Unfortunately, just touching his cock made me aroused all over again. I began kissing his stubbly chin, cupping one part on the side of that sexy cleft in my mouth before moving to his chest. There was a small smattering of hairs there and I thought some of kissing his nipples, but I didn’t want him pushing me away. For the moment, he was responding, and I planned to keep going.
Kissing around his navel, I let go of his cock momentarily before pulling his pants down some. He started to say my name when I wrapped my mouth around him and began sucking him down. The sound that then came out of his mouth was a mix between a groan and a sigh, affirming he was now my captive.
I released him again, licking the head of his cock like a lollypop before gently pulling in just the tip, continuing to stroke it with my tongue inside my mouth. And then I took him in as far as I could, up and down in an achingly slow fashion. He wrapped his hands around my head then, winding his fingers through my hair, and I sucked harder. I could feel his strength in that shaft, like a thousand horses being held back behind a gate, and I knew that the more I lapped at him, the closer I’d be to feeling that power.
But then he gently pulled on my head. “Come here.”
Shaking my head, I continued sucking hard.
“Bailey, come here.”
He was moving his body then, and I was starting to feel angry with him—but he pulled away as he pushed me back. “Why—?”
“Just give me a second.” He reached over, opening the drawer on his nightstand before pulling out a square packet.
I knew what that meant, so I didn’t protest further.
“I can’t deny you when you won’t let me.” He wrapped a hand around my jaw and kissed me with the power I’d just felt in his cock before ripping open the package and sliding a condom over his cock. “But I’m going to have you do the driving.” With one swift motion, he pulled my bottoms off and then grabbed me about the waist to pull me on top of him.
I straddled him then, his condomed cock stiff and glorious underneath me. As I began twirling my pelvis to line him up, he moved his hand down there and began massaging my clit again.
Oh, God, yes. I had at least one more in me.
I closed my eyes, trying to fight against the desire I felt once more, because it was easy to simply stop moving and let him bring me to orgasm again. But I managed to keep going, sliding him inside my pussy, moaning as I did.
But he didn’t remove his finger. He wasn’t able to swirl it like he had been, but he continued applying pressure against that same spot, causing all my nerves to reignite, burning like embers ready to consume everything in sight when the time was right. I pulsated against him, taking him in and out, as he throbbed inside me. “Yes,” I said, unable to stop myself.
Then his finger pushed against me with more force until my mind took off again on another flight out of the atmosphere. I cried aloud but kept grinding against him, my pussy consuming his cock completely. I clenched against him but continued sliding him in and out, and it wasn’t until my orgasm had subsided that I realized his hands were tight against my hips. I opened my eyes to see him gulp a deep breath of air before letting it out in a long, contented sigh. I slowed my motion down then, realizing that he’d just let go of his load and was winding down.
I wasn’t going to let him see that I was satisfied on lots of different levels, especially that I’d managed to get him to give into me. Instead, I kissed him gently on the cheek while easing his cock out of me, and curled up next to him, an arm draped over his chest. I heard rather than saw him remove the condom before settling in with me around him.
I had so many questions, beginning with why.
But I knew I might not ever get answers.
And rather than begin questioning myself, asking why I’d just seduced this man, I let myself drift off to sleep, because tomorrow I’d have all damn day to think about it.
* * *
I awoke later, realizing my arm felt cold. A few seconds later, as I opened my eyes, I realized I was still in Maddox’s room and it was still nighttime. He was sitting up in bed, pointing a remote over at the fireplace and the flames obeyed his command, growing larger. Then he shut off the lamp, sliding back down so that his head was on the pillow.
“I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“That’s okay. Am I making you uncomfortable?”
“No.” As I pulled the covers up to my neck, he said, “Roll onto your side.” I understood that he meant away from him, so I turned as he cradled me against his body. He was still naked, but his cock wasn’t digging into me now. I wondered if he was doing this to make me safe or so he wouldn’t have to look me in the eyes. His flesh was warm against mine and I allowed myself to once more feel safe in his arms.
I had so many questions, but the time wasn’t right. Instead, I had to simply appreciate the moment and take it for whatever it might be.
“What happened to you, Bailey?”
My eyes popped open then and I stared at the drapes nearby, marveling at how the shadows jumped and danced around because of the fireplace now behind me. “What do you mean?” My voice sounded more pathetic than I would have liked, but I couldn’t take it back.
“You were having another nightmare, and you were talking in your sleep.”
Swallowing, I fought to make my voice sound strong. “What did I say?”
“I couldn’t tell. It was just something about your mother.”
Oh, shit. I knew what that meant. It was the same damn dream about the same damn incident, one that had caused a cascade of events that had stripped me of my childhood. The one thing from my past that had haunted me throughout my life.
And no way was I going to talk about it.
“Do you ever remember your dreams?”
“No.” His arms seemed to hold me more tightly. “Are you still worried about your mom?”
“Yeah. And my stepdad. I’ll call them again tomorrow.”
He seemed to take that as an okay answer and we didn’t talk for a while. I knew damned good and well that my dream hadn’t been about that, but the dream I did have was the same one I had whenever I was worried or stressed. And I supposed I’d be feeling that way until our world returned to normal.
If it ever would.
“Maddox?”
“Mmm-hmm?”
He was growing sleepy, so asking him anything wouldn’t guarantee any sort of real answer, but I wanted to ask anyway. “Why didn’t you want to make love to me?”
I heard his breath going in and out and, after a long pause, I figured maybe he’d drifted off to sleep. But he finally spoke. His words were heavy, buried under the curtain of fatigue, but I listened intently so as not to miss anything. “I wanted to, Bailey. And I know you think you want me, but trust me. You don’t.”
“Then why did you kiss me in the hallway? Before bed?”
“I couldn’t resist you anymore.”
Anymore? Had he been fighting against urges this whole time? I swallowed, trying to understand.
“But I know better, even if you don’t. I’m not who you think I am, Bailey.”
He was probably right. I remembered my intense loathing of people who had money, of this very man who’d just been inside me. But he was more than just a rich bastard, more than just the owner of the company I slaved for.
I’d seen just a glimpse inside his heart, enough to see the man he wanted to be—and, if I loved and trusted myself at all, I had to believe part of me knew what it was doing.
Rolling over, I cupped his cheek, relishing the feel of his arms still wrapped around me. “I’m not a little kid, Maddox. In fact, I bet I’m older than you were after you’d made your first million. I might not be brilliant like you are. Maybe I’m not as insightful or as good with money—but I can feel who you are. I can feel the real you. And you’re not a bad man, Maddox.”
Even in the moving shadows, I could see the doubt in his eyes. “I’m not a good man, either. And I will not ruin you. All it takes is one ro
tten apple to destroy the entire bag.”
“I’m not an apple.”
“It works the same way. You have a bag of potatoes. One’s rotten. Soon the whole bag has turned. I refuse to ruin you.”
“It doesn’t work that way with people, Maddox.”
“It does. I know this from experience.”
My mind wandered back to the card in the book earlier today, wondering if Maddox had ruined the woman named Kate.
But I couldn’t ask.
“You don’t know me. If life could have ruined me, it would have already happened.”
“Ah, sweet Bailey. You don’t know me,” he said, repeating my words to me. “I can’t let you experiment while trying to see if you can survive me.” My eyes scoured his, hoping to discover what he was saying. “If you feel safe here, you can stay here with me—but I can’t allow this to happen again.”
I doubted he could stop it, but I wasn’t going to argue with him.
Instead, I continued looking in his eyes. I couldn’t see the monster he thought he was, and so I stroked his cheek again and, unable to stop myself, I moved my face closer, placing a soft kiss on his lips. He didn’t respond, and I didn’t care. The kiss was my small promise to him and required no acknowledgement.
And then I snuggled up next to him, pressing myself against his chest as his scent and warmth enveloped me in a haven unlike anything I’d ever known.
Nor had I ever slept that well in my entire life.
Chapter Fourteen
When I awoke to the sun streaming through Maddox’s bedroom windows, I wasn’t at all surprised to find he wasn’t there. He was probably working out again.
I still didn’t know how I felt about what happened last night, but I decided I was okay with it. Did I seem slutty now?
Did I even care?
As I stood under the warm pummeling shower in my own bathroom, I decided it didn’t matter. Having sex with Maddox was causing me to rethink my entire life. If things were totally awkward between us (and that would be coming from him, not me, because I was going to act like everything was normal), then I’d leave his company and find something else. He’d assured me last night that I was “brilliant,” so why not find a company that would treat me that way, nurturing my intelligence? Finding ways to help me grow?
After putting on a little makeup and getting dressed, I decided to get a little coffee before calling my mom. As much as I loved the woman, I’d have to be in the proper frame of mind to deal with her.
When I got to the kitchen, not only did I spy a large pot of coffee already brewed, but Maddox was at the stove, playing Chef Ramsay again.
“Good morning. Do you like waffles?”
As I got closer, I saw he was frying sausage links in a skillet. “I guess.” Other than the giant grin on his face, he seemed to be doing the same thing I was—acting as normally as possible.
“Then have a seat and relax.”
“I’m going to call my mom. I’ll be back soon.” I forced half a smile before pouring coffee in a mug and then walking quickly into the breakfast nook. I didn’t need him hearing a dysfunctional conversation between my mother and me.
She answered the phone after the first ring. “Bailey, how are you?”
“I’m doing all right. I’m not sick or anything. What about you guys? How are you?”
“I’m okay—but Tod’s not doing so well.”
“What’s wrong?”
“He’s been sick.”
I placed my hand on the table as if to hold myself up. “Sick how? How long has this been going on?”
“It’s been a few days. He’s having trouble breathing.”
“Are you going to take him to the ER—or urgent care?”
“Honey, you know we can’t. We don’t have health insurance—and we’re not working right now. We couldn’t afford anything like that.”
“Mom, listen to me. If he can’t breathe, he’ll die. I’ll help you with—”
I could hear her sobbing. “He won’t listen to me.”
The next voice I heard was behind me, so I turned to look. “I can pay whatever medical costs your parents incur.”
My voice must have carried to the kitchen—and I wasn’t sure if I should thank him for his generosity or feel angry that he’d been eavesdropping.
But my mom’s crying was growing louder, so I latched on to his words. “Mom, my boss—uh, the owner of the company I work for—offered to pay all your medical costs.”
“What?”
“He said he’d pay your medical bills.”
“We can’t take that kind of help.” Now I knew where I got my sense of misguided pride. She didn’t even know Maddox, though, so I found it additionally irritating that she was refusing his money. Looking down, I spoke into my cell phone. “Mom, he has more money than he knows what to do with. Just, please, let him help you guys.”
She was silent for a few moments. “I suppose we could maybe do that. And pay him back when we have the money.”
“Sure. Just get Tod to the hospital and keep me posted.”
“I will. Thank you, honey. Please thank your boss for us as well.”
I hung up the phone and, with reluctance, looked up at “the boss.” “Thank you, Maddox. She’s sometimes stubborn.”
He flashed a grin at me. “Now I know where you get it.” Turning, he started walking toward the kitchen again. “And I’ll have you know I know exactly what to do with all my money.”
I supposed, as I followed him, that if he could choose to have fun like nothing had happened between us, I could do the same. “So what can I do to help with breakfast?”
“Nothing. I’ve got this.” Turning, his eyes met mine, reminding me of how I was able to read everything deep inside him through those windows. “Just do me a favor and either get the information to your mother’s bank account or write down her email address. Leave the information by my computer and I’ll send her some money tonight.”
“Tonight?”
“Yes. And then, when she gets the bills, I’ll make sure they’re all paid. Okay?”
I nodded before taking a sip of my coffee.
“In the meantime, have a seat and I’ll serve up breakfast in a bit.”
Watching him walk away in those snug blue jeans reminded me of last night and how he had rocked my world. But we were going to pretend nothing had ever happened—so I picked up my phone, deciding to read the news.
That was a bad idea, though. The first headline told me more than one-thousand people had already died in the United States from the Coronavirus, and predictions were grim. That news didn’t help my mood at all, so I switched to reading text messages. First, I sent one to my mom, telling her to check her email later in the day. Then I sent a text to Elise, asking how she was doing.
Could I tell my friend what had happened between Maddox and me? I really needed to talk to her—but how would she feel about all that had transpired here?
Would she feel like I’d betrayed her?
For now, not knowing what I would say, I sent a simple note: Hey, Elise. I miss your face so much! Will you have time to chat later?
Her response was almost immediate. OMG, YES!!! I have so much to tell you. Eek!
I started laughing out loud, relieved that my friend was in good—no, great—spirits. Maybe I’d be able to tell her my news after all. I really hoped so, because I needed to run some thoughts past someone who knew me well and cared about me.
Seriously. How could I go back to Essential Solutions now and act like everything was normal? Like Maddox and I had never done what we’d done? Could I act cool and casual?
I was barely able to do that here.
Maddox appeared in the nook with a tray full of what I considered to be waffle condiments—butter, syrup, whipped cream, sliced fruits, powdered sugar. My mouth began to water just looking at it as the sun sparkled over each item. “What’s so funny?”
Waving my phone before setting it on the table, I said, “Just
my best friend. She apparently has something she wants to tell me—and her personality just kind of shone through the phone. She’s giddy.” A smile ate up my face just thinking about her.
“Elise, right?”
“Yeah. Elise.”
“Come. Let’s get you a plate of waffles.” As I followed him to the kitchen, he continued talking. “Did you know each other before working at my company?”
“No. We started at Essential at the same time, so we were in training together.” Elise was probably the best thing that had happened to me at Maddox’s company. We would be best friends for life and so, for that, I’d always be grateful to him.
Maddox handed me a plate. “How many would you like?”
The waffles looked huge but delicious. “Two?”
“Good. I like to see you feeding your appetite.” Did that mean something else? One at a time, he placed the crunchy cakes on my plate and then handed me a linen napkin rolled around silverware. “Sausage?”
“Please.”
He continued talking while he placed several sausage links on my plate. “As for your friendship with Elise, did you know that experts suggest that having a best friend at work makes your career more meaningful?”
I raised an eyebrow while he put several waffles and the remaining sausage links on his own plate. “I suspect having your work valued and moving up the ladder also makes your career meaningful.”
The way he squinted an eye told me he was likely growing tired of my continuous jabs in that department—but he needed to know all was not fair in the land of customer service. As the owner and CEO, he had to be told that maybe some of the people he trusted as leaders weren’t behaving as they should.
I might not have been the perfect messenger, but I was delivering the news just the same.
“It has been duly noted, Ms. Bernard.”
Oh…what the hell was that? Was referring to me by my last name his way of pushing me even further away from him? Did my issues pale in comparison to his?
“Good.” I clipped my way back to the breakfast nook, halfway surprised when he joined me. After we both sat down, I eyed all the toppings, deciding to make one waffle super decadent with strawberries, blueberries, and whipped cream and the other I’d eat with plain butter and syrup. “Do you happen to have a best friend at work?”
Quarantined with the Billionaire Page 12
