Chapter Thirty-Two
On my way to Lennox’s house, the skies open up. Sheets of rain pour down with such intensity the wipers can barely keep up.
I slow down, as I really have no choice.
But I don’t stop.
I am going to see Lennox come hell or high water.
“Yeah, we may be getting to that second one real fast,” I murmur with a nervous chuckle.
One thing about Phoenix storms, everything turns into a river. Not only do the washes fill with much-needed water, but some of the streets unfortunately do too.
Luckily, I’m already close to Lennox’s.
I make the final turns, and the next thing I know, I’m in front of his house.
Ugh, I feel nervous.
I would normally pull into his garage, but since he’s not expecting me, he might think I’m some sort of an intruder.
That would not be good.
I’d surprise the crap out of him.
Granted, I want to surprise him, just in a positive way.
So, blowing out a breath to calm my mounting nerves, I just put the car in Park and turn it off.
It suddenly hits me—what if Lennox isn’t home?
Then this is all for nothing.
“Well, there’s only one way to find out,” I state out loud.
Only problem now is, I know the second I jump out of my car, I am definitely going to get drenched with rain. I have on a flouncy floral dress and sandals, so it may not be too bad. At least I’m not in heavy jeans or sweats.
Ha!
Who am I kidding?
It’s pouring buckets. Once I make it to the doorstep, which thankfully is under a brick overhang, I’m going to look like hell.
But I don’t even care anymore.
I just need to see my man.
That’s right, I said it.
In my heart, I know now that Lennox will always be my guy.
That makes me feel better.
The nerves have calmed in one sense. Still, my heart is racing in anticipation. I feel kind of giddy—that’s how excited I am now to do this.
It’s also why I know I’m doing the absolute right thing.
So let’s do it, girl!
That’s what Claire would say.
Who would’ve ever dreamed she’d be Team Lennox?
That one still makes me laugh.
My, how things have changed.
Okay, enough with the stalling.
I tentatively begin to open my car door and immediately get hit by the rain.
It’s pretty much coming into the car, even with the door slightly ajar, so I need to be quick.
I just go for it—jumping out, slamming the door shut, and sprinting up to the front door. All while being pelted by rain.
By the time I reach the doorstep, I. Am. Soaked.
Thank God for the little bit of cover from the overhang. It’s a slight reprieve from the downpour, giving me a chance to slick back my wet hair and run a hand down my face. I also wring out the bottom half of my dress.
Hey, it’s the best I can do under the circumstances.
I may look like a drowned rat, but it just is what it is.
Releasing one long breath, I finally press the doorbell.
A few seconds pass, then a couple more.
I’m so anxious that it feels longer than what I’m sure it is.
At last, the door swings open.
Lennox is standing here, in front of me, looking hot as hell in faded jeans and a tight navy-blue tee.
God, I’ve missed him.
I just stare at him, taking in every beautiful facial feature, wondering why I asked for time.
What was I thinking?
Clearing his throat, he breaks me from my trance. “Madison, babe,” he says gently, “you’re soaked. Are you okay?” I nod, and he adds, “Get in here. Let’s get some towels.”
He moves aside, and I step in.
As I stand dripping just inside the entry area, he leaves to, I assume, grab towels for me to dry off.
He hasn’t yet asked me why I’m here.
Even better, he’s not turning me away.
I guess he really meant what he said in his text.
When Lennox returns with the towels, he hands me a big, fluffy white one while holding on to a blue one.
As I begin to dry off, he holds up his towel and asks, “Is it all right if I help you?”
“Of course,” I say softly.
I actually can’t wait for him to touch me, even if it’s in an innocent way. I miss his hands and the things he can do to me with them.
Together, as the team we always were and still clearly are, we do a pretty good job of drying me off.
Well, my exposed parts are in good shape. My dress is still clinging to me. The sandals, I just kicked them off to the side by the door a few seconds ago.
Through it all, don’t think I haven’t noticed Lennox sneaking peeks at me. I’m not surprised. The material of my dress is so thin that with it being wet, it’s practically see-through.
Oh, and I’m not wearing a bra. The spaghetti straps called for a strapless one, and I just couldn’t find one.
I am so damn happy for that right now.
As I catch Lennox trying to be sly and glance again at my breasts, where my nipples are hard and visible through the top portion, I say, “I got your text.”
His eyes shoot up to meet mine. “You did?”
“Uh-huh.” I nod. “That’s why I’m here.”
“I was afraid you might not read it,” he murmurs.
“Lennox,” I huff. “I would never not read a text from you, mad or not.”
It’s true.
I may have held off, but there was no way in hell I was going to delete or just ignore that text.
Reaching out and brushing a strand of my damp hair behind my ear, Lennox asks quietly, “What does this mean, Madison? That you’re here at my house?”
I’m just going to be honest.
Hell, I’m standing here practically naked in front of him. I may as well bare my soul as well.
So, after taking a deep breath, I release it and say, “It means I feel the same way—I love you, I miss you, and I’m here because I’m ready.”
“Ready for what exactly? We need to be clear here, Madison.”
“We do,” I agree with a nod. “I’m here to forgive you.
I’m here to stop being mad.” I blow out a single breath, then go on.
“I overreacted. I see that now. What you did was wrong, not telling me about the interview. But there were better ways for me to handle that. We probably could have solved all of this with a discussion.”
“I wanted to talk it over,” he says softly.
“I know, and I wouldn’t let you.” I decide to get very real and share something I’ve learned about myself over these past couple of weeks.
“I think a part of the reason why I overreacted is because having a relationship like ours is so new to me, Lennox. It scares me,” I admit, “but the truth is, you’ve become everything to me.
I’m so afraid of losing you that I freaking pushed you away myself. ”
I watch as his walls come down.
With his expression softening, he says, “Babe, I know. I feel the same way. I get scared too.”
Quietly, I whisper, “But you handle it so much better.”
He laughs. “I may not always. Will you wait for me if I fuck up in the future?”
Chuckling, I assure him, “Always, I promise. I will always wait for you.”
I’m sure we’ll make mistakes.
Life is messy, and so are we.
Lennox takes me in his arms, and I hold on to him like I never have before.
This man is my lifeline.
He’s my anchor in the storm.
And I guess I’m his.
How about that?
“I love you,” I whisper.
His arms tighten around me. “I love you, too, Madison.”
Simple words that mean so very much.
The last of my own walls come down as well, and I whisper, “Show me, Lennox. Show me how much you love me.”
He leans back and raises a brow. “Are you sure?”
I nod. “I’ve never been surer of anything in my life.”
That’s all he needs to hear, and I’m glad, because that’s all I have to say. It’s time to speak with our bodies. I’ve missed this man so much that wanting him now has become a craving, an ache that needs healing.
Slowly, he slicks my still-damp hair back; then, smiling, he takes my face in his hands. Leaning forward, his lips touch mine—so softly, so gently, so cherishingly.
He slides the spaghetti straps down my shoulders, loosening the top of my dress. There are little buttons that run down the front, and he pops them open one by one until the fabric is gaping at the top.
My breasts spill out as he carefully shimmies the top of my dress down to my waist. His mouth then descends to one breast, licking and sucking, and then moves to the other, where he does the same things.
I dig my fingers into his hair, mussing it up, as he trails kisses down my abdomen, all the while pulling my dress lower and lower till it falls and puddles at my feet.
With his help, I step out of it.
He kneels before me, his hands settling on my hips, his fingers sliding under the hem of my panties.
“Take them off,” I command.
Chuckling, he says, “You got it.”
And then they’re gone.
I’m now bare before him, and he covers so many inches of my body with the most delectable kisses.
But then I yelp as he suddenly wraps his arms around me and stands, picking me up as he goes.
I compose myself, and my legs snake around him. We stand in the hall and kiss and kiss like that.
But the hall is not where we stay.
With his strong arms around me, Lennox carries me up the stairs and to his bedroom, where he lays me on the bed.
I watch as he rids himself of his shirt, jeans, boxers—everything goes until he, too, is bare.
And, wow, clearly ready for me.
First, though, he descends to my sex, where he laves my pussy with his tongue in such a way that I’m sent spiraling.
As I come and come, I feel his body on me.
And then he’s in me.
Yes, yes, yes.
This is my man, and I am his woman. There is no more doubt in my mind. Lennox and I are meant to be together…forever.
Finally, that no longer scares me.
And the best feeling comes over me as I realize, after all these years of fighting love and relationships, I am right where I was always meant to be—with Lennox.
He is my home.
And I am his home.