Chapter 23 #3
“Please tell me you weren’t interested in that guy.”
“Fuck you,” I said as I continued to the kitchen.
“I’m sorry,” Maddox said through laughter as he entered the kitchen. “Do you often have people you employ professing their love for you at your front door? I’m sure if we wait long enough Ronan will show up too.” He was still laughing.
“I’m glad my taste in men is amusing to you.”
I started to feel slightly foolish. Maybe men could see other men right away for what they were. Hell, people weren’t that hard to read if you were willing to see it.
“I don’t find your taste in men amusing.
” He got closer, bridging the gap between us.
I looked up at him. “Quite frankly, it’s annoying.
I am competing with men that, to me, are nothing more than boys.
It’s one of the most frustrating fucking things I have ever dealt with.
It’s literally maddening. The laughing is rooted in frustration, but also your judgment is slightly skewed, and that is comical. ”
“I don’t give in to you because I’m afraid.
Afraid I will get lost in it. I’m scared that when the dust settles, I will end up being the shell of the person I am now because I am very aware that you could destroy me.
You don’t want to be tethered to anyone, so forgive me if I date superficial men that don’t have a clue who I am. It’s safer that way.”
He was making me angry. I pulled the iced tea from the fridge and pulled the lid off my cup.
I poured the tea and put the pitcher back in the fridge.
Maddox was still standing where I left him next to the counter.
I took my tea and headed back to the study.
A few moments later, he appeared in the doorway.
“I have no one else to blame but myself.” I looked at him, confused.
“No one else to blame for what?” I asked, still puzzled.
“For you feeling the way you do about me. I did say that I was better off alone.”
“You said more than that. From what I gathered, you are your job, and having someone significant in your life would be a distraction. It’s easier—you said it yourself.
I am not willing to be a one-night stand or just some fling; not with you.
You aren’t withdrawn or boring enough for that.
You keep me on my toes, and you make me think.
You piqued my interest the second I laid eyes on you, and that could be a problem. ”
I was quickly reminded how fast vampires—well Maddox—were able to move.
He was suddenly in my space without warning; his breath washed over my face.
I loved it when he invaded my space; it gave me butterflies—every time.
His hand went to the nape of my neck, and his fingers wove through my hair as he pulled me to him.
The kiss was like fire on my lips, with a need to prove a point.
I opened my mouth, and his tongue found mine.
I wanted this, desperately. I wanted every kiss for the rest of my life to be just like this.
When our lips finally parted, he kept his forehead against mine as he spoke.
“You could never be a fling or a one-night stand.
Joslyn, you already know more about me than any other woman.
I remain cool and unbothered because I have well, over a hundred years' experience controlling my emotions, which I tend not to be so good at doing in your presence. Not to mention a couple hundred years' worth of experiences will desensitize you to normal things. Apparently, it won’t stop you from putting your foot in your mouth, though, and you are anything but normal.”
“This scares the hell out of me.”
“You want me to show you how I feel about you? You want me to tell you what I want from you? Fine—that’s exactly what I’ll do.”
Desperation flashed in his eyes, but only for a moment.
Maybe he finally realized that I needed something more concrete from him.
This wasn’t a joke to me, but he had no problem making light of the situation at my expense.
I was drawn to him, and no matter how hard I tried to fight it, nothing was working.
I wanted to know how he felt, and I wanted him to show me.
“Go upstairs and pack a bag. Bring a few casual items and a dress. When you are ready, I will be ready, but don’t rush.”
I went upstairs and rummaged through my closet, pulling out dress after dress and tossing them onto the bed.
I miss my cousin right now. She was the only friend I really had, and since she had been with Alexander, we hadn’t spoke.
I was on my own on this one. I stood in front of the mirror and held up the dresses to help me decide.
The first dress was tight, black lace with a corset bodice and a short high-low skirt.
The second option was a light pink floral chiffon floor-length dress, with spaghetti straps, a deep v-neckline, and a hip-high slit in the flowy skirt.
The back of the dress was open, and delicate chiffon cords tied in the center.
These were the dresses that looked the best, and I refused to overthink it.
I put them inside my garment bag and zipped it shut.
I grabbed my strappy heels from the closet and threw them into my bag.
A couple of tank tops and shorts got tossed on the bed.
I pulled two casual shirts and undergarments, adding them to the growing pile of clothes.
I was so nervous, I could feel the tremors in my hands as I picked through things. I was not about to chicken out.
Inside the bathroom, I got into the shower and shaved my legs and armpits.
After my body was squeaky clean, I exited and toweled off.
I decided to curl my hair and pack up my makeup.
I could be ready in fifteen minutes once my hair was good to go.
I put on deodorant and perfume and got dressed.
I donned a set of matching white lace panties and bra.
No matter what dress I was going to wear, a bra wouldn’t be an option.
I put on a pair of plum-colored knitted shorts with a matching crop top; I added a white spandex crop tank top underneath.
I slid on my sandals and pulled my suitcase from the closet.
I set it on the bed, unzipping it and flipping it open.
Once everything was packed, I closed the suitcase again.
It seemed I was finally getting my money’s worth out of my luggage.
I grabbed my phone, remembering I had shut it off earlier.
If anything, urgent happened, they would call Maddox first. I had no missed calls; that was sort of surprising but not disappointing.
I pulled up the handle on my suitcase and wheeled it to the door. I opened my bedroom door and left the room, pulling the suitcase behind me until I reached the top of the stairs. Maddox was already climbing the stairs when I reached them.
“Are you ready to go?” he asked, as he took the bag from me.
“I suppose. Are you planning on telling me where we are going?”
“Not a chance. I want everything to be a surprise—and I don’t want you talking me out of it.”