Chapter 36 Addie
Addie
“Any big plans tonight?” Penny asks as we finish closing down the clinic. She has a mischievous look in her eye that has my entire focus narrowing on her.
“What have you heard?”
“Ohhh, not much. Just that you might’ve been seen at the drive-in with a certain dark and broody deputy.”
“Hmm. Interesting rumor.” I dig my stuff out of the cubby at the back of the clinic.
“Nothing?” Penny screeches. “You’re not going to give me anything?”
I bust out laughing at her indignation.
Penny whacks me in the arm. “Asshole.”
Once I get my giggles under control, I finally tell her the truth. “Yes, Michael and I are dating. Have been for a few months now. The whole family knows, of course, and we figured what better way to tell the town than by going to the most public place possible for our date night?”
“You could have just gone to Jones’s Diner.”
I scoff. “That’s a horrible idea for a date night unless you’re planning to do the whole 1950s-sharing-a-milkshake schtick. Actually, that might be kind of cute. I’ll have to keep that in mind.”
“Oh my god. I’m trying to imagine Michael Montgomery sitting in a booth, being all cute and sharing a shake. It just doesn’t compute.”
I grin at Penny. “He’d probably do it for me, but he’d hate every minute of it.”
“Gross. You’re so sickeningly in love, I can’t even look at you.”
“Rude!”
“Eh, it’s rooted in jealousy. Don’t take it to heart.” Penny shrugs as she smiles. I crack up again while we walk out to the parking lot together.
We say goodbye and get into our cars. A text from Michael has been burning a hole in my pocket since I felt it buzz while Penny and I were cleaning up the clinic.
Michael
I want you to go home and change into leggings, a long-sleeved shirt, and tennis shoes. Then you’re going to meet me at the lookout at 7:30 sharp. Don’t be late.
A shiver races down my spine when I finish reading his text. I don’t question why he wants me to cover up. It’s a mild evening, and Michael always has a method to his madness.
I have two hours to kill. Changing my clothes won’t take long, but I should probably eat something. If Michael’s plan is as devious as the one he made at the club, I’ll need the energy.
God, the anticipation is killer. I’m sure that’s why he does this to me. He knows I get all up in my head about what’s going to happen. I trust him wholeheartedly, so I’m the excited kind of nervous now.
I head home to follow his instructions and hope like hell no one asks me any direct questions about what I’ll be up to tonight.
Sunset has started to creep over town as I park next to Michael’s truck. I expected to see another tent in the middle of the field, but there’s nothing this time.
Getting out of my car, I scan the area, looking for Michael. He’s not in his truck or anywhere visible in the clearing.
“Michael?” Nerves flutter in my stomach.
I scream as a hand presses against my mouth. “Ready to play, Trouble?”
My heart pounds as I suck in a massive breath of relief at hearing Michael’s voice. Jesus, that scared the crap out of me. I nod my head as best I can.
“What’s your signal if you need to stop and can’t speak?”
I snap my fingers.
“Good girl. Now, you’ll have a one-minute head start. If you’re able to evade me for twenty minutes, you get to choose what comes next. If I catch you…I do.” The words are a deep growl in my ear.
Oh, holy shit, this is happening. My body thrums with adrenaline while my pulse pounds in my ears.
“Ready?” Michael pauses, giving me a chance to snap my fingers if I want out, but I don’t. I have never felt this alive in my life. I can’t decide if I want him to catch me or if I want the chance to play director. The opportunity won’t come very often—of that I have no doubt.
“Run.”
I take off before he’s fully let me go, sprinting across the field and darting into the forest. The trees are thick with leaves clinging to the last waves of summer.
I bob and weave through the underbrush, my panicked brain not able to choose a path.
Leaves and twigs snap behind me.
A minute’s gone by already? That was too fast. I start sprinting again with very little planning behind my steps.
Maybe my sporadic choices will throw him off.
Up ahead, there’s a small chunk of plants crowded around a couple of trees.
I dive into the spot, knowing that I’ll never be able to outrun Michael’s long strides. Not for twenty minutes anyway.
I’m panting. The whoosh of my breaths feels too loud in the stillness of the forest. It takes all my concentration to slow my breathing down.
“You can’t hide, little rabbit,” Michael says, his voice carrying on the breeze. Covered from head to toe in black, he strides right in front of my hiding spot on sure steps. His eyes scan the area like a hunter, reading every broken branch and track to find his prey.
I let out my breath when he disappears from view. I still haven’t decided if I want him to find me or not. The things he likely has planned for me are going to make my toes curl. But how amazing would it be to finally get a turn to dictate exactly what I want to do to him?
“Time’s up,” he whispers in my ear.
A startled scream rips out of my chest. Michael grabs me by the waist, hauling me out of my hiding spot. I kick and claw at him, the instinct to fight overwhelming the logic that catching me was the whole point.
“No!” I yell as he pins me to the ground. My wrists are locked over my head in his tight grip while his body presses mine into the dirt.
Michael looks at me, his dark eyes full of feral lust that sends heat pulsing through my center.
My hips kick upward without conscious thought while the rest of me is still fighting to get free of his hold.
He hasn’t moved, his gaze taking in every one of my features.
It’s then that I realize what he’s waiting for.
“Green,” I whisper, eternally grateful that this man will always put my needs before his own.
I’m flipped over onto my stomach before I have a second to think about anything else.
My hands are still pinned by one of Michael’s over my head. I have no hope of moving, and despite my attempts to break free, I don’t want to.
“Spread your legs,” Michael growls.
“No,” I grunt.
“No? You sure are grinding against me an awful lot for a girl who doesn’t want this. Shall we check to see if you’re lying?”
I don’t get a chance to answer before Michael is yanking down my leggings. The waistband sits just under my ass while the front continues to cover me.
I gasp as he slides his fingers through my drenched slit.
“That’s what I thought. You’re aching for it, aren’t you, baby?”
“Please, Sir?” I’ve given up the pretense of fighting this. My body’s at a fever pitch, and if I don’t get relief soon, I think I’ll go crazy.
“So polite. Except…” Michael pulls away his hand, and I whimper. “You ran from me. And you tried to hide. I think that deserves a punishment, don’t you?”
“No,” I whine.
“Oh, it definitely does. Let’s start with ten. Five for running, five for hiding.”
Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and all the saints. I’m not going to survive this.
The first crack against my ass cheek makes me cry out. The second, in the exact same spot as the first, makes me moan. Michael rains three more across my skin, and I squirm against the ground. All it’ll take is one swipe to my clit, and I’ll explode.
Michael seems to sense this and says, “Don’t you dare come.”
Four more blows land in various spots across my ass, but it’s that final one that does me in. There’s no stopping the tidal wave that crashes over me when his hand lands against my flesh.
“Naughty, naughty girl, coming without permission.” Michael lifts my hips off the ground and yanks my leggings down until they’re puddled around my knees.
His tongue swipes across my tender skin.
“I fucking love the way my handprints look on your ass.” Then he’s spreading me wide for his inspection.
It’s obscene. I should be mortified or embarrassed by the display, but all I can think about is having his mouth on me.
This is what Michael does to me every time.
He gives me the space to let go of the expectations and pressures of the world and allows me to be myself without fear of recourse.
I’m becoming addicted to the feeling.
He starts to thumb my clit with teasing strokes.
A gentle punishment for coming when he told me not to.
It’s effective, to say the least. I can’t move more than a tiny flick of my hips with my hands still stretched out above my head, my chest flat against the ground, and my forehead pressed into my biceps.
It’s like the dirty version of extended child’s pose in yoga, only with my hips in the air.
Later, I’ll be able to appreciate all the steps Michael has taken to ensure I’m comfortable on the forest floor. Right now, I’m trying not to go out of my mind with need.
Shuffling clothes alerts me to Michael’s movements. “Can you feel what you’ve done to me, Trouble?”
I whimper as he slides the head of his cock through my dripping center. Even just imagining the slick slide of Michael inside of me is enough to take me to the edge of my orgasm.
Then he’s there, pressing against my entrance without any hesitation. His thick cock fills me until he can’t go any further. My focus narrows on the place where we meet, on the slapping of skin and the drag of his length against that spot deep inside me. It’s all too much.
My mind is reduced to sensations, my toes curling in my shoes as Michael hurtles us toward a finish that will no doubt be more explosive than any other.
“You’re so fucking wet, Adalaide. Listen to the way your body calls to mine.”
He’s right. This whole night has proven how much control he has over me. I should be afraid of that, but it only brings me comfort. He’s more than proven he’s capable of taking care of me in every situation. I’m his to do with as he pleases, with the certainty that I’m the one who’s truly in power.
None of this would be happening if I didn’t say it was okay.
“Come, Adalaide.”
The growled words are matched with his fingers strumming my clit. It’s the spark I needed to ignite, and the explosion leaves me floating outside of my body. Michael shudders behind me, coming with a curse soon after.
In the haze of subspace, he shifts my clothing, and I’m gently adjusted until I’m lying on Michael’s chest. His large palm slides up and down my back, slowly bringing me back into my body.
I flicker my eyes open, blinking until the outline of Michael comes into focus. The sun has almost set, casting long shadows through the forest.
“Hi,” I whisper.
Michael playfully smirks at me. “Hi. You okay?”
“More than.”
“That was pretty intense, Adalaide. It would make sense if you weren’t.”
I take a second to get my thoughts in order. “I’ve never felt more relaxed in my life. Being able to act out that fear fantasy with someone I trust provided a release I couldn’t have imagined was possible. How are you? It had to be hard on you too.”
“I needed that check-in in the middle. I never want to do anything that actually hurts you. It’s one of my biggest fears.”
I drop my chin to my hands to keep eye contact with him.
“I’m glad you made sure I was okay. It was a good reminder for me that I’m the one who holds the power here.
You were incredible, Michael. Between bringing my fantasy to life and ensuring I didn’t get unnecessarily hurt, it couldn’t have been more perfect. ”
Michael’s hands continue to roam my back.
A flash of vulnerability shoots across his dark gaze before he swallows and looks away.
“I’m in love with you, Adalaide Jackson.
I have been for a very long time. I never dreamed we’d end up here together.
You deserve so much better than me, but unfortunately for you, I’m a selfish asshole, and now that I have you, I won’t ever let you go.
You’re mine, and I’m bound and determined to do whatever it takes to keep you. ”
My eyes fill as the words I’ve longed to hear from the love of my life are finally said. “You’re the only man I’ve ever loved, Michael, and I’ll stand by your side through whatever comes our way. Nothing will ever take me from you—in this life or the next.”