“How does it feel, Mrs. Soon-to-be-McFadden?” Val asked with a giggle and plopped down behind them with a plate of food.
“Good but a little scary,” Madi admitted. “I mean, baby on the way, engaged. It’s kind of intimidating, seeing as Hunter’s only been gone six months now.” She looked down, feeling bad.
“Don’t you dare!” Sky took her face in her hands. “You deserve to be happy. Hunt wouldn’t take that away from you, not ever.”
“You guys don’t think Brett and I are moving a little fast?”
“Fast? Hell, he only took twenty years to tell you how he felt. How is that fast?” Brooke smirked and took Madi’s hand, examining the ring there. “He did good, but listen to me.” When Madi turned, Brooke continued, “You and Hunt weren’t so great together. He didn’t always bring out the best in you. I miss the asshole but, let’s be honest, he wasn’t the one for you. Brett is. You’re going to have his baby. It’s only fitting that you two should be married. And ya know, the sooner the better ‘cause when you tell Momma that you’re pregnant, your ass had better have had your honeymoon.”
Madi gritted her teeth. It was true; their mom was gonna have a shit-fit.
“So, I’m thinking Vegas—tick-tock, tick-tock—the sooner y’all tie the knot, the sooner you rip that Band-Aid off. Your only saving grace is that it’s Brett and they love him, plus this will be their first grand-baby, so there is that.”
“You’d sugar coat a giant dump, Brooke,” Madi scolded, feeling sick to her stomach now. Brooke just shrugged in return.
“Well, I’m up for Vegas. How’s week after next sound? They have a bye then.” Val stated and shrugged, leaving Sky gaping and Brooke laughing.
Later that night, Brett carried Madi into their bedroom. The room was farmhouse style, like everything else inside the home. Shiplap covered the wall behind the large poster bed, a blue quilt comforter lay atop it. The furniture was a dark mahogany that blended well with the original wood floors. Taupe rugs designed with pastoral scenes covered the floor, and the ceiling had large wooden beams, similar to the kitchen and living room.
Brett’s big body covered Madi’s as he hiked the dress up to her hips, kissing her belly and hovering there, talking to his baby like he tended to do as of late. “How’s Daddy’s little champ doing tonight, huh?”
“He’s good. Finally letting Mommy keep her food down for a change.”
Brett grinned up at her. “I love you, fiancée.”
“I love you, soon-to-be husband.”
He gazed into her eyes for a moment before peeling her dress up and over her head, removing his own shirt, and tossing it aside. Damn, she’d never get sick of that view. His big, broad frame, those chiseled muscles, as if he’d been sculpted just for her body. She moved her hands over him as he laid her back, admiring his strength, the work it took for him to be as hard and muscular as he was; she felt her immediate desire began to coat her panties. Jeez, it just took a look nowadays it seemed. Perhaps that was the pregnancy hormones she’d been told about.
Brett’s mouth moved from her lips to her neck, and he began to nibble there, making her arch up into his palm when his hand slid into her panties. “Oh, baby,” she whimpered, feeling her womanhood clench.
“Mmm… Someone’s ready for her god tonight, huh?”
His head tilted and he looked into her eyes, those fiery green specks flaming. She pulled her lips in, stifling her response. He withdrew his hand from her underwear slowly and moved off the bed.
Before Madi could protest, he remedied with, “Let’s play a game tonight, my queen.”
Oh goodness! The dominant Zeus wanted to play? How could she say no?
He moved to his drawer of enigmas and pulled out what looked to be something to tie her down with, but instead of tying her hands, he pulled it across her eyes to blindfold her.
“I can’t see you?” Madi pouted as Brett pulled it taut behind her head and tied it off.
“It’s only for your ultimate pleasure, my love. At any time, you can simply peel it down and see me loving your beautiful body with my cock.” At the word “cock,” he licked her earlobe with his tongue and she shivered—Oh God, as if his words alone weren’t enough to make her lose herself.
Brett pulled her hands over her head and started by kissing her lips hungrily. He stroked his tongue across hers and licked her lips erotically. He sucked her bottom lip then moved his mouth to her cheek. His tongue ran over to her jawline then down her neck, torturing slowly. He had her whimpering and writhing even before his hands came to her lace-covered breasts. The front clasp of her bra came undone easily, exposing them for his taking. He used his hands to knead and squeeze while his fingers brought her nipples to hard peaks. He tortured one, then the other before letting his mouth have a turn.
By then, Madi was a quivering bundle of nerves, begging for the release only her god-king could give her.
Brett began licking a ravenous trail down to the hem of her underwear, then nuzzled her through the thin cloth forcing her to beg as he chuckled. He spread her legs wide while he assaulted her sex with his tongue through the thin lace of her panties. His hands returned to her breasts, pinching her nipples with his thumbs and index fingers while his teeth, lips, and tongue brought her closer to oblivion.
Just as she was about to climax, Brett jerked her panties aside and his rapacious lips connected with her aching flesh. That’s when she fell over the edge. His mouth ravaged her as the orgasm gripped her in a vicious grasp.
Brett was chuckling as he flipped her over, following her return. “My wanton sex goddess is always putty in my hands,” he stated in triumph.
“AKA your boss,” she hissed out an empty threat, even as her mind still swam over the mountain of bliss he’d thrust her upon.
He chuckled again, and she felt his lips on her bottom. “Mmm, yes, but don’t call me a kiss ass because God knows, I simply can’t resist this plump ass of yours.”
Madi was the one laughing this time, then she moaned when he bit into it. “Oh my…”
His fingers moved between her legs, and he spread her cheeks wider as his fingers entered her. Brett thrust once, twice, three times before she felt him withdraw and his sex penetrated her. She felt his chest against her back as he filled her. He kissed her shoulder blade and pulled her hair from her neck, twisting it into a pony tail. He then lifted her with his other arm onto all fours and pulled her hair taut, making her moan as his cock plunged deep within her and his thighs hit hers over and over again.
“Oh Brett, oh God. Yes! Ride me, baby,” she whined as the hand beneath her gripped her breast. This was so hot and erotic and made her feel like such a bad girl being taken from behind, blindfolded, and having her hair pulled.
He pounded into her relentlessly, owning her body with each thrust of his hard shaft as her orgasm built and built. “Mmm, whose queen are you?”
“Oh, baby. I’m yours. Zeus. My almighty Zeus.”
“Do you submit to your king?” His lips hovered at her throat and she whimpered.
“Yes, yes, oh God, yes,” she cried, her climax coming in tandem with his, his roar rumbling them both as his hips violently hit hers.
Soon, they were returning to earth as Brett began to soften his thrusts and their breathing returned. His grip lightened on her hair and he pulled her upright, her back hitting his chest. He kissed her shoulder and rested his chin there, his nose tickling her earlobe.
“Mmm, I wonder if this gets better when we’re married.”
“Let’s find out, shall we?” she smirked.
She peeled the blindfold down her face and turned to look at him. “Let’s go to Vegas.”
“What? Really?” When she nodded, he said, “I dunno, Sunflower. It seems so impersonal.”
“Did you have a better idea, Zeus?”
“Well, Zeus always has fairly good ideas,” he quipped, lifting his brows. “I think Hera and her multiple orgasms would tend to agree.”
Madi la
ughed then rolled her eyes. “We should do it during bye week.”
“Weekend after next?”
Madi shrugged. “We are pregnant. And we still have to tell our parents.”
Brett pulled his lips to one side thoughtfully. “Good point. I’m sure we can find a wedding planner who can figure something out that quickly.”
Madi smiled deviously. “Leave that up to Hera, the goddess of marriage.” Madi turned in his arms and took the blindfold, flicking it with her wrist. “Now, I think it’s her turn to have a little fun, what do ya say?”
“You know Zeus likes to dominate, my love. He’s a controlling god after all,” he teased.
“Trust me,” she whispered and leaned into her king’s ear, licking his ear lobe and pulling it into her mouth, lightly biting with her teeth. Zeus trembled, and Hera jumped for joy. “Zeus, and his cock, will enjoy this greatly. I assure you.”
“Damn, naughty girl! You keep talking like that and I’ll have to spank you again.”
“I’d have it no other way, my king,” Madi smirked and pulled her fiancé down to the bed to torture him with her goddess-like sexual prowess.
“Why’s he mad at you?” Madi pouted at a red-faced Skyla.
“Because I want to keep working and not stay home like a spoiled little princess.”
“Hey!” Val interceded. “I’m not a spoiled little princess.”
Skyla looked to Val with a sneer. “I wasn’t talking about you, Aussie Gold. Can it!” The feisty redhead spoke, and everyone paused, looking at her like she might be the next volcanic eruption.
“Sorry, Val, damn these pregnancy hormones. I’m horny one minute, ready to tear somebody’s head off the next.” Skyla huffed and sat down at the breakfast nook table, rubbing her “baby bump.” Val gave her an understanding smile and Sky continued. “I just mean I’m not cut out for that. I was aiming to be the next DA when this happened, and I’m not ungrateful by any means. It’s just…it’s not what I planned, you know?”
Madi took her hand and smiled. “You don’t have to give it up. We’re women warriors. We can have both motherhood and careers.”
“Right? With public ridicule and scorn from our soon-to-be husbands,” Red smarted off.
“What did Trav say?” Madi asked.
“Just that he expected I would stay home.” She grumbled. “I mean he knows how much my career means to me, how could he even say that?”
“‘Cause he’s a man. He doesn’t get it,” Brooke piped in, chewing on a bagel. “Look, sooner or later—not to burst your bubble, sis—but Brett’s gonna ask the same thing of you.” Her brows rose matter-of-factly. “It’s in their DNA, you know? I was watching this documentary about it the other day. They all have this caveman mentality. It’s stronger in some than others. They marry women like their mothers, subconsciously, so that they can become like their second mothers to take care of them. It’s like this innate thing; they work, we nurture, like something out of a damn fifty’s sitcom. Besides, your men have money to last you ten lifetimes. If you don’t work, it’s not a big deal.”
“Ok, you,” Madi pointed at her baby sister, frowning, “lay off the Hulu documentaries, first off. And second, stop raining on the parade, April showers. Jeez, some of us are excited about marriage and husbands and babies and we don’t need your single sass.”
“Yeah, well single-sass isn’t dealing with no man telling her what to do.”
“What’s your beef with men anyway, Brooke?” It was Valeria who asked as Brooke threw daggers into Madi’s eyes.
“I was raped.”
All eyes went to Madi’s beautiful brown-haired sister. Madi couldn’t believe she was talking about it, confessing her secrets—but she dared not intercede with the look on Brooke’s face.
Brooke continued, “He was my boyfriend, and I thought he ‘loved’ me. Yeah, so much for that. No didn’t mean anything in the ‘throes of passion’ and, because I loved him, I was expected to put out at fourteen. Don’t get me wrong, I’d been curious like most young teens are, but when it came right down to the deed, I wasn’t ready… but he didn’t care.”
Madi expected her to tell them the rest. How she’d withdrawn for a time before absorbing her life in ballet, until her injury. Now, she was reckless with love, her life, and her body and nothing Madi had done or said ever seemed to make a difference. She feared for her sister, but hoped that Brooke would find herself in time.
Val was the first to speak, “Wow, Brooke, I’m so sorry that happened to you.”
“It went on for a time before I finally got the guts to break up with him. By then the damage had already been done. Brooke Taylor had put out and other guys wanted a taste. I’d been labeled, so what did I do? I lived up to that label.” Brooke sneered sarcastically, but the pain of her plight ripped into Madi so hard she teared up.
She rested her hand on Brooke’s knee and gave her a weak smile.
“Ha, the nun and the slut, that was Madi and me. Hard to believe we’re really sisters, right?”
“Broo—”
“I’m gonna go grab the flowers for tomorrow…and some ice cream. Y’all want some pickles too, right?” Brooke moved swiftly and bounced up, throwing her bagel in the trash before heading out the door.
“Wow! That was heavy,” Sky whispered.
They didn’t even know the half of it. The sordid life of Brooke Taylor would make for a docu-drama on A&E and a best-selling book series.
“So, back to what I was saying—don’t feel bad about having your career and your baby too. It can be done and it’s what you want; Travis knew this before he knocked you up.”
“True. He’s just guilt-tripping me about having a nanny raise our child.”
“Any man would. I volunteered to stay with the twins, but I know it’s what Linc really wanted.” Val shrugged.
“How long before you stopped working, Val?” Sky asked.
“Right away, but they’re twins. It’s double the work and then some.”
“Well, I don’t plan to quit working, and I dare Brett to ask me to.”
Brett, Travis, and Pax all walked in at that time and stopped dead in their tracks at the looks on the women’s faces—sassy, hormonal, and ready to pounce on any man that defied them at that moment.
“Poor timing, guys… Back up slowly—very, very slowly,” Pax said and began to do so, getting a laugh out of Madi.
“Did I do something wrong last night, Hera?” Brett asked confidently, a self-assured member of the bomb squad ready to defuse the situation.
“Hera, huh?” Trav grinned like the cat that ate the canary. “Why don’t you tell ‘em my nickname for you, Fireball.”
“Travis Redmond, if you ever wish to visit your ‘favorite place’ again, I suggest you zip it.” Skyla’s blue eyes pierced Travis’s, but he didn’t flinch. He looked ready to tangle with her, and it was rather sexy if Madi had any say in the matter. Jeez, these damn hormones.
“She’s Aphrodite.” Travis shrugged, undeterred that he’d poked the bear—and that she-bear was about to eat him alive.
Sky’s jaw dropped in audacity, and Madi gritted her teeth, waiting for the shit to hit the fan.
“Well, I see we aren’t the only ones to take advantage of our god names,” Brett mumbled with a shrug.
Sky’s cheeks reddened, matching her hair, then her eyes narrowed at Travis who appeared unaffected, his confidence unshaken.
Pax broke the silence first. “You guys have all the fun.” He stuck his lip out and crossed his arms over his chest.
“Hey, nobody said you couldn’t have your own goddess, Poseidon.”
Pax seemed to mull that over for a minute, and Madi laughed at him.
“It definitely has its perks,” Brett confirmed and walked over to Madi, pulling her up off the chair and into his embrace for a searing kiss as his hand fell to her lower abdomen. “Just be prepared to further your legacy.” Brett’s beautiful smile greeted her as she opened her eyes. He was so excited abo
ut this baby.
“The Kraken ain’t the only thing you’ll be releasing.” Trav winked and moved toward Skyla, whose scowl deepened. Uh oh, he was in for it. He side-stepped, closer to Brett and Madi, and whisper-yelled, “Hey, mind if I borrow your guest room for like twenty minutes? I need to go pray at the altar of my goddess.”
Brett laughed and shook his head. Just as Sky began to protest, Travis was scooping her up and carrying her off down the hallway. Madi stifled a giggle, and Val’s face widened in shock. “Damn,” she said. “I think Lazarus needs a new nickname.”
They all burst out laughing, and Pax nodded. “I definitely need to start taking advantage of my own, it would seem.”
“Just for the record, Sunflower, I never intended for you to stop working.” The love showing back in his face made her tear up. “You do whatever your heart desires, and I’ll stand behind you one hundred percent.”
She swooned hard.
“Besides,” he leaned in to whisper in her ear, “I love having you for my boss.”
Madi giggled at that.
Tomorrow, she was marrying the most wonderful man in the world, and she couldn’t be happier.
The sun shone brightly on that September day. The temperature was perfect at a crisp sixty-seven degrees, and Brett’s heart swelled to bursting as he watched his bride, his perfect Madi, walking down a crimson red runner toward him.
They’d had everything set up on the back pasture of his land. Reverend Young had been thrilled and the wedding planner Madi had found was on her game. In less than two weeks, the whole thing had been pulled off with an altar, guests, drinks, food, flowers, decorations, a DJ—the works. No expense spared. No detail overlooked. It was perfect.
Their guests stared in awe at the gorgeous goddess before them—clad in a figure-flattering, lacy, off-white halter gown—the one who only had eyes for Brett. She was holding in tears, he knew; they were leaking down his own face, and he didn’t care. He’d waited his whole life for this moment, for her to promise herself to him, for her to become his in every sense of the word. It felt unreal—too good to be true. It felt amazing.
FALSE START (Gods of the Gridiron Book 2) Page 21
