Maddox
WITH THE LIGHTS of the city spread out below me, I stared out the window, sipping my whiskey, enjoying the way the rich flavor rolled around my tongue. The low lights reflected my condo in the large pane windows. Tidy, organized, everything in its place. Exactly the way I liked it. Needed it.
Behind me, I heard a light tap. I hit the button on the remote, unlocking the door, knowing who was waiting. Soft footfalls headed in my direction, and Dee’s reflection appeared in the glass. Turning, I offered her a smile and a tumbler of whiskey. I knew she’d like this one.
“Hey, neighbor.”
She shook her head, taking the glass from my hand and settling into the club chair. “You are such a dork. I live ten floors below you. I’m not your neighbor.”
I shrugged. “Close enough.” I sat across from her on the sofa. “Seriously, are you settling in?”
She held up her whiskey, studied its dark golden color, then took a sip. Her eyes drifted shut as she swallowed. Her hand swept through her hair, the strawberry color catching the light. She was artless, sexy.
I liked it.
She opened her eyes. “Nice choice.”
“I knew you’d enjoy it.”
She smiled and reclined her head. “I’m settling in. I wasn’t expecting to be on my own, but it will be nice to have a home office to work from on occasion.”
“Still in shock?”
She chuckled. “I shouldn’t be, given it was Cami, but I am.”
“I think this was all on Aiden, which makes it the biggest shock of them all.”
We went to Vegas for a quick trip away. Everyone needed a break, and rather than the girls going on their own, we joined them. The first day was fun with sightseeing and dinner. We went to a show and even did a little gambling. The next night, we ended up pairing off the way we usually did: Emmy and Bent, Cami and Aiden, Dee and me.
Bent and Emmy went to another show. Dee and I checked out a whiskey bar we’d heard about, Cami and Aiden spent the night doing the usual touristy things. They visited the Eiffel Tower, took a gondola ride, and watched the fountains dance. Then, Aiden being Aiden, he had gone for broke, and since we were in Vegas, married Cami.
They showed up at breakfast the next morning, and neither of them said a word. But they looked guilty, yet so happy; I knew something was going on. They simply ordered their meals, talked about the day’s plans and acted as if nothing was amiss. Until Emmy spotted the rings on their hands.
“What the hell? Cami . . . are you . . . oh my God, are you married?”
All of our heads snapped in their direction. Aiden lifted Cami’s hand, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. The light glinted off the matching ring on his left hand.
“We are,” he stated.
We gaped at them, shocked.
“Is it legal?” Dee asked, looking between Cami and Aiden. “Or did you do this for fun?”
“It was fun, but it is very legal,” Aiden confirmed.
Suddenly, the table exploded. Hugs, kisses, backslaps, and congratulations were exchanged all around. Aiden looked like the happiest man on earth, and beside him, Cami beamed. When Emmy asked if they were going to have a real wedding, Cami shook her head.
“It was exactly what we wanted. Only us.” She smiled at Dee in apology. “We thought we’d renew our vows next year and bring everyone to join us.”
Dee covered her hand. “That sounds perfect. I’m happy for you.”
I had wondered then, the same way I wondered now, if Dee was as okay with the marriage as she seemed to be. In the weeks since we had returned, life had been busy with work, moving Cami in with Aiden and moving Dee in to her new place in the building where I lived. I helped move boxes at night. Movers handled the furniture, but it still took a lot of hours. We’d barely had time to see each other.
Or, in other words, fuck each other.
“You were very calm about the whole surprise wedding.”
She sipped her whiskey, looking contemplative. “I was a bit hurt, but I realized it was Cami’s decision and her life. She was much too happy for me to be upset.” She huffed a long breath. “I hope it wasn’t a rash decision they’ll both regret.”
I scowled, feeling the need to defend my friend. “Aiden loves Cami. He loves her so much it terrified him. When he accepted what he was feeling, it changed him. She changed him—for the better. For the first time in his life, he accepted something good for himself. I don’t think you have to worry about any regrets from him.”
She tilted her head, studying me. “That was spoken with conviction.”
I shrugged. “The two of them work.”
“They do.” She grinned. “That was also spoken like a true romantic, by the way. Which you insist you are not.”
I chuckled. “I have my moments. I’m okay with romance . . . for other people.”
“Me too.”
We stared at each other, not speaking. Slowly, the air shifted, growing more intense.
“So tell me, Deirdre, what are you wearing under that businesslike navy suit you have on?”
She loved it when I murmured her full name. No one used it but me, and I only uttered it when we were alone.
She traced the rim of her glass, eyeing me. “I’m sure you’d like to know.”
I shifted, my erection lengthening as I thought about it. Wondering what secret I would discover tonight.
Dee was a walking contradiction. Classic, dark suits, neutral-colored blouses. No-fuss hair. Simple makeup. No jewelry.
However, underneath the linen and cotton was an entirely different story.
Lacy, push-up bras, tiny triangles that covered silky curls and a sweet little cleft I knew intimately.
Satin, lace, silk, and sin.
Black, pink, red, every color of the rainbow.
Cutouts and high tops. Thongs, boy shorts, strapless, bustiers, stripes, polka dots, pin-tucked, bedazzled, and sexy.
She had them all. She was sex on legs.
“Why don’t you show me?” My eyes raked down her body.
She stood, her fingers drifting to the pearl buttons under her neck. I settled into the cushions, anticipation waking every nerve in my body.
“Slowly.”
She tilted her head.
“I want it slow tonight, baby.”
She shrugged out of her jacket, the fabric a dark pool on the floor.
“Is that so?”
“Yes.” My cock grew harder as she moved. Slow. Sensuous. Exactly the way I instructed her.
“Do I get a reward?”
I palmed my erection. “You get me. Buried so deep inside you, you’ll feel me for days.”
Her blouse joined her jacket, showcasing the cream lace bustier encasing her torso that made me groan. Her breasts were high, ready to spill over the tight lace. I wanted to bite them. When her skirt fell, revealing the thigh highs attached with tiny straps of lace, I almost lost it. The scrap of material nestled between her thighs was so minute it was ridiculous. And sexy as hell.
I widened my legs. “Come here.”
She stood between my knees. I trailed my fingers up and down her thighs, tracing the ribbons and lace, teasing the satin of her skin. I jerked her forward, burying my face in her pussy, breathing her in.
She whimpered as I pressed my mouth to her, hard.
“You want me. I can smell how much you want me.”
She dug her fingers into my scalp, lifting my face.
“Yes. But the rules still apply, Maddox. Sex. That’s all it is. Nothing has changed.”
I smiled grimly. “I wouldn’t expect it to.”
“Then fuck me.”
Never breaking eye contact with her, I shredded her panties. Tore them away from her skin with one firm yank of my fist.
I would fuck her. I would fuck her because that was what we did.
To the outside world, we were the same: cool, calm, and collected. Detached.
When we came together, alone, things changed. We were relentless. Explosive and insatiable.
She fucked with my control.
I fucked her to get it back.
That was our game. It always had been.
Until one of us changed the rules and fell in love.
MaddoxI WAS ALONE once again. Dee never stayed. It was one of our rules. There were many, but that one had never changed or been broken.Pouring another shot of whiskey, I sat on the sofa, thinking of when we met.Deirdre Anne Wilson slid into my life as easily as she slid into the back seat of the limo on the night out for Emmy’s birthday that Bentley arranged. She sat beside me with her long, sexy legs crossed demurely and a smile playing on her full lips.“You must be Maddox.”“Dee, I presume?”“Right in one.”She looked around the interior of the car. “Nice limo.”I grinned and pulled a bottle of champagne from the bucket. “Thanks to Bentley.”She arched an eyebrow my way knowingly. “I think my sister insisted. She has no boundaries.” She glanced over at Cami. “I’m afraid Aiden has his hands full.”I poured her a glass of the bubbly with a chuckle. “I wouldn’t worry about Aiden. He can handle himself.”I thumped the roof of the car and yelled at Bentley to move things along. I wa
Her breathing hitched. “I’m older than you are.”“Three years,” I scoffed. “It’s nothing.”“I’m serious. I don’t do relationships.”“Nor do I.” I bent forward, lowering my voice. “May I be blunt with you?”“I prefer blunt.”“I find you incredibly attractive, Deirdre. Very sexy in your buttoned-up clothes and calm exterior. I’d like to see what happens when you’re naked and aroused.” I tilted my head, studying her. “Like now—are you aware in the past few minutes, your breathing picked up and your eyes darkened? You have the loveliest color across your cheeks. Even the tips of your ears are pink. I wonder how far down I could make you flush that way.”Her color deepened, but she didn’t flinch. She shifted closer, our knees pressed together under the table. Her normally husky voice was even lower, turning me on. “You want honest?”I nodded.“I think you’re one of the sexiest men I’ve ever met, Maddox. I see how your toned body moves when you walk, and I imagine you moving in me. You use
MaddoxAIDEN STROLLED INTO my office, a file tucked under his arm, a box in one hand and coffees in the other. With a grin, he sank down in a chair across from my desk.“Hey, Mad Dog.”“Hey.”He opened the box with a flourish and handed me a cinnamon bun, one of my weaknesses. I took it with a shake of my head. “I think you keep the café downstairs in business.”He bit into his lemon Danish, chewing and swallowing. “They make amazing baked goods.” He handed me a coffee. “Sandy is out with Bentley, so I had to get creative.”I laughed at his statement. “You know as well as I do there is always coffee in the thermal pot.”He shook his head. “Nope. Reid pulled another all-nighter. He has the pot on his desk with a straw.” He rolled his eyes. “The kid is gonna be wired.”“In more ways than one. What’s he working on now?”“More Ridge Towers stuff. He’s full of ideas.”“He’s full of something.” I sipped my coffee. “Where are Bent and Sandy?”“Looking at some houses with Van and Olivia.”I c
“We know.”Before he could say anything else, there was a knock at my door, and Jordan Hayes came in, holding a folder. He was the head of our team for Ridge Towers and oversaw every aspect of the project. An older man, he projected an air of calm and authority. He ran a tight crew, had great attention to detail, and didn’t believe in cutting corners.“Great news!”“What’s up?”“We got a whole bunch of building permits pushed through. We’re right on schedule—in fact, ahead at this point. We’ll be breaking ground in a few months.”Aiden and I exchanged grins. “You’re right, that is great news.”“I’ll send you projected dates and you can start your marketing plans.”“Thanks, Jordan.”With a wave, he left.“Bent will be happy to hear that news.”“Yeah, he will.” Aiden reached for the file folder he had carried in. “He wants to go ahead with his idea of exploring other companies for marketing. He wasn’t happy with the last firm.”“I know. Did you come up with some candidates?”“Yeah. I go
She scowled, dropping her hand. “Do I have to have a reason to drop by?”I chuckled and shook my head, although deep inside I hoped there was a reason. “No, simply wondering.”“Well, to be honest, I got tired of online shopping, and I fancied some company. Plus, I wanted to see if you would like to come to dinner tomorrow?”I was surprised. Dee never invited me to her place. “Dinner?”“I’m having Cami and Aiden for supper. His favorite food is fried chicken. I thought you might like to join us.”A home-cooked meal, good friends, and the pleasure of her company?“I would. Thank you.”She settled into her chair with a sigh. “Great.”“You don’t strike me as the type to online shop.”“Oh?” She laughed lightly. “What type am I?”“Tactile,” I answered promptly. “You’re the kind of person who would want to touch the fabric, feel the textures of something you purchase.”I knew that because I was the same way.She smiled in acknowledgement. “Normally, I would agree with you. But when it comes
Then that’s what you get.” I crashed my lips to hers, sweeping my tongue into her mouth. She clutched at my neck as I continued to tease her nipples, the buds erect and pushing against my fingers. I kissed her hard, needing her taste, wanting to feel her tongue wrapped around mine. I sucked and licked at her, biting her lips and teasing her breasts. She arched into my touch, whimpering low. I broke away, and before she could react, I spun her around. I ran my fingers down her arms, placing her hands on my desk and easing her torso down to the cold glass of the desktop.“Like this, Deirdre. Tonight, I’m having you like this.”She shivered, spreading her arms wide and lifting her ass. Slowly, I peeled her leggings down, smirking at the lace stretched over her ass. Red. Sexy.In the way.Hooking my fingers around the sides, I tugged. “I hope these are disposable.”She groaned. “I just bought them.”“For me?” I tugged again, feeling the elastic begin to tear. I already knew the answer. Sh
“I think-I think I need it. I need that from you, Maddox.”“Tell me.”“I have to be in control all the time,” she confessed. She shivered, and I grabbed her sweatshirt, draping it over her body. I was afraid if I moved, she would stop talking.“When I’m with you, you take over. I don’t have to think. Only feel.” She sighed again. “I so rarely get to feel.”“I like making you feel.” I flexed my hips, feeling myself begin to harden beneath her. “I like when you lose yourself with me.” I slipped my hand under her chin, bringing her to my mouth. “I like being with you.”“Me too.”She tightened around me as I slid through her wetness, making me groan.“Are you sore?”“A bit.”I lifted my hips, making her whimper. “I can be gentle.” I guided my hand between her legs, teasing her. “We can take it slow and easy.” I kissed her mouth, dipping my tongue inside her sweetness, tapping her clit with my finger. “One more time, Deirdre, for me.”“Slow,” she whispered.“Yeah, baby,” I promised, reachi
I stepped behind her, covering her hand that was moving items around aimlessly on the shelf.“Deirdre.”She stilled.I wound my arm around her waist, pulling her body tight to mine. I lowered my mouth to her ear. “What are you doing?”“Ma-making dinner.”“Why are you so distracted?” I ran my hands up to her neck, feeling the stiffness in her shoulders. “What is making you so tense? It’s dinner.”Her voice was thick. “It’s her first dinner with me when she doesn’t live here. I want it to be perfect.”I held her close. “It’s Cami. She wants dinner with her sister. To feed her husband the best fried chicken he ever tasted. Zero expectations otherwise.” I nuzzled her neck. “You need to relax.”“I-I can’t seem to. I feel as if I’m going to explode!”“What can I do to help?” I slipped my hand under her apron and shirt to her soft skin. “Do I need to fuck you hard and fast to get you to relax?” I bit down on her lobe, tugging on it with my teeth. “Would that help?”“We don’t have time. They’