Chapter 7
MADDISON
I spend far too long in the bath, and when I get out and start drying myself, I hear the stairs creak. Seeing the way Jace got all protective over me earlier has made him even more appealing. Although the last thing I should be thinking about right now is another man, it’s hard for my mind not to wonder when he’s there as a constant reminder of everything I've been missing from my life.
Once I’m done, I wrap the towel around me and open the door, checking the coast is clear before I scoot across the hall to my bedroom. Everything about this place is cozy and charming; you can see it’s had a woman’s touch, and it makes me question if it was just his mother’s or if Jace has had other females in his life. This house is huge and perfect for raising a family. I can’t think of a better place for kids to grow up, than a ranch. I don’t know why those kinds of thoughts have started coming to my head over the last forty-eight hours. Ever since Adam mentioned that he didn’t want kids, I’ve been thinking a lot about how much I do. Which, considering I have no boyfriend, no home, and a family that will be furious at me, is hardly something obtainable right now.
It’s something I should definitely make sure of before I date again. Though I’m not quite sure at what point you ask that kind of question. I’ve never had to date before. Adam has just always been there . I can’t pinpoint the time we became a couple, it just happened . Things got comfortable, they suited everyone and it felt as if I was just along for the ride.
I throw on some of my own clothes and head downstairs, and when I find the living room empty, I curl up on the couch and take ownership of the remote control. I spend time flicking through the channels until I see a woman standing behind a kitchen counter wearing an apron. She’s got a warm smile and is talking through the recipe as she makes her own meatloaf. I leave it on and start paying attention. She’s not flapping, she’s calm and makes it all look so easy. I wonder if she’d be the same if she was under pressure with seven hungry cowboys waiting to get fed. I have no idea how I’m going to pull off tomorrow’s breakfast but I’m too exhausted to care. Today’s been a long day, seeing Adam wasn’t easy, but it did affirm my decision, I could never have spent a lifetime with him. Not now that I’ve encountered Jace Sullivan.
“Getting some tips, huh?” I turn my head and see Jace coming down the stairs.
“I sure need it.” I smile as I watch him take a seat in the armchair by the open fire and the fact he’s placed himself so far away niggles me. It’s pathetic.
We both stare at the screen, watching the woman take the perfectly constructed meatloaf out of the oven and place it on a cooling rack.
“I wanna talk about what you said earlier,” he blurts out, taking me by surprise. “About your ex being heavy-handed.” He’s got that stern frown on his face that I find irritating, and handsome, all at the same time.
“There's nothing to talk about, things with me and him are done.”
“So what, now? What's your plan? To stay here?” he questions.
“I don’t have a plan. I don’t have anything, and I don’t want to talk about it.” I stare back at the television, hoping he’ll get the message and leave it.
“God, you can be such a brat,” he mutters to himself and when I glance at him and see him shaking his head, it infuriates me.
“I am not a brat. How can you say that when you don’t even know me?” I defend myself.
“Oh, please, you couldn't be any more of a princess if you tried.” He gets up and heads toward the door.
“I am not a princess.” I stand up and when my foot automatically stomps against the floor he actually laughs at me.
“I rest my case.” He takes his hat off the hook by the door, and when he puts it on his head, I realize he’s leaving and a knot forms in my stomach.
“Where are you going?” I snap at him.
“That ain’t ya business,” he reminds me, making me even more furious.
“Grrrr.” I let a little of that anger out as he steps out the door and slams it shut. Without knowing exactly what I plan on saying to him, I charge out onto the porch after him.
“You do not get to judge me. You don’t even know me!” I call out at him, it’s dark out here, and thankfully there doesn’t seem to be anyone around to witness me losing my head. He stops, and as he slowly turns around, it makes my skin prickle.
“Princess, you don’t even know yourself,” he sniggers, stepping back toward me. My hand raises, ready to slap the cock-sure grin off his face, and he grips my wrist, dragging me onto him and ensuring that his lips slam over mine.
My knees buckle as his tongue invades my mouth and swallows up all my defenses, while his fingers dig deep into my wrist, almost causing pain. I’m stunned, overwhelmed, and definitely not angry anymore. His other hand feels so gentle when it slides up my neck past my ear, keeping us connected as he steps me back inside the house and kicks the door shut after us. My back eventually hits a wall, then he takes my hair in his fist and pulls.
“Promise me you’ll never go back to him.” He drags his lips away from mine and growls. This man, who I barely know, has no right to make demands of me, yet I nod my head, and when he gives me his mouth again it feels like he’s rewarding me.
“I can’t stay here.” I get a sudden dose of reality and push him back. This is moving far too fast. I can’t get caught up with a guy like him. The feelings I have already feel dangerous.
“And why the fuck not?” His eyes narrow.
“Because, this isn’t my life, Jace. I’m not a housekeeper, I’m just a–”
“Life’s what ya make it.” Using the grip he has on my hair he tips my head back and kisses my neck. “I want you to stay,” he whispers against my skin.
“Why? Like I said before, you don’t know me.” This is crazy, and getting far too out of hand. I don’t want to fight it but the nerves and the doubt swirling inside me has me putting the brakes on.
“What I know, so far, I really fuckin’ like.” His coarse hand strokes against my cheek and makes my pussy ache.
“This is such a bad idea.” I shake my head and close my eyes. “We could blame last night on the whiskey, but not tonight,” I point out.
“You just tell me to stop, darlin’,” he whispers in my ear, as he slips both his hands into the sides of my yoga pants and drags them off my thighs.
I look down and see him on his knees, looking up at me and when he carefully takes his hat off, placing it on the floor beside him, I can’t form any words as his mouth presses against my panties. Instead, I scrunch my fingers into his hair and hold him tight to me as he kisses me through the fabric. His fingers set off sparks as they move slowly back up my leg and over my thighs and I feel my hips start to move against his mouth as my pussy throbs to feel him inside me.
“Still think this is a bad idea?” He looks up at me cockily, and when his fingers grip the waistband of my panties, teasingly dragging them down to expose my pussy, I shake my head back at him.
“Ask for my tongue, Princess.” His breath touches my sensitive flesh and sends me wild but I keep my mouth shut tight.
“C’mon, don’t ya want it?” His finger flicks my clit playfully as his eyes dare me. “You're already soaked through your panties, I bet you’d like me to taste ya. Ask nicely and I’ll kiss this pussy just as thoroughly as I did your mouth.” His words tip me over the edge and I end up succumbing to his demands.
“Please.” I feel my skin flush as the heat pools in my stomach.
“I like this.” He runs his finger over the narrow trail of hair that covers my pussy and makes me shiver again. Then he watches my reaction as his tongue slips from his lips and slowly licks through my center. My grip on his hair gets tighter and I moan out loud.
“That feel good?” He slides back up my body, leaving me desperate, and judging by the look on his face, I’d say he knows it. He takes his time to study the disappointment on my face before he smiles, kisses my mouth, and slips two of his fingers inside me.
“ Fuck! ” I gasp as he presses his forehead into mine.
“Yeah, you fuckin’ like it.” He answers his own question. “Your pussy knows who it belongs to now. You feel the way it sucks around my fingers, desperate to keep them inside?” I nod back at him, because there’s no way I can deny it, not when I can feel for myself the heavy pulse it’s making.
“This pussy is just as perfect as the rest of you,” he whispers, “and it’s mine.”
“I thought I was a brat.” I manage a clever remark, despite feeling as if I’ll combust.
“I just so happen to like brats. Especially brats with needy little pussies.” His fingers continue to stroke inside me.
“Yes.” I grip hold of his forearm as he fucks me with his fingers, and when I feel something start to build inside me, this time at least, I can prepare myself for what's coming. Last night took me by surprise. I thought I’d had an orgasm once before, but it turns out I was wrong. Kendra really was right when she told me that when you get one, there’s no way you can doubt it.
“You gonna come for me already, Princess?” Jace almost looks amused, and I’m too desperate to be bothered by that fact. “Convincing you to stay is gonna be easier than I thought,” he taunts me, and when he presses his thumb against my clit with just the right amount of pressure, I feel myself lose control.
“Jace.” I buck against his hand and let all the tension inside me release as my head spins and my pussy tightens around his fingers. “Oh my god!” I smile with relief as my entire body feels like it's floating.
“Every time you do that, you make it sound like it’s your first time.” He smiles against my skin as he kisses my cheek.
“Last night was....” I manage to stop myself before all the words come tumbling out and when he pulls back and looks at me strangely, I shake my head.
“Are you tellin’ me that last night was the first time you ever–”
“Yes. Up until you, I’d never had an orgasm ,” I whisper the last word, feeling embarrassed and very fucking juvenile. He moves fast, making my stomach flip as he throws me over his shoulder.
“What are you doing?” I yell as he starts heading for the stairs.
“I’m gonna take ya to my bed and give ya a few more, you okay with that?” he tells me, taking each step effortlessly, and when I don’t answer back, he makes me jump when he slaps my ass.