Masked Darling (The Serpent Pit #2)

CHAPTER FIVE

M adison could barely contain how on edge she was as she and Alison walked into the boys’ apartment on Saturday night, especially after the weird encounter with Kade earlier that night at the bar. She just wanted to see him because she was proud of the outfit she made for their ‘Anything But Clothes’ theme–choosing to get creative with a vinyl twister board.

It took hours, but she’d constructed it into a strapless mini-dress and paired it with bright yellow stilettos she had bought some years back because they reminded her of patent leather sunshine. Alison was a sultry vision next to her, creating a quick halter top and mini skirt out of blue-colored Saran Wrap. She wanted to be completely naked underneath, but Madison begged her to at least wear panties since the clear plastic (although wrapped around her body many times) was still see-through.

Alison leaned against the wall separating the kitchen from the foyer, crossing her arms as she scrutinized Madison’s nervous expression.

“You’ve been acting weird since we got here,” she said, eyebrows raised.

Madison tugged at the hem of her makeshift dress, heat creeping up her cheeks.

“I went to visit Kade at The Serpent Pit,” she admitted while she busied herself, hanging her jacket up in the closet beside them.

Alison’s expression became guarded as she took in her friend’s nervous demeanor. “And? What happened?”

“I wasn’t allowed in,” Madison replied, her voice dropping to a whisper as the disappointment tinged her words.

A heavy sigh escaped Alison’s bright pink lips. “Honestly? That’s probably for the best.” She straightened, pushing off the wall. “Jagger and Kade have family roots with the Renegade Rebels gang. They get dragged into some heavy shit because of their father.”

Madison rolled her eyes at her friend and raised an eyebrow of her own.

“Jagger has worked hard to move past it all,” Alison continued, shaking her head slightly and looking at her blue nails. “He cleaned up The Serpent Pit and tried to make it a safe space for people in town, especially now. But Kade? He’s still very much in it because Jagger isn’t.”

The weight of Alison’s words settled heavily on Madison’s shoulders. She had always admired Kade’s intensity and passion but didn’t know it stretched into something so dangerous. She’d known he was part of a gang but thought maybe it was just for show–that he had moved past whatever his ties were to it. He wore his jacket and had his bike, but he never talked about anything related to it. They only talked about classes and books and... did things.

“Be careful with him,” Alison warned, eyes narrowing slightly as she met Madison’s gaze. “It might seem like it’s not important right now, but you don’t want to get caught up in whatever he’s tangled in if he’s being strange. I like him because he’s one of Christian’s friends, but I love you.”

“I know,” Madison replied softly, determination creeping back into her voice. “But I just wanted to have fun with him tonight.”

“Fun is one thing,” Alison said, stepping closer and lowering her voice. “Just remember that not all fun is safe.”

Madison nodded and stared off at their friends in the apartment’s main room—laughing, dancing, and drinking. The costumes were outrageous, and she couldn’t decide which one was better than the other. The caution tape dress that Sabrina was wearing was a close first, though.

Alison nudged Madison playfully, breaking the tension momentarily. “Okay! Enough brooding! Let’s be young and stupid for a while. I’m so over these classes that I’m about to lose my fucking mind.”

Roughly an hour later, Madison was hovering over Alison and spilling her lukewarm beer over the brunette’s blue Prada pumps.

“Go find your lover boy, Mads. I’m a big girl; I’ll be alright here for a minute,” Alison teased as she saw Madison’s auburn ponytail swung back and forth, looking for Kade.

“Oh, stop, Alison. I’m not looking for him,” Madison said, looking back at Alison, who shrugged in response as her lip tucked up into a grin. “Okay, fine. I’m looking for him,” she admitted with a huff.

“Looking for who?” A deep voice said from behind her before strong arms wrapped around her waist.

Madison shivered, her body tingling as the warmth of Kade’s body pressed against her.

“You,” she breathed and turned in his arms to face him.

Alison took one look at them and knew she wouldn’t be missed. With a big smile, she turned her attention to the crowd of partygoers and went to find Christian.

“Well, you found me. Or, I guess I found you,” Kade said and let out a deep chuckle.

“That you did.”

Madison turned toward him and took a step back as she swept her gaze down his body and—Oh, my fucking god.

When they’d talked the other day on the phone, he hadn’t decided on his attire for the evening. Alison spent all week with her man so Madison could focus on studying, and she’d hoped to check in with him tonight at the bar to see if he needed help getting his outfit together, but that obviously didn’t go as planned. The night before the party, however, she had sent Alison over to the boys’ apartment with a copy of a trashy romance novel she’d purchased at the campus store, along with a note to give to Kade that read:

This may inspire some ideas. Can’t wait for Saturday. - Madison

As she took in his bare chest and moved lower, she marveled at the sight before her.

Kade Wilder did not disappoint.

He stood there proudly in a kilt he had made of the book pages from her gifted romance novel with a smug expression on his face.

“Oh, my god, Kade,” Madison squeaked out. “I was just sending you that as a joke because the cover art was raunchy. I thought you’d take it as me teasing you about…” She lowered her voice and moved her mouth close to his ear. “Our activities for later.” She straightened and held onto his upper arms as she appraised him once more, a big grin forming on her beautiful full lips. “But this! This is just great!”

Kade grinned back at her and lifted his hands to settle on her hips. “I must say that I also like your outfit, Miss McRae. I don’t think I need your body color-coded for me, but I do like where these dots are positioned on your ass,” recalling himself staring at it as he walked over to her.

“I thought you might,” Madison said, lifting her hands to lightly grasp his wrists. She leaned forward and whispered into his ear as she guided his hands to her backside, “Left hand green, right hand red.”

Kade growled in her ear as his hands squeezed her ass under the vinyl material of her makeshift dress. “So you want me to fuck you in this kitchen in front of everyone next? Because, I swear to god, Madison,” he groaned and pulled her lower half to him in a gesture that didn’t hide how turned on he was for it. “If you push me, it will happen.”

Madison’s eyes dilated as warmth pooled in her lower body at his promise. “I’m not against the idea.”

Kade let out an audible sigh and released her, stepping away from her before he lost himself.

“How do you feel about finals?” He asked, trying not to throw her onto the counter and wrap her legs around his head. Instead, he chose to lean against the refrigerator after pulling out a beer.

Madison’s eyes couldn’t help but drift to the island where he had finger fucked her the weekend before.

“Good,” she mumbled and leaned against it, turning her attention to him. “You?”

“I better ace them at this point since it meant having to spend the whole week away from you.” His handsome face scowled, crashing his beer down onto the counter space behind him a little more forcefully than he intended. He looked like a wounded puppy, and Madison couldn’t help but laugh at him.

“Oh, hush. It’s only been a week.”

“But now I know what that beautiful pussy feels like,” he said, reaching across the way to grab her waist. “You can’t keep it from me that long, princess.” Madison struggled with her dwindling self-control for a moment and pushed him back. “Let’s enjoy the party for a while. And maybe you can explain what happened at the bar earlier.” She tried to sound firm, but her voice faltered because of how turned on he already had her.

“Alright, alright,” Kade said, giving up for now. “The bar was just private event bullshit that my brother needs to work out. I didn’t want you to get caught up in it; it was as simple as that. But don’t think I didn’t come prepared for tonight. I got you a gift in exchange for this literary masterpiece around my hips.”

Madison’s eyes lit up, and she clapped her hands together in excitement. “What is it?!” She asked, looking like an eager child whose parents may have put a pony under the Christmas tree.

Fuck, she was adorable.

“If you go in my room, it’s right on top of my bed in a bag,” he smiled and tilted her chin up with his fingertips. “I hope you’ve taken the week to rest that perfect virgin cunt after we fucked—Because, based on what you’re reading, that gift in there is for a pro. I’ll trust you know what to do with it.”

Madison moved and caught his thumb in her mouth for a quick suck before he could take his hand away, pulling a groan from him.

“I can come show you how to use it if you want,” he offered, pathetically weak for her and the chance to see her body again. She released his thumb and leaned into his chest, her hand trailing down his stomach until she got to the stapled pages of his outfit right above his cock. “I think…” She whispered, kissing his mouth lightly and pulling at his bottom lip with her teeth. “You should stay and get me a drink.” When his mouth dropped open at how much her teasing affected him, Madison pulled away and gave him a full-on ‘I know what I just did’ look. His response was to try and grab her back to him, but his hands only grasped the air. She was too fast and sidestepped him quickly.

Her laughter carried over her shoulder as she quickly rushed down the hall, leaving him in the kitchen, his hot gaze burning into her back.

Holy shit, Madison thought, staring down at the dainty chain in front of her.

How the hell am I going to wear this all night?

In her hand, the chain felt cold. The silver links were accented with sporadic rhinestones, making it look a bit less intimidating, but the black clamps on either end were a harsh contrast. Madison swallowed as she put them back down on the bed and carefully folded the top of her Twister ensemble down over her breasts, releasing them against the cool air in the room and causing them to pucker.

Well, she thought with a wry smile, at least they’ll be easier to clamp on now.

She picked up the chain and gingerly placed one clamp around her right nipple. Taking her bottom lip between her teeth, she released her grip, and it bit down into place. As the pain and pleasure mixed harshly in her, she moaned out loud against the sensation, some soft red curls twisting against her cheek. Her breathing quickened, and she did the same with her other breast before she lost her nerve. The chain sent sparks through the skin it touched upon, and her nipples felt like they were attached directly to her clitoris, causing it to throb almost uncontrollably against the thin material of her panties.

Her phone dinged.

Kade:

You okay in there?

Madison:

You’re lucky that those books I read have educated me on things like this.

Kade:

You needed a book to tell you how to put on nipple clamps?

Madison:

No…

Madison:

Just a little surprised.

Kade:

You’ve been looking for an excuse to be a bad girl, Maddie.

Kade:

Let me be that for you.

Madison took a deep breath and touched her neck, remembering the feel of his hand there from their first time. He saw that she had a dark side she wanted to explore and he was more than willing to try new things with her. She loved that he didn’t treat her like fine china and gave her what she wanted. She swiftly pulled her dress back into place over her breasts, the outline of the chain very apparent underneath the thin game board she wore.

Maddie:

See you in a sec.

Kade was waiting in the kitchen for her and quietly handed her a blue-colored mixed drink. His eyes darted over the outline in her dress, and he nodded approvingly but did not attempt to comment. Throughout the night, however, his look constantly kept hinting that they would have plenty of time to “discuss” it later.

Madison and Kade had their asses handed to them in beer pong a few moments later by none other than Chris and Alison. The winning couple was a giddy mess with their victory and celebrated with a heavy make-out session until Kade offered to pour water on them.

“Like you can talk,” Chris bit back, laughing at Madison’s blush. “You’re both standing there like you’re ready to burn up where you stand. And besides, you’ll mess up my outfit.” He gestured to his costume of the night, sporting shorts he’d made out of bright tufts of tissue paper. No one knew how they hadn’t come apart yet.

Kade scoffed and wrapped a strong hand around Madison’s waist, pulling her close to his side. Alison winked at Madison and Kade and started to pull Chris towards the bedroom.

“He’s just cranky because it’s been six hours since he’s been inside of me,” she grinned, and Chris shrugged his shoulders, not even attempting to deny it.

“I’ll take care of him real quick, and he’ll be good as new!” She commented, and in a flash, they disappeared down the hallway.

Madison and Kade looked at each other. He led her to the living room, where several people were still dancing. He leaned down and shouted into her ear over the loud music, “See? I told you. Waiting a week nearly killed me.”

But Kade didn’t have to wait much longer.

Everyone cleared out pretty early, including Jesse, who had even found a woman tipsy enough to invite him back to her place. Alison and Chris reappeared from his room sometime around 2:00 am. Both were dressed in a pair of Chris’s pajamas, and it made sense that their makeshift clothes would not likely have held up.

“You don’t mind if I take Chris back with me, do you, Mads?” Alison tilted her head in Kade’s Direction. “I’m sure you’ll be comfortable here tonight.”

“I’ll make sure she’s very comfortable,” Kade practically growled, his eyes not leaving the redhead by his side.

“That’s what I thought!” And with a flourish and toss of her hair only Alison could pull off, they were out the door.

Kade was on her the instant the door locked behind their friends, excited by the prospect of having the empty apartment to themselves for the night.

“Can we play now?” Kade said, coming up behind her and gently loosening the back of the dress, which was held in place by clear packing tape.

“Play what?” Madison whispered, excitement causing goosebumps to cover her arms even though she was warm from her drinks that night.

“Twister, of course,” he replied and finished loosening the last bit of tape off and pulling it from her body. “Although, my version is a little bit different.”

Madison stayed where she was but heard the Twister board being placed on the ground behind her in the living room.

A moment later, Kade’s command filled the empty room. “Turn around.”

Madison did as she was told, her hands by her sides, clad only in her nipple clamps and a small white lace thong. She knew she shouldn’t be embarrassed after everything they’d done already the week before, but she couldn’t help it. She was brand new to all of this. Her blush was spreading from her face down her chest again, and goddamn it , if Kade didn’t think she was the cutest thing he’d ever seen.

I’m the luckiest son of a bitch alive, he thought as he stared at her. He was thrilled that she’d liked his gift, even more so that she wore them all night.

He was going to make sure to reward her properly.

“Come sit down on the board, Maddie. You’ve been so good all night, and I’m going to show you how much I appreciate you.” As she made her way over to the board that was spread out in front of Kade as he sat on the floor, still only wearing his book pages as a means to cover his body, she felt... sexy. The look in his eyes told her that he was in agreement, too. She was also thankful she had ditched her heels at some point during the night.

“So, here’s the game, Madison,” he said seriously. “I want you to sit back and put your hands on the yellow and blue dots in the middle.”

Madison complied and placed her arms behind her, pressing her palms into the material. The position forced her chest up, and the chain dangling between her breasts tickled the skin between them.

“What a good girl you are, princess,” Kade praised. “Now I want your feet on the green and red dots out here.” Kade pointed to the places at the end corners of the game board. Madison stretched her legs down but couldn’t put her feet flat on the dots without lifting herself off the board and bending her knees, so she was in a crab-like position.

“Like this?” She whispered, turning her face toward him. Kade nodded slowly and crawled to the space between her legs where her wetness was already seeping through her panties. Madison held her breath, understanding at that moment exactly what kind of predicament she was in.

“Kade,” she whispered again, her eyes watching as he crawled towards her. Kade settled himself between her thighs then, and after placing a kiss on her inner thigh, he looked up at her.

“Here’s the rest of the game, Maddie,” he began, and his right hand glided up her stomach to grip the chain attached to her clamps. He gave a slight tug, and she cried out, her head dropping back.

“Kade! Fuck.” She lifted her head and looked at him as he brought the middle of the chain to her mouth and told her to bite it. She grasped the chain between her teeth, closing her lips around it, and moaned low in her throat as the tension was almost too much to handle.

“I’m going to eat out this wet cunt, and you’re going to stay still. If that chain falls or your ass hits that board, I’m going to stop. Do you understand?” Kade smacked her core with a flat hand directly on her clit when she failed to respond. Madison gasped and started to nod, but the movement pulled on her nipples even further, causing her to whimper. Kade grinned wickedly at her and pressed his face to her pussy, his mouth closing over her clit through the wet material.

And then he sucked.

Hard.

It was so jarring that Madison thought she was going to lose her mind right there. She was already starting to shake and feel disoriented from his attention. Everything she had read in her little books had nothing on the feeling of it actually happening to her.

I won’t make it, she kept chanting in her head repeatedly.

Kade slipped a skilled finger under the fabric and crooked it inside her, tantalizing her G-spot. He made long strokes with his tongue against her clit, and Madison found herself trying to talk around the chain in her mouth.

“What was that, princess?” He asked between licks, not stopping to look up at her when he inquired.

Madison’s response was another muffled noise followed by a pathetic keening sound around the metal chain clenched between her teeth.

“Do you want more? Do you want me to tear this damn thong off, Maddie?” He withdrew his finger from her warmth and hooked it into the lace band resting against her rear, brushing it against her opening as he did.

Madison exclaimed, “Yes!” and nearly dropped her chain but managed to catch it with her tongue.

With one quick motion, Kade tore the fabric and pushed it out of the way, leaving it hanging limply across her pelvis. “You like when I rip your clothing off your body, don’t you?”

“Mm-hmm,” she whined tilting her hips up against his face.

“Then you’re going to love this.”

His mouth crashed against her like a man starved, his tongue lapping up every drop she gave him as he licked from her slit to her aching clit.

Madison’s arms were close to giving out, and she desperately tried to shift her weight so her thighs could hug his head, praying it would release some of the pressure. It only caused him to tongue fuck her harder, sliding it into her opening and twisting it inside. Madison was practically crying in pleasure, her moans and mewls growing louder each second as she struggled to stay in position. When he passed his tongue over her asshole, she screamed his name as her legs finally gave out, and she came down hard onto the Twister board that was covered in her arousal from his ravenous attention.

Kade pulled his mouth away, and her eyes looked panicked when she spit the chain out of her mouth.

“Please, don’t stop,” she begged.

She barely registered that the music from the stereo was still playing as she looked up at him. Kade leaned forward to put the chain back in her mouth, taking pleasure in how she arched her back against the slight pain and threatened, “I’ll give you one last shot. But if you drop that chain again, I swear I am going to fuck you so hard you’re not going to remember who you were before I made you mine.”

Madison almost choked as she swallowed frantically; her breath caught in her throat. Collecting herself, she lifted herself up on her forearms and stared into his eyes as she shook some red locks out of hers.

And promptly spit the chain out of her mouth.

No fucking way.

Kade looked at her in shock before a growl pulled from his throat, and he pounced on her, knocking her onto her back.

“You think you can brat like that and get away with it?” He slid his hands up her body, pinning her hands above her head and dipping his face down to hers. They were both panting, the air becoming electric around them. Her legs came instinctively around his waist, knocking some of the pages free and falling to the floor.

Madison looked up at him and smirked, seeing the mirth behind his eyes and relaxing on the floor. “Yes, actually, I do. I think I will absolutely get away with it, Wilder.”

The following moments unfolded in a lust-induced haze. Kade freed her hands to remove her clamps, tossing them aside and allowing her fingers to roam over his body. He lowered his head to draw one of her rosy nipples into his mouth; the surge of blood flooding the area was intoxicating, driving her into a frenzy to have Kade within her. She clawed at the pages on his waist, and upon discovering a snug pair of boxer briefs, she let out an annoyed sound.

“Breathe, McRae.”

“I can’t breathe with you on top of me like this,” she shot back and bucked her hips up. “Take them off. Please, please take them off.” Her tone was demanding, and as Kade smirked, he rolled his hips, teasing her with his erection still trapped within the confines of his underwear.

He growled, holding the waistband, “As you wish, baby.”

He stripped off his costume, revealing his hard cock that was straining against his boxer briefs. Madison’s eyes widened at the sight, her mouth watering as she took in his cock. She knew she didn’t have much experience, but that didn’t mean she didn’t know without a doubt that he was blessed with his endowments. And the feel of it… she remembered just how good he had stretched her. How snug he was inside her heat. Her hands reached for him, but he gripped her wrists, pinning them above her head once more.

“Oh no, you don’t get to touch me yet. I want to feel those perfect breasts around my cock first.” Madison arched her back, offering her chest to him, her nipples already tight and sensitive from the clamps. Kade leaned down, capturing one nipple between his lips, swirling his tongue around it before sucking it into his mouth. Madison moaned, her head falling back as he teased her, biting down gently.

“Fuck, Kade,” she breathed, her eyes fluttering closed as he paid the same attention to her other nipple, laving it with his tongue before nibbling gently.

Pulling away, he took his cock in his hand as he straddled her sides, stroking himself a few times before positioning the head at her cleavage. “Wrap those tits around me, Maddie.” Madison brought her hands to her breasts, squeezing them together around his length, moaning at the sensation of her sensitive skin rubbing against him.

God, he was so soft and hard; it was crazy how much of a contradiction it was. It was like them—her pliable and him the walking embodiment of strength. Kade began to thrust slowly, fucking the valley between her breasts as she massaged him with her soft flesh. Madison’s breath hitched as she watched his eyes darken with desire before watching his mouth open as he panted. He was such a sight as he sought out his pleasure with her body and it made her pussy clench in anticipation.

When he moved his hands to replace hers so he could hold her breasts against him, she reached down between her legs, her fingers seeking out her clit as she continued to tit-fuck him. Kade couldn’t help but look behind him, and his eyes closed tightly for a long moment. The sight of her hands on her pussy drove him wild, and he began to push into her harder.

“That’s it, baby, touch yourself for me,” he gritted out, his eyes never leaving her hands as they moved between her legs. “Damn, I want to see you fall apart just like that, princess.”

Madison’s fingers circled her clit, rubbing gently as she whimpered, her thighs falling open wider as she sought more friction.

“Mmm, yes, Kade. Don’t stop, please don’t stop.”

Kade groaned as he thrust faster, the sensation of her soft breasts wrapped around him driving him wild. “Not gonna stop, baby. God, I could watch your face like this forever.”

Madison’s hips bucked off the floor as her fingers worked her clit, her legs falling further open as she mewled and whimpered, edging closer to orgasm. When did she become like this? A dirty little thing that longed to be defiled? Was it her? Was it him and what he brought out in her?

“That’s it, let go for me. Let me see you, Maddie,” Kade grunted, his eyes squeezed shut as he fucked her tits harder, his balls slapping against her stomach.

Madison took the opportunity to sit up and push him onto his back, the pages scattered beneath them, creating a bed of ink and enveloping them in an earthy scent. She delighted in the shocked expression on Kade’s face and wasted no time in lowering herself on his cock.

“What are– Jesus –Madison–” Kade gasped out as his hands gripped her hips tightly. Madison knew that she’d have his fingerprints in her skin tomorrow and she couldn’t wait. They both moaned loudly as she took him deep inside, as if she’d been doing it all her life.

Madison rode him with abandon, curling her toes to get more leverage as she lifted and ground herself on his shaft. Her once-neat ponytail was coming loose, framing her face in a wild array of thick red curls. She looked nothing like the prim and proper college girl he’d known before; she was a wanton, sexy mess, and Kade loved it.

Kade always believed in not judging a book by its cover, but he never truly understood the saying until now. If someone had told him a month ago that Madison would be riding his cock, her breasts bouncing in front of his flushed face, he would’ve thought they were joking. Or high. Or both.

Yet here he was, feeling her walls swell around his cock as she writhed on top of him, moaning his name without care for her usual persona.

“I expected you to fuck me senseless, Sir,” she teased, daring him to take control. Kade growled, his eyes glittering with challenge, and he reached up to tighten his hand in her disheveled ponytail, pulling her closer as she continued to move, her moans filling the room.

“You’re being such a brat tonight,” Kade chastised. “I can fix that.”

In less than five seconds, he had switched their positions completely, forcing her onto all fours. He pounded into her, his cock coated in her arousal and his hand still gripping her hair, forcing her head back to look at him as he towered over her.

Their eyes were glassy but focused as they watched each other. She was so close he could feel her pussy tightening with each new thrust. Breaking eye contact, he reached around her hip to work his fingers against her clit, picking up where she’d left off. As he rubbed harshly, her moans grew louder.

“That’s it, baby. But you need more, don’t you?”

His hand moved from her pulsing flesh to grab the nipple clamps once more, effectively clasping it on her left nipple and then picking up the other end of the chain; he connected it to the swollen bundle of nerves that was her clit where the chain pulled taut.

“Holy shit!”“ Madison cried out, her orgasm building and threatening to consume her entirely. It was too much. The pain of the clamps around her delicate and most sensitive parts was insanity in its purest form. She clawed at the pages on the floor, seeking purchase to ground herself as her entire being threatened to float away.

“You fucking love this, admit it,” he growled, his hand leaving her hip to deliver a sharp slap to her ass cheek. “ Tell me! ”

“Fuuuuuck, yes, I do!” she sobbed, her body clenching around him. “Do it—do it again,” she begged, teetering on the very edge of release.

Kade plucked at the chain and smacked his wet palm against it over and over, causing her to lose herself entirely, a million nerve endings exploding through her core.

“Oh, my god !” She whimpered, her pussy pulsing around him as her release splashed onto the ground below them, the ink on the pages swirling into nonsense like the state of her mind.

Kade’s hand released the clamp from her clit and came up from between her legs to wrap around her neck, his index finger hooking in the side of her mouth.

“Taste yourself,” he ordered, feeling his balls tighten with the need to reach his own climax.

As Madison sucked loudly on his finger, her body still trembling with the aftershocks of her release, Kade began to come undone. The vibrations danced down his spine and coiled tightly in his groin, triggering a final, powerful thrust that left him spent and reeling.

Together, they tumbled to the floor, their bodies entwined and glistening with sweat. Kade’s breath came in ragged gasps as he pulled out slowly, his primitive side reveling in the sight of their combined cum dripping out of Madison’s swollen pink pussy. He cradled her close, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead.

When he felt her body tremble against him, Kade pulled back to look at her, a lock of her hair tucked behind her ear. “I can’t believe we’ve only got a week left before we graduate. I don’t know how to move on after I’ve had you.”

“Move on where?” Madison asked, trying to calm her racing heart rate that was quickly being affected by panic more than an orgasm hangover.

Kade sighed and kissed her disheveled hair before answering, “I was thinking California. I don’t know. I just need to get away from my dad like Jagger was able to. And I can’t do that if I’m close enough for him to call on me for help. It’s clear that Jagger isn’t as out as he claims to be, either, if tonight showed me anything.”

“So, you’re leaving? You’ve never mentioned leaving before.”

“Well, we’ve never really talked about it. But I think I know what you’re doing—NYU for grad school, right? You’ll get your masters in Journalism there, isn’t that the plan?”

Madison blinked at him. “How did you know that?”

“I heard you mention it once in English class.”

“Okay, and why haven’t you talked to me about leaving until now?”

“Because I haven’t even decided where I’m going yet,” Kade groaned and sat up a little to look at her. “Why do you sound so upset right now?”

Madison’s heart beat rapidly in her chest as she processed what had just happened between them. She struggled to take a full breath but she didn’t need him to see that so she concentrated on the lightswitch on the wall.

One, two, three…

There was the air again.

She wasn’t sure what scared her more, the intensity of what they’d done together or the fact that she couldn’t wait to do it again even with this new information. But that was a lost cause because she’d just given this man her virginity. Had acted like a proper whore for him, and he was nonchalantly telling her he was leaving the state.

And then had the nerve to ask why she was upset?

Absolutely fucking not.

“You mean to tell me you don’t understand how moving across the country might upset me? Why you—”

Deep breath, Mads. Deep Breath.

“Why are you taking my virginity and making me fall for you right before school ends when you…”

Kade’s brows furrowed as he looked at her spiral before him.

“This was stupid,” she whispered, not meeting his eyes. “We never should have done this.”

Kade’s jaw clenched. The resulting silence was heavy and served only to make her nerves rattle worse. When his eyes connected with hers, the rage in their depths shocked her.

“Is that what you think? What is happening right now?”

Reaching a hand towards the wall beside her, she used it to help stand and avoid answering the question. She didn’t have an answer, or at least not one that didn’t make her sound like a clingy virgin who thought two nights of orgasms meant happily ever after. The tears that pricked her eyes didn’t surprise her, but they did make her mad because she’d be fucking crazy to give this man any more of her.

These tears would be for her and not him.

She pulled her shredded thong off her body to toss it into the trash bin next to the kitchen counter and said, “We’ll focus on finals and get the column done for next week’s paper.”

Kade scoffed as he began to stand, pages sticking to him that he angrily shook off. “So, it starts and ends in that fucking office, huh?”

Madison wasn’t sure how to answer that, so she kept her face pointed toward the floor and gently started untangling her hair from the elastic band that had once held her ponytail that evening.

And no, she realized. She wasn’t answering, not because she didn’t know the answer, but because she didn’t want to say the words aloud. They made everything too real. To vocalize her feelings was to risk having them stepped on and shattered. When emotions were said out loud, other people could do whatever they wanted with them.

She pulled her Twister board off the ground, suddenly feeling very exposed under his intense stare, even though she knew it wasn’t wearable anymore.

“Yes, we didn’t think any of this through. We’re both in college and under a lot of stress. We just got caught up in,” she gestured between their naked bodies. “This tension between us. The excitement of graduation. It’s not a big deal.”

The corners of Kade’s mouth kicked up in a cold little smirk as he ran a hand through his dark hair. It was still damp with sweat from them fucking just moments ago, and Madison’s heart clenched painfully at the reminder.

“Right. It’s not a big deal.”

She tilted her chin up to glare at him, irritation stoking a newfound fire in her chest. “It’s not personal, Kade. It’s just the mature decision.”

He strode past her down the hallway to his room, cock at half-mast and jutting proudly from between his hips like it wasn’t anything at all and returned, holding several pieces of clothing. “Not everything has to be personal, McRae. People can have fun together without making it complicated.”

She stood, unsure of when the tables had turned, and she had become the one under interrogation. She felt defensive and didn’t know why, so she did the only thing her mind could comprehend in that moment—she lashed out.

“You’re right. It doesn’t have to be personal. But you should quit pretending it is when it backfires on you.”

Kade closed the distance between them in two long strides, using his greater height to look down on her as he caged her against the wall. She pressed back, feeling vulnerable as his hands came to rest on either side of her body, fingertips pressing into the flesh of her hips.

Where they had been minutes ago. When her heart was still in one piece.

She focused her attention on the barbed wire inked across his heart and swallowed hard, wondering if he was perfectly intact there.

They were still naked, and she was too emotional for this.

His dark eyes narrowed as he whispered, “I’m not the one pretending, sweetheart.”

Madison dragged her lower lip between her teeth, cursing her body’s reaction to the threat in his voice, the closeness of their bodies. He watched her mouth with a flicker of awareness passing behind his eyes. But then his cock twitched against her stomach as it hardened and she glared at him.

“Now, who’s pretending?” She challenged. “You’re not the bad boy everyone thinks you are. You’re not even close.”

He leaned forward and tugged a fistful of her hair. “Never said I was.”

They were toe to toe, breathing each other’s air. Their bodies were still glistening in sweat and their releases made it hard to think straight. Madison swallowed hard, her pulse thrumming between her legs at the raw need in his eyes.

Kade dropped his forehead against hers as he gripped her hips tighter, his thumbs brushing the sensitive skin. “You can keep pushing me, Maddie. But we both know the truth.” Her body reacted to his husky tone.

“Which is?” She prompted, unable to form a coherent thought as he pressed against her.

The line between them was blurring by the second; the floodgates were opening, and the game they’d been playing was about to become very personal indeed. Kade lowered his head as if to take her mouth, then seemed to change his mind. He straightened, his eyes searching hers for a long moment. Madison’s breath hitched as she waited for his verdict.

Instead, he laughed. “You know what? You’re right. This needs to stop.”

Shocked, she reared back as if she’d been burned, and her head hit the wall behind her.

“What?”

His hands dropped from her hips as he moved to the pile of clothes he’d dropped on the floor when he approached Madison. “Here, put these on.” Madison opened her mouth to argue, but he cut her off with a raised hand. “There’s nothing else for you to wear. It’s just a shirt and a pair of shorts.”

Madison started to put the clothing on as if in a trance. This whole evening had fallen apart right before her eyes, and she was stunned. Kade watched her for a moment before throwing on a pair of black sweatpants.

“I’m going to sleep in Jesse’s room. It’s clear you’re not welcome back at your apartment tonight, so just sleep in my room. I can take you home in the morning. I think we’ve done enough damage for tonight.” And then he turned away from her and walked to the room furthest down the hallway, leaving her standing there.

Madison took a shaky breath and glanced around at the mess they’d made on the strewn pages and floor. Her body was still tingling. She could still feel him on every part of her skin. But the inside of her body and especially her mind felt anything but superb.

She felt... used.

She took in the discarded cups on the floor and tried to enjoy them for what they were: a distraction, an escape, a mistake. She straightened her shoulders and started collecting the garbage from the room. If she kept her body busy, then her mind might follow.

He hadn’t pulled a dick move at all. She was the one who started this, and he was simply ending it. He owed her absolutely nothing. They weren’t as close as she’d thought if she didn’t even know about his plans after college. Alison tried to warn her that his personal life was complicated and now she knew.

It took her only minutes to realize he wasn’t coming back to make up or make her feel better; she had pushed him too far, and he walked away. But the longer she sat with the echo of his words in her head, the more she saw the double meaning behind them. The giant neon sign flashing in her face was as clear as The Serpent Pit’s.

“I’m so fucked.”