Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
Madison
T he birds are singing when I open my eyes. It takes me a few minutes to remember where I am. Everything that happened feels like a dream. But the delicious ache between my legs tells me it was all very real.
Still half asleep, I reach between my legs and tentatively touch my swollen pussy.
I’m no longer a virgin.
I had sex.
With Maverick.
And it was amazing and not nearly as painful as I imagined. My body quivers with the memory of how huge his cock was and how he fit every inch of it into my body.
Like I was made for him.
A vague memory of him saying those words to me rolls through my brain, but I wasn’t really in a position to hear or make sense of anything at that point.
I must have imagined him saying it. And even if he had, it was just dirty talk. It didn’t mean anything. Just the way he told me that if we had sex, I’d be his. That wasn’t real. It was just what men said.
Just because I’m having unexpectedly strong feelings toward Maverick doesn’t mean he is.
I’m an inexperienced little girl. Maverick is a man.
He’d taken my virginity. It didn’t mean anything more than that.
I don’t need to roll over to know he’s not next to me anymore. I vaguely remember waking up at some point in the night to the sound of the tent zipper as he slipped out into the night. I’d enjoyed falling asleep in his arms. It made me feel safe and protected, and the moment he was gone, I missed him.
It was only because of my utter exhaustion that I was able to fall back to sleep after he left.
I dress quickly and poke my head out of the tent.
Maverick isn’t there. My heart plummets but a moment later, my disappointment fades when Luna bounds over to me and licks my face.
“Good morning. You’re a sweet girl.” I scratch her behind the ears as I step out of the tent into the campsite. “Are you here by yourself?”
“She was waiting for you to get up.”
His voice startles me. I turn to see Maverick standing at the edge of the clearing, holding a stack of wood.
“I went to gather some firewood. Did you sleep well?”
A little unsure, I step toward the fire circle. “You left.”
He nods curtly but doesn’t look at me as he sets to work stoking the fire that was already lit. “I prefer to sleep outside.”
“Oh.” I thought maybe after what we’d done last night, I’d broken through his grumpy exterior to get to the real him, but evidently I’d been wrong. Still, I don’t regret what we did. Even if it meant nothing more than a hookup to him, it was a night I would remember forever. “It’s a beautiful morning.” I move closer to him. “Is that coffee I smell?”
Maverick
She is quiet.
Too quiet.
From the moment I met her, my doll has been anything but quiet.
I look up from the scrambled eggs I’d been stirring over the fire and watch her. She’s looking down into her coffee cup. Luna lays at her feet. It seems my wolf-dog has also fallen in love.
Love.
Is that what I’m feeling for this girl after such a short time?
I know it is. I’ve been with my share of women, but it has never felt the way it did with Madi. She’s different. When we came together, it was different. Special.
My brothers and I grew up on stories about the way our parents met.
“Love at first sight.”
“When you know, you know.”
“It can’t be explained. But you’ll know when it happens to you.”
We’ve never discussed it, but all five of us boys have been holding out for that same kind of magic. My brother Griffin found it recently with his new bride.
Was this it for me?
Was Madi it?
Damn, it sure feels like it.
“Did you sleep okay?” The question comes out sharp, like a bark, and Madi jumps. “Sorry,” I add and resume stirring the eggs. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“You didn’t.”
It’s a lie. I can see the uncertainty in her face. Is she regretting what we did last night? Certainly, she must be sore, but I hope like hell I didn’t hurt her.
Fuck. I don’t know how to handle this.
“I slept fine, thank you.” She smiles a little. “At least for part of the night.”
“Were you cold?”
“I was after you left.” She holds my gaze. “I was hoping to wake up next to you.”
Only a few innocent words, but they have my cock hard as rock in my jeans. There’s nothing I would like more than waking up next to her sweet, soft, naked body.
Sleeping next to Madi had been both the best thing I’d ever experienced and also the hardest. How am I ever going to let her walk away now that I’ve had her?
I can’t.
But I have to.
Short of throwing her over my shoulder and carrying her up the mountain to my cabin, where I would tie her to the bed to keep her from leaving me, I’m going to have to watch her walk away.
Or convince her to stay.
“That wasn’t possible.”
I regret my words the second they’re out of my mouth and I see the way her pretty face crumples. Especially because I don’t know whether I’m talking to her or trying to convince myself that anything more with this doll of a woman isn’t going to happen.
“What I meant was,” I clear my throat, “it was better for me to sleep outside.”
“You said that.” She nods and sets her untouched coffee down. “I should get started on my day.”
“You didn’t eat yet.” I jump up with the pan in my hand and hold it out to her. “You need to keep up your strength.”
“I’m not hungry.” She looks down at the eggs and back up at me. “It’s probably for the best anyway.”
For the first time, I look at the eggs I’m cooking and see that they’re blackened and stuck to the bottom of the pan. “Shit. I can start over.” I quickly scrape the contents into the fire but when I turn around, she’s already walking away. “Madi!”
She freezes, and again I regret my rough tone. I don’t know how to be around her. Why is it so fucking awkward?
Because you care.
I push the little voice in my head down.
“Wait,” I say a little bit softer. “I really don’t think you should?—”
“Thank you for your concern, Maverick.” She turns to face me. “And thank you for all you’ve…all you’ve done for me.”
Like taking your virginity?
Damn, do I ever hate myself right now. I’m ruining everything, but I can’t seem to stop myself. And for the life of me, I don’t know how to be any different than I am. A grumpy old asshole, reclusive mountain man who has spent far too much time alone on the mountain. That’s all I am. She deserves so much better.
“And thank you for guiding me here,” Madi continues, completely unaware of the battle raging within me. “But I’m sure you have other things you’re supposed to be doing. I don’t want to be any more of a bother than I already have been. I’m really none of your concern. I’m sorry you’ve had to waste as much of your time on me as you already have.”
“You haven’t been a bother.” I cross the distance between us and grab her by the wrist to keep her from leaving. “Not at all.”
There’s so much I should say. Instead, I pull her roughly into me and crush her lips to mine in a possessive kiss. She tastes just as sweet as she did the night before. Sweeter. I need her so badly, it’s a primal, all-consuming urge.
Between us, my cock presses hard and hungry into her soft belly.
I don’t have the words to tell her how I’m feeling, but I hope like hell my body will do the job.
The ruined pan falls to the ground and with both hands now, I hold her sweet head in place as my tongue slips between her lips and claims her mouth.