent a lot of money, Ada.”
“I promised I’d take care of you.”
“That's why I brought this other envelope,” I said.
“For what?”
“For you,” I said. “I know you’re set up here nice. But I also know you still have taxes and other shit to pay.” I put the envelope down. “This should cover a year’s worth of expenses for you. And every year, I’ll do the same again.”
“No,” Ada said right away. “No.”
I laughed. “Of course you’d say that. Am I old enough yet to call you stubborn to your face?”
“Boy, I will smack your ass with
a spatula so hard you won’t be able to sit down for a week.”
“I take that as a no,” I said. “But you’re not saying no to me on this.”
Ada looked at the envelope. She then tears started to well up in her eyes.
Oh shit.
I hurried around the island and hugged her. I felt like I was ten feet taller than her.
“Maddox, you’re a damn fool,” she whispered.
“Thanks.”
“Thank you.”
“Hey. You took care of me. You did more for me than anyone else. This is the least I can do. I want you to enjoy your life. You’ve still got twenty years, easily.”
“I’m lucky if I get twenty minutes,” Ada said.
“Well, enjoy whatever you have left.”
Ada slapped my face. “You turned out not too bad. I still don’t get all the coloring on your arms. You look like a damn coloring book filled in. You had nice skin, Maddox.”
I laughed. “Nice skin. Right.”
Ada insisted she make me a ham and cheese sandwich.
So, I sat at the table like I was a teenager again, eating a ham and cheese sandwich with an apple juice box. I took a picture of myself and sent it to Hazel. She texted back and said she was leaving St. Skin to go to her place to change her clothes. Feeling bold, I texted back to her…
Why don’t you just pack everything up and bring it to my place? Or better yet - find a new place - for the both of us.
I had never lived with a woman in my life.
But Hazel?
Hazel with the green eyes was the exception to every rule I ever made for myself.
I finished my sandwich and had to leave.
Ada refused to let me clean up my plate and empty juice box, something she would once yell at me for not doing.
She walked me to the door, begging me to take some soup.
“You be good,” she said to me. She always said that to me.
“You be good,” I shot back. “Buy yourself something with some of that money. Shop online. They deliver things right to your door.”
“Maybe I will,” Ada said. “I can use that lap computer you got me.”
