Chapter Seventeen #2
“Please tell me you’re not about to force me to do schoolwork.”
“Just because your professors have given you an extension does not mean you still don’t have to do the work.
And as it is, I was not given the same courtesy and do have work that needs finishing, including our psych project, which is due this week.
” Tucking my legs, I open the folder in my lap, flipping through the contents before pulling out the paper I’m looking for.
“Take pity on me. I’m injured.”
“A fact your wandering hands seem to keep forgetting.” I give him a knowing look before turning my attention back to the paper now resting on top of the folder. “Now suck it up.”
“If I must.” He lets out an exasperated sigh, grimacing as he pushes himself into a sitting position before scooting up the bed to rest his back against the headboard.
Macallan was released from the hospital after two days. Other than a visit to the police station to give our official statements, he hasn’t left his apartment once. Not that I blame him. The poor guy can barely walk to the kitchen without causing himself severe pain.
I returned to classes the day after he was released but have spent every spare moment I have here with him.
I haven’t been back to my dorm room since the incident and I’m not sure when I’ll be ready to go back.
Char and Lyric packed a bag for me and brought it by, the goddesses that they are.
And, of course, they have both offered several times to let me stay with them for the rest of the school year, but I have no intention of taking them up on it.
Lana is gone. She’s not coming back. And once Macallan gets back on his feet, I will eventually go home.
Just not yet. And not just because I’m not ready, but because I am quite enjoying spending my nights in the arms of the man in front of me.
A man who has finally claimed the heart I tried giving him two years ago. .. Better late than never.
“So what do we have left?” he asks, pulling me from my thoughts.
“We just have the attention portion left. We’re testing if you can focus on relevant information and ignore distractions.”
“And what kind of distractions will you be providing?” A wicked grin tugs at the corners of his mouth.
“Not those kinds of distractions,” I tell him with a slight shake of my head.
“Why not? Would make this a little more interesting.”
“We’ve been over this...”
“Hear me out. I won’t even move a muscle.”
“Is that so?”
“I will concede to whatever form of distraction you use.”
“I don’t trust you to keep your hands to yourself.”
“You have my word.” He traces an X over his heart.
“Fine. But if you break the terms of our agreement, the deal is off.”
“Agreed.” He flashes his pearly whites at me.
“I have a feeling I’m going to regret this,” I mutter under my breath loud enough for him to hear.
“I think we both know you won’t.” His confidence, even basically bedridden, is staggering. And yet, despite my reservations, my skin still heats with anticipation.
“Okay, so for the first test, I’m going to play a song. While the song is playing, I will do something to distract you. The goal is to focus on the lyrics. If you can repeat at least one full sentence back to me at the end, you will have successfully completed the task.”
“Got it.” He nods, his eyes tracking me as I pull out my phone, opening my music app before selecting a song he’s unlikely to know.
“Ready?”
“Ready.”
“Remember, you must be able to recite one full line of the song.” With that, I press play on my phone, the upbeat tempo of a pop song filling the room seconds later.
I wait until the female starts to sing before pushing off the bed. Reaching for the bottom of my shirt, I pull it up so slowly that I reveal only one inch of skin every ten or so seconds. The song is already a quarter over by the time the material reaches my breasts.
I don’t look at Macallan, knowing that if I do, if I track his reaction, it will be me who breaks the terms of our agreement.
He’s not the only one who’s finding abstaining to be torture.
I’ve never craved someone the way I do him, and denying myself his touch, the feel of him inside me, has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.
I still can’t wrap my head around anything that’s happened over the past few weeks.
All the stuff with Lana seems to pale in comparison to Macallan.
How I went from hating the ground he walked on to worshipping it.
How every time I looked at him, all I felt was rage and now I feel overwhelming and immense love.
It’s too fast—everything inside of me is screaming this fact—but there’s no derailing the train that my heart is currently speeding on down the tracks. I couldn’t stop this even if I wanted to, which, for the record, I don’t.
I knew from the first night I laid eyes on Macallan that he was someone I could fall hard and fast for.
And I did. Once two years ago and again now.
Though if I’m being truthful, I don’t think my feelings for him ever truly went away.
I think they just manifested into something else to mask the hurt I felt every time I saw him.
I pull my shirt over my head and toss it at Macallan, who’s watching me intently, his eyes hooded in desire.
The sight weakens my knees, making me feel off balance.
Taking a deep breath, I press ahead, turning slowly as I make a show of unclasping my bra.
Slipping one strap over my shoulder, I look over the opposite shoulder, meeting Mac’s intense gaze.
With a smirk, I remove the other strap, the song ending just as I’ve turned back around, the cups of my bra still covering my breasts.
“Okay, time to see what you remember.” I grin, reclasping my bra, much to his disappointment. Leaning down, I grab my phone and pull up the lyrics to the song. “Give me one full line.”
“I...” He blows out a heavy breath. “I stopped listening the second you started taking off your shirt.” He barks out a laugh, instant regret tugging at his features as he places a hand over the wound in his stomach.
“If you can’t complete the assignment, you can’t claim your reward.” I give him a seductive smile.
“Wait, there’s a reward? You never said anything about a reward.”
“Hmm. Did I forget to mention that part?” I play coy.
“I want a redo.”
“Are you sure you’re ready this time?”
“I’m sure.” His face hardens with resolve.
“Okay then.” I press play on another random song, this one a fast-paced country tune that starts off with a banjo solo.
As soon as the man starts to sing, I resume my actions.
Unclasping my bra before peeling each strap down my shoulder at a snail’s pace.
Only this time, I let the material fall, revealing my bare chest. I bite down on my bottom lip to cover the smile that touches my mouth at the way Mac’s nostrils flare.
Sliding my hands down my abdomen, I slip my fingers into the band of my leggings, inching them over my hips before turning, bending at the waist to peel them down my legs, giving him the perfect view of my ass through my barely there pink panties.
If his audible inhale is any indication, I’d say he rather enjoys the view, though I don’t linger for long, straightening once I’ve removed my pants completely, turning back to face him now in only my underwear.
He’s sitting up straighter now, his back no longer pressed to the headboard as his eyes track my every movement. I take one step toward him and then another, making a show of leaning over to retrieve my phone just as the song ends.
“Well, Mr. Stewart. Are you ready to recite your line?”
“I traded my boots for memories and a map of where we used to be.” He rattles off the lyrics word for word, a triumphant smirk lighting up his face. “Now, about my reward.”
“Not yet. We’re nowhere close to done.” I shake my head.
“I hate to point out the obvious, but you’re down to only one article of clothing.”
“Which means things are about to get very interesting.” I wink, quickly scrolling through songs until I randomly click on one, this time a rock song. “Two lines this time.”
I lose my panties by the first chorus, spending the remainder of the song, swaying my hips, running my hands over my boobs, across my abdomen, between my thighs, anywhere I can think to make him squirm.
By the time the song ends, he’s breathing heavily, eyes narrowed like he’s tempted to ignore his injury in lieu of replacing my hands with his own.
“Two lines.” I take a step back in case he decides to make a move.
“And then I get my reward?”
“If you can recite both lines perfectly.” I nod slowly.
“Crashing through the silence like a storm that won’t obey. I light the match and watch the past go up in flames today.” He smiles, clearly pleased with himself. “How’d I do?”
“Every word right.” I drop my phone onto his dresser before sauntering toward him. “Back against the headboard,” I instruct, my own arousal palpable. “Do not move,” I add once he’s in position. “No matter what I do, you must stay still. No tensing.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I grab the waistband of his pants.
“Lift.”
He immediately obeys, lifting his hips, allowing me to slide off his joggers and boxers in one fluid motion. Peeling them the rest of the way down his legs, I toss them onto the floor before climbing onto the bed.
I give myself a few seconds to take in the sheer length and size of him, my mouth watering as I anticipate the taste of him on my tongue. Licking my lips, I force my gaze to his.
“You move and I stop.”
“I won’t move,” he rasps.
“You say that now.” I wrap my hand around his thick erection, smiling when he jerks at my touch. “Relax.” I keep my eyes locked on his as I slowly lower my head, not wanting to miss his reaction at the first swipe of my tongue.
I start at the base, flattening my tongue as I lick him from bottom to top before twirling my tongue around the head, already tasting his arousal.
“Relax,” I quietly remind him when he tenses, waiting until I feel him relax before taking him fully into my mouth.
“Fuckkkk.” He hisses, fingers diving into my hair, twisting tightly around the strands like he’s holding on for dear life.
My restraint snaps and I take him in as deep as I can, letting him hit the back of my throat as I swallow around him.
This... This right here is everything. The taste of him. The feel of him. The intensity I feel knowing I have the power to make him come undone as completely as he undoes me.
I love this man.
I love the way he looks at me.
The way he makes me feel.
The way his eyes crinkle at the corners when he smiles.
The rich sound of his laughter.
In a way, I feel grateful to Lana because if not for her, I may never have realized how desperately I don’t want to live without this man.
I didn’t think it possible to leave the past in the past, to get over the hurt he inflicted, the rejection I spent two years rebelling against, but being here with him now... I realize that none of that matters.
The only thing that matters is him, and I would fight and lose a hundred battles if it meant that I would end up right here at the end of it all.
I guess maybe that makes me a glutton for punishment.
But I know what my heart wants more than anything else, and how could I ever deny her this feeling. ..
“Mais...” It’s the only warning I get before Macallan spills his release into my mouth, the warm saltiness coating my tongue. I continue to move, wanting every single drop that he can give me, and only when I’m certain he’s finished do I finish him off with one hard pull.
Releasing him, I push back onto my knees, taking in his body that’s naked from the waist down.
He really is a sight to behold. Dressed, half-dressed, or completely nude, it doesn’t much matter.
Macallan looks like he’s been crafted from stone, no matter his state of dress.
As beautiful as a man can get. So beautiful, in fact, that I find myself unable to tear my eyes away.
“Keep doing shit like that and you’re never going to get rid of me.” He reaches for me and I’m all too happy to climb into his arms.
“That might be the point.” I smile, pressing a kiss to the side of his neck as I curl into him.
“I’m not sure if I’ve ever truly apologized for the way I treated you,” he says after a long moment of silence has stretched between us.
“You’ve apologized.”
“Not really. I need you to know that I will never do anything like that to you ever again. I’m done running. You are what I want, Maisie. That’s not going to change.”
I lift my face to look at him. Sliding my hand up to his cheek, I pull his gaze to mine.
“Then I guess it’s a good thing I’m yours, and like it or not, I’m not going anywhere.”
He grimaces as he rolls onto his side to face me, his hand sliding across my back.
“I love you, Maisie Rose. You’re the first woman I’ve ever said that to.”
My heart thunders in my chest like a stampede of elephants is galloping through my chest.
“You’ve never told your mother that you love her?” I snort out a laugh, the intensity of his gaze making me squirm. Not because I don’t like it, but because of how much I do.
“Besides my mom.” He rolls his gorgeous teal eyes, which appear darker in this lighting.
I reach up, scratching his beard, which has grown a little longer over the past couple of weeks. I have to admit, I hope he continues to let it grow. I find it rather sexy.
“I love you,” I repeat back to him, my thumb tracing his bottom lip. “And you are the first man I’ve ever said that to. Other than family,” I quickly add.
“And to think I almost let you get away.”
“Turns out you’re smarter than you look.” I laugh, leaning in to press my lips to his.
Funny how quickly things change. And how, even though you weren’t ever sure you’d get there, you suddenly find yourself exactly where you belong.
Life’s funny like that. It can change in an instant.
And I don’t know about you, but I’m certainly going to enjoy this ride while it lasts because nothing is ever guaranteed, least of all happily ever after.