22. Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Two
M addie
Did he just say that?
I can’t believe the day I’m having. First, I turn up at work and I’m tasked with reorganizing Chance’s already-packed calendar. It’s a hassle, calling to reschedule meetings.
I’m done when Julia calls my attention. Someone’s asking for me downstairs. When she says Todd, my stomach bottoms out.
I tell her to tell the downstairs receptionist that I’m not available. There’s a back and forth and Todd threatens to make a scene if I don’t show up.
With my heart in my throat, I head down. I’m not nervous to meet him. He means nothing now.
It’s just a memory of the life I’ve ignored for three weeks catching up to me. Seeing him brings back those memories and they don’t leave me feeling very good.
Only to come up and meet this accusation.
I bite my lower lip to stop the trembling and look away from Chance. How can he think that I want to get back with Todd?
“Look at me.” His voice is warm and husky and commanding.
I hate the way it pours over me and makes me feel fuzzy on the inside. He has no right to make me feel conflicted.
On one hand, I’m mad at him for his senseless accusation, on the other hand, I need him. Trying to stay away from him is self-torture. Yesterday was a lesson in how I’m taken with him.
I refuse to think about what would happen when I leave.
Right here and now, I need him and I’m mad at the same time. He has no right to accuse me of getting back with Todd so I channel my anger and push away the desire to lose myself in his arms.
“I can’t believe you’d say that.” I meet his eyes. “You know what happened between me and him. How can you say I want him back?” You should know how I feel for you. The words are stuck in my throat but I’m not going to say them. He’d probably toss them back in my face.
I’m sure he’s going to say something biting back. But he drops his head. “I just thought… when I saw you two together. I can tell he’s still into you.”
“And what if he is?” I draw nearer to him. Which means I have to tilt my head back to meet his gaze. I don’t care. I just need to look into the blue depths of his eyes and see if he’s fucking with me right now.
“What if?” I challenge. “I’m not dumb, Chance. I know what he did and an apology doesn’t change that. He’s apologizing for his conscience or whatever, but it doesn’t change that I’m over him.” And now, I’m into you .
Shut the fuck up, Maddie .
Chance looks back up, his chest moving as he exhales. “So, if he’s not the reason you’ve been ignoring me, then why?”
Uh-oh.
“Um…”
His eyes shutter. “Are you lying to me?” The hurt in his gaze shatters my heart. “If you want him, you can say it. You’re leaving anyway and I won’t blame you if you want something familiar to get back to.”
I’m shaking my head, but he continues speaking. Keeps saying those words that crush me over and over, like he believes it.
“I get the attraction.” He shrugs. “I won’t judge. You can do as you will. Don’t just lie about it.”
“I’m not lying!” I’m a pitch from yelling, but I can’t help it.
I close the distance between us. Up close, every breath I take is coconut and coffee.
This is all I want to breathe, not Todd’s cologne.
This . “That’s not why I stayed away. He has never meant anything to me.
” Not since I met you . I gulp. “Please, you have to believe me.”
“Then why?” His tone is rough, his eyes searching mine.
My shoulders fall. He won’t believe me unless I give him a reason for my actions yesterday.
I press my eyes shut knowing I mustn’t. But if I don’t, then I risk breaking his trust. Taking a deep breath, I blink open. “I… I…”
“Maddie,” he grates. “Let’s just—”
“No!” I press my hands to his chest. His heartbeat pumps beneath my touch.
“I stayed away because I felt hurt, okay? I learned about what happened to your mom, your hand in it, and I couldn’t bear to look at you.
Because I… I felt so bad that you’d feel that way and I was scared that if I spent time with you I’ll bring it up and… ”
His frown gives way to a look of pure horror.
He’s mad at me.
I yank my hand away and step back. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have.” Moisture sips from my eyes and hits my cheeks and my voice trembles. “It wasn’t my place. I’m sorry, Chance. Please…”
A sob breaks from my throat and the weight of everything crashes down on me.
I bow my head and my shoulders tremble. He hates me now for sure and then fucking Todd pushing everything to be out in the open. Why didn’t I ignore the idiot? Or send him off once I met him?
I’m still going over my should-haves when firm hands touch my shoulders and travel up and down my arms. It’s a comforting gesture that reduces my sobs to hiccups.
I tilt my head and meet Chance’s gaze. There’s warmth in his eyes and something else I can’t place. I sniff and his shoulders fall with an exhale.
He thumbs away the traces of tears on my cheeks, his eyes following his touch.
I wish he’d speak, tell me it’s alright, but he does none of that.
His fingers drop to my chin, then he swipes his thumb over my lower lip. He does it again, caressing slowly, then applying pressure.
My mouth pops open and a sigh releases.
A sound vibrates in his chest and he closes the gap between us. His body is flush against mine, eyes roaming my face.
It’s a chore on the back of my neck to keep my gaze up on him, but I can’t look away.
He circles a hand around my back allowing me to relax, just a bit. Then his head dips.
My heart flutters in my chest, my lips tingling with anticipation.
He drifts down slowly, as if debating with his actions, but finally, his lips touch mine.
I’m not sure what he was going for, but once he touches me, I know need like I’ve never felt before.
I take his lips, feeling the soft, gentle press. It’s both assuring and arousing, making me hot for him.
I run my hands over his shoulders and up into his hair. His hands splay on my back, pressing me closer into him.
It’s not enough.
I lick his lips, moaning as his tongue touches mine. More. His tongue darts past my lips and finds my tongue.
It’s a wild, savage dance how he kisses me. Our breaths are harsh, our bodies pressing together like we would sear off our clothes if we could.
“I need you, Chance,” I gasp into his mouth.
He answers by trailing his hands down my body and fisting my skirt. He drags it up, then pushes his hands underneath.
My skin burns where his hands grab and knead. It’s almost painful how his fingers dig into my ass. But I want more.
I tear my lips from his and lick his earlobe, then his neck.
He hisses, craning, giving me room. I bite.
“Fucking hell,” he growls.
I reach for his collar to pull off the shirt but he catches my hands in a tight grip. He pushes my hands apart, then spins me around to face the desk.
“No,” I start to turn. “I want—”
“Stay.” He presses into me from behind.
I inhale sharply. His rock-hard cock notches between my ass cheeks. My body trembles as I realize only my lace underwear and the fly of his pants separate us.
I forget I want to feast on his skin and instead, roll my hips against his hard length.
He groans roughly, then his hand lands on my shoulder and pushes me down.
My cheek hits the cool desk, my waist curved, ass in the air for him. I’m unable to move. But I want to.
I try to brace my hands and rise, but he growls and takes my hands, trapping them at my lower back. His left hand holds both of my wrists in a tight, constraining grip.
“Chance,” I whine. “I want to participate.”
I can’t believe it’s something I have to ask for, but he doesn’t answer.
The sound of a descending zipper fills the air and my body shudders with anticipation.
I want to see him, touch him, and know he’s not mad at me. But he doesn’t let go despite my struggles.
I’m about to speak again when the heat of his bare cock grazes my ass. Wetness floods my pussy, my walls contracting and releasing rhythmically, eager for him to fit into me.
He takes his time, rubbing his cock up and down the stretch of my slit through my panties. His breath hisses out of him and I have no doubt he’s getting an eyeful of my soaked panties, while all I have in my view is the door.
I wiggle around, circling my hips so he gets the idea. I want him inside.
Finally, he pulls aside my panties. Before I can take a bracing breath, he plunges deep inside.
“Fuck!” He presses into my back, curving around me, and sinking deeper.
I exhale, trying to get used to being filled. Turning my head to the side, I’m met with the view of us in the window. It’s faint, but it’s there.
My pussy spasms at the picture we make.
Chance’s pants are stuck around his knees as if he couldn’t be bothered to take them off in his haste to fuck. His pelvis is flush against mine, his cock buried deep inside me.
My eyes are wide and unfocused with lust, my lips slightly parted as I pant. I mouth a curse as he pulls back. His cock comes away slick with my juices, then he crams himself right back in.
A cry leaves my throat and my eyes fall shut. It’s one thing merely feeling what he’s doing to me. It’s another seeing his face veined with concentration, our bodies separating and coming back together with loud smacks.
I bow my head and receive his thrusts, biting my lips so I make no sound. A soft kiss flits across my neck and I can’t help my whimper.
How can he fuck me so hard and kiss me so soft? It’s a combination that’s breaking my body and my heart.
He licks me in that spot, then nibbles playfully. Tears seep from my eyes.
“Oh, Maddie.” He groans and kisses my cheek. He gentles his thrusts, hitting it just right.
My pleasure heightens, giving me something to focus on other than the heaviness in my chest.
I throw my hips back to meet his thrusts, rolling around a couple of times.
Chance lets my hands go and lifts from my back. He grabs my waist and helps me back into him.
Moans fall from my lips as our combined efforts make it better. My legs can’t stay still anymore.
I turn over and see the glass image again.
Chance is looking down at where we meet. His mouth hangs open, his eyes half-mast.
He increases the pace, slows down, and then goes fast again. He groans as my body quivers.
Flattening my palms on the desk, I plant my feet and impale myself on his cock as hard as I can.
“Jesus, you want it.” Chance presses his head to my neck, then works a hand between my legs. He finds my clit and fingers it. Slowly.
“Faster, please.”
He does as I ask. It doesn’t take long.
A scream tears from my throat and my body trembles violently. I grab the edges of the desk to hold steady as the orgasm whips through me.
Almost immediately, the heat of Chance’s seed spills inside me. He grunts, fucking my clenching pussy a few times before sinking deep as he can go and holding his cock there. As if he wants to imprint my womb with his cum, mark me as his.
The thought whips my senses into place. I’m not his.
His body sags against mine, his breathing heavy. I rise, dislodging him.
He falls a step back and I step away. I pull my panties up and tug my skirt down.
“Maddie, are you okay?”
I give him a passing glance. I’ve experienced a rollercoaster of emotions because of him. And he asks me that?
“What do you think?” I eyeball him, then march out of the office.