Long Hard Road (Crestwood Valley)

22. Nate

Madison’s hair was fanned across my chest, her soft breathing warm on my skin. The fire had gone out hours ago and I had pulled a blanket over us while she slept so she wouldn’t get cold. She had only been asleep for a couple of hours because once we had gotten started, it had been impossible to stop.

After that first time, she’d begged me to go again even though I was afraid she would be too sore. When she hadn’t shown any sign of pain, we’d gone a third time before she’d finally flung her body on top of mine and whispered good night.

I stroked my hand over her hair for the hundredth time and breathed deeply to inhale her intoxicating scent. Just a month ago, I would’ve sworn that I would never be this guy. The guy who would do anything for a woman he’d just met. The guy who would be patient and gentle with a woman who was younger and inexperienced. I had been a one-night stand guy. Took what I needed and left nothing behind. That was all I thought I would ever want after having my heart ripped out of my chest.

But Madison made me want more. The way she looked at me left no room for doubt. She was falling in love with me. That thought should’ve horrified me but instead, I was just relieved. Because I had already fallen completely in love with her.

Once the sunlight started to filter through a crack in the curtains, I slid carefully out from under Madison’s sleeping body and made sure to place a pillow under her head before tucking the blanket around her. Then I pulled on my underwear and stumbled toward the kitchen. I hadn’t gotten a minute of sleep and though I didn’t regret those hours of listening to Madison breathe and stroking her soft skin, I was going to pay for it today.

I had just poured my coffee and was on my way to check on Meadow and the kittens when someone pounded on the door.

“Shit.” I hurried to answer before more knocking could wake up Madison. It was only after I had yanked open the door that I remembered I was wearing just my boxer briefs.

“Wonderful,” Ellison muttered with a glare after noting my lack of clothing. He was holding a manilla folder in one hand.

“Madison sure thinks so.” I couldn’t help myself. He might be the head of her security, but he was also bossy and annoying. “You want to come in?”

“I guess.” He looked nervously over my shoulder. “Where’s Madison?”

“Sleeping.” I stepped back. “I’ll get her. There’s coffee in the kitchen.”

“Thanks,” he muttered, walking that way without removing his boots or coat. I glared at the track of melted snow that followed him.

Madison was still sleeping hard, pink lips parted slightly and dark lashes fluttering. I watched her while pulling on my jeans and t-shirt and then I knelt down.

“Good morning, angel,” I said, brushing back her hair. “Time to wake up.”

“No thanks,” she murmured, burying her face in the pillow. She was so adorable.

“Eli is here.” I squeezed her shoulder. “I can send him away, but we should probably hear what he found out about your car.”

“Fine.” She opened her eyes and smiled. “Good morning, gorgeous.”

I groaned. “Don’t look at me like that. We have company.”

“I’m just smiling,” she protested.

“Yes, in a way that has me wanting to fuck that smile right off your face.” I tugged lightly on a strand of hair. “You doing okay?”

She nodded. “Yeah. I’m a little sore and a lot tired, but in a good way.”

“Okay.” I pressed a kiss to her forehead. “We’ll take it easy tonight. Let you recover before I get you screaming my name again.”

“Can you hand me my clothes?” She hugged the blanket to her chest as she sat up.

I looked around the room and finally spotted her pants under the coffee table. I handed her those and then retrieved her shirt from the back of the sofa. “Who undressed you last night? A neanderthal?” I joked.

“A very horny man,” she said, struggling to her feet while keeping the blanket around her body. “I don’t suppose you found my bra?”

“Nope.” I held out her clothes and when she reached for them, I pulled them back. “Nate.”

“Not until I get a kiss.”

She shook her head and stepped back. “No way. Morning breath.”

“I don’t give a shit about that.” I grabbed her arm and pulled her toward me. “Kiss me.”

Madison sighed and briefly touched her lips to mine. “Clothes now.”

“Kiss me like you mean it, Madison. Kiss me like you did last night when I was deep inside you.”

She let go of the blanket and put both hands on the back of my neck, pulling my head down as she raised up to meet me. I hooked an arm around her and yanked her against my body as our mouths collided in heat and want. Tongues tangled and lips battled in a familiar rhythm like we had been kissing for years rather than just a couple of days. Damn if I wasn’t addicted to those lips.

I shuffled her backward toward the bedroom and through the open doorway. I nipped her lip before pulling back slightly. “Get dressed, angel.”

Her eyebrows pinched together in confusion at my abrupt withdrawal. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah, you’re just naked while another man is right in the other room. I’m not sharing you with anyone, Madison. Get dressed. Please.”

“Now who is begging?” she teased, taking her clothes from my hand.

I groaned and ran a hand through my hair. I was falling so damn hard for this woman. “You are going to be the death of me, angel.”

She was busy pulling on her clothes when I turned to leave. It was the last thing I wanted to do, but it was necessary. I needed a little space to clear my head. As much as I would’ve loved to stay cuddled up with Madison all day, we really did need to talk to Ellison. I wanted to know who the hell was tormenting my girl.

Ellison was at the sink, holding a mug of steaming coffee as he looked out the window. “It’s beautiful here,” he said. “I expected to hate this place, but I can see why some people might prefer a quiet life.”

“You live in LA?” I didn’t give a shit where he lived, but it seemed polite to ask. I picked up the coffee I had poured before Ellison arrived and took a sip.

He grunted a response that was probably a confirmation. “This is good coffee.”

“You better have saved some for me.” Madison was barefoot and rumpled when she came into the room. I wanted to run my hands over her tangled hair.

“I’ll pour you some,” I said, anxious to have something to do with my hands so that I wouldn’t reach for her. I knew she wouldn’t want me mauling her in front of Ellison.

I grabbed a mug and filled it while Ellison turned to face Madison. “Rough night?”

“Nothing I couldn’t handle,” she said, winking at me when I smirked in her direction.

“Alright, enough of that.” Ellison sighed as if she had traumatized him for life. I handed her the coffee and stood next to her despite his glare. “I have some updates for you. Maybe we should talk alone.”

“Why?” She stared at him as he glanced at me. “Whatever you tell me, I’m just going to tell him. It will save me time if Nate stays in the room for this conversation.”

“The camera picked up some footage from yesterday. It captured the person who shredded your tires.” He slid his folder in front of Madison. “The first picture you’ll see is a still shot of the perpetrator.”

Madison flipped open the folder. “It was a woman?”

I leaned closer to see the picture for myself and my heart dropped into my stomach. I would’ve recognized that red hair anywhere.

“Who is she?” Madison asked.

“You might want to ask your boyfriend.” His lethal gaze landed on me. “You want to tell her so I don’t have to?”

“Nate?” The way she looked at me with so much trust and sweetness made my chest ache. I knew I was about to ruin her, just like I had feared.

“That’s Fiona Maywood.” It killed me to look into her eyes as I said these next words. “She is also known as Fiona Sullivan.”