Finding Mr. Wrong

by A. m Madden

  The moment I said it, I regretted it. Her expression went slack, and her face paled. Without a word, she turned and walked back to the cottage. I called out to her, but she ignored me.

  It was more than the aggravation I felt over my business that caused me to feel sick to my stomach. It could have been the wedding talk or our phone calls that triggered our moods—the list went on and on.

  But one thing I knew for sure as I sunk to my knees in the wet sand feeling like the world was imploding around me, Brae Daniels had gotten under my skin, and I hated that I cared so much.

  Chapter 24

  Brae

  Heavy footsteps sounded outside of the bathroom door, followed by the slamming of drawers. What the hell was he doing? After taking a much-needed breath, I pulled the door open to see Jude jerking on a pair of jeans over his bare ass.

  “Where are you going?”

  His eyes narrowed as he looked at me. “For a walk. I need air. Just like you need everything to be neat and tidy, I need my space to think.”

  “You know you can’t be gone longer than an hour.” That’s all I needed was for him to get sidetracked and us to get busted.

  “Don’t worry, Miss Rule Follower, I’ll be back in time. So, just calm your tits. I wouldn’t want you to lose the prize money. After all, I know that’s your main reason for being here.”

  My mouth dropped at his words. Of course, that was my main reason, but now he played a large factor in it too. Did he think we were just playing house all these weeks? That I’d just sleep with him because he was available? “You’re an asshole.”

  “So, I’ve been told.” With that, he turned and left out the back door. Even though I was furious, I couldn’t help but watch his toned body walk away. His worn jeans hung low on his hips, cradling his ass in the most delectable way. God, I hated that man. It was a shame he held a solid place in my heart.

  Him giving me a few minutes to myself was a good decision. With my blood boiling to dangerous levels, I filled a tumbler with ice and topped it with the chilled white wine we opened yesterday.

  Forfeiting the hot chaise on the beach for a shadier spot, I made myself comfortable on the hammock. Wave after wave rolled in, but the sound of the surf, which usually calmed me, failed. All I heard was him calling me his ball and chain as I took a large gulp of wine. It was becoming clear he didn’t want to get married. His entire demeanor changed as soon as we received our instructions regarding wedding attire.

  It would appear I was back to square one of being here for my original reason. But things changed, and it’d be hard to block out the effect Jude had on me. His need to keep that phone call private, even after I told him all about mine, was very telling. Something was going on and it was stressing him out. Part of me wanted to ask him if it was his time of the month, but I refrained.

  Not knowing the exact time, my nerves began to spike. It was then movement caught my eye. Jude strutted down the beach looking sexy as hell. Those damn tattoos. His skin glistened with sweat and his bare feet kicked the sand with each step he took. The washed-out denim defined every inch of his long, muscular legs. And from twenty feet away, Jude Soren, managed to spike my temperature quicker than the island sun ever had.

  Even though I couldn’t see his face, his actions painted a clear picture. When he ran his hand through his hair while staring down at the sand, I knew his short walk didn’t do him much good.

  He stopped when he saw me relaxing in the hammock. Neither of us spoke for a short moment, but it felt longer. Not since we first started this dating adventure has the tension been so high between us. I grew accustomed to his jokes, nicknames, and incessant teasing. The thought of all that being gone saddened me.

  “Did you have a nice walk?”

  “I did. What have you been doing?”

  Taking a sip of my wine, I relished in the ice hitting my lips, temporarily cooling me down. “Sitting here thinking about all we’ve been through the past few weeks. We got another note. Three days before the wedding, we’ll be picked up and taken to a jeweler to pick out rings.” His jaw tensed, and I quickly changed the subject. “You look hot, would you like something cold to drink?”

  “You still think I’m hot, Sparky? If we’re exchanging compliments, I think your tits look amazing in that tank top.”

  I rolled my eyes, but secretly loved his retort. Maybe he was feeling better. “So, that’s a no to the drink?”

  “I think a shower would be better. Care to join me? I’ll let you wash my back. I’d be more than happy to take care of your front.”

  “As you keep reminding me, I am on my period. Plus, don’t forget we’re supposed to be mad at each other.”

  “I’m sure you’ve heard of make-up sex.” He took a step toward me, the expression on his face one that said he wanted to devour me. “Besides, do you think your period is going to stop me?”

  My mouth gaped open in shock. Holy shit. I’ve never in my life had sex during my time of the month. Was he suggesting what I thought he was?

  “I see your wheels turning, Sparky. You think too much.” In one fell swoop, he tossed me over his shoulder, sending the hammock swinging and my wine glass crashing to the sand.

  “Jude! Put me down.” My legs kicked, but it didn’t deter him. Each of his movements caused the waistband of his jeans to gap. Once again, my eyes were fixated on the top of his ass. I purposely fisted my hands to keep myself from slipping them in to cop a feel. “You can’t fix everything by having sex.”

  “Do you know me at all?” Setting me down in the bathroom, he turned the shower on before sliding the metal button through the hole of his jeans. His eyes pinned to mine, he lowered the zipper until they fell to the floor. There, in all his glory, stood an infuriating man. “Ready to make up, Sparky?”

  “I don’t know. Should I make up with you? I’m not sure what a ball and chain would do.” I planted my hands on my hips and stared up at him.

  Jude smiled smugly, unfastened my shorts, and pushed them down until they rested on my feet. His hand went between my legs, over my panties, causing me to gasp. Shit. There was no way I would let him touch me there, not today, not for a couple more days. He tucked his thumbs under the elastic of my panties and slid them down.

  Two gentle tugs on the pink string hanging between my legs practically caused an instant orgasm. “Do what you need to do, Brae, but I will be inside you. Either you take care of this, or I will.” His lips found a spot on my neck that had clearly become his favorite to nibble on. My entire body tensed. Could I do this with him? I thought as steam filled the small room.

  With every flick of his tongue on my skin, he convinced me in less than five seconds. Tilting my head to the side so he could continue, I whispered, “Get in. I’ll be right behind you.”

  He lifted his head with a wicked grin. “I’d rather be behind you, but that could be round two.”

  The moment he turned his back, I rushed to remove the only barrier stopping him from taking me on the spot. I glanced his way, and was thankful he kept his back to me until I finished what I needed to do.

  I joined him in the small shower, and between the pounding spray of warm water and his proximity to my body, there was no hiding how turned on I was.

  Jude

  I’d never wanted a woman as much as I wanted her right then. That confirmation seemed far-fetched, especially with my sexual history. But wanting to fuck someone wasn’t nearly as all-consuming as wanting to own someone. I didn’t merely need to be inside her; I needed to mark her, take her, and possess her in every way.

  I took half a step closer until every part of me pushed against every part of her. One more step forward successfully sandwiched Brae between the stone wall and me, the rock hard man in front of her.

  “Jude, I’ve never done this before,” she said, panicked.

  “Neither have I, and that makes it even hotter. Lift your legs, Sparky,” I demanded without giving her an option. She held my shoulders and did as she was tol
d. I gripped the back of her thighs to help her along. Without the slightest hesitation, I slid my entire length into her pussy in one deliberate thrust.

  “Oh, fuck.” The euphoria of being buried balls deep in her warmth was immediate. I didn’t think I’d ever tire of her, or how she so perfectly surrounded me.

  My movements were anything but gentle as I pounded my hips against hers, a growl marking each move. She dug her fingers into my hair and tugged, causing me to hiss against her lips.

  Her penetrating gaze held me hostage. I couldn’t look away, and when she came nose to nose with me while tugging harder on my hair, I practically came. “You’re still angry, Sparky. I can tell.”

  “Congratulations, Captain Obvious.” Her labored breathing, glare, and the way her pussy gripped me were all telltale signs that she was beyond turned on.

  “Angry or not, you’re also hating the fact that you like me fucking you hard in a shower.” I pressed my fingertips into her thighs, pushing up against her even harder with each move I made.

  “Enough talking,” she gritted out before crushing her lips to mine.

  We swallowed each other’s grunts; consumed each other’s ire. With our mouths cemented together, our bodies joined as one, her anger and my frustration took on a life of their own. Together in that shower, we used an act of primordial fucking to douse the fire raging within us.

  I pulled far enough away from her face to demand, “Get there, Sparky.” She stared back at me in defiance, but otherwise ignored me. Taking it upon myself, I shoved my hand between us to fondle her.

  The river of water flowing over and between us felt hot to my skin. The pressure in my balls begged for release. I couldn’t hold back any longer, and gave one final warning. “I’m coming, with or without you.”

  I drove into her with three more thrusts before every molecule of stress, anger, frustration, and ecstasy I was feeling poured into her. With that, she buried her face in the crook of my neck and clamped her teeth into my shoulder as her pussy clamped my cock in a death grip.

  “Fuck,” I hissed again while a never-ending climax almost dropped me to my knees.

  Out of necessity, I slowed my movements and loosened my hold. She lifted her head to look into my eyes. Streams of water cascaded over her head and down her face, but I could still tell she was crying.

  “Brae,” I whispered, but something clogged my throat, preventing me to say any more. She didn’t respond; just continued to stare sadly. I brushed her hair back off her face and pulled her head down to rest against my shoulder. “I’m sorry.”

  “Me too,” she said without hesitation against my skin. Her arms tightened around my neck, yet her body submitted against mine. I held her, once again trying to comfort her through actions, not words.

  After I washed her hair and she washed mine, we dried each other tenderly, dressed, and slipped into bed. I buried my nose into her damp hair, not getting enough of her sweet shampoo.

  “Jude? Do you really feel I’m acting like a ball and chain?”

  “No, Sparky. I’m sorry I said that. And to be honest, I don’t know what a ball and chain feels like.” I tightened my hold on her and sighed. “Talking to Luca threw me off. We have a lot going on this quarter and since I wasn’t prepared to leave, I dumped a lot on my team. When I leave town, which isn’t often, I hold team meetings and contact any clients who may need me. Granted, my employees can hold down the fort, but it’s very easy to have things fall between the cracks, and those things can cost me millions in revenue.”

  “I understand, and I’m sure it’s stressful. It would have been nice if you talked to me about it, though.”

  “I’m sorry. I wasn’t sure you’d understand.”

  “I guess we’re in opposite positions. If you’re here, you could lose money. If I’m not here, my parents could lose their farm.” Her body shifted, but my hold didn’t loosen. “We only have two weeks left. Will things be okay until then?”

  Would they? That was a question I wouldn’t be able to answer until after I met with Luca. Not wanting her to worry, all I could say was, “I’m sure everything will be fine.” Trying to alleviate the stress, I chuckled, “You don’t happen to know anything about the market, do you? Maybe I could hire you when we get home. We could have hot desk sex.”

  “The only market I know is the supermarket, and even that’s limited to produce and frozen foods.”

  “So much for that idea.” I kissed the top of her head. “We’ll figure things out, okay? Trust me?”

  After a pause that made my heart twist and wishing she didn’t hesitate, she finally said, “Okay. And I do trust you, Jude.”

  “That’s my Sparky.” My fingers traced lazy circles on her arm.

  Once I heard Luca’s news, I didn’t harp on the wedding part of this day and pushed it to the back of my mind, but it was still there nagging at me. We hadn’t talked about what would happen in less than two weeks. I supposed they’d allow us to separate at some point to give us a chance to get organized, and I’d have to take that time to fix everything that’s fallen apart while I’ve been gone. I assumed she’d do the same with her parents’ situation.

  But then?

  Living in a small apartment in SoHo did not appeal to me in the least, and I had a gut feeling it wouldn’t be easy to talk her into moving in with me.

  After a few long minutes of her remaining silent, I thought she fell asleep. “Sparky?” I whispered.

  “Yeah?”

  “I know you don’t want to give up your apartment, but would you consider moving into my place? It’s plenty big for the two of us and you would love the building. We have a pool and gym, and it’s minutes away from great shopping on Fifth.”

  She chuckled against my chest. “I can’t afford great shopping on Fifth, Jude.”

  “I can.” She stiffened against me, and I rushed on before her snark appeared. “You’re just going to have to get used to the fact that I have money. I live a very spoiled lifestyle.”

  “I knew that the moment you stared at the washer and dryer like they were aliens.”

  “Nonetheless,” I said, stretching out the last s, “I work too hard to change my ways. It would be much easier for you to adapt to my lifestyle than for me to adapt to yours.” She lifted her head, her eyes blazing again. “What did I say now?” I lifted my free hand in defense. “I can’t help it if I’m a diva.”

  Her furious expression couldn’t hold and a slow smile lifted the corners of her lips. “If you admit to getting manicures and pedicures, I’m walking now.”

  “No, smartass. But I do get weekly massages.”

  “By a hot woman?” I looked away, and she huffed. “Yeah, that ends.”

  “Wow, Sparky. Bossy much? Does that mean I have to fire every hot broker who works for me?”

  All levity in her expression vanished. “Jude, I know this isn’t real to you and we have an expiration date, but I won’t be able to handle you sleeping with anyone else while you’re sleeping with me.”

  I didn’t know whether I should be insulted or angry at her accusation. To be honest, I hadn’t thought that far ahead, but with the way things were progressing between us sexually, I didn’t want or need extracurricular activity. Choosing my words carefully to avoid another fight, I shook my head, and said, “I’d never do that to you, Sparky.”

  She nodded, and said, “Thank you.”

  “Same goes for you. You’ve seen my jealous side.”

  “Your hot jealous side? So, I can’t egg you on?” I raised a brow and offered a tight-lipped smile just before I smacked her ass. “Ow. I’m kidding. Ditto, Jude. All my orgasms are reserved for you.”

  “As they should be.” I kissed her lips, pulled away, and kissed them again . . . and again . . . and again. Before I knew it, I was hard as a rock. “Want to go for a swim with me?”

  “Now?” she asked, wide-eyed.

  “Yeah, now. Put your suit on, and forget the tampon. I’ll meet you on the beach.” With a p
ersuasive shove toward the bathroom, she took my hint and shockingly followed my direction without argument.

  Chapter 25

  Brae

  “Really, I liked the second gown the best.” A pouf of white tulle looked even worse than I thought it would. All I could imagine was Jude’s expression since I looked like a wedding cake topper.

  “Brae, darling, this is your wedding day. You should look like a glamorous bride.” She cocked her head to the side. “Let’s try a few more.”

  My shoulders slumped at those words. I couldn’t help but think of my mother. Oh, how I wished she were here. There was no way I’d be trying on these ridiculous dresses. The thought that the dress I selected today may not be my only wedding dress saddened me. Jude and I never discussed what would happen after the first year.

  “Barbi, I like the second one. Silk organza would be perfect for the beach. Plus, it’s simple and sand won’t get into the fabric. If I wear tulle or one with a long train, it will look dirty by the time I make it down the aisle.”

  She waved her hand back and forth. “Nonsense. You won’t be walking on the sand, hence the fabulous shoes.” White beaded pumps dangled from her fingers. “These are spectacular, as your dress should be.”

  I sighed. Part of me wanted to just agree and buy this monstrosity of a gown, but rather than do that, I agreed to try on a few more. I bet Jude was relaxing in the hammock, all done with his fitting. Men had it so much easier.

  Finally, after five dresses, and an Italian seamstress who was pin happy, I was on my way back to the house. Barbi and I agreed on a strapless, white lace, sheath dress. No train, no veil—another argument I needed to win.

  “Let’s go inside. This home is so charming, isn’t it?” This woman was driving me crazy, but since her company just paid for a five thousand dollar dress and three hundred dollar shoes, how could I not at least offer her iced tea? Hopefully, Jude was dressed.