Chapter 14 Maddy
Maddy
Why is Beck behind the bar at my new apartment complex?
He’s in his usual button-down rolled to the elbows, and making cocktails with the precision of a Vegas magician.
His hair is slightly damp from the heat, curling a little at the temples, and he’s grinning.
Behind the bar, he’s all muscle and flash, chatting with two women perched on the stools in front of him, both of whom are leaning over, clearly showing off their cleavage.
He glances up and meets my gaze.
And my eyes go wide.
Beck’s face flickers through shock, amusement, and something a little wolfish before settling into a cocky grin. He gives me a nod, like this is perfectly normal…
Like it’s not a cosmic joke that my one-night stand turned boss is now also my poolside bartender.
Riley, who’s been too busy judging the quality of the pool towels to notice, immediately tunes into my vibe and elbows me hard. “Are you okay?” She gasps and then follows my line of sight.
“That’s him,” I whisper. “Beck.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Riley starts to laugh, her expression full of shock. “He’s gorgeous. No wonder you did what you did.”
I try to look nonchalant, but my body betrays me. My pulse slams in my wrists, cheeks fully on fire, and legs fused to the plastic decking. I want to run but am painfully aware that it would only draw more attention to myself.
And to make it all worse, Beck doesn’t miss a beat. He finishes pouring a pink cocktail for the brunette at the bar, wipes his hands, and then gives me a big wave.
“Maddy Williams,” he calls out across the patio. “I wondered if it was you on the tenant list.”
I die a little inside, while Riley’s giggles only grow.
The two women at the bar pivot in unison, giving me the up-and-down. Riley, never one to back down from a Mean Girls standoff, stares them down right back. I love her.
What the ever-loving fuck is happening right now?
“Should we go say hi?” Riley smirks, already moving.
“We should run,” I mumble, but it’s too late—she’s got me by the wrist, dragging me toward the bar like a mother yanking her toddler through the grocery store mid-tantrum.
The closer we get, the more unreal this gets. It’s definitely Beck. He’s definitely as hot as ever—maybe even hotter—and he looks way too happy to see me.
“Maddy,” he says in his deepest, sexiest voice. “Didn’t expect to see you here at The Apex.”
I fumble for words. “I… we just moved in. Wanted to check out the pool.” My voice cracks like I’m in middle school.
“Welcome to the pool then,” he says, like he’s the mayor of the place. He glances at Riley. “And who is this?”
“Her roommate and best friend, Riley,” she beams.
Beck nods, all charm. “Nice to meet you. Welcome. You seem like you’re a lot of fun.”
Riley throws me a look, then says, “Maddy says the same about you.”
Beck’s eyes flick to me. “Is that so?”
“Please kill me,” I whisper, but under my breath.
Why the hell is he here?
He reaches under the bar, produces two glasses, and with minimal showmanship fills one with a frozen lemonade for Riley and one with a strawberry-lime seltzer for me. “On the house,” he says.
I want to melt into the concrete, but instead I just thank him and try not to spill it down my chest.
I try to focus on the seltzer, the bubbles burning as they slide down my throat. Riley, meanwhile, is working overtime, interrogating Beck about the building, the view, and the best places to eat nearby. He answers with the ease of someone who could sell ice to an Eskimo.
Why is he so freaking charming?
Beck catches my attention once his spiel is over. “Modern Edge built this place. We made sure the amenities were top-notch. The gym, the spa, the pool, it’s all about luxury.”
My heart stops.
“Wait,” Riley cuts in, “as in, your company owns the place?”
Beck grins. “And manages it. I actually just moved in, and my partners will do the same.” He winks at me. “You should stop by for a tour of my penthouse sometime. I’ll show you the best views in the city.”
Riley nearly falls off the stool. “She loves a good view. Huge fan.”
I want to hit her. Hard. But I still need to clarify something.
“So, you’re my boss and my landlord?” I hold his gaze.
Beck shrugs, unbothered. “And neighbor.” He leans in, dropping his voice. “And maybe a little more if you want to meet me here later tonight.” He says it like it’s nothing, but it confirms everything.
And I suddenly can’t breathe, and my mouth completely forgets how to work.
“This is crazy,” Riley doesn’t even bother to hide the way she’s eating this entire thing up.
Beck pours himself a seltzer, props his elbows on the bar, and looks at me. “I meant what I said, Maddy. You should meet me up here later. The view is wild at night.” He lingers on the word wild just long enough to make my heart skip a beat.
Riley nudges my ankle under the bar, as if to jump start my brain again. “She’s got plans, but maybe she can squeeze it in.”
I nod, dumbly, committing to nothing and everything.
Beck smiles, downing the rest of his drink. “See you around, Maddy,” he says, before pivoting back to his bar duties.
Riley grabs me by the wrist, dragging me toward the railing. “Girl, holy freaking hell. The way he looked at you? That man wants more than just a business meeting in that hot tub. You never said he was that hot!”
I groan, shaking my head. “Why is my life like this? He’s my boss, Riley! And he’s been ignoring me ever since the night of Elizabeth’s wedding… He hasn’t shown any interest.”
“Okay, but he is now!”
“But why?” I throw my hands in the air out of frustration.
“Because you’re hot, smart, and the irony is amazing.” Riley is positively vibrating. “You have to go.”
I manage to shake my head. “Are you kidding? I’m going to lose my job. I’ll get fired and blacklisted and end up on a reality show about hot messes who can’t hold down a job because they sleep with their bosses. You said to be careful, too.”
“Stop it,” her voice grows stern. “You’re allowed to have a life. You’re allowed to have sex if you want to. You are not about to get fired from your job. He was practically undressing you with his eyes, and he’s mega fucking hot.”
I bury my face in my hands. “It’s so unprofessional.”
“He owns the company. He makes the rules.” Riley’s tone softens, just a little. “And… Maddy, after what Wes did to you? You deserve a win. You deserve, at minimum, a really good lay. Though I guess you already had one.”
I snort. “I’m not sure my self-worth should be directly tied to dick.”
She rolls her eyes. “It’s not. But it is tied to your happiness, and right now, you’re miserable.
What’s the worst that could happen? You go, you have a fun conversation, maybe you get laid in a hot tub.
Maybe you don’t. Maybe you find out he’s an even bigger tool than Wes and you never see him again except at work. ”
I try to picture that. It’s not so bad, actually.
“But what about Caleb?” I protest weakly.
“He’s a grown man, who hasn’t acknowledged he finger fucked you. Maybe he was just trying to make you feel better. Beck is hot. Do it.”
I laugh, finally, the tension breaking. “You’re so pushy.”
“I know. And you love that about me. You don’t have to, if you don’t want to,” Riley says, raising her lemonade in salute. “But remember to relax and have fun—and be prepared to share every detail.”
I shake my head, but I’m already thinking about what swimsuit to wear. I look over at the bar—Beck is laughing at something the manager said, eyes glancing over every now and then—and I feel something tighten low in my stomach.
“Okay,” I say, with false bravado. “I’ll do it.”
When the elevator doors open onto the rooftop at 10:02, the pool space is empty, and the glow of the surrounding city reflects off the glass railing.
I step out, every cell in my body vibrating.
There’s no sound except the faint trickle of water and the low hum of the pool heater. The deck is deserted, just as Beck promised, and the only light comes from the pool and the city around us.
I walk toward the hot tub, pretending I’m not about to hyperventilate as my eyes meet his.
“You showed,” Beck is bare-chested, his arms spread along the ledge, head tilted back, eyes on me. There’s a bottle of champagne on the table, sweating in its bucket, and two flutes ready to go.
His gaze sweeps from my feet up to my throat, pausing at every exposed inch of my skin beneath my high-cut black bikini. I suddenly feel like I’m completely naked and my heart is beating so loud I’m sure he can hear it.
“Hey,” he says, voice low and deep. “I was worried you’d bail.”
I swallow hard. “I said I’d be here.” I try to play it cool, but the tremor in my voice gives away how nervous I am.
He raises the champagne. “Join me?”
I nod, step to the edge, and drop my cover-up onto a lounge chair. My skin prickles in the cool air. I slide into the hot tub, and instantly my entire body relaxes.
Beck pours the champagne with one hand, glancing down just long enough to fill the glass. “You look incredible,” he drawls, a smile tugging at his lips.
I swear he makes everything seem so effortless.
“You too,” I admit, watching the way his throat works as he sips. “This whole invitation was very… unexpected.”
He grins. “I had to shoot my shot. I thought you forgot, Maddy.” He holds out the champagne.
“I thought you did.” I take the glass. The liquid is cold, perfect. The bubbles rise as I swallow a mouthful.
He leans in, his nose brushing my ear. “I haven’t stopped thinking about you since that night in the hotel.”
My tongue goes dry. “Oh,” I breathe out, my thighs already clenching under the warm water.
He’s closer now, the jets making everything a little blurry beneath the surface. A ripple of excitement rolls through my core at the thought of his skin touching mine.
“You looked happy today at the pool,” he continues. “I like seeing you happy.” His foot brushes mine under the water, and my entire nervous system misfires.
“I like being happy,” I reply, wondering if I actually sound as stupid as I think I do.
He laughs. “Well, this is too weird, you can tell me to fuck off, but I’m not going to pretend anymore like I don’t fucking remember how good you felt wrapped around me.”
My breath hitches at his words. I finish my champagne, set the glass down, and slide closer.
“Fuck it,” I say, and then I kiss him.
He tastes like champagne, and at first, his tongue moves slowly and carefully, like he’s afraid to push too hard. His hands stay on the edge of the tub, not touching me, even as his lips move over mine. I want to scream at him to hurry up, to touch me, like he did the last time.
I break away, panting. “Are you going to make me do all the work?”
He grins, his eyes hooded. “If you want something, Maddy, you’ve got to take it. I’ve been waiting on you.”
My pussy aches. Challenge accepted.
I move into his lap, water surging over us. My thighs straddle his, and his hands finally come alive, finding my waist, then sliding up my back and landing in my hair.
He kisses me deeper this time, mouth open and greedy, and I moan into it. I grind against him, and there’s no hiding the way his cock is already hard, pressing against the fabric of my bottoms.
“Jesus, Maddy,” he mutters. He grabs my ass, pulls me tighter to him, and I let out a moan just before he pulls my mouth to his again, though he pauses before our lips brush.
“If you want to stop, say so. I don’t want to make work weird for you.”
“Will it be weird for you?” I whisper.
He presses his lips to my chin. “No. But I just might have to bend you over my desk when I get a spare moment.”
My breath catches. “Then don’t stop. Please.”
And that’s all it takes.
He tugs at the tie on my bikini top, and it comes undone.
The straps slide down my arms, and the fabric floats away, exposing my tits to the night air.
The shock of cold on my nipples sends a jolt through me, but his hands are already there, cupping, squeezing, teasing them with just enough pressure to make me whimper.
“God, you’re gorgeous,” he groans, mouth descending to my neck, then my collarbone, then down, tongue hot and insistent as he licks and sucks at my nipples. I arch into him, grabbing his hair, needing more.
My own hands wander, desperate to touch all of him. His shoulders are broad, every inch of him solid and warm. I run my nails down his chest, and he shudders, flexing under my touch.
I could fucking stay here forever.
He nips at my nipple, then up to my jaw, and whispers, “You want to move this inside?”
“Not really.” I give him a little smirk.
“Fuck, I love that.” He grins, like he’s pleased I’m as reckless as he is.
His hand slides under my bottoms, fingers finding my clit and circling. I gasp, bucking against his hand, and he bites my shoulder. I rock against his fingers, chasing the high, while my own hand reaches for his cock, gripping it through his swimsuit.
He pulls the fabric aside, freeing himself. His dick is thick and flushed, and I stroke it. He teases my entrance with the tip, moving just slow enough to make me beg.
“Please,” I gasp, and he lines himself up, pushing inside. “Oh fuck, Beck.”
“You’re so tight, baby,” Beck bucks against me, his lips finding my nipples once more.
He sets a rhythm, slowly picking up speed. The water slaps against us, waves moving against the sides of the tub. I ride him, holding on to his shoulders, my breasts bouncing in the open air. The thrill of it is almost as good as the acknowledgment that he didn’t forget about me.
“Come on, baby,” Beck instructs as I bounce against him, his thumb now on my clit.
“Ooh…” I come first, clenching around him and tipping my head back as it rushes over me. His thrusts grow more desperate until he groans and comes, spilling inside me, holding me so tight I can’t breathe.
I collapse against him, panting. The city lights blink in the distance, but up here, we’re the only two people in the world.
Beck laughs, breathless as he steadies me with an arm around my waist. “Now that we’re not pretending like we’ve never done this before, you know what this means, right?”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “What?”
He dips down and kisses my nipple once more. “It means we’re going to be doing a whole lot more of this.”
I hold his gaze, my mind running back to Caleb, fingers deep in me.
Shit. This just got a lot more complicated.