“I-I’m sorry. You were yelling in your sleep. I thought it’d be best to wake you.”
I close my eyes and squeeze the bridge on my nose to fight off a headache that’s making its presence known. Damn whiskey.
After a few moments, I expect to be alone, but when I open my eyes, Taylor is still there with a look of concern on her face. I quickly take in her appearance and wish she had let me be. Her hair is on top of her head in a loose bun with tendrils falling here and there. My shirt on her small frame makes her look even smaller, but at the same time sexy. The curve of her chest is noticeable, along with her erect nipples straining against the fabric. Her legs are bare from the knees down and only making me wonder what I’d find if I were to lift the hem of the T-shirt.
Breaking my thoughts, she spoke once more. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine, princess. Go back to bed.”
I watch as she shakes her head in annoyance and stalks back to her room. Her ass is perfectly noticeable with every step she takes away from me. Dammit Maddox, get your shit together! It’s not gonna happen. You’re just worked up from the dream. When Taylor shuts the door behind her, I look toward the hallway for a few moments. A part of me wants to storm into that room and hold her, tell how sorry I am for being a dick, while another part of me wants to go to bed and forget all these thoughts that are racing through my mind.
Treating people this way is a mechanism I use to protect myself. But I can tell she’s not buying it. That she wants to break me down. And she just might.
Chapter Five
Taylor
I thought it’d be helpful to wake Maddox when he was screaming in his sleep. He sounded so stressed; I felt it best to help. Never did I think he’d react the way he did. Then again, there hasn't been a moment yet where he has given me anything but rudeness.
I head back to bed, hoping I can fall to sleep quickly. I'm a little worked up from his outburst, but I'm also still fatigued. I lay in bed on an angle so I can watch the remaining flames dance in the fireplace. It isn't too long before I fall asleep once more with visions of Maddox asleep, vulnerable, and almost scared.
I wake the next morning to the smell of bacon, and me shaking from the cold. I wrap myself in the quilt, hoping it will warm me enough to get out of bed. Minutes later, I decide a hot shower will warm me up, so I gath
er my clothes and run to the bathroom, still wrapped in the quilt. As soon as the water is warm enough, I quickly drop the blanket and tear off my clothes to feel the warmth of the water as soon as possible.
At first, it stings with me being so cold, but then it warms my core. I let the water cascade over me for about fifteen minutes before I decide to get out. I'm not too happy with putting on dirty clothes, but don’t know what else to do. I can’t traipse around the house in his shirts all day. That wouldn't be proper or comfortable. However, if we get snowed in for too long, I will have to figure something out. There’s no way I'm going to be able to wash my clothes every day.
I give myself a once-over in the mirror after I'm dressed. I fix my hair, but leave it in a messy bun on top of my head. Still, a little chilly, I wrap the quilt around my shoulders once again before leaving the bathroom. On the way to the door, I grab Moby Dick and go to the living room and try to prepare myself for whatever mood Maddox will be in. Probably a bad one. It’s his signature these days.
When I round the corner towards the kitchen, I'm surprised to find Maddox not only cooking, but also humming, which shocks me. I creep a little closer make sure I'm not imagining it, and sure enough, the mean, gigantic tree of a man is humming a beautiful, sweet melody. I'm not sure what to make of this, but I also don't want to disturb his great mood.
I decide to leave him to his business and quietly make my way to the couch to sit and read. The fire is blazing in the living room, and I hope it will help me warm up, so I sit in the chair closest to the heat. When I don't find any relief, I move the chair even closer until I'm enveloped with the warmth. I also sit, so my feet are sticking out of the blanket and resting on the hearth.
There’s something about warming by the fire in a snowstorm with a man in the kitchen filling the house with wonderful aromas. I have been living in the college dorms for so long; I haven't felt at home since I left my parents' home. This moment was the first in years where I've felt safe and comfortable, which was very odd since I'm in a strangers house with the grouchiest human being I have ever met. Regardless, I want to soak in the feeling as long as possible.
I'm teased with a small voice in my head telling me I should never let my guard down with any man and hope this feeling isn’t false. Every relationship I’ve had has been followed with terror heartbreak. This negative voice has taken the spotlight in my thoughts for so long; I tend to forget that it could come from my fears, not logic. I think I'm destined to be alone. Though I'm only nineteen, I feel almost hopeless when it comes to love.
Despite that realization, my guard is instantly up, and I quickly move the chair to where I can see the kitchen, so there are no surprises. I see Maddox exit the kitchen and is coming right toward me. He's attractive, and muscles cascade down his stomach. He moves his messy hair from his face and my heart rate suddenly spikes and I can feel my shoulders tense. I let the book fall in my lap and grip the arms of the chair.
“You okay, princess?”
I want to respond, but I realize my jaw is clenched tight. I wasn’t even aware I was doing it. But I can’t help it when he’s standing in front of me shirtless allowing my imagination to roam. Though I’m a virgin, fantasies of him taking me right here on the floor fills my mind. I open and close my mouth, unable to speak as I squeeze my legs together.
“Right, well breakfast is ready if you’re hungry. I suggest eating when it’s hot since it usually doesn’t taste too good cold.”
Still, no response from me. All I can do is nod.
I watch him shake his head and walk away. I can’t seem to control my emotions. I get up from the chair and run into my room and then the bathroom. Once inside, I slam the door and lean against it, trying to catch my breath. After a few moments, I feel a little better and walk over to the sink to splash cold water on my face. The room is already cold, but I'm suddenly burning up. I was hoping cold water would cool me down and to snap me out of this. There’s something that’s pulling me to him, and I can't help what I'm feeling. I hope I don't make a fool out of myself.
Not ready to leave yet, I sink to the floor and sit there. This man has already bore himself into me, and the want I feel is ridiculous. My nipples harden as I sit on the floor, thinking about him placing one of my hard peaks in his mouth. I force the thoughts away and pull myself up to look in the mirror. I groan inwardly at the reflection staring back at me.
Needing to do something, I pull my hair into a side braid and use some chapstick that’s on the counter. I press my lips together and tuck loose strands of hair behind my ears. Feeling like I'm finally pulled together, I leave the bathroom and head towards the bedroom door. Faintly, I hear Maddox pacing the floor and decide I need to take a few more moments to gather myself. I sit on the end of the bed looking into a dead fireplace, wrapping my arms around myself, wishing things were different.
If I were another girl and he was a different guy, maybe we’d have a chance in hell. But the fantasy is much more enjoyable than the reality. Maddox doesn't want me here, and I feel homesick. Unfortunately, there's nothing I can do, and I hate being a burden.
Chapter Six
Maddox