Chapter Thirteen #2
Maddox groaned, dropping his head back. "Too much mulled wine," he said.
"Uh-huh."
I didn't move as he took the plates.
"But you cooked," I repeated.
"Yeah, but your hand is still throbbing. You kept twitching during dinner."
He'd paid attention?
"Yeah, it is," I admitted. "Listen, Maddox, I don't think you should go anywhere tonight."
He didn’t respond, just filled the dishwasher and started it before slowly turning around.
"Cami, are you sure?"
I nodded feverishly, jumping to my feet—a bit too fast. My head spun.
Maddox was next to me the next second, putting his strong arm around me, steadying me.
"Oh, damn it. I wanted to have some more wine in front of the fire, but no more drinks for me tonight. Who knows what I might do?"
He groaned again. I felt his breath in my ear. "I'd never take advantage of you, Cami. That's not something you have to worry about."
"Oh, I'm not," I said playfully even though my skin simmered. "I was more afraid that I might take advantage of you."
He stepped back, giving me a sly grin. "I don't have anything against that."
I started to laugh, and Maddox shook his head. "So, since we've concluded that you're not going to face that storm, I can show you the shower. In case you want to freshen up."
"That's a good idea," he said.
I showed him the bathroom, pointing out the stack of towels on the shelf between the sink and the tub. "These are all fresh, so feel free to take one. I'm going to open the pullout couch."
"No, you're not," he said in a decisive tone. "I’m going to do it later. You just relax.”
"Okay," I whispered.
He smiled at me, and I felt it as if he'd actually touched me in all sorts of sexy and forbidden places.
I was going to need an ice-cold shower later. I just had to find a way to do it without getting my bandage wet.
It was only nine o'clock in the evening, but I already knew we wouldn't be staying up late. I'd had too much to drink, and, well, if I spent too much time next to this hunk of a man… I might totally jump his bones.
Who came up with that? Jump his muscles—now that sounds much better. And they truly deserved to be jumped… and touched… and licked.
The door to the bathroom opened a few seconds later, and Maddox's voice resounded through the cabin. "Cami?"
"Yes?" I asked, my heart in my throat.
"I need something from my suit jacket."
"I’ll bring it."
My heart went pitter-patter as I headed to the mudroom, grabbing his jacket. Then I walked to the bathroom with determined steps. The door was half closed.
"Here," I said.
He stepped into view only for a second, but it was enough for me to realize he was butt naked.
Holy shit. Why didn’t he take a towel?
Wait a second. Crap, crap, crap.
In my drunken haze, I'd completely forgotten that I didn't have any large towels stashed in the bathroom. Those were in my bedroom closet next to the linens.
"No peeking," he said.
I could've sworn I blushed everywhere.
"Oh no, I didn't mean to. Holy shit," I said, turning around. As he grabbed the jacket, our fingers touched. I was on fire. "I forgot to bring you a large towel."
"So you did peek." He sounded amused.
"Can you close the door, please?"
"Sure." Now he sounded on the verge of laughter.
Oh, why is he putting me on the spot like this?
I went back into the living room, fiddling with my thumbs.
I felt my body temperature rise when I heard the bathroom door open again.
Maddox went to the mudroom first, presumably to hang his jacket, as he returned to the living room empty-handed.
He’d taken off his dress shirt and was wearing a white T-shirt, which I assumed he'd been wearing underneath.
He'd put the belt on his pants again, but he was barefoot.
He ran a hand through his hair, sprinkling small droplets all over my living room.
His T-shirt rolled up a bit with the movement.
My, my, my. Those are some abs. The muscles were so well defined and the skin so taut that my mouth watered.
"Should I take it off for your benefit?" he asked.
I gaped.
"I see my warning about no peeking went right over your head, huh?"
I blinked rapidly and laughed nervously.
"I don't have my wits about me tonight to come up with a sassy comeback," I admitted.
He walked right up to me, which was definitely not helping the case. Up close, I realized the shirt stuck to him a bit. His nipples peeked through it, and the ridges of his abdomen were all the more visible.
"Do you want to go to b-bed now?" I stuttered, looking up at him.
Amusement played in his eyes. "Are you tired? Because I'm not."
I shook my head. "No, I usually go to bed a bit later."
"Then let's sit on the couch for a while longer and enjoy the fire. And each other," he added.
I swallowed hard. Something passed between us, and it filled me with a boost of energy.
I sat down on the couch, which I'd always considered too big for my cabin, but right now it seemed far too small. I could practically feel the heat radiating off Maddox's body.
"Let's start," I said as I turned on the TV and my favorite detectives lit up the screen. He was close enough to me that I could smell the shower gel on him.
"Are you comfortable?"
"Yes," I whispered.
The tension between us was palpable. My mouth went dry, so I got up, pouring myself another cup of water.
“Do you want anything to drink?” I offered.
“I’m good.”
I sat back down and kept sipping as the episode continued. Maddox sent text messages once in a while.
"Is everything okay?" I asked.
He nodded. "Yeah, I'm just checking on my grandparents and my brothers."
"The storm is as bad in Boston?"
"No, but I've asked them to keep an eye on our grandparents anyway."
My chest was full of fuzzy feelings. I loved that he always thought about them.
He groaned.
"What?"
"My brother keeps pestering me about where I am."
"So why don't you tell him?"
Maddox looked at me. The room was dark except for the TV and twinkle lights, but I still saw his eyes darken.
"Because… he might get the wrong idea."
He leaned farther away from me, putting an arm on the armrest, but his eyes were still on me.
I stared straight at the TV, but my breath hitched. My palms were sweating. Yeah, my body was getting the wrong idea too.
After the first episode was over, I yawned. “I’m actually getting tired. I’m not even sure why. It’s not that late,” I glanced at the clock and blinked. “Oh. It’s already ten.”
“Time flies when you’re in good company, huh?” Maddox asked.
I smiled at him. “I’ll bring you fresh sheets right away.”
“I’ll pull it out in the meantime.”
“Okay.”
As I dashed to my bedroom, I heard the couch creaking.
Grabbing dark blue linens from my closet, I returned to the living room and stopped in my tracks.
For a few seconds, I simply admired this fine specimen of a man as he opened the couch.
Oh yeah, those muscles were bulging again, just as they had when he’d carried my pumpkins to the car. How was he so damn hot?
“All right, this looks good,” he said as I approached with the sheets.
I looked from him to the couch. “Are you even going to fit on this thing?”
“I will. Don’t worry about me.” He took the linens from me, covering my hand with his in the process. I barely bit back a groan as a bolt of heat took me by complete surprise. Because he touched my hand, huh?
I checked the fireplace. It was almost out. I glanced around, shifting my weight from one leg to the other.
“Do you need anything else?”
He looked right at me, and his nostrils flared. He hesitated before saying, “No.”
I was willing to bet anything that he was about to say something else, and I was desperate to know what, but I didn’t ask.
“All right, then. Good night, Maddox. If you need anything, just knock on my bedroom door.”
“I won’t. Good night, Cami.”
I walked slowly to my bedroom, almost wishing he’d change his mind and come up with an excuse for us to stay up longer. But he didn’t.
And neither did I.