Chapter 21 – Madeline
The second the words left my mouth, I saw something shift in him.
The tension that had been simmering between us finally snapped.
For a moment, he just stood there, looking at me like I was the only thing in the world that mattered. Like he was trying to decide whether to give in or make me beg.
And then he moved.
His hands slid up my thighs, rough and sure, as he pulled me closer, his grip so firm it sent a shiver up my spine. I gasped as he leaned in, his lips brushing against my ear, his voice low and dangerous. “You really want this, Scout?”
I nodded, my breath catching as his hands slipped higher, pushing the sweater up just enough to expose more of my skin. “Yes,” I whispered.
His lips were on mine in an instant, the kiss fierce and consuming, stealing the air from my lungs. I clung to him, my fingers tangling in his hair as I pressed myself against him, desperate to close the gap between us. Every inch of him was solid, unrelenting, and the way he kissed me left no room for hesitation.
A breeze swept over me, and before I could register it, my sweater — the one I had picked specifically because I knew it would tease him — was being pulled over my head and tossed aside.
His hands found the clasp of my bra, and it was gone in an instant, thrown into the abyss of God knows where. I didn’t care. All I could focus on was the heat of his touch, the way his fingers grazed my bare skin, igniting every nerve ending.
My hair fell around my shoulders, tumbling in loose waves that veiled me like a curtain. It wasn’t enough to shield me from his gaze, though, and the way he looked at me made me shiver.
His eyes darkened, sweeping over me slowly, reverently, as if he were committing every inch of me to memory. My nipples hardened under his scrutiny, the cool air against my skin only intensifying the ache that had been building deep in my core.
I shifted against him, my thighs tightening instinctively around his waist as the wetness between my legs grew impossible to ignore.
“God, Madeline,” he murmured, his voice rough and unsteady, his hands skimming up my sides, brushing the curve of my waist before settling just beneath my breasts. “You’re stunning.”
The words hit me harder than I expected, melting something inside me that had been locked away for so long. I didn’t know if he meant to say it out loud or if it had just slipped out, but I didn’t care. All I cared about was him. The way his touch sent waves of heat through me, the way his gaze made me feel like I was the only thing in the world he wanted.
His lips crashed back into mine, and I moaned against his mouth as his hands moved, cupping my breasts, his thumbs brushing over my hardened nipples in slow, teasing circles. The sensation sent a jolt of pleasure straight to my core, and I arched into him, my body begging for more.
“You have no idea what you do to me,” he growled against my lips, his voice rough and dripping with need. His teeth caught my bottom lip, tugging just enough to make me gasp before he soothed the sting with a slow sweep of his tongue. “No idea how fucking crazy you make me. Do you have any idea how many nights I’ve heard you through the walls, touching your pretty little pussy, whispering my name? How many times I’ve had to stop myself from coming to you and showing you what it feels like to have my hands on you instead?”
My breath caught in my throat, my entire body freezing for a split second before a wave of heat rushed through me, leaving me trembling in his arms. His words, low and rough, sent a jolt of electricity straight to my core, and the ache between my thighs became impossible to ignore.
I stared at him, wide-eyed, my lips parting as I tried to find something — anything — to say. But the look in his eyes, dark and full of raw desire, stole every thought from my head.
“You heard that?” I whispered, my voice barely audible, a mix of embarrassment and arousal flooding me.
His lips curved into a slow, wicked smirk, his hands tightening on my waist. “Every. Single. Time,” he said, his voice dropping even lower, a growl that vibrated through my chest. “You think these walls are thick enough to keepyour dirty little secret from me when you think nobody’s listening?”
My heart hammered in my chest, my body burning under the weight of his words. I didn’t know what to say, how to respond, because every single thing he was saying was true.
I’d thought about him — too much, too often. I’d given in to that need at night when I thought he was asleep, my body craving a release I couldn’t ask for.
“You have no clue,” he continued, his hands sliding lower, gripping my hips as he pressed me harder against him, “how many nights I’ve had to stop myself from coming in there, from tearing the sheets off you and giving you exactly what you want.”
“Jaxon,” I whispered, my voice trembling, barely able to form the words.
His lips found the curve of my neck, his teeth grazing my skin as he growled, “Say it again.”
“Ja-“ I gasped, my fingers curling into his shoulders, holding on like he was the only thing keeping me grounded.
“Tell me,” he said, his voice low and commanding, “Tell me you were thinking about me when you touched yourself. Tell me I wasn’t imagining it.”
I bit my lip, my head tilting back as his lips trailed down my throat, his touch setting my skin on fire. “I was,” I admitted, my voice barely audible. “Every time.”
Jaxon growled low in his throat, his hands gripping my hips as he pressed me firmly against the counter. His lips found mine again, the kiss hungry and unrelenting, and I moaned softly as his hands slid beneath the waistband of my panties, gripping the curve of my ass.
“You’re so damn beautiful,” he muttered against my lips, his voice rough and breathless as his fingers trailed along the edge of the fabric, teasing me.
I couldn’t hold back the whimper that escaped me as his fingers brushed lower, teasing but deliberate, his touch igniting every nerve ending. “Jaxon, please,” I gasped, my thighs tightening around his waist.
“Please what?” he asked, his tone low and edged with a wicked smile as he pressed his forehead against mine. “Tell me what you want, honey. Use that wicked little mouth of yours.”
“You,” I said, my voice trembling, my hands gripping his shoulders. “I want you . All of you.”
He groaned, his lips finding mine again, his touch becoming bolder, more insistent. In one swift motion, he hooked his fingers into the sides of my panties, sliding them down and tossing them aside. The cool air against my skin made me shiver, but the heat of his hands replaced it instantly.
“You’re so wet for me,” he growled, his lips trailing down my neck, his breath hot against my skin. His fingers moved in slow, deliberate circles, teasing me, building me up until I was trembling beneath his touch.
When he slid a finger inside me, my body arched, a soft cry escaping my lips. He didn’t stop, didn’t hesitate — he moved with purpose, his finger pumping in and out of me expertly, curling just enough to make my legs tighten around him.
“Look at you,” he murmured, his voice low and rough as he added another finger, the stretch making me gasp. His thumb brushed over my clit, circling it with just enough pressure to drive me wild. “So responsive. So good. You were made for this, baby.”
“Jax,” I moaned, my hands gripping his shoulders, desperate to anchor myself as waves of pleasure crashed through me. My body moved against his hand, chasing the release that was building, winding tighter with every stroke, every deliberate movement of his fingers.
He tilted his head, his lips finding mine in a kiss that was as demanding as it was consuming. The rhythm of his fingers didn’t falter, his thumb pressing against my clit in time with each pump, sending sparks of pleasure shooting through me.
“You feel that?” he murmured, his lips brushing my ear, his voice thick with need. “You’re such a good girl, Madeline.Letting me take care of you.”
His words unravelled me, a molten wave of heat spreading through my body. I gasped, my fingers clutching at his shoulders as his hand worked between my thighs with devastating precision. The way he praised me sent a shiver straight down my spine, and I couldn’t stop the soft moan that escaped my lips.
Jax growled, his fingers curling inside me just right, his thumb circling my clit in a slow, maddening rhythm.
I whimpered, my head falling back, my body trembling as I gave in completely to the sensations crashing over me. “Jax-” I gasped, my voice shaky, my breath catching as the tension coiled tighter and tighter in my core. “Please… I can’t—”
“Yes, you can,” he said firmly, his voice rough but coaxing as his lips grazed the curve of my neck. “You’re doing so good. Just let go.”
His words pushed me over the edge, my body arching against him as the release ripped through me, wave after wave of pleasure so intense it left me trembling in his arms. His name fell from my lips in a breathless cry, and his grip on me tightened, grounding me as I shattered completely.
I slumped against him, still catching my breath, my body trembling from the aftershocks. But the fire in his eyes hadn’t dimmed — it had only deepened. His hands stayed on me, possessive yet gentle, one steadying me against him and the other trailing up my body, his fingers brushing my lips.
“Taste yourself, baby,” he said, his voice low and rough, a command wrapped in velvet.
My heart stuttered, the weight of his words sending a fresh wave of heat through me. My lips parted instinctively, and when his fingers slid inside, I closed around them, tasting the lingering evidence of what he’d just done to me. His gaze never left mine, dark and unrelenting, his thumb brushing lightly against my bottom lip as I sucked gently, doing exactly as he asked.
“Fuck,” he growled, his eyes locked on the movement of my lips.His voice, rough and raw, sent another jolt of heat through me. I let his fingers slide free, my tongue flicking out to taste him as I met his gaze through heavy, half-lidded eyes.
“Don’t think we’re done,” he murmured, his voice low and rough, sending another shiver down my spine. His lips brushed against my temple, his breath warm against my skin. “I’ve barely started with you.”
Before I could respond, he leaned in, his lips grazing the curve of my jaw, then my ear. “You think I’m going to stop when you look at me like that? When you’re still shaking?”
I shivered, my hands curling into the fabric of his jeans as I tried to catch my breath. “Jaxon—”
“You don’t get it, do you?” he said, his tone soft but edged with something raw. “You’ve turned my whole fucking world upside down. You came crashing into my life, and now I can’t figure out how to stop needing you. You drive me insane, Madeline, every look, every word, every time you walk into a room — you own me .”
I swallowed hard, my throat tightening. He had just laid everything out for me, left himself wide open, and I… I didn’t know what to say. Not because I didn’t feel it, but because I felt it too much.
“I—” The word faltered on my tongue, and instead, I reached for him,somehow, it was enough.
His forehead rested against mine, his breath warm against my skin as his grip on me softened. We didn’t need to fill the silence — not yet. The weight of what he’d said hung between us, undeniable, and I let it settle, let it wrap around me like a truth I wasn’t ready to run from anymore.
“You own me, too,” I whispered finally, my voice barely audible, but I knew he heard it. The way his hands tightened on me, the way his breath hitched — it was enough to tell me he understood.
In that moment, nothing else mattered.