22. Lennon
LENNON
Marry a man whose voice can calm you and seduce you in the same sentence.
—Lennon’s Secret Thoughts
“Y ou ready for this, principessa ?” Maddox takes my hand in his as we stand just outside the tent that’s been erected in his uncle’s beautiful backyard for our reception, waiting to be announced.
“Probably not,” I laugh and shove the heel of my palm into the side of my stomach. “Your son apparently really wants to join in on the party though. He’s been dancing all day.”
“Well, tell him to back off. He can have you soon enough. But for right now... you’re mine.” He lifts me up, cradling me in his arms, and the photographer snaps another shot.
I’m not sure I’ve ever had this many pictures taken of me.
Never in one day.
Possibly not even during the entirety of my life.
And considering my mother stood on the steps of the hospital hours after I was born and had pictures taken of her before she got into the car with my father, that’s really saying something.
“Please welcome the new Mr. and Mrs. Maddox Beneventi” is announced over the microphone, and Maddox looks at me funny.
“Where’s your title?”
I cup his face in my hands and press my lips to his. “I doubt I’ll have one tomorrow. Now let’s go before I get too heavy.”
He carries me onto the dance floor and carefully sets me down as our first dance is announced, and the band plays the first stands of “Ordinary” by Alex Warren.
I drape my arms around my husband’s neck, blown away. “Did you pick this song?”
His sexy smile comes out to play as he sings along softly and pushes me around the dance floor like a pro. “Gracie may have helped me.”
Before I know it, my feet are barely touching the ground, and Maddox is hamming it up like I’ve never seen him do before. He looks young and free in a way that brings back so many memories.
His brothers and Callen wrap their arms around each other’s shoulders and sing along, eventually joined by a few cousins and Grace and a few of her friends’ husbands like a grand choir. There’re hand gestures and a kick line at some point before Maddox finally puts me back down and kisses me like it’s the first time we’ve ever kissed. Like he can’t get enough and doesn’t care who’s watching. Until I’m certain I hear Rhys coughing and Atticus laughing. Until his hand slides down to my bump, and I rest mine on his. The song changes, and others join us, but I only see him.
He’s all that matters.
Eventually, I stand off to the side of the dance floor, wiping my eyes as Maddox dances with his mom, when Sam offers me a handkerchief. “Sorry. I didn’t think it was that obvious.”
“They’re happy tears, principessa .” He nods toward his wife and son. “You have nothing to apologize for. You love my son. That’s all a man can ask.”
“I do love him,” I whisper, pulling my eyes from Maddox and focusing on his father. “I think I have for a very long time.”
“Ahh... I know that feeling. I loved his mother for years before I could convince her to marry me. Some of the best love stories start that way.” He looks around with furrowed brows. “Nonna was looking for you. But I don’t see her now.”
“She was probably trying to get me to save her from Atticus.” My heart feels so full in this moment, I’m not sure I even care that once I told my brother to stay away from Maddox’s cousins, he took it upon himself to be Nonna’s date for the night. I swear the two of them have danced more than Maddox and me. “He’s trying to get her chicken parm recipe,” I laugh.
“Didn’t she give that to you last week when you were at the house?”
“She did,” I gasp. “But she made me swear on my son that I’d never share it outside of the family.”
“Your brothers are family, Lennon,” he assures me with a kind glimmer in his eyes that reminds me so much of Maddox’s.
Now it’s my turn to look around the tent for Atticus and Rhys, eventually finding them by the bar, charming two of Maddox’s cousins, no doubt. “They are. But I’m scared that it’ll be years before I see them again. I’m afraid they risked more than they realized by coming here. My grandfather is going to be furious when word gets out.”
“Sometimes we have to choose family and their happiness before everything else. Even the responsibility we hold. Take it from me, there are few things in this world an older brother wouldn’t do to make sure his brother... or sister is happy.” He steps back as the song ends. “Speaking of which...”
Rhys moves in next to me and offers me his arm. “Walk with me?”
I slide my hand into the crook of his arm and follow him away from the crowd. “When do you leave?”
“Tonight,” he tells me as we clear the tent and make our way to a beautiful stone patio under a pergola covered with blooming roses. “The less time we’re here, the less time the crown has to get in the way. By the time we’re home tomorrow, the outlets will already be running this as the lead story. And the blowback will be bad enough as it is. If I weren’t there to face it head-on, it would be worse.”
We sit down on a white stone bench, and I take his hand in mine. “I’m sorry you’ll have to face any blowback for me.”
“I’d do anything to protect you, kid. I’m fairly certain your new husband would too. He’s watching us.” Rhys doesn’t sound angry, but he doesn’t seem thrilled either. “Does he treat you well? Not just better than Monty. Does he treat you the way you deserve to be treated?”
I swallow down all the emotions that have been swirling all day in hopes of answering him without crying. Thank goodness for waterproof mascara. “I’m not even sure I deserve to be loved the way he loves me.”
“You deserve to be loved more than any person I’ve ever known, Lennon. Don’t let fear stop you. And have faith that I’ll do all I can to smooth things over with the king.”
Rhys looks so much older than he did even a year ago, and I realize just how much I missed by not coming home for so long. “Are you okay, Rhys?”
“You’re happy and safe. I’ve got everything I need today. Now don’t cry—because your husband is coming this way, and I don’t feel like having to explain myself and why you’re crying to him,” he teases but means every word of it. There are few people in this world my brother will ever be expected to explain himself to. But for me, he did it.
He stands and lifts my chin. “You will always be Her Royal Highness, Lennon Allison Windsor, Princess Royal of Mornea. Do not forget that—because one day you will stand next to me when I’m crowned, and I will be so proud to have you at my side, little sister.” Maddox stands just outside of the pergola, close enough that he can hear every word but far enough that he’s still being respectful. “And at that point, I guess I’ll give him a title too.”
“Not the baby,” I murmur, and Maddox moves in next to me as Rhys tilts his head, confused. “I don’t want him to have a title or the pressure that comes along with it. I’ll do whatever I can, if and when I’m allowed to come back home. I’ll serve you in any way. But I want him to have the choices we never had.”
Maddox’s grip on my hip tightens, like he’s expecting my brother to object, but I know Rhys too well to expect that.
“Then you’ll give him whatever name you want, but he’ll always know he has family in both places.”
Satisfied with my brother’s answer, Maddox offers him his hand, and we watch as Rhys walks away. “So, no prince?”
“Pretty sure the world already has enough Beneventi princes.” I trace his lips with my finger, and he catches it between his teeth.
“Are you ready to get out of here?”
“Where are we going?” I smile. He’s been so secretive about our honeymoon, I haven’t been able to pry a single thing out of him. “Are we leaving tonight?”
“You’re really bad about surprises, you know that? They’re supposed to be fun.”
I look up at him, the seriousness of my earlier conversation already forgotten. “Listen, I had to trust your sister to pack for me. That’s more stressful than fun.”
He shrugs. “I told her you didn’t need clothes because I planned to keep you naked all week.”
“You didn’t...” I gasp. “ Please tell me you didn’t.”
His lips tip up on one side in a beautifully sexy, crooked smile, equal parts guilt and promise.
Hopefully, our destination will be warm.
* * *
M addox smacks my ass as we board the Kingston family’s private jet, then pulls me against him. “I want you naked and waiting for me in the bedroom when I’m done speaking to the pilot, wife.”
“Is that safe, husband?” I tangle my fingers in his hair. “How would I put on my seatbelt?”
He shakes his head and grabs my face, licking into my mouth. “Go, Lennon.”
Ohh. I love an impatient Maddox.
I hurry back to the bedroom with a different idea, while Maddox stops in the front where Maria is sitting with the flight attendant. Maybe I should feel bad for what I have very little doubt he’s saying, but I don’t. Not even a little bit. We haven’t had a minute of privacy since Caitlin woke us up this morning, and he’s enjoyed driving me crazy all day.
Gracie warned me I’d be in a constant state of turned-on once I hit a certain point in my pregnancy, but I don’t think it’s the pregnancy. I think it’s Maddox.
I throw a little cold water on my face and run my fingers through my hair, then adjust my boobs a bit before walking back into the main cabin. Still fully clothed.
And when the door shuts behind Maddox and the click of a lock slides into place, my skin heats as his eyes melt. “I thought I told you no clothes.”
“You also said the bedroom, but I thought this could be more fun,” I challenge.
Both his hands gently grab my face and hold me in place. His thumb traces my cheek, sending goosebumps dancing down my spine, and I practically purr. “Then tell me what you want, Lennon. Anything you want... tell me. Take it. It’s yours.”
I lean my face into his palm and melt into him.
My body desperate for the pleasure he’s been teasing me with all day.
The tiny touches.
Lingering gazes.
The whispered words—hot and filthy little promises only I could hear.
“You don’t play nice, Maddox. You’ve had me on edge all day,” I breathe out before turning my face toward his fingers and sucking his thumb into my mouth.
Maddox sucks in a breath before he rips his hands away, and his lips capture mine.
Calloused palms slide down the short white silk dress I changed into before we left his uncle’s. He drags the hem up to my hips before cupping my ass and lifting me in the air. He walks us back to the cream leather sofa and sits us down with me on his lap.
“Maddox...” I moan, desperate for more as he unties the bow at the back of my neck, and the most delicious sound rips from his lips at the sight of my bare breasts.
I run my fingers through his thick, dark hair and sigh as one hand slides up my bare back, resting between my shoulder blades and pulling me to him. I arch, and my breath gets caught in my throat as his tongue licks around my nipple and his teeth graze my skin.
“I’ve been hard all day, thinking about what it was going to be like fucking my wife,” he groans, and it’s so goddamned good. “You were supposed to be laid out on a bed, Lennon.”
“I will be... later,” I gasp as his hands glide up my thighs, and thick fingers trace my sex through the sheer lace covering it.
He draws his head back and stares deep into my eyes, like he can see my soul. My love. Like it’s all right there, laid out for him to see. And maybe it is. I’m not sure I’ve ever been able to keep anything from him.
Maddox drags his hot tongue down my neck, and I drop my head back, while his other hand finally slips under my thong and skims the lips of my pussy. “You want me to fuck you now, wife?”
“I want you to fuck me all night.” I try to sound strong as the words fall from my lips, but my God, it’s hard when my body is already shaking with anticipation.
His tongue traces my lips, swallowing my command willingly. And when his tongue touches mine, the flickering flame that has danced all day strengthens, threatening to burn us to the ground.
Maddox drags his finger through my soaked sex, then drags it up around my clit and pushes down. “Do you want to come on my cock or my mouth, Lennon?”
“Both,” I pout, and a wickedly gorgeous smile spreads across his lips. His mouth wraps around my sensitive nipple. Sucking and tugging and driving me insane as his fingers slide inside my pussy, teasing that hidden spot I could never find on my own as he circles my clit.
My orgasm crashes over me like a wildfire I could never escape and yet never want to end as Maddox swallows my screams with a scorching kiss, never slowing or stopping, knowing exactly what I need for one orgasm to roll into two. Until my body is hot and heavy and spent.
But not ready for this to end.
When I can finally lift my head, I trail my lips down his neck and my hands down his shirt, popping open one button at a time. Each flying across the cabin. Desperate to feel his skin on mine.
“My turn,” I whisper and unbuckle his belt.
His eyes heat as he grabs my hands. “Baby, I need to be inside you now. You can have your turn later.”
“Just a little taste.” I stand and tilt my head, pouting, and Maddox reaches for me. I back up a small step, then tug his waistband with both hands and pull at his slacks and boxers until he lifts his hips, and I’m able to pull them down his thick thighs, tossing them aside. “Please...” I let my dress fall to the floor, then shimmy out of my thong and kick the small scrap of white lace aside.
His hands are on my hips in an instant.
Lifting me back onto his lap.
“The first time I come inside my wife, it’s going to be in your tight little cunt, principessa . You can suck my cock later.”
I’m not sure why those words turn me on the way they do, but my God, they really do.
My knees dig into the soft leather on either side of his hips as he slides his hands to my ass and squeezes.
“That’s it, baby.”
I lower myself onto his cock and drop my forehead to his as my body stretches around him. “Maddox...”
“You were made for me, Lennon...” His tongue licks into my mouth. “Just for me.”
I slowly inch up just enough to drop back down again, refusing to give up any contact. Needing to feel his skin against mine. His breath on me.
Maddox slides one hand into my hair, anchoring me to him, and tugs.
It’s possessive and protective and so deliciously Maddox, I wouldn’t have it any other way. He breathes me in as I breathe him out, and I wonder how I ever lived without this. Without him.
“ Tesoro .” His voice is hoarse as my nails score his scalp.
“I’m so close,” I pant, chasing my orgasm.
Lost in the moment.
Lost in him.
His head tips back, and firm lips press against my hot skin... My neck... My lips...
Until he’s devouring me. Demanding more. Releasing my hair and sliding his strong hand down my body. Gripping my ass in both hands, he changes our angle, and that’s it. That’s all it takes. What had been just out of reach is being deliciously rubbed over and over and over again now. A torrent of emotions assaults me. Love and lust and fear and faith... in him, in us. Need and desperation and pure unadulterated want... This man. This life. It all weaves together as reality wars with memories. This is it. This is everything I’ve ever wanted with the only man I’ve ever wanted it with.
“Need you to come now, Lennon.” His fingers bite into my ass as his teeth bite down on my lip, and I fall over the cliff, coming on a silent scream. My breath catches in my throat until he breathes life back into me before ripping his mouth from mine and burying it in my shoulder as he fucks me over and over again. Strong hands holding me to him. Sucking and licking... and whispering words I’ve longed to hear for years.
Until he loses himself in me completely, unable to hold back, and follows me off that cliff with my name on his lips.