Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
EVIE
My pussy throbs at his words. Having trouble finding my voice, I nod my head. Maddox licks along the outside of my pussy. Green eyes find mine. "Words baby, give me your words."
"I-I’m not pretty," I stammer. After seeing these hideous scars how could he call me pretty?
Sharp green eyes meet mine and a look of determination crosses his handsome face. He stands to his full height before grasping me by the hips and pulling me off the counter. Maddox lovingly strokes the column of my neck before giving me a toe-curling kiss. I’m too caught up in the kiss to notice he’s completely turned me, so my back is flush with his front and I’m facing the mirror.
“M-Maddox,” I protest. I didn’t want to look in this damn mirror. He stands behind me, dwarfing my body. I turn to face him, but he firmly holds me in place.
“Look at you baby.” He gently turns my face towards the mirror.
“I don’t want to,” I whisper.
“Then look at me.” My gaze collides with his in the mirror and holds me hostage.
“Goddamn, you are pretty,” he murmurs leaning down to kiss along the tops of my shoulder blades. “You have the softest skin I’ve ever felt.” His rough hands roam along my sides and down my stomach. “Seeing all this creamy skin drives me crazy.”
I realize I’m watching his hands roam along my body in the reflection. “This hair is so damn long and thick and when the sun hits it just right it shimmers with golden highlights.” He runs a hand lovingly through my hair. “Your gaze is enchanting, one eye a warm, deep brown, while the other sparkles with an icy blue, creating a mesmerizing contrast that draws me right in.”
I find myself looking at my own reflection through Maddox’s eyes and I don’t shy away from the mirror this time. “Tell me what you see.” His chest vibrates against my back.
I look in the mirror and really look at myself. “I see myself.”
Maddox gently cups my breast stealing my breath. “Keep going,” he breathes into my neck before licking up the column of my throat.
“I see how my body responds to you.” I watch how I seem to glow in the mirror, my body flush from his touch, my lips swollen from his kisses, my nipples achingly hard, and my thighs clenched together seeking friction.
Maddox catches my gaze, “See, I told you, so damn pretty.” This time I don’t argue because I see it. I don’t know how Maddox just that did, but for the first time I gaze at my reflection with a sense of appreciation. I watch in a trance as his big hands roam over my body.
“Now answer my question.”
Question? What the hell did he ask? It’s hard to think with his hands on my body.
“Are you going to let me eat this pussy, Pretty Girl?”
Hell yeah, I am .
Maddox moves his big body between the bathroom counter and myself before kissing a path down my body. “You’re going to watch me eat this pretty pussy. Watch how your taste drives me fucking wild.”
Yes, I’m going to do exactly that.
Maddox teases, blowing on my wet seam making my legs tremble. He licks up one side of my pussy and then the other driving me crazy.
Feeling frustrated, I growl impatiently, “Maddox!”
He licks one of the scars on my inner thigh, his gaze never leaving mine. “Tell me what you want.”
“L-lick me.”
“You can do better than that,” he teases as he traces another scar with the tip of his tongue.
"Maddox, eat my pussy." I just told this man to eat my pussy, and later I'll be embarrassed about it, but right now, I want his mouth on me and his tongue buried deep in me. With a good girl and wicked grin, he devours me whole.
There are no whispers of the past threatening to drag away from this moment. All I can see, and feel is Maddox. His big hands hold my thighs apart, and my eyes are glued to his every move. In a daze, I watch his thick tongue swirl my clit and tease me before putting it into my soaking center. The way he alternates fucking me with his tongue with teasing my clit has me sailing off the edge. I curl my toes and grab onto his thick arms, digging my nails in as I detonate.
Maddox growls into me before searing his tongue deeper, demanding more and more from my body. I slap my hand over my mouth and swallow the scream that threatens to rip free. My legs shake uncontrollably, and Maddox kisses along my scars before standing, turning me to rest against the counter before bracing an arm on either side of me on the bathroom sink.
His thick black hair is sticking up in several directions, and his glasses are slightly crooked. I straighten his glasses, run a hand along his strong jaw, and chuckle. His face is still slick with me, reminding me of a glazed donut. He cocks a black eyebrow at me.
"You look like a glazed donut."
Maddox blesses me with a devastating smile. "You’re beautiful. Thank you for sharing that with me." His raw honesty makes me smile because I know he means it.
"Now, let's get you in bed, Pretty Girl." He presses a chaste kiss to my lips.
"What about you?" I ask, pointing to the monster I have been trying like hell to ignore, poking into my leg.
Maddox grasps my hand, kissing my knuckles. "Don't worry about me, baby. That was all for you."
"But you didn't?—"
"Evie Taylor, watching and feeling you come apart on my tongue is more than enough for me, but if you think for one second I didn't come in pants like a fool the second I buried my tongue in that pretty pussy, let me tell you, baby, I did, but this isn't tit for tat," he swallows, "that was solely about you and for you. I gave you pleasure, Evie, because you let me. You gave me a gift tonight, and I'm going to treasure the hell out of it."
I shift under his intense gaze. I cover myself, and he gently puts my hands around his neck. "No more ignoring me woman," he says, hurt evident in his voice.
"I'm sorry."
"Don’t apologize. Next time talk to me, Evie. Let me in.”
Maddox's ability to say pussy so casually turns me on, but he’s right. I don’t want to touch him out of some fucked up feeling of obligation. When I touch him, I want it to be because of pure need, not because my past experiences made me feel I have to. At the same time, I could sit here and beat myself up for letting my past whisk its way in, but I choose not to.
I choose to be proud of exposing my greatest fear. Proud to give the past a giant middle finger and trust Maddox with my body as well as my insecurities. I feel empowered and brave like I’ve finally slain the demon that kept me shackled to the past, and I know this one encounter didn't magically heal all my trauma, but it feels like a damn good start.
After Maddox watches me dress, I tell him good night and lock up. I walk down the hall and check in on the boys. Charlie’s sound asleep with his glasses still on and a book on top of his cover. I kiss his head and take his glasses off, putting them on his nightstand. Sebastian has already kicked all the covers off, and Mellon Collie was sound asleep in the middle of his bed. That explained the open door. I told them he couldn't come in tonight on account of him rolling in a dead squirrel at the end of our driveway. The smell of dead squirrels didn't seem to bother my son. Melon Collie was his best friend, and no amount of dead squirrel would change that.
The little sucker must have waited until he heard me heading to my room for the night before letting him inside. I kiss his forehead covering him back up, and usher Mellon to follow me. I let him outside, lock the door, and head to bed. Deciding to wait until morning to strip Bash's bed.
As soon as my head hits the pillow, exhaustion takes over, and I fall asleep in no time. No bad dreams plague me, it’s just a well-needed rest a decade in the making.
I blame Lou for my current predicament. She showed up with a bottle of tequila and insisted on a girl's night. I thought we'd paint each other's toes, gossip, and order Mexican. Not invite the whole damn neighborhood over for an impromptu cookout, but she did, and here I stand surrounded by a yard full of people. Heifer thinks she’s slick, but I know better.
Lou knows I don’t make a big deal about my birthday. It’s just another day for me, and the fact I feel that way drives her crazy. Birthdays are sacred in our little makeshift family, except mine, because I chose that. I always took my birthday off and celebrated at home with the boys, not even celebrating with Joe or Vic.
"I know what you're doing," I hiss at her in the kitchen as I put Joe's mac and cheese among the other dishes piling up on the island in my kitchen.
"I have no idea what you’re talking about." She batts her eyes innocently at me before taking a quick look over my shoulder. "What's the date? I forgot, Evs."
"Lou." I grind my molars.
"I honestly forgot. What's the date?"
"March 20th, my birthday you fucking know that!" I growl at her knowing damn good and well she didn’t forget the damned date.
"Sugar, today's your birthday?"
I inwardly groan and give Lou a death stare before turning to Mercy.
"Yes."
"Why didn't you say something at dinner last night?" Mercy asks from his position in the doorway.
"Because she," Lou points a red-tipped finger at me, "hates her birthday and never celebrates it." She throws her long hair over her shoulder and pins me with a look. "We celebrate everyone else's birthday in this family except for yours."
I gently squeeze her arm. "It's not that big of a deal."
"Yes, it is!"
"Why can’t you let this go?" I groan. The woman is like a damned dog with a bone.
"Because you’re my family Evie, and families celebrate those we love, but you won't let us because of some half-schemed shit you've made yourself believe," she looks at me intently," you keep letting him fucking win! Every time you refuse to celebrate your birthday or refuse to live your life," her palm smacks the counter, "He. Fucking. Wins!"
I don't flinch back at her aggression, but I can't help the tears that fall. She doesn’t get it. They have already done more for me than I can ever repay.
"That's enough?—"
I hold my hand up, silencing whoever spoke. "That's not it." I wipe my face and stare into her teary amber eyes. "For a long time, I hated my birthday because all it symbolized was another year I didn't escape him, and that sick fuck loved my birthday, Lou." My voice breaks. Memories of my past birthdays threaten to swim to the surface. I take a second to gather myself before continuing, "Then I had the boys, and my birthday symbolized a year I spent loving them, being with them. Being free of him.”
Lou looks down, refusing to meet my eye.
"We don't celebrate my birthday because no one ever has, and you've all already done so much for me."
“Evie Taylor, you damn fool," Joe's voice fills the kitchen, "that's what family does! Family doesn't keep a tally of who's done what for whom. We give when and what we can for as long as we need to, but most importantly, we always celebrate one another."
Lou looks at me regretfully and opens her mouth, but a deep voice fills the kitchen making my heart sag with relief.
"Get the fuck out!" Maddox doesn’t ask, he commands, leaving no room for argument.
Lou plants her hands on her hips. "Hell no."
"Those tears on her face are on you, so I'm not asking you; I'm telling you. Get the fuck out." His voice is low and lethal.
Joe looks at the imposing man for a long second before nodding her head and dragging my head strong best friend by the arm out of the kitchen.
"Sugar—"
"You too," he tells his brother sharply.
I take a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. A hand fists my shirt, pulling me back into a hard chest before arms wrap around me. Maddox's heart pounds in rhythm with mine as he holds me.
"Hey, Pretty Girl," he whispers into the shell of my ear .
"Hey, yourself, Big Guy," I whisper back.
"I got you something." His voice's uncertainty makes me turn in his arms, and I have to take a step back to appreciate the man. Because, good lord, the man looks delicious! The shorts and loose muscle shirts I love so much don’t hold a candle to him right now. The jeans are well worn, showing off his powerful legs and tight ass, a black T-shirt molded to his chest, a coat, and black ball cap covered his unruly curls, and in one arm set an enormous bouquet of flowers. Not a single rose in sight. I could cry.
I give him a watery smile. "Mad, you could catch a fish without a hook." Maddox's face flushes, and he traces the scar along his lips hiding his shy smile. Who would have thought the prickly guy to be bashful?
"Happy Birthday, baby, these are for you." He hands me the huge bouquet.
I take them admiringly, feeling the soft petals of the lilies before setting them down. "They’re beautiful, Maddox. Thank you." He flashes me a rare smile.
"I've never understood the women who don't enjoy getting flowers."
"The 'don't waste your money on stupid shit’ kind of women?" He halfheartedly chuckles.
"Yes! If you ever think to yourself, should I get Evie flowers? Get me the damn flowers, Maddox Wilder."
"Noted. You going to read the card?" Maddox asks me with a raised eyebrow.
"There's a card!" I gently move the flowers around until I find the small white envelope with my name. I open it up:
Happy Birthday, Pretty Girl. These smell almost as good as you taste.
Yours- M
Laughing, I grab his coat and pull him to me, kissing him with everything I have. The flowers tickle my throat as they sit squished between us. I thank him again and set them in the middle of the island surrounded by all the food.
Maddox puts his hands in his pockets, takes them out, takes his hat off, and twists it in his big hands. "Listen Eve. I know I can be difficult at best," he clears his throat, "but you mean something to me." Maddox's nervous energy fills the space; now he's white knuckling his hat. Afraid he's going to tear it to shreds, I take it from his hands.
"You asking to be my boyfriend, Wilder?" I ask to put him out of his misery.
Maddox's eyes fill with such intensity it steals my breath. "I'm asking to be nice." Anybody else could have said it, and I would have lost my mind or instantly panicked, but I know Maddox doesn’t mean for me to be his property. Nobody will ever claim me as property ever again.
He runs a hand through his thick hair. "Maybe I'm a selfish bastard because I want all that light and warmth you bring to people for myself." He reaches out, pushing my hair behind my ear. "When I look at you, my world feels a little less dark and a lot less lonely."
There’s no doubt in my mind, I know I want to possess every piece of his tattered heart.
"You’re never alone asshole!"
A loud smack sounds followed by a "Yes ma'am." I burst out laughing, knowing that Joe probably smacked Mercy upside the head more for blowing their cover eavesdropping than giving his two cents worth.
Slowly, I trace the side of his hand with my finger. "Going down on me makes you boyfriend material, does it, Big Guy?"
"No baby, it makes that pussy mine," he says without hesitation. Maddox steps closer until he's towering over me, and I can feel his hot breath on my neck. "The look on your face, while you watched my tongue lick between your swollen lips and eat my fill has been the only thing I've been able to think about." My thighs clench together, and my nipples harden; Maddox shoots me a knowing look.
"I'm your girl, Wilder."
"You damned right, you are," he growls in my ear before giving me a toe-curling kiss.
We spent the rest of the afternoon eating and laughing, and by the time the night ends, my face hurt from smiling so much. Lou cornered me in the bathroom halfway through the evening to apologize, and I simply hugged her and told her I loved her, and no apology was needed. Joe patted my cheek and told me she loved me and how proud she was of me before leaving.
Maybe this birthday thing wasn't so bad after all.
"Are you a good man? Our dad wasn't a good man."
I nearly choke on my soda. No way I should be standing here eavesdropping, but here the hell I am doing just that. Maddox is over for dinner and helping the boys finish their bike ramp. Seeing that man shirtless in those damn shorts, sweat glistening off his broad back, almost makes me swallow my tongue. Maddox caught me looking more than once and winked, making me blush from head to toe.
Maddox stops working and gives my baby all his attention. "Depends on the day, but I tend to think I am."
"Vic says you got to watch what people do and not what they say."
"I agree."
"You scared my mama, and I don't like when she gets scared."
A brief silence follows, and I'm suddenly aware of Maddox shuffling around, closer to my baby. He says, "I know that, Charlie, and that isn't something I'm proud of. I won’t lie and tell you I won’t ever make your mama mad, but I'll always treat your mama like the precious jewel she is.”
Charlie is quiet for a long while, and Maddox returns to work on their bike ramp.
"Vic says Mama fought a war, and sometimes when people return from war, they need help. That's why Bash and I sleep with her sometimes to help her be brave."
"You and your brother are damn good kids. Your mama is a lucky woman."
"She hasn't needed us as much since y’all became friends." Hurt evident in his little voice.
"Charlie, your mama will always need you and your brother."
"I know."
"Tell you what, I'll do my best to make sure your mama is happy and doesn't cry anymore. Deal?"
"Deal or Vic will tell everyone you peed your pants."
I turn around as Maddox's deep chuckle fills the garage.
Maddox draws lazy circles on my arm while we cuddle on the couch long after the boys have gone to bed. Thoughts of the night he walked in on my shower play through my mind, and my body hums to like a soldier's attention. I raise my leg slightly higher, desperately seeking friction. The lazy circles abruptly stop.
"Evie."
"Hmmm."
"What’re you doing, baby?"
I stop and lower my leg, only to have it pulled back into place.
"Give me those eyes."
I look at him.
"You want something? You take it. I’m all yours, but I need you to know there's no rush." He tucks my hair behind my ear .
Instead of picking it all apart in my mind I decided to take what the hell I want, and what I want is him. Before he can say another word, I reach into his shorts and wrap my hand around his thick cock, and let me tell you Maddox Wilder's cock, like the rest of him, is no small matter.
"Evie," his deep voice moans as I pump his cock with my hand. I lick up the column of his throat, savoring his skin's salty taste before biting his earlobe, earning me one of his delicious groans.
Removing my hand, I crawl on him, straddling his hips. The feeling of him pressed against me has me aching with a deep need I know only he can take care of. I roll my hips, and Maddox's hands squeeze my thighs. His hands are rough and calloused, and I need to feel them on every inch of my skin. I take my shirt off, and Maddox sits up, pulling me flush against him.
"Take me to bed, Big Guy." He stands with me wrapped around him, his lips never leaving mine as we make it to my room. Maddox sets me on my feet, searching my face for any sign of hesitation.
Taking a deep breath, I enjoy how good the man always smells. Maddox's scent is a manly mix of pine trees and clean laundry, and damn I like it. Running a hand up his shirt along his hard stomach I notice how hot his skin is under my fingers, before scratching my way down his stomach. "Take your clothes off."
Maddox gives me one last searing kiss and then removes his clothes. My eyes find the scars on the side of his strong body, and he shudders as I trace them with my fingertips before gently pushing him to sit on the end of my bed and stepping between his spread legs. I lick the scar that runs across his lips.
"I fucking love it when you do that," he growls. His rough hands rub up the back of my legs, stopping just under my ass cheeks, making my panties drip. I rub my thighs together, trying to soothe the ache in my pussy. Looking down, I swallow because he's big with a thick vein running along the top of his shaft. There's no way he’ll fit, but damn, I want to taste him. I want my jaw to ache tomorrow from taking his thick cock in my mouth. I kiss my way down his big body. He tenses, ready to stop me, but before he can, I lick the thick head of his cock.
"Fucking hell, woman," he moans.
“Suck my fucking dick like the fat hungry whore you are!” Trent yells while yanking my hair.
"Hands to yourself, okay, Maddox?"
Jade eyes find mine with a look of understanding, and he holds his hands up before positioning them behind him, so he leans back. Spread out before me like a buffet.
I give him a pump with my hand before taking him in my mouth as far as I can before gagging. I use the extra saliva to pump him while I take him as deep as I can and swirl my tongue around him, driving him wild.
"Oh fuck," he grits out through clenched teeth.
I take him deeper until I gag again, my eyes never leaving his. His nostrils flare, and I think he secretly enjoys watching me gag on him. Fuck, I like it too, so I do it again.
"Evie," he growls in warning.
I move faster and suck harder, and Maddox yells my name as he comes down my throat. I swallow everything he gives me. He's panting as I stand, those green eyes filled with desire.
I wipe my mouth, unsure what to do next when his deep voice surprises me. "Pretty Girl, you better bring that sexy ass mouth here."
"Are you sure? I just, you know…" I gesture between his cock and my mouth.