Chapter 36
Denise released a long breath as she watched Oliver exit the conference room.
It felt like she’d been talking for hours but also, strangely, like the whole thing had been over within a few seconds.
Her heart was still pounding from the adrenaline cocktail mixed from her excitement about the plan, nerves over how it would be received, and maybe a hint of panic over the enormity of what she’d agreed to do if Oliver accepted the offer.
Another jolt of nerves stabbed her insides as she faced Maddox, now that the two of them were alone in the conference room.
They hadn’t said a single word during the entire presentation, and they weren’t saying anything as they looked at her now either.
She couldn’t seem to read their face. Normally, those earnest brown eyes were so expressive.
Their mouth often conveyed so much too: their lips would quirk when they teased her or form a tight line when they were angry.
When had she gotten so used to reading them?
And why couldn’t she now? It was like they were wearing a mask.
Oh God. Did they hate what she’d done? Doubt her motives? Think she’d only changed all the plans to seal the deal, boost her dad’s company, and help her own career? Didn’t they know by now she didn’t care about those things? Couldn’t they understand what she really did care about? And who…
Denise took a step forward, and Maddox swallowed audibly, backing toward the door in counterpoint. “I guess I’d better head out too.”
What?
Cold washed over her. Maybe Maddox did understand why she’d done all this.
And that’s why they were tripping over their own feet to get out of here.
For the first time in years, Denise had put a good piece of her heart on her sleeve for everyone to see, and it had been too much. Too intense. She’d scared them away.
Was that it? She couldn’t take this. The least they could do was tell her.
“Maddox!”
They stood stock-still and stared at her. “Yes?”
“What did you think?” She waved vaguely at the posters on the table.
They nodded slowly, but their tone was neutral. “It was a good presentation. Oliver was very pleased.”
“And you?” she pushed in frustration.
“I-I think it sounds really great.” Yet they were still subtly backing toward the door.
What the hell?
Denise blew out a breath. “Maddox, what’s going on?”
“Nothing is going on,” they answered quickly. “I need to go.”
They turned their back to her and reached for the half-open door, but she reached out to stop them. “Dammit, Maddox. Don’t lie to me! What did you really think?”
Maddox spun around so fast, Denise almost fell backwards with the momentum.
“What did I really think?” Their voice was strained as their words poured out in a rush.
“I think the plan is amazing! You didn’t have to do anything.
There’s a good chance Oliver would have taken your offer without a single change, whether he liked it or not.
Your company had the upper hand. But you didn’t leave it at that.
You took the time to listen and actually learn, and then put together this plan that could benefit a lot of people around here because somehow it just really matters to you.
I think that’s incredible. I think you’re incredible.
And right now, I want to kiss you so badly that I’m physically hurting. ”
Denise’s eyes widened. Had she heard that last part right?
Maddox’s face crinkled up in distress, and they backed up. “I’m sorry. That’s not what you needed to hear right now. I know that.”
Before they could make another move, Denise’s hands shot up to stop them. Her heart was beating a wild rhythm as she inched closer to them. They were breathing hard as their eyes took her in. “Denise?”
“Maddox,” she whispered. Her own chest was heaving so much that her breasts brushed against their shirt.
She slid her hands up to their firm shoulders.
Hot, explicit words of want and need clogged in her throat, but as she moved in closer, their arms slid around her, finally.
Finally, she was immersed in their warmth and scent and quiet, solid strength again, and the truth seeped out.
“Maddox, I can’t stop thinking about you. ”
A breathtaking smile sparked to life in their eyes. “Really?”
Denise laughed. She didn’t know whether it was at Maddox for not realizing it or at herself for thinking she could move on and ignore all of this, but it didn’t matter.
Nothing mattered but the fact that Maddox was leaning in and kissing her.
Their arms tightened around her waist, and she nearly sobbed with relief, but she settled for kissing them back with everything she had.
After a moment, they pulled back and pressed kisses to her chin and jaw and cheek.
“Can’t stop…” They nuzzled the sensitive skin of her ear with their mouth and gently nipped at her lobe until she shuddered. “Thinking about you either.”
She pulled their face around to hers and kissed them again. Her breasts pressed deeper into their chest, and when their lips parted in a gasp, she slipped her tongue into their mouth. Maddox’s tongue responded instantly, and sparks danced to life all up and down her spine.
Still clutching her tight with one arm, Maddox fumbled for the door with their other arm. The door closed with a firm thud, and the lock clicked into place.
God, she was so far gone already that she hadn’t even considered the fact that the door had been open.
And she didn’t have the time or desire to think of it now, as Maddox’s hands worked their way up her back and shoulders and then skirted to the front where they grasped the lapels of her blazer.
They broke the kiss to send her a questioning look, and she nodded.
With a sultry grin, they pushed the jacket off her shoulders and threw it on a chair.
Then their lips were on hers again, and they were guiding her back toward the conference table.
When her ass hit the edge of it, Maddox effortlessly hefted her up and onto the surface.
Denise was sitting taller than Maddox now, and she took advantage of the new position to bury her fingers in their hair and then scratch her short nails against the back of their neck while they kissed.
Maddox released a low groan of satisfaction that vibrated against her lips and made her heart give a happy skip that she’d remembered how much they liked that.
Maddox pulled back and smiled at her before leaning forward to kiss along her neck and throat and as far down her chest as her blouse would permit. Their tongue darted out to lick in the V of the neckline, and her eyes fell shut in delight.
Before she knew what was happening, Maddox’s nimble fingers were unbuttoning the blouse and spreading the fabric apart.
The fire that sparked in their dark eyes as they took in her lacy white bra ignited an answering flame deep in her center.
They barely spared a second to remove her blouse all the way before diving back in to kiss and taste the sweat-dampened skin of her chest. She whimpered when their teeth nipped the tender skin right above the fabric covering her right breast, and oh, how she yearned to feel that just a little lower.
Maddox must have wanted the same thing because they reached up to tug her bra straps down and roll the lacy fabric until her breasts sprang free.
The cool air in the room was a shock to her skin that she barely had time to register before Maddox bent down and captured her right breast with their mouth.
Her hands raced to the back of their head again, and she pressed them closer.
“Yes, yes. Just like that, sweetheart. Please,” she murmured, not knowing or caring what endearments were falling from her lips. Maddox deserved them all.
They kissed and sucked and licked for what seemed like an eternity as her mind drifted into a haze of sensation.
Then their eyes locked on hers, and they ever so gently bit down on the now hardened peak of her nipple.
She threw her head back and squeezed her eyes shut, barely managing not to cry out and put on a show for whatever guests might venture to this wing of the building.
Seemingly encouraged by her response, Maddox lifted their head and dove in again to lavish her other breast with the same treatment.
She panted and squirmed beneath their attentions, and the throbbing ache in her core built higher.
What would it feel like to have that hot, eager mouth down there?
Her legs clenched at the thought, and her hips bucked off the table against Maddox.
They pulled away slowly, but not before causing flutters in Denise’s chest as they dropped one more soft kiss on each breast. Maddox ran their hands down her bare sides, over her skirt-clad hips and up and down the outline of her thighs.
They looked up at her with a knowing smile. “Do you need me down here, beautiful?”
Her thighs clenched again at their low, seductive tone when they drawled, beautiful.
“Yes!” she hissed.
Their grin grew as they clasped their hands beneath her thighs, scooting her farther back on the table and rucking her skirt up higher in one smooth movement. Then they pulled over the nearest chair, sat, and lowered it until their face was right at the level they wanted it.
Denise blew out a breath. She would beg them to hurry if watching their deliberate, efficient movements wasn’t such a fucking turn-on.
Finally, they slowly skated their warm hands up the outside of her bare calves and thighs until they reached her panties.
They thrust their fingers beneath the waistband, teasing the soft skin beneath and then yanked the fabric down and off her legs.
Denise sucked in a breath and leaned back, planting her palms on the table surface behind her.