Chapter 12
Twelve
Madison
I turn back once more to look at Joker, and he winks at me while talking on the phone. An excited Bailey drags me inside and up the stairs, making me laugh. We stop at her bedroom door. “Go ahead and open it.”
She pushes the door open and gasps. Everything that we’ve got today has been set up.
Her bookshelf is filled. Her brand-new backpack filled with all the supplies she needs for school.
As I walk to the closet, I see the prospects have hung up all her clothes.
Forget the cookies; I'm baking them a cake.
All the hot pink and black accents in the room are just amazing.
I sit on the edge of the bed, watching her walk around.
Bailey comes out of the closet with tears running down her face. “What’s the matter, honey?” I pat the spot next to me, and she climbs up as I pull her closer to me.
I dry her tears. “I’m just scared that I’m going to wake up and this is all a dream and be taken from you. I like it here with you and Joker.”
I pull her to me so she’s sitting on my lap. “Oh, Bailey, that will never happen. You are going to live with us forever if you want; no one is going to take you away from us. As soon as Joker is done with his phone call, we are signing the papers to say you are ours.”
She pulls back and looks at me with a hopeful look. “Really?”
Before I can answer her, Joker walks into the room with a folder in his hand.
“Now would I lie to you, Bailey Bee? I have the papers right here,” Joker smiles at us and walks to the desk and signs the papers.
I place Bailey on the bed and walk over and sign all the pages.
Once the last page is signed, I let out a breath, knowing no one can take her away from us.
She is officially ours. I place the pen down with shaky hands, and we turn to Bailey, who jumps off the bed and runs towards us, slamming into both of us, wrapping her arms around us.
She lifts her head, and tears are running down her face. “Thank you.”
Joker pulls her closer and wraps his arms around me as tears run down my face in happiness.
We stay like that for a few moments, enjoying the moment.
Bailey lets out a yawn. Joker looks at me with a soft look on his face before he pushes Bailey’s hair from her face.
“I think someone is tired. Why don’t you take a shower and get ready for bed?
Tomorrow we are having a barbecue at the clubhouse with everyone. How does that sound?”
Joker puts her on the floor, and she does a little dance. “Yay, I can’t wait to show Scarlett my new art book.” She runs off, grabbing her pajamas and heading into the bathroom, making us laugh.
Joker takes the folder and grabs my hand as we walk downstairs towards the kitchen. I go to the fridge and grab two beers. I take a sip as Joker rounds the counter, pulling me into his arms.
“Are you okay?” He kisses the top of my head, and I breathe his scent into my lungs. His arms feel like home.
After a few moments, I pull back and smile up at him. “I’m okay. It’s just been a lot the last few days. But signing those papers knowing Bailey is now ours has made it all worth it.”
“Seeing how happy she was today was everything. It’s not going to be easy, but together we've got this. I love you, Madison.” His words make my heart race, as this is the first time he's said he loves me. He tilts my chin up and lowers his lips until he's hovering over mine.
I can feel his breath on my face as my heart beats faster. “I love you too.”
I lift up and meet him the rest of the way.
His kisses have become my favorite thing.
He’s addictive. I melt into him as he claims my mouth, stealing my breath.
His kisses were like a promise- firm and unshakable that made my knees weak.
A preview of what’s to come. He slows down the kiss, pulling back and leaning his forehead against mine.
I pull back and take a sip of my drink to cool myself off before I jump him where he stands.
Joker looks towards the stairs and back at me. “Later, when you guys are sleeping, I will be leaving tonight to go to the clubhouse. I’m putting an end to Bailey’s nightmare.”
“Good, just as long as you make it hurt.” I can’t wait until this is all behind us and Bailey can start living. Tomorrow I’m going to be looking for a therapist for her. I think it would do her some good.
Joker's shoulders move up and down as he laughs. “So viscous.”
I wag my finger at him, trying not to smile. “And don’t you forget it.” I drain the last of my beer. “I’m going to check on Bailey and have a shower.” I walk around the island, and Joker grabs my hand, stopping me, and leans in and gives me a kiss.
“I’ll be up soon. I'm going to let the dogs out and lock up.”
I walk upstairs, my feet tired from today.
I make my way to Bailey's room and peek my head in to see that she’s already fast asleep in bed, making me smile.
I walk over quietly and cover her with the blankets, smiling at how peaceful she looks in her sleep.
Walking out, I leave the door open slightly, knowing the dogs are going to want to go in and head towards my and Joker's room. Throwing my hair into a bun, I walk into the bathroom, which is amazing. Two showerheads and a shower big enough to fit ten people along with a claw-foot tub that’s just begging me to soak in.
I turn it as hot as I can stand it and get in, letting the water rain down on me, loosening up my tight muscles.
Washing the day away and just taking a moment to myself.
As soon as Joker told me he was taking care of that bastard tonight, the tension in my shoulders loosened.
But I won’t fully rest until I know he is completely gone.
I’m not a killer, and that might seem harsh, but what he did to Bailey is unspeakable.
Not wanting to linger, I grab my favorite vanilla-scented body wash and scrub my body and shave everything. I know what’s going to happen tonight, and I can’t wait. Each lingering touch today had my body ready to go, and I know he was doing it on purpose to see my reaction.
The way Joker makes me feel is everything.
Of course, I initially fought him, but who wouldn't have? When I see him, my heart races, and my stomach flutters. It's as if my world has finally opened up, seeing things more clearly for the first time. I finish up my shower and step out, grabbing a fluffy towel and wrapping it around myself. Drying off, I lotion my body, and my hands shake slightly because I can hear Joker moving around in the bedroom. A small part of me just wants to stay behind this door and hide. I look around for my sleep clothes and realize I didn’t even bring anything with me. Shit. I’m going to have to walk out of here in my towel.
I’m normally a confident woman, but now my nerves are starting to kick in.
I take a deep breath and open the door, making sure my towel is secure around me.
Good Lord, he’s standing there in just his boxers and nothing else.
His body is like a work of art with all his tattoos and six-pack abs.
Good Lord, give me strength not to drool; he is that delicious.
My mouth goes dry as I watch him watch me. My heart rate spikes as I watch his eyes darken and he fists his hands, clenching them at his sides. I'm sure he can hear how fast my heart is pounding.
“Jesus Madison. You're beautiful.” He splits the distance between us until he’s standing in front of me. He pushes a hair behind my ear that’s fallen out of my bun. His touch lingering until he’s cupping my cheek. I lean into his touch, closing my eyes.
“Joker.” I whisper his name in the quiet room. The only thing I can hear is our shared breathing. We are so close I can feel his breath on my lips. If I move slightly, I will have his lips right where I want them. It's taking everything in me to stay still.
“The things I would do to keep you safe would scare you. You have had me from the moment I looked into your eyes and you threatened me with banning me from the bakery. And now here you are in our room in our house, right where you are meant to be all along. If we do this, I’m never letting you go.
If you try to run, I will just follow you because you're mine, Madison, mind, body and soul, just like I’m yours in all ways. So what's it going to be?”
My body shivers as goosebumps rise on my skin.
I take his threat for what it is, and I know he would follow me to the ends of the earth.
He would burn this world to the ground if it meant keeping me safe.
But one thing he doesn’t have to fear is me leaving him.
Joker is it for me. He has embedded himself so deep that I don’t know if I would ever survive it if he walked away.
Each day he walked into my bakery gave me an excitement I had never felt before, and each time I banned him, it was an empty threat, and he knew it, which is why he would always be back the next day.
Each time the door opened, I secretly hoped it would be him.
I always felt I was missing something in my life, and now I know for certain it was always him.
So, I say the words I know will seal my fate. “Show me what it means to be yours.”