Because He Plays Me (Because He Owns Me, Book Seven) (18 page)

He was taking everything I had and I welcomed it. I wanted to give him everything.

His fingers slowed and his kisses gentled until he was pressing his lips against the side of my mouth, along my jaw, my chin.

“I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of you,” he said, settling between my legs.

I wound my arms around his neck. “That makes two of us.”

His eyes burned and he stared down at me. “I want you.”

“You have me,” I answered without hesitation.

He shifted his hips and reached between us. I felt the head of his cock nudging between my legs and opened wider. The silky hot length of him slid inside. He groaned and rested his forehead on my chest. He pulled back until he was almost out, then slid back in.

“Fuck,” he whispered, hot against my skin. He lifted his head and caught my eyes. They were darker than I’d ever seen them before. “Nothing between us, Skylar,” he said hoarsely. “I want you just like this. No more secrets, no more misunderstandings, no more mistrust. This, what we have right now, is how it’s going to be.”

His gaze burned into mine. I clenched around him and watched his jaw tighten.

“Nothing between us,” he said again.

I knew what he was saying. I knew what it could mean. I lifted my legs and wrapped them around his waist. My nails dug into his shoulders when he sped up his hips. We fed on each other, building to a rough and frantic pace.

Moans filled the room. His. Mine. Mixing until one became the other.

He slid my hands from his neck and lifted them over my head, pinning them to the bed with only one of his. He then hooked my leg in the crook of one arm and shifted forward. He went deeper, harder now and I arched my back, urged him on.

It felt different, skin on skin. He glided inside me like he was covered in silk. The ridges of his cock stroked over the spot that made my eyes roll back. His thrusts were demanding and I gave him everything again.

Convulsing around him, I sobbed his name. Having him there inside me only prolonged the pleasure and I clenched around him on every out stroke.

The growls in his chest grew louder. His face tensed. Veins bulged until he threw back his head, bared his teeth like he was in agony and exploded inside me. His cock jumped and pulsed and emptied with each slowing thrust.

Finally he sank down onto me, panting for air. His grip loosened and he rolled off me, then brought one of my hands to his mouth, kissing the palm.

“Give me a few minutes and then we’ll go out and see what delectable treats they picked out, and then…” he sucked one of my fingers into his mouth. “Round two.”

Heat suffused my body and I rolled onto my side to face him.

That had been so much more than sex. When love was involved, it was indescribable. I never wanted it to be any other way.

My stomach grumbled and I burst out laughing. I’d been too nervous to eat while getting ready, so the Caprese salad had been it all day.

“Let’s get you something to eat, then.” Madden climbed out of bed and I rolled out after him. After a quick stop to clean up, I came out of the bathroom in a plush velvet soft robe. Madden had pulled on a pair of his lounge pants.

He held out his hand and I went to him. Together we walked into the living room where the candles still burned and sat at the table. Or Madden sat, and then pulled me into his lap. One by one, he lifted the silver domes. Chocolate covered strawberries. Dark chocolate mousse. Cheesecake.

A bottle of Cristal Rose sat chilling in a wine bucket.

It was decadent. Madden took a strawberry and lifted it to my lips. I darted out my tongue to taste the chocolate. It melted on my tongue.

“More,” I said. I opened wider and he slid half the berry into my mouth. When I bit down the sweet fruit exploded on my tongue. “Oh my god that’s so good,” I moaned.

“Is it wrong to be jealous of fruit?” he asked with a chuckle.

I leaned in and ran my tongue over his lips. “Never as good as you.”

It was my turn and I picked up a silver spoon and dipped it into the mousse. Madden opened his mouth and I slipped it between his lips.

“Delicious,” he murmured. “But not as delicious as you.”

He poured one flute of the Cristal and we both took a sip. Then we alternated bites until half of everything was gone and I was no longer hungry. When I went for one more bite of mousse, he stopped me.

“I have plans for that,” he said. A wicked gleam filled his eyes. I slid off his lap and he stood, then took my hand once more. Before we walked away, he grabbed the half full bowl of mousse.

He didn’t say anything, just led me back to the bedroom where he set the bowl down and untied my bathrobe. It fell to the floor and with a grin; he backed me up until I sat down on the edge of the bed.

I watched as he grabbed the bowl and knelt down in front of my knees. He dipped his finger into the mousse, then deliberately ran his gaze over my body.

“I think I’ll start...here.” He swiped the mousse over one nipple then leaned in and used his tongue to clean it off. It pebbled in his mouth and I bit back a groan. The sweet smell of chocolate drifted to my nose.

He did the same thing to the other side, then made a trail that he could follow with his mouth all the way down to my hip. By the time he lifted his head, my body trembled. I knew what he was thinking. Just the idea had my heart pounding.

I spread my knees without him asking and he made a sound of approval in the back of his throat. He used two fingers this time and gently smeared the mousse all over the outside of my opening.

It took him forever to lick up every drop and when he finished, I was panting with need. I slid to my feet and turned him around so that his back was to the bed. I took my time pushing his lounge pants to his feet and when I stood back up, his cock with thick and hard again.

With my own wicked grin, I swiped my finger through the mousse and rubbed it around the head. He groaned, a sound that abruptly choked off when I wrapped my lips around him and took my own sweet time finishing off the rest of the mousse.

“Enough,” he growled when I stood back, licking the last of the chocolate from my lips.

His grip was firm when he took my hand and led me into the adjoining bathroom. A huge walk in shower took up half the room and he reached in and turned the knobs. When the water began to steam, he led me inside and turned me so that my hands were pressed up against the tiled wall. Hot water ran down my back and his soap slickened hands followed the same path.

When I tried to turn around and return the favor, he backed me against the wall and crowded in front of me. I could feel his cock sliding along my lower stomach.

“Wrap your arms around my neck,” he said. The commanding tone of his voice sent delicious shivers down my spine. I did as he asked. “Hold on tight.”

He reached under my knees and lifted me up, keeping my back solidly against the wall. We fit together perfectly and all he had to do was push his hips and his cock slid inside me. I groaned. The angle hit everything.

There was no going slow this time. Madden pounded into me in hard deliberate strokes and I clung to him, unable to do anything else. He filled me so completely that I knew we were made for this. To be together.

My climax rushed through my already overly sensitized body and I could do nothing but hold on. Madden sped up, thrusting harder and faster until he froze, his body pinning me against the shower wall.

Once again I felt him pulsing inside me and emotion clogged my throat. There was nothing between us now, nothing stopping us from being together and happy. The past had been laid bare and the future was there waiting for us to grab it.

He loved me and I loved him and nothing was ever going to change that.

M
adden was staring
at his phone when I woke.

Visions of mornings past filled me and dread pooled in my stomach. I didn’t dare move or breathe. Not after what we did last night. Not after how I felt this morning.

I must have made a noise because Madden looked over at me. Call me a coward because I couldn’t look in his eyes. He shifted, then his arm slipped under my shoulders and he turned me until I lay against his chest.

“Looks like we’re back in the news,” he said, turning the phone toward me and pushing a button. I watched his apology and proposal play out in front of me. When it was done, a smiling news anchor came on the screen.

“It seems that there had been a change of heart in public opinion of Madden Cross after this video of his heartfelt apology and subsequent proposal went viral this morning. Everyone loves a happy ending and it seems that Prince Charming and his Cinderella will have theirs after all.”

My phone buzzed and when I looked, a text from Lindsay popped up.
OMG I can’t believe you were that Cinderella and never even told me! Everyone is rooting for you guys! It’s like a real life fairy tale! Call me!

I glanced at Madden, trying to gage his reaction to all this.

His eyebrows were drawn down and he was frowning at something I couldn't see. My heart thudded dully against my ribs.

“I tried to tell you that people were filming us yesterday,” I said in a shaky voice. If he pulled away again, it was going to kill me.

His gaze snapped to mine and he shook his head. The softness was still there when he looked at me. “I don’t give a fuck what they think of me. I’m worried about you. About your crazy ex. The last time you were all over the news…” He closed his eyes and exhaled. “I think we need to go back to Boston and face him. You can get a restraining order put on him and if that bastard even looks at you, I’ll have his ass thrown in jail.”

I stared at Madden. He wasn’t mad about the video. He hadn’t shut down like before. The only emotion I saw was outrage...on my behalf. He really had changed and all at once, the last of my doubts faded away. If he could face hostile public scrutiny, then I could do this. I could make sure that Jacob was out of the picture for good.

I had the life I wanted within reach, I just had to reach out and grab it.

“Okay, we can go back. No more running. It’s time to take back my life.”

I
knew
it was something I had to do if I ever wanted to feel safe, but walking into the courtroom to face Jacob sent cold waves of fear up my spine. The last time I’d seen him, he tried to kill me. Even writing it all down as part of the request for the restraining order made me feel sick.

The only thing that got me through it all was Madden. He was there to lean on and he kept reassuring me that after today, I’d never have to worry about Jacob ever again.

We sat down at the table to the left with the attorney Madden hired. He wanted to be sure that there were no loopholes and that Jacob would face severe consequences if he ever got close to me again.

I avoided looking across at the other table where Jacob sat. I knew he was alone and it didn’t surprise me at all. He was that arrogant. Judges and cops were notorious for backing each other up no matter what, and that’s what had me on edge today. What if the judge didn’t believe me? What if he denied the order?

Living my life looking over my shoulder was not something I wanted to do, especially now that everything was so good. Madden took my hand under the table and squeezed. His back was straight and confidence radiated from him.

The judge entered the courtroom and I stood with the others. Since Madden and I had been in the news so much, the judge barred media and the public from the hearing. The only other people in the room were a court reporter, the bailiff and a sheriff’s deputy.

The judge motioned for us to sit and read over the complaint. Five minutes later, he granted my request. We never even had to speak. He cited the affidavit that I had filled out and, along with Madden's corroboration and a complaint that had been filed against Jacob from someone he’d arrested a few months ago (and disciplinary action since taken by Jacob’s commander), the judge saw enough evidence to grant me what I asked.

Sweet relief filled me and I sat back and smiled. It was over now.

The most surprising part was the Jacob hadn’t even argued against it. He had sat there and listened and now we were all leaving. It was strangely civil. As I started past Jacob, he looked up. His eyes burned with unconcealed rage. He pushed his chair back slowly and dread pooled in my stomach. Madden was talking to the attorney and didn’t notice.

The bailiff must have seen him though and stepped to Jacob’s side, saying something that I couldn't hear. Jacob nodded and smiled. Then faster than I could follow he lunged at the bailiff and shoved him to the floor. When he spun around to face me, there was a gun in his hand.

Everything around me slowed. I could see the grin of triumph on his face. I heard Madden shout somewhere behind me. The sound of the gun exploded in my head. I waited to feel the impact. Waited for the pain.

Madden wrapped his arms around me from behind and spun me around so that his body was between me and my psychotic ex. Two more shots echoed in the room. The smell of sulfur filled my lungs and tears burned my eyes. Why didn’t it hurt?

Sound slowly returned. The judge was yelling and the courtroom door flew open. More police swarmed in with their guns drawn. Madden began moving us toward the open door, still shielding me from the other side of the room.

“Wait,” I said, twisting around in his grasp. His face was pale and his jaw looked chiseled from stone. I met his stormy gaze. “Am I shot?”

“What?” He jerked and held me out at arm’s length while his frantic stare moved over my body.

“I heard a shot,” I said hoarsely.

His shoulders relaxed instantly and he pulled me against his chest. “The deputy shot Jacob when he pointed the gun at you. He went down then tried again, but they got him the second time. He’s dead Skylar. It’s over for good now.”

I should have felt something besides relief, but nothing came. I was free. Really and truly free. I wrapped my arms around Madden and buried my face in his neck. “Can we go home now?” I asked.

He kissed my temple then we walked out of the courtroom side by side.