36. Table the Conversation
Blake
Madison shifts on the seat next to me as the car takes us to Taylor’s.
“Sore?” Fortunately the walls in the apartment are soundproof, but I saw Coop come out of Noah’s room this morning with a huge grin on his face. And the hickeys on Madison’s shoulders didn’t happen on their own.
Her face flushes pink as she looks at me through her eyelashes. “Maybe a little.”
I tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear. She’s still fragile, but strong. She’ll need that for today.
“You don’t leave my side when we get there.” Seth and I discussed it at length last night. I don’t want her anywhere near Hunter Adams, but we need someone on the team to figure out who might be the spy. Plus, the owner wanted her there and he’s the client. “You go to the ladies’ room, I go with you.”
“Don’t you think people will find that strange?” She arches an eyebrow. “After all, I’m supposed to be dating Coop and you’re following me to the bathroom?”
I shrug. “I don’t care what people think. I’m not letting him get you alone again.”
I’m still kicking myself for not recognizing the signs when I first saw them together, but I saw what I wanted to see. I wanted to confirm she was just like every other woman, out to use us for our money or power.
She takes my hand in hers. “I’ll be careful, Blake.”
I thread my fingers through hers and release my breath. She’s not like the others, and she proves it every day. My brain keeps looking for flaws, searching for what I might have missed. I’ve let the guys down before. I let a snake into our lives and didn’t realize it in time.
Andrea cost us a pretty penny and almost ruined our business reputation. Tried to blackmail us until we were forced to settle. Even though she signed an NDA, and we couldn’t prove she started the rumors, but the timing was definitely suspicious.
I squeeze Madison’s hand and press my lips to her knuckles. “I don’t want you out of my sight today.”
Her smile softens. “Wherever you go, I’ll go.”
I inhale her soft floral scent and release it. When the car stops, I get out before reaching in to help her out.
She’s wearing dark brown slacks today. The wide legs sway and make it seem like a skirt as she walks. The red heels she wears bring her to a height perfect for me to back her against a wall and fuck her. Her cream blouse is flowing with a wide neck that shows off the possessive marks on her shoulders from last night. Her pink floral scarf covers some of them and the fading marks of her assault.
Seth knows how to dress our girl. Her blond hair drifts around her shoulders, and her blue eyes stand out with the shadowy eye makeup she wears. Her lips are a soft, kissable pink. She looks professional and fuckable at the same time.
“Do I look okay?” She glances down over her outfit like something might be out of place.
“You look gorgeous, tiger.” I release her hand, even though I really want to draw her tight into my side and keep her there. We’re at work. That means hands off. We don’t need any new rumors to start. We have enough to deal with currently.
I open the door and gesture for her to lead the way. My heart pounds and my fists clench as I follow her in. My body is preparing for a physical fight, but that won’t happen here. Even if I hate Hunter Adams, he’s still the client.
“Good morning, Madison,” William Adams greets her. He takes Madison’s hand and pulls her into a hug.
“Good morning, Mr. Adams.” Her tone is light and sweet.
My fingers twitch with the need to pull her back against me.
“You look lovely, dear. I’m so glad you landed on your feet.” He gives her a friendly smile as he steps away before his gaze lifts to mine. “Blake, we have you set up in a conference room on the second floor. Hunter will be your liaison for the project. I believe the rest of your team arrived earlier this morning.”
“Thank you.” I step forward and shake his hand. “We needed to make sure all the files were ready in the office before heading over.”
“I’m glad they’re keeping you busy over there,” he says, speaking to Madison again. “You remember where the meeting room is.”
“Of course. Thank you, Mr. Adams.” Madison smiles.
He returns it and shakes his head. “We definitely missed out on hiring you. I’ll see you both at lunch? One?”
Our eyes meet and I nod. “Yes.”
He leaves us then and Madison leads me to the elevator. I resist the urge to put my hand on the small of her back and claim her in front of all the people that smile and nod at Madison in recognition.
“Hey, Madison.” A guy around her age steps onto the elevator with us. He’s not as tall as I am. His dark eyes flow over her with a hint of familiarity.
Her cheeks flush pink. “Derek.”
His smile widens as he steps closer when the doors close. He gives me an acknowledging nod before returning his attention to her.
“You never called me after that last...” He pauses and glances at me before smirking. “Date. I was hoping we could find some time to catch up.”
Madison’s cheeks brighten more. “I’ve been busy with work.”
“We always found time?—?”
“I’m seeing someone.” She smiles to soften the blow.
His eyebrow rises and he takes me in again, this time looking me over to see how I compare to him. My fist clenches, and his eyes widen on that before lifting to my face.
“Sorry, my man. Didn’t know.”
I keep my expression blank.
Madison shakes her head. “Not him, someone at work.”
Derek shrugs and gives her a wink. “You still have my number if that ever stops.”
The elevator doors open and Derek walks out.
“This way.” Madison looks flustered as she leads me down the hallway. She keeps glancing at me over her shoulder. I check out every room we pass, looking for what I need.
“It’s just around this corner,” she says.
Bingo. After a quick glance around to see that we’re alone, I grab her arm, drag her into an unoccupied office, and shut the door behind us.
“Blake?” Her blue eyes blink up at me. “What are you doing?”
I lock the door and take a breath. “You fucked that guy?”
Her cheeks flush pink again. “We were both interns together over a year ago.”
“That guy.” I close in on her, crowding her against the door. “You let that guy fuck you.”
Her lips pinch, and she crosses her arms over her chest. “Yes, Blake. I had sex with people before you guys. I’m not sure what the issue is. You guys had sex before me too. All of you with the same woman, as well.”
Her chest puffs up as the embarrassment changes to something hotter.
“Do you have his number?” I press my chest against hers, towering over her like a predator, staking my claim.
“If I do?” She gives me a challenging look. My submissive little pet has a stubborn side.
“Delete it,” I growl out.
Her lips press together as she studies me. Her eyes fix on mine when she says, “No.”
I grab her between her legs and press my fingers against her cunt.
She sucks in a breath and grabs my arms.
“This belongs to me. If I have to go through your phone and delete the existence of every other man from your life, I will.”
“You can’t erase my history any more than I can erase yours.” Her breath comes out in quick little gasps. Her hands clutch my shoulders as I rub her through her pants.
“I can ruin you for any other man but us.”
“What makes you think you haven’t already?” Her eyes flash with heat and need, and her hips grind against my hand.
My mouth captures hers as I dig the heel of my palm into her clit. Her lips part beneath mine in a moan. While her body trembles from her climax, I claim her mouth. She wraps her arms around my neck and holds me close.
I press my forehead against hers and rock my hard cock against her pussy. “We have unfinished business, tiger. I’m going to fuck this pussy hard, so you remember your place, and spank your ass for every guy’s number in your phone.”
Her blue eyes spark up at me. A hint of defiance still simmers in them.
Fuck. I want to teach her a lesson right now. Spank her until her ass is too sore to sit still and then fuck her until her pussy aches. But we need to get to work.
“Let’s go.”
* * *
Madison
My pussy still throbs empty as we find our way to the conference room.
“Maddy!” Hunter’s voice cuts through the fantasies my mind wove on the way.
I almost forgot about him, so caught up in Blake’s jealous possession. Hunter is an effective lady boner killer.
Blake steps in front of me as Hunter approaches with a huge grin. That grin fades into a smile as Blake holds out his hand. “Hunter.”
Hunter takes it but his gaze flows over me. I step farther behind Blake to block his view. I’m cowering and I don’t care. Blake will protect me and run interference.
“Good of you to come.” Hunter shifts his attention to Blake. “Glad you could bring Maddy as well. We’ve missed her around here.”
Yeah, he misses cornering me and trying to make me kiss or fuck him. Asshole.
“We try to accommodate client requests when we can. It seemed important to William.” Blake backs into me slightly. Taking a deep breath of his spicy cologne, I let it settle me.
He’ll protect me. He won’t leave me. I’m not alone.
The conference room has three other people working in it. One is Courtney. She lifts her eyebrow at me and shakes her head before returning her gaze to her work. The other two are a couple of guys, maybe Blake’s age. They don’t even bother looking up as they continue to work.
“Maddy’s important to all of us here at Taylor’s.” Hunter tries to catch my eye, but I work on setting up my workstation at the conference table.
I choose a seat that will only allow Blake to sit next to me. Not that Hunter will remain in here long. He has work to attend to.
“Will you be joining us for lunch?” Blake asks. No warmth in his voice.
“Of course.” Hunter shifts back and gives me a cocky grin before heading to the door. “I’ll let you guys get set up. If you need anything else, my office is right around the corner. You remember where it is, right, Maddy?”
I cringe but force a smile and nod. “Of course.”
“Right next to the copy room,” he adds.
A shiver of apprehension races through me. Wait. Hunter calls me little bird, and the texter called me little one. Not that far off. I raise my gaze to contemplate Hunter as Blake asks him a few questions about the job.
He could have easily charmed Valerie into letting him into our apartment to place the cameras. He has the funds to afford that kind of setup. His obsession with me was obvious here to everyone except his father.
Could he be my stalker? The texts seem sexual and possessive. But if he’d seen that video of me getting off in the shower, why didn’t he mention it? Hunter is cocky and self-assured. He wouldn’t hide that he saw me naked, fucking myself.
He’d use it to intimidate me. Probably blackmail me into his bed with the threat of releasing it to the public. That doesn’t mean he just hasn’t had the opportunity to use it as leverage.
My lips purse as I study Hunter. If Blake is always with me while we’re here, I might not get a chance to prove Hunter’s the stalker. If he is.
Maybe I should mention my thoughts to Blake and see how he wants to proceed. His jaw ticks as he listens to Hunter. His fist clenches and releases a few times before he shakes it out. Maybe Blake is too jealous right now. Maybe I can talk to him on the way to the restaurant, and we can figure out a strategy together.
They finish talking and Hunter’s blue eyes find me. He gives me a cocky grin, like he’s already got me trapped and I don’t know it yet. But if I have my way, I’ll trap him.