Chapter 25
Michael
My mouthful of coffee sits like battery acid on my tongue.
I knew Addie was hanging with Zane and Caro today. She told me about their plans days ago, but actually seeing her with him is a totally different story. I wanted to punch him in the face. He doesn’t deserve it, but I wanted to do it nonetheless.
There’s something about him that makes my gut wrench. Even knowing he doesn’t love Addie the same way I do, I still don’t like him.
Dad and I are silent as we drive back to the station.
I was jumping out of my skin this morning.
I couldn’t sit still knowing Addie was hanging with Zane today.
Dad tried to get me to tell him what was wrong, but he doesn’t know about Addie.
Yet again, I find myself questioning why we’re still keeping it a secret from so much of our family.
Now that I no longer have to worry about Uncle Levi punching me in the face for daring to touch his daughter, I’m less worried about everyone else knowing.
Does Addie still care? Am I the reason she’s holding back? What if she doesn’t want to tell anyone because she’s embarrassed by me?
No. That’s not Addie. She’s made it very clear how she feels about me.
Dad parks his SUV in the deputy chief’s spot, interrupting my spiral.
“Whoa, there.” Dad holds his hand out to stop me from getting out of the car. “You gonna tell me what’s going on with you now?”
“What do you mean?”
He snorts. “Son, I’m surprised you have any teeth left after all the grinding you just did. Plus, I know you. I know when something is bothering you, so spill.”
I slump in my seat. What the fuck do I even say to him?
“Does this have to do with Adalaide and that boy she brought with her?”
I whip my head around to look at him. “Why would you ask that?”
He gives me this befuddled look. “You seriously don’t think we’re aware of your feelings for her?”
“What?” I croak. “I don’t know… You have no idea—”
“Michael. We know. The whole family knows the two of you have been dancing around each other for years. We weren’t sure if you would ever get together. Are you? Together, that is?”
Apparently, Addie and I are the worst secret-keepers in the world. “Yeah, we are.”
“And did you know this other boy would be sniffing around today?”
A little bit of the tension seeps out of my body at how quickly he’s ready to defend me. He’s prepared to be angry on my behalf if Addie didn’t tell me. “Yeah, I did. I knew he came into town this morning and that the three of them were planning to go to the lake.”
“Ah. So that’s why you were climbing the walls this morning. If it makes you feel better, I didn’t notice him flirting or being overly affectionate to either of the girls, so maybe he truly is just a good friend.”
“He is. He’s not even attracted to them, and she considers him to be one of her best friends.
I hate this ugly feeling in my chest, Dad.
I don’t want to be the caveman who gets angry at the competition.
I don’t doubt Adalaide’s feelings for me in the slightest. But I also don’t trust this guy.
There’s just something about him that rubs me the wrong way. ”
“Your instincts are usually pretty good, son. Maybe we need to look into him?”
I sigh. “I don’t know. I think it’s all mixed up in my jealousy of him having her attention. Anyway, it would probably piss Addie off if I did that.”
“If she’s in danger, we need to do something about it.”
“She’s not. Addie’s smart, and she knows if someone is bad news. She’s been friends with this guy for years. If he were a danger to her, something would’ve happened already.”
“I suppose that’s true. Well, let’s go see if we can find a case to work on to keep your mind busy.”
A knock on my door has me heaving myself off the couch. I pause the show I’ve been streaming since I got home from the station. It’s been a decent distraction while Addie’s been hanging with her friends.
She’s texted me often and even sent me the hottest fucking selfie of her in a bikini. It both helped the situation and made it worse. Every man at the lake was going to be watching her, but I know she sent it to me because she wanted me to see her in it. It was a double-edged sword.
It’s as if my thoughts have conjured the woman because she’s suddenly standing on my doorstep. While I’m standing here, trying to get my brain back online, Addie walks her happy ass inside.
“Hi, handsome.” She pops up on her toes to kiss me, and that move finally snaps me out of my shock.
I band one arm around her waist, pinning her arms to her sides while my other hand spears into her soft hair.
I take over the kiss. Each pass of her tongue along mine removes another layer of frustration.
This is exactly what I needed, and I shouldn’t be surprised that she’d know.
I finally pull away long enough to allow her to breathe, using the space to kiss down the side of her neck, nipping at the spot where her pulse is pounding under her skin. It always makes her gasp when I do that.
I don’t want to bring it up, but I also need to know. “I thought you were hanging with your friends tonight?”
“I was. We were hanging out in Caro’s basement for a while. I decided I needed to come see you for a bit because I didn’t get a proper hello this morning.”
“No, you didn’t.” I kiss her again, reveling in the fact that she didn’t like how this morning went any more than I did.
“Hello.” Addie’s eyes sparkle with humor.
The corner of my mouth tugs up in a smirk. “Hi.” I don’t want to let her go. I’m quite enjoying the feel of her body pressed against mine. It’s been entirely too long since I’ve had her underneath me.
And that reminds me.
“Have you finished your fantasy list yet?”
Something flashes in Addie’s gaze, but it’s gone before I can pick it out. “Mm-hmm.”
“You wanna share it with me?”
“Yes and no.”
Setting Addie back on her feet, I lead her over to the couch. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”
She blows out a breath. “Too many things, honestly. The first is that I don’t want to keep this a secret anymore. I hated not being able to kiss you in The Café this morning. It took everything I had not to. I want to tell the family about us.”
“I think the cat’s almost out of the bag already. Apparently, the whole family’s already aware of our feelings for each other and has been waiting for us to tell them we’re dating.”
Her eyebrows wing up her forehead. “What? Who told you that?”
“My dad. He knew I was bent out of shape this morning, and it only took one guess for him to figure out why. That’s when I told him we were in a relationship.”
“So the only people who didn’t know about how we felt were us.”
I huff out a laugh. “We’re idiots.”
“No kidding.”
I pull Addie onto my lap, needing her close for this conversation. “Now, tell me what else you’re feeling. More specifically about sharing your fantasies.”
Addie bites her lip, and my cock twitches at the sight. I want to bite that lip. So I do. When I pull away, Addie’s eyes have a sheen of lust over them.
“Tell me what’s going on, Adalaide.”
“I’m worried you’re going to judge me. Or think I’m disgusting. Or run away screaming.”
I cup Addie’s cheeks in my hands. “Baby, wild horses couldn’t drag me away from you.
Now that I know what it’s like to have you in my life, not a single thing will make me leave.
However, I do understand how vulnerable it feels to share the things you like sexually, especially if they’re a little less mainstream.
The fact that you’re nervous tells me we’re likely even more compatible than I could have ever hoped to be.
If you’re not ready to share them with me, I’ll understand, but if you don’t want to because you think I’ll judge you, then I’m going to have to insist you show me just so I can prove you wrong. ”
Determination sets into her features as she pulls a lined sheet of notebook paper out of her pocket.
Her bringing it over without needing me to ask tells me she wants to share this side of herself more than she thinks she does.
It’s been folded in half, the edges creased to a sharp point, as if she’s run her fingers over it many times.
She holds it out to me with a bravery I’m in awe of.
It takes guts to willingly put yourself in a vulnerable place.
And in reward, I won’t make her read it out loud like I threatened.
I lean in to kiss her. “Good girl. I’m so proud of you.”
Addie melts into me, her body going soft and pliant. It takes a concerted effort not to strip her bare right here and reward her for her bravery.
The only reason I don’t is that I want to read this list a whole lot more.
Unfolding the paper, my body is already thrumming with desire. Reading the first line on the page only ratchets that higher.
1. I’d love to wake up in the middle of the night with you fucking me in some way—with your dick, mouth, or fingers, I’m not picky. I want to be on the edge of an orgasm as I’m waking up, and I’m a heavy enough sleeper that I don’t think I’d stir until I’m close.
2. Double penetration. I don’t want anyone else but you. However, I would like to know what it feels like to be filled in multiple places.
3. Exhibition, but I don’t know how far I want to take this. I like the idea of being watched—to a degree. I’m not sure I want to go all the way in front of others though.
4. I want to be blindfolded and restrained, and give you free use of my body.
I don’t want to know what’s going to happen to me until you do it.
This can include being spanked with your hand or a paddle.
It could be hot wax and nipple clamps. I want to hand my pleasure over to you, knowing you’d never push me past the limits I’ve already set.
5. Primal play with consensual non-consent.
I want to be chased through the forest by a masked man I can’t immediately identify by sight.
I want the illusion that my consent doesn’t matter and he’s going to take me because he wants me, whether I like it or not.
I need to feel like a possession instead of a person, and that I’m so desired, nothing will get in the way of him having me.
She’s put so much thought and effort into this. I’m caught off guard by her fantasy of being chased through the woods, but I can’t deny that the image of capturing her has me determined to find a way to make it happen.
The second I finish reading her list, I pounce. Addie squeaks in surprise, falling backward on the couch until I’m pressing her into the cushions.
I lift her hands over her head, holding them there with one of mine. “This is going to be fast, Adalaide. I can’t wait any longer.”
“Please.” She lifts her head to kiss me, desperation lining her every move.
I strip us both down in record time, our clothes falling into a pile on the floor. God, she’s fucking gorgeous. Her perky tits are begging for attention while her hips demand to have my fingerprints marking them.
I hook my hands under Addie’s knees, spreading her wide for me. I can see and smell how aroused she is already. I swear my control is hanging on by a thread.
Dropping my head, I press open kisses to her clit. I can’t help it. I’m addicted to the way she tastes.
“Michael,” Addie moans.
I’m on the knife’s edge myself, so instead of teasing her more, I line the head of my cock up with her pussy and thrust inside her. “Oh, fuck.”
The way she squeezes me has my eyes rolling back in my head. I can’t hold back. My control has snapped, and all I want is for her to fall apart around me.
With every thrust, Addie’s tits bounce, offering a sight that’s hotter than any porn I’ve ever watched. Jesus Christ. I’m going to lose it, and I’ve barely been inside her for five minutes.
Leaning over her, I take one stiff peak into my mouth. I use my teeth and tongue to push her to the edge of her orgasm. I need to get her there; otherwise, I’m going to end up coming before she does, and that’s totally unacceptable.
Reaching down, I rub tight circles around her clit. Addie clamps down on me hard, her breathy gasps providing the ultimate soundtrack. “Come on my cock, Adalaide. Right. Fucking. Now.”
Like the good girl she is, she follows my demand. She explodes around me, her body going tight with tension as her orgasm rocks through her. I follow right behind her, not having much of a choice in the matter.
“Goddamn,” I whisper as I drop my head to her chest.
Addie starts to move her hands, but then freezes.
It hits me then that she most likely wants to touch me—to soothe my racing heartbeat with soft touches.
Longing like I’ve never felt before sits heavily in my chest. Without looking at her, I reach up to grab one of her hands.
I guide it to the top of my head and then wait.
It only takes a second before she starts to card her fingers through my hair.
The sensation has goosebumps rising along my arms.
It feels incredible.
I slide my arms under Addie’s back to hold her tighter to me. She keeps running her fingers through my hair, and I’m grateful she hasn’t tried to do anything else. This is monumental for me, and I wouldn’t want it to be ruined by my triggers.
“So is it safe to say you’re a fan of my fantasies?”
I bark out a laugh. “Yeah, Trouble. It’s safe to say that.”