Chapter 9 - Maddox
I stared across the room at Jillian and her sister Lila.
I could see just how close they were. They both smiled the same, had the same facial expression, and when they danced, they looked at each other with such care.
I couldn't deny I was a little jealous because I would never understand that kind of love.
Having a sibling to lean on when you needed it most.
"That's the sister-in-law?" Jay asked, nodding his head towards the girls.
"Yeah," Frank answered before I could. "Marsha. Runs the flower shop. She's married with a kid. She's nice. Does an amazing job running her business."
"Do you think Jillian is going to be okay moving away from her sister?" Henrik asked, and I raised an eyebrow at him. "Katie was asking. She said she was worried about how Jillian would handle this entire thing. She and Nina were talking, and I overheard that they were worried."
I kept my lips sealed about her running for it, finding it was better left unsaid. She couldn't run away now, and that was what mattered. No need to bring up the past.
"Well, she's a pretty tough cookie," Frank said.
Henrik looked at Frank. "Did you have a thing for her or something?"
Frank glared at Henrik. "No, I've just been protective about Jillian. She can't shift, and they lost their parents at a young age. Marsha pretty much helped raise Jillian since high school."
This was news to me. I glanced back at the girls, watching as they spoke together, their heads bent together as if they were sharing secrets. I could see just how close they were from just a few minutes of watching them.
"Jay, can you hold Maddy?" Sam walked over with their daughter, who had fallen asleep. Jay's face lit up as he reached out and took Maddy into his arms. He kissed Sam on her forehead, giving her a squeeze.
"I'm going to go say goodnight to Jillian." Sam looked at me and gave me a smile. "You take care of her. She's your wife now."
I gave Sam a nod before she turned, walking across the space.
Katie walked over a moment later, giving us all a smile. "You mind if I snag my husband back? The babysitter just called, and she needs to get home soon, so we need to head out."
"Dang," Henrik said, setting his glass down. "Well, I guess we are leaving." Henrik pulled an arm around Katie, kissing the top of her head. "See you for the meeting in a couple of days."
I nodded as they walked away, heading for the door. Frank finished his drink. "Well, we have a long drive home, so I'm grabbing my wife." We looked over and found Nina sitting at a table talking with someone.
"Speaking of wives, how is she doing?"
Frank's eyes seemed to sparkle. They had just welcomed their baby boy, Johnny, a few weeks ago.
This was their first night away from the baby.
Frank's brother was babysitting, which I had been shocked by considering how their relationship had been over the years.
Being married to Nina had softened him, but in all the right areas.
"She's doing well. She had a hard labor, but she made it through. Johnny is healthy and growing. All we can ask for."
Frank headed over to Nina, leaving Aaron, Jones, and me alone. I sighed, tired. I hadn't slept well before this, always on the alert for Jillian.
"You wanna call it?" Jones asked, nodding his head towards Jillian and Marsha.
I shook my head. "No, I'm going to let her enjoy this." I didn't want to be the person to end the night. At least not in that moment. I wanted her to think back and have some good memories when she thought of tonight. I didn't want it to just be the night she was forced to be with me.
I stood with the guys watching as Jillian looked to having a good time. We didn't leave until Marsha left. I walked with Jillian to our car, watching her face. She seemed to have tons of emotions that crossed her face before finally falling neutral.
As we drove home, we were both quiet. I didn't know what to say. Every attempt I made to make things better didn't seem to work. Jillian looked outside the window, her face blank as we pulled into the driveway.
"Well, we're married now."
She glanced at me for a split second before she nodded. "We are. Does that mean you're going to unbolt my window?"
I smirked. "I already did this morning. You were downstairs."
Her eyebrows went up. "Wow, so I can actually have the window open now. I'm really moving up in life."
I frowned. "You're a bit of a smarty pants, aren't you? Frank never mentioned that. Frank told me you were a sweet girl, but I'm not seeing that."
"I never had to be with Frank because he was nice to me.
" She opened the door and hopped out. I sighed and rubbed at my eyes before getting out myself.
Jillian headed inside right away, and I followed behind her.
I shouldn't have been surprised to see her go straight up the stairs.
She didn't look back as she headed into her room, shutting the door behind her.
I frowned, feeling a tug deep in my chest. I knew I probably could have handled this entire situation better, but I also didn't know what to do. I didn't know what I was even doing.
I headed into the kitchen, tossing my jacket and tie onto the counter.
I opened my liquor cabinet and pulled out my whiskey.
I grabbed a glass from the cupboard and poured myself a drink.
I took a small sip and leaned against the counter, staring across the room.
I stared at her glittering high heels, thinking about the dance.
Jillian was dangerous, and I knew that, but why did I feel a tug to protect her? Why was my body going back and forth against itself when it came to her? Why couldn't I think rationally when it came to her?
I took another sip when I heard something upstairs. It was a soft sound, like wood dragging across the floor. I instantly wondered if she was going to go for attempt number eight, but knew better. She wouldn't get far before the bond would stop her.
I finished my glass and placed my whiskey back into the cabinet.
I walked back towards the stairs when I heard movement again upstairs.
I stared at Jillian's door and knew it was coming from her room.
I started up the stairs and headed towards Jillian's room.
I then heard the grunting sound, and panic set in.
I opened the door and pulled it open, and froze when I noticed Jillian stood in the center of the room, her arms pulled behind her back as she tugged at the zipper of her dress. It was only halfway down, and half of her back was exposed. She grunted again. "For fuck’s sake! Just move, damn it."
I couldn't help but smirk, taking her in. She pulled at the zipper, but it was caught in part of the dress, not moving.
"Do you need a hand?" I asked, leaning against the doorframe.
She turned her eyes, widening a little when she spotted me standing there. She looked ready to tell me to go away, but then sighed, her shoulder dropping. "I can't get this off."
My smirk grew. "I can see that."
"Just…" she grunted and made a face. "Help me."
"Only if you ask nicely."
She glared, and I pushed off the doorframe and walked towards her. "Your zipper is stuck in the fabric."
"Damn it," she cursed. "Can you get it free? Or are we going to have to cut me out?"
I laughed. "I can get it." I grabbed the zipper and tugged, pulling it free from the fabric it was caught in. The zipper went down easily, exposing the rest of her back.
I took in her back, taking in her spine and how smooth her skin looked.
I could see her figure and took in the way her curves looked as she was naked.
I swallowed, feeling myself getting hard at just the bareness of her back.
I wasn't the type of guy to get turned on so easily, but my body seemed to react to hers instantly.
She looked over her shoulder. "Thanks. I was beginning to think I'd have to live in it."
I reached for the zipper, pulling my hand, and ran a finger up her spine. "At least it's a nice dress… I wouldn't mind seeing you in this forever."
Her skin was as smooth as it looked, and I stroked my finger down her spine, feeling her shiver. I could feel her heartbeat, and the way her breaths were soft and uneven.
"You think so?" she asked, her voice coming out in a whisper.
I nodded, feeling like I was falling into a trance. "Yeah, it hugs your curves and shows your figure… It's a good color for you. It complements your tone. It's not a terrible dress to be stuck in."
I leaned closer, feeling like the air around us had shifted.
I knew I should move away and let her finish undressing.
I should let her go to bed because this was a lot.
But I couldn't. I couldn't imagine not touching her.
Not seeing her honest and soft like this.
This was the first time I felt like I was seeing her honestly and openly.
I moved my hand lower, resting it on her hip, rubbing my hand over the fabric.
"Well, maybe I'll wear it again sometime."
I swallowed, feeling unable to pull air in. My cock jerked, and I reached a hand down, moving it towards the front of her stomach. I stepped closer, pressing my chest against her back.
I could feel her breath hitch as I moved my hand slowly.
I inhaled her scent and tried to control myself.
Jesus, I was trying. But her scent, and seeing her like this, bare and exposed.
I had some terrible ideas of what I wanted to do to her.
I wanted to kiss her roughly and listen to her moan.
I wanted to fill her and see what expressions crossed her face when I fucked her.
I shouldn't want her, but I did. I wanted her as badly as I wanted my Alpha position. I wanted to sink my teeth into her skin and have her nails scrape down mine. I wanted to hear her moan my name, coming apart on my cock. I wanted that more than anything else.
"You looked beautiful tonight," I whispered, running my nose along her neck.
I felt her lean back slightly, looking over her shoulder. "You're just saying that to be nice."
I chuckled as I leaned my head down, pressing my forehead against the back of her head. I inhaled her scent, looking down at her ass. "I don't say anything that's not true."
I moved my hand, reaching further down. My thumb rubbed against her hip bone before curling around her thigh. I felt her tense, and then Jillian made a sound. I came out high-pitched, scared like a child. Not a sound of comfort but fear.
I let go, jumping back, knowing I'd crossed the line. I took a slow breath in and took another step back, putting space between us. I swallowed, shaking my head, trying to shake the moment away.
"I should let you change," I said quickly, shaking my head, trying to clear that sound from my mind. But it rang over and over like a bell. I shouldn't have touched her. I shouldn't have moved so close to her like that.
"If you need anything, let me know. I'm just down the hall." I turned, leaving the room as quickly as I could. Once outside, I paused, angry at myself. I should have respected her space. I shouldn't have pushed and done that.
I headed into my room and sighed, running a hand through my hair.
I sighed, staring outside the window, unsure of how I was going to do this.
How was I going to somehow be married to her when I didn't even know how to handle this?
I felt a tug to be closer to her, yet I knew what she had done to Frank. She couldn't be trusted. Right?