18. Maddox
MADDOX
“L ennon...” I call out when I walk in the house that evening, but I don’t find her or Meatball. Instead, I find Maria in my kitchen, eating a salad at my counter. “Where’s Lennon?”
“She’s lying down,” she tells me without looking away from whatever she’s watching on her tablet.
“Is she okay?” I ask, looking at the time. It’s barely seven. That’s early, even by Lennon’s standards.
“Monty called today. She didn’t answer, but he called. It’s not my place to tell you, but for her safety, you need to know, and I’m not sure whether she’ll tell you.” She rests her fork on her plate and turns toward me, a steely anger settled in her eyes. “I’ve ordered a blow-up mattress and will be sleeping in the house from now on. I need you to understand that this man is dangerous. Men who’ve never been told no are some of the most dangerous in the world. They’re convinced they can have anything they want—and can do anything they want without consequence. I listened today to Lennon convince the future king of Mornea that she has this handled, and I’m telling you, she doesn’t. If you want to be her husband, you need to be able to protect her, and I won’t keep the facts from you.”
I’m pretty damn sure this is the most I’ve ever heard Maria say, especially to me.
But now she’s speaking a language I understand.
“If she wakes up, could you let her know I just ran to my parents’ house, and I’ll be back soon?” I ask, ready to put an end to this.
Maria stares me down for a moment. “Don’t put her in danger, Beneventi. So help me God, if you do, I’ll stop you myself. I failed her once. It’s not going to happen again.”
We’re finally on the same page.
“We both failed her, and neither of us are letting it happen again. I’ll put him down myself before he gets near her.” A calm fury settles in my bones.
And something like respect shines in her eyes.
“You should let me be the one to get my hands dirty. I have diplomatic immunity. I can’t be prosecuted.”
“Noted,” I tell her before leaving.
This has got to stop.
It doesn’t take me long before I’m walking past a few cars in my parents’ driveway and into their house. Looks like I’m about to interrupt poker night, if I had to guess. I let myself in and find Nonna in the kitchen, making a cup of tea. I still haven’t gotten Lennon here to meet Nonna, and I make a mental note to fix that soon. “ Principe ...” she calls out and holds her shaky hands out for me to hug. “You don’t come see me anymore.”
“I know. I’m sorry, Nonna. I’ll do better.” I kiss the top of her gray hair and hug her frail body.
“You bring your principessa with you. Let me see her. Let me dote on the mother of your son. Your mother tells me she’s too skinny. I’ll make her homemade pasta. We’ll get some meat on her bones.”
“She’d love that. I’ll make it happen soon. I promise.” I step back, but she refuses to drop her hold.
“You do it before the wedding. Don’t make me meet my new granddaughter that day. You hear me?”
“I do, and I will. I promise.” I look around, not seeing anyone else. “Do you know where Dad is?”
“He’s playing poker with your uncles in the game room.”
“Thanks, Nonna,” I tell her before leaving to find my father. And moments later, when I do, he’s right where she said he’d be. My Uncles Bash, Becks, and Cade, along with Grace’s dad, Declan, all sit with him around a poker table, cigars in hand and various drinks next to them as they hold their cards close. It’s something I grew up seeing and always enjoyed, but right now, I’m too pissed to appreciate the men in this room. Right now, I’m still seeing red.
“Dad,” I announce my presence, and everyone looks up.
“There’s the man of the hour,” Becket jokes, and I groan. “You didn’t just knock up a socialite. You went for a princess. Gotta tell you, kid, you really go for the gold, don’t you?”
“I will fucking gut you if you talk about her like that again,” I warn him, and everyone jumps up like I’m the first person to threaten death on someone in this house.
“Fuck, Sam... Get your kid under control,” Becket laughs, and Cade smacks the back of his head.
“You’re never gonna learn, are you, Becks?” Cade groans, while Bash and Declan look between my father and uncles.
I ignore them all and approach my father. “I need to talk to you.”
“Yeah... I’d say so.” He throws his cards down and grabs his glass of bourbon. “I’m out.”
I follow him through the door and outside onto the patio. “You want to try not threatening to gut your uncle like a fish the next time he says something stupid? Christ, if we killed family members every time they said something we didn’t like, we’d have lost Lucky years ago.”
“I need you to tell me I can’t kill a duke. Because I’ve got to tell you, I know you never wanted your business to touch us, but if that’s what it takes to make Lennon safe... Fuck, Dad. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to make her safe.” The memory of her lying beaten and broken in the hospital bed flashes in my mind. “I’ve kept my shit locked down. I’ve done what she asked. I’ve come up with another way. But?—”
“But nothing, Maddox. You work the plan. Marry the girl. Give her your name. Our name. Protect your woman and your baby. Take it from me, son. There’s nothing in the world we won’t do to protect our families. And marrying her... loving her. That’s what she needs. That’s what’s going to keep her safe.”
“I don’t?—”
“Don’t lie to a liar, son. You do. You have for a long fucking time. You like to point out everything else your family and friends can’t see. Well, this is me pointing it out to you. That girl carrying your kid—she’s been yours for a long time.” He ashes his stogie on Mom’s pavers like she’s not going to kill him for that tomorrow, and my mind swims from his words.
“How would you know?” I finally ask, trying to figure out what exactly he knows.
“Do you really think you’re the first Beneventi to know everything, Maddox?” he challenges. “Don’t look for trouble, son. But don’t back down from the fight either. Do you understand me?”
I think about the lengths I’m willing to go to protect Lennon and the baby.
To protect my family. “Yeah. I understand.”
* * *
W hen I get back home, I go right to my room to check on Lennon and find her and Meatball in my bed. She’s wearing another one of my shirts, and every fucking protective instinct in my body roars to life, screaming mine . The lights are off, and the low light of the TV is the only thing illuminating her beautiful face. I fight the urge to wake her up and jump in the shower instead.
I walk into my bathroom and am immediately surrounded by Lennon. By the minty smell of her shampoo and conditioner. Her expensive perfume. Her body lotion. She’s already invaded my every waking thought, and lately, most of the ones while I’m sleeping too. But now... Now, jacking off in my shower to the memory of Lennon has become a regular thing.
It’s like we’ve somehow gone back in time to when we first met.
To the way I was obsessed with her.
I’ve wanted this woman for what feels like a literal lifetime. Then to finally have her here in my house, in my life, but still out of reach. It’s like history is repeating itself.
We talk and laugh like we used to years ago. She lets me cook for her—because some things never change, and the only thing Lennon Windsor is capable of making herself is tea and toast. But she likes to order dinner, so we can sit at the counter and talk about our days. The fantasy is right there, but it’s still just out of reach because she’s not ready for anything more. . . Not yet.
In the meantime, I’m left with a fantasy wrapped in the memory of that night.
That perfect cunt milking me...
Those pouty lips wrapped around me...
Green eyes looking up through dark lashes...
Do I want to fuck her again?
Of course I do.
I want to feel her from the inside. I want to touch her. I want to make her scream and writhe beneath me. I want her to ache for me. To burn for me the way I burn for her. But more than that, I want to make her remember how good we can be.
It was never about us not wanting each other.
It was being unable to choose each other.
This time is different.
She’s it. She’s everything. She always has been.
My obsession.
My wife.
My fucking wife.
Fuck . I groan and stroke my cock faster. Harder . Until I’m remembering Lennon beneath me. Above me. Her gorgeous legs wrapped around me. Her tits bouncing with each thrust of my cock. Her scream filling my room.
Her cum on my cock.
Her taste on my tongue.
Her face is the only thing I see when I finally come, groaning her name into the cascading water.
* * *
Lennon
I roll over as the bathroom door opens, and Maddox walks into his bedroom. Bare-chested with black pajama pants hanging from his lean hips. Every dip and valley of his strong body is beautifully displayed. His chest. His abs. His ridiculous muscles pointing down to the most delicious V. He’s every inch my dark prince.
But he’s not mine. My heart can’t risk it. Not when I’m losing so much already.
My future.
My family.
My country.
My birthright.
Complicating this... us... I can’t go there.
“Hey... you awake?” he murmurs and drops down on the edge of the bed. His hand runs over my hair and tucks a lock behind my ear. “How are you feeling?”
“Fat,” I whisper on a quiet sob. “I popped.”
He looks at me, confused. “What?”
“The girls called it popping . I popped.” I push the blanket down and tug my t-shirt up, showing him the belly I seemed to have developed overnight, and Maddox’s eyes grow wide.
“There’s a baby in there,” he whispers, then holds his hands up as if to ask for permission.
I nod silently, and he rests both hands on either side of my slightly rounded stomach.
“Fuck, Lennon... We’re going to be parents.”
I can’t help my laugh. “Yeah, I guess we are. I tried to buy baby furniture today, but I couldn’t do it. Maybe you could come with me next time? Maybe we could go after our next doctor’s appointment next week?” I ask, scared he’s going to say no.
But of course, he doesn’t.
This is Maddox Beneventi.
I’m beginning to realize he’s never told me no.
He presses his lips to my stomach and smiles. “Tell me where and when, principessa . And maybe buy us some more furniture so I can stop sleeping on the damn couch. It’s not as comfortable as it looks.”
“I told you I’d sleep there,” I argue, stuck on the fact that he said us .
And what does he do but laugh at me with a beautifully possessive look in his eyes. “I’m not letting my pregnant wife sleep on the couch.”
“I’m not your wife yet,” I argue jokingly because I’m not sure what to do with the way I love those words.
“Technicalities don’t matter.” His hands frame my belly, like he’s trying to memorize it, and my goodness, the feel of them on me sends my mind into overdrive.
“I bought furniture today,” I whisper, and I swear a look of disappointment floats across his face before he shoves it away. “But the bedroom sets won’t be in for six to eight weeks.”
“Oh,” he murmurs and drops his hands before he stands. “Maybe I’ll get an air mattress like Maria.”
“Rome stopped by earlier and moved the mattress from the guest house into the spare room for her.” They thought I didn’t hear them as she yelled at him to watch the walls while he was carrying it up the stairs.
Maddox nods, resignation settling in his eyes.
“Maybe you could sleep here.” This is such a bad idea. “If you stay on your side of the bed, I mean. You might have to share it with Meatball though. He likes that pillow.”
“You sure?” he asks softly, and I wish I could just give in.
Just give us what we both know would feel incredible.
But I can’t. Because I’ve never just wanted this man physically.
Physically, he could give me everything I ever wanted. Hell, he already has.
It’s the emotional fallout I’m not sure I can handle.
So I do what I do best. I deflect.
“Hands to yourself though. Got it?” I tease and turn off the television, while Maddox rounds the bed and climbs into the other side.
He gets in and pulls the blankets up, then presses his lips to my temple, and I melt momentarily into his touch. And for that moment, I’m safe and cherished. For that brief moment, I forget everything else. The fear. The heartache. Everything I’m giving up for a chance at giving my baby the life he deserves. For one quick moment, it’s all fine.
Until I wake up tomorrow and reality sets back in.