Chapter 8
CHAPTER
EIGHT
Maddox
It’s Saturday, and Brogan has to work. She only works one weekend a month unless she’s picking up hours. This is the first Saturday since we’ve been married that she’s not been home, and I don’t know what I’m going to do with myself.
I’m missing my wife.
I got up early and made her breakfast, which seemed to shock her. I believe her exact words were “Why would you be up this early on a weekend when you have nowhere to be?” I just smiled and handed her a plate of toast, bacon, and eggs. While she ate her breakfast, I started her car for her and filled her favorite tumbler with coffee, just the way she likes it.
She mentioned that she needed to go to the store, and I assured her that I could do it on my own. We’ve done the grocery shopping together every Saturday for a month. I’m sure I can handle it. Her face got an adorable shade of red when she told me she needed feminine products. I told her to text me what she needed, but she refused. So, I went to the bathroom and brought out the almost empty boxes. When I asked her if it was the right ones, she nodded and tucked her chin to her chest.
She’s cute as hell, thinking that I wouldn’t walk into any store and buy her what she needs. As soon as she left, I cleaned up the kitchen from breakfast, started a load of laundry, and swept and mopped the floors.
Looking around, I make a mental note to dust when I return. I want to head to the store so I can get back and make sure I have dinner ready when she gets home. I double check to make sure I have my phone, wallet, and the list from the refrigerator, and get on the road. As I’m driving through town, I get the idea to take her a little treat. I know she loves the vanilla chai lattes from Pastry Haven, which isn’t far from her work.
I’m in and out in less than ten minutes and pulling into the lot of her work. I strut through the main doors like I own the place as my eyes scan behind the desk, looking for Brogan.
“Hi, can I help you?” an older lady greets me.
“I hope so. I was hoping to see my wife and give her a midmorning pick me up.” I raise the latte so she can see it.
“Oh, that’s so sweet. Who is your wife?”
“Brogan Lanigan.” Damn, I love the sound of that. Her eyes widen, which tells me she probably has no idea we’re married. Something like disappointment washes over me, but I push it back. I have five more months to make her want this, want me for a lifetime.
She recovers quickly. “Oh! Brogan. Let me get her.” She rolls her chair back as she stands and disappears into the back of the office. I stand off to the side, not wanting to be in anyone’s way, when the door to the lobby opens, and Brogan sticks her head out.
“Maddox? What are you doing here?”
“I brought you a vanilla chai latte.” I hand her the cup as I lean in to kiss her cheek. I know she’s at work, but I can’t help myself where my wife is concerned.
“That was sweet of you. You didn’t have to do that.”
“I wanted to. I’m on my way to the store, so it wasn’t out of the way.”
She nods, taking a sip of her drink. “It’s perfect, Maddox. Thank you.” She gives me a soft smile, and I wish I could scoop her up and take her home with me.
“Is there anything else you can think of that we need from the store?”
“No. I can stop after work. I don’t mind.”
“Nope. You come straight home to me.” I lean in and kiss her cheek again. “I’ll see you soon, baby. Enjoy the rest of your day.” I turn to leave, waving at the receptionist on my way out.
The grocery store wasn’t as busy as I expected it to be, but I was still there for over an hour. I went up and down every aisle, grabbing snacks I’ve seen Brogan buy since we’ve been together. Basically, I bought way too much food, but that time of the month is here, and I don’t know what she’s in the mood for. Not that I won’t go back out and grab her whatever she wants or needs, but I wanted her to be stocked, just in case. I also grabbed her favorite ice cream, thanks to a quick text to her sister, as well as some chocolate bars.
I was thinking ahead and took pictures on my phone of all of her feminine products, so finding those and tossing two boxes of each into the cart was a breeze. I don’t know how many she needs, but I figured two boxes of each were a safe bet.
My phone rings as I’m wrapping up, putting everything away. “Hello?” I answer, not looking at the screen as I take the trash out to the can in the garage.
“What are you doing today?” Lachlan asks.
“I just got back from the store, and I’m getting ready to dust and make dinner.”
“Ugh, I hate dusting,” he complains.
“I don’t know anyone who enjoys it, but it has to be done.”
“Yeah,” he says, and I can almost guarantee he’s looking around his house and seeing that he needs to dust. “Where’s the wife today?”
“She had to work.”
“Bummer. All right, well, I’m heading to my parents’ for the night. My mom keeps saying I never come to see her, and the guilt is heavy, so we’re having dinner, and I’ll chill there for a while. I was going to invite you to come along, but I’m pretty sure I know what your answer will be.” He chuckles.
“Yeah, I plan to have dinner ready and the house in order when Brogan gets home, so she’ll sit and relax after working all day.” I don’t tell him that it’s that time of the month for her, and I plan to pamper her. That’s information for me and my wife only. “Tell them I said hello.”
“Will do. Kiss Brogan for me.”
“Over my dead body,” I clip, and the fucker laughs in my ear as he hangs up. “Asshole,” I mutter, but I’m smiling. Lachlan knew exactly what he was doing, and that it would get me riled up. Just wait. One day it’s going to be him, and I’m taking notes. I’ll be repaying him the favor tenfold.
I crank up the radio and get to work dusting the house. That leads me to cleaning the bathroom, and before I know it, it’s time to start dinner. Brogan mentioned a few nights ago that meatloaf sounded good, so thanks to my mom, who is still annoyed with me that she has not met my new wife, and that I got married without telling her, I have her recipe, and I’m ready to get to work. I just hope I don’t fuck this up.
I promised my parents that we would come to their place for dinner soon. I’m going to talk to Brogan tonight so we can set something up. I’m stoked for them to meet her, and I know without a doubt they’re going to fall for her, just as I am.
It’s a little after five when I hear the front door open. I’m in the kitchen pulling the meatloaf from the oven when Brogan walks into the kitchen.
“Something smells good,” she says.
“I made my mom’s famous meatloaf.”
“You made meatloaf?”
“Yeah, you said it’s been sounding good to you. I also made mashed potatoes, but from a box, and mac and cheese.”
“Thank you for this. What can I do to help?” she asks, taking off her coat and hanging it on the back of the chair at the island.
“Nothing. I’m all set here. I’ll make us each a plate. I have the table set and two glasses of tea ready to go unless you want something else?”
“No. Tea is great. Thank you, Maddox.” She comes over and places her hand on my arm as I’m cutting up the meatloaf. “This is really sweet of you.”
Leaning over, I press a kiss to the corner of her mouth. “I wanted you to be able to come home and relax. The grocery shopping is done, and I picked up some of your favorites. I know women get cravings, and I hope I hit them all, but if not, I’ll gladly go pick up anything you need or want.”
“Maddox.” Her face turns that adorable shade of pink that I love on her.
“I’m your husband, Brogan. We’re partners in this life, and I’m here for you, even for snacks, tampons, or whatever else you need. Never be afraid to ask or talk to me about this stuff.”
“Are all men this open?” she asks.
“I know my four best friends are, and as for me, I’m just me. What you see is what you get, and you get all of me. One day, I hope I’ll have all of you too.” I turn back to dishing up our plates, and then to carry them to the dining room to find her still standing there watching me.
“You’re spoiling me.”
“Good.” I nod toward the dining room. “Let’s eat.” Once we’re sitting at the table, and we’ve started to eat, I ask, “How was your day?”
“Good. My husband surprised me with my favorite drink, and the day flew by after that.”
I almost choke on my bite of meatloaf, and not because it sucks—it’s fucking delicious. No, it’s because she referred to me as her husband. Fucking finally, I feel like we’re making progress. In the past month we’ve lived together, I fall a little more for her every day.
“I’m glad.” I wink at her, and she giggles, and just like that, she steals another piece of my heart. We talk while we eat and it’s the perfect dinner at home, just the two of us.
“I’ll clean up,” I tell her once we’re finished. “Go take a hot bath or shower or whatever, and you and I have a date with a rom-com and all the snacks you can eat. I even have the heating pad on the couch. I found it in the bathroom when I was cleaning.”
“Maddox, really?” she asks, smiling and blushing at the same time.
“I can’t pretend to know how it feels, but I have a mother, and grew up with Forrest pretty much raising Emerson, so I know it can be hell.”
“Is all of this in the How to Make My Wife Melt into a Puddle handbook?” she asks.
“No, this is the ‘I don’t know what the hell I’m doing, but I want to be there for you,’ Maddox edition.” I tap my temple. “Go on. I’ll clean up and meet you in the living room.”
“Thank you for this, for dinner, and… everything.”
“You’re welcome, baby.” She turns to leave, and I quickly clean up dinner and pack away the leftovers. Thirty minutes later, she steps into the living room to find me lying on the couch. I pat the spot in front of me, and she barely hesitates before she lies down. I wrap the blanket around her and pull her to my chest. “You need the heating pad?” I ask her.
“No, I’m okay.”
“Here.” I hand her the remote. “Pick something.”
“What are you in the mood for?”
“We could be watching paint dry, and I’d be thrilled because you’re in my arms, Brogan.”
She chuckles. “Okay, well, how about this new series?” She motions to the screen. “Briar mentioned that she and Forrest started it and it’s really good.”
“Perfect.”
She starts the show, and I snuggle her closer. I move my hand to her belly and slowly creep my hand under her shirt, and rub soothing circles on her abdomen. At least I hope they're soothing. Honestly, I’m out of my depth here, but she’s not stopping me, so it must not be hurting her even if it’s not helping.
We watch two episodes when she has to get up to use the restroom. “Do you want a snack?” I ask her.
“What are my options?” I rattle off everything I bought for her today and her eyes grow wide. “You bought all of my favorites.”
“I know.” I grin.
“How about some cherry cordial ice cream?”
“You got it.” I climb off the couch, out of my comfortable cocoon, and make us both a big bowl, and I’m ready for her when she gets back.
“Thank you,” she says, sitting right next to me on the couch, and covering both of our legs with the blanket.
“So, my parents want to meet you.” I feel bad putting them off as long as I have, but if she’s not ready, they’re just going to have to keep waiting. These aren’t normal circumstances, and I want her to be ready.
She nods. “I was wondering when this conversation was going to happen.”
“They’ve been patiently waiting, according to my mom.” I laugh.
“When?”
“Whenever you feel up to it.”
“Next weekend?”
I try hard to hide my surprise. She’s in this. She might not be able to admit it out loud, but she wants this to work between us as much as I do. I can feel it. “Sure, Mom wants to make us dinner, so I’ll tell her to choose a day, and we’ll go from there.”
“Okay.”
“Thank you.” The sincerity of my tone is evident. This means the world to me. I hate that I didn’t get to meet her father, but I’d like to think he would approve of me, of us. How could he not? I adore his daughter.
She tilts her head to the side to study me. “Together.”
I’m sure my smile is blinding. “Together.” We finish our ice cream in silence, but we keep sharing these looks. Ones that have hope growing inside me. We’re going to do this. I know the woman sitting next to me is my future. I can see it, and every day that I spend with her, she takes another little piece of me to call her own.
“Another episode?” she asks as she takes my empty bowl with hers, and places them on the end table.
“Definitely.” She stands and nods for me to lie down, and not one to pass up an opportunity to have her in my arms, I do and wait for her to take her spot in front of me. Again, I wrap the blanket around us and snuggle her close.
I couldn’t tell you a single thing that happened in this episode because all I see is her. My wife, who is lying in my arms. My wife, who I’ll go to sleep holding just as I am now.
“Did you dust?” she asks. She can’t see my grin, but I love that I was able to surprise her and take some of her burden. Besides, I live here too. Cleaning shouldn’t fall just to her.
“I did.”
“You took care of everything on my list.”
“Yep.” Pride swells in my chest. I took care of her list, because I’m taking care of her. That’s all I want.
“You didn’t have to do that.”
“But then I wouldn’t be able to do this.” I kiss her cheek. “I was missing you today anyway, so it kept me busy.”
She pauses, then glances at me over her shoulder. “You missed me today?”
“Yes.”
“How am I supposed to resist you, Maddox Lanigan?”
“You’re not.”
“I was certain this entire situation would be a disaster, and now….”
“What about now?” I ask her when she remains quiet.
“Now, it’s the complete opposite.”
I hug her a little tighter. “I know that took a lot for you to say, and we’re still just taking it one day at a time, but I can tell you that if I had to choose between a night out with the guys, and a night in like this with you, that a night in with you wins hands down every single time. I’m falling hard for you, Mrs. Lanigan.”
She rolls over to face me. “Ditto, Mr. Lanigan.”
I cup her jaw and stare into her big green eyes. I see what she’s not willing to say. She’s afraid to hope, but that’s okay, because I have enough for both of us. “Can I kiss you?” She’s so close, and I want nothing more than to show her how I feel about her. I’ve been telling her that I want her, but something inside me screams to also show her.
“I might be bad at it.”
“Impossible.” No fucking way is this woman bad at anything. Not in my eyes.
“I don’t know… my experience is pretty much nil unless you count some sloppy tries during my senior year of high school. I don’t have much faith.”
“Let me prove you wrong.” Leaning in, I hover, giving her a chance to stop me, but she doesn’t take it. I close the remaining distance and capture her lips with mine. Just a light brush, and when she doesn’t pull away, I nip at her bottom lip. She gasps, and I take the opening for what it is and slide my tongue against hers. She mimics my actions and melts into me as we get lost in one another.
She whimpers, and I take that as a sign to keep going as I slide my tongue against hers. Her hands find their way to my shirt, and she grips it tightly. She’s pulling me closer, not pushing me away, and my cock throbs at the thought.
My wife wants me.
That’s all I need to know to allow my hands to roam. They find their way to the curve of her ass, as I squeeze, and she moans. Lifting her leg, I toss it over mine. My cock is now nestled between her thighs, but that’s as far as I take it. I have her here, in my arms, and that’s enough for now. She told me this was pretty much her first real kiss; at least, that’s what I chose to hear.
This kiss is the only one that matters.
I can’t help but think about our wedding night. Surely, we kissed to seal our fate. I wish more than anything I could remember that night. The night she became mine.
When we finally come up for air, I rest my forehead against hers. I take a few moments to catch my breath, and from how her chest rises and falls, she needs the time to do the same.
“What about now?” I ask, my voice raspy and laced with desire. It’s all for her.
“That didn’t suck.” She has this dazed look in her eyes as she offers me a shy smile.
“Yeah?” I chuckle. “Should we try it again?”
“I think I need something to compare it to.”
That’s how I spend the rest of the night, kissing my wife like we’re teenagers. Something she never got to experience, and something I’m thrilled she gets to do with me, and only me.