I sucked in a breath, not expecting him to say that. I looked at the clock on the stove and saw it read 12:01. He was right. It was my birthday. I was officially twenty-two years old.
“Thanks. You could’ve just sent a card, though.”
He sat his glass down next to mine, walking toward me. My body instantly fell into the memory of him and relaxed, letting him close. Maddox cupped my jaw, and my body betrayed me by falling into his hand, sighing. Stupid, traitorous body.
“I’ve missed you, Princess.”
I snorted, my eyes opening. “You have a funny way of showing it. I haven’t even heard from you in months on the server. It’s been hard enough without you being here, but then to ghost me completely.” I shook my head, tears coming to my eyes. “I don’t get you, Maddox. Why are you here? I can’t have you coming and going from my life like this. It hurts too much.”
He leaned forward, placing his forehead on mine. “I know, Princess. I know. I wish I was here to tell you I was back for good, but things haven’t gone as I’d hoped.”
“Will you tell me your plan or when you’ll be back?”
“I can’t.” He tensed his jaw, biting back his words. “It’s safer if you don’t know.”
My eyes hardened, and I gritted my teeth. “You’re wrong.” His eyes heated, his pupils going wide at the fire coursing through my veins. I gripped his shirt, pulling it between my hands. “I’m not the same girl you left at the motel. I’m not even the same girl who left Mississippi. And if you don’t realize that soon, you’re gonna miss out.”
His hands moved to my hips, gripping me tightly. He moved closer, his bottom half-pressing into me as he towered over me. “Oh, Princess, I know. Why do you think I’m here? I couldn’t stand to be apart from you a moment longer. If you don’t think I haven’t been watching everything you do, then you haven’t been paying attention. My love for you wasn’t conditional or even locational.” He lifted me up, sitting me on the counter, stepping in between my legs. I sucked in a breath, sexual need riding me hard.
“That’s not enough, though. I need more than just your pretty words, Maddox. I won’t even bring up the fact you’re practically stalking me.” I rolled my eyes, trying to dispel my lust.
“What if I could give you tonight? If we had one night where the rest of the shit didn’t matter, would that be enough for now?”
“I don’t know.”
He dipped his head, skating his nose against my neck, licking up to my ear. “Say, yes, Princess. Give us this one night where it’s just you and me. I need it to survive.”
I knew he meant his words to be seductive, but I heard the raw emotion, the pain, and it hit me that I wasn’t being fair to him. I didn’t know what he was doing or having to endure. It had been easier not to ask. Looking up into his eyes, I couldn’t deny the love I saw there.
“Okay. One night. It will be enough for now.”
As soon as I said yes, his lips fell to mine, and it was like time hadn’t existed. His kiss was just as I remembered, and I found myself swept up into the passion between us. My legs wrapped around him, bringing his groin closer to me.
“Watching you dance in these tiny shorts was pure torture. I can’t wait to slip beneath them.” He bit my lip, pulling back. “But I don’t want our first time to be on your kitchen counter. Hold on, Princess.”
I wrapped my arms around him, tightening my legs as he carried me to my bedroom. Surprise flitted through me until I remembered what he said. I should feel creeped out by that, but part of me was used to Maddox being in the shadows, so it felt right.
He laid me on my bed, stopping only to pull his leather jacket and shirt off. He kicked off his boots and slid his pants down, crawling onto the bed in his boxers, hovering over me. His hands slid up my belly, pulling my shirt over my head. He stopped, taking me in with his eyes as he leaned back on his haunches.
“Yep, that’s the image I want in my head forever. You in this red lace bra and your cut-off shorts. Fuck, Darcie. That’s a wet dream right there.”
Leaning up, I slipped my straps off, borrowing some moves I’d learned. “Oh yeah? How about now?” I pulled my bra away, standing in front of him topless. Kneeling on the bed, I ran my hands up his torso, stopping when I spotted a tattoo on his chest. It was a crown with the letters DRC on it. I gasped, looking up. “Is that?”
He nodded, watching me. “It’s how I have you with me always, never forgetting who owns my heart.”
“Fuck.” I wrapped my arms around his neck, needing to kiss him. “One night isn’t ever going to be enough, Maddox.” Tears were in my eyes as I stared at him. “I love you too, but it hurts.”
“I know, Princess. We’ll figure it out. Even if that means I have to let you go for a while, I will. I don’t want to keep you caged. You’re too beautiful for that. But for right now, let’s just pretend.”
I nodded, and he wiped the tears off my cheeks, kissing them away.
Things escalated quickly then. We fell to the bed, and our bottom halves rocked into one another. His fingers unbuttoned my shorts, pulling them off without breaking his kiss. Maddox kissed down my body, sucking my nipples into his mouth. My hands roamed his body, running outside his boxers, feeling him grow in my hand. Pushing the elastic down, I peeked down to see him fully.
Swallowing, I took him into my hand as he massaged and kissed my body. When I wrapped my hand around him, he stilled, taking a breath.
“Okay, new rule. This first time might be quick, but I said all night, so we pack as many times as we can into that. Sound good?”
I laughed, nodding. “That sounds like the best plan you’ve ever had.”