“What do you mean?”
“My brother is falling for you. He’s gone through a lot of shit to help you out. That guy is dedicated. If you don’t feel the same, you might want to tell him now before it gets too deep. I don’t think he’ll survive another heartbreak from you.”
I blush and look down, feeling overwhelmed with happiness and fear at the same time. Not only that, but shame from the way I’ve treated him in the past. I hope what Abe is saying is true.
11
Lina
It’s day five in Pepperhill and the bar is ready for business. I can’t help but fret a bit. It’s the last day of my agreement with Madden. After this, there’s no reason for him to help me anymore. I don’t know if I can run this place on my own. I know I can manage some stuff, but having his support would be so much better.
He finishes rolling the last cask of whiskey into the back room. The muscles in his arms ripple as he rolls the giant barrel, and when he passes me, I can’t help but ogle his ass. He looks back, catching me before I can turn away, and smirks. I sit down on the bench and wait for him to come back from the storage room after putting the whiskey away.
“I call that a full day’s work. There’s nothing left to do today. It’s quitting time,” he says, coming back into the bar, grabbing his keys from the counter and heading toward the door.
Back at his place, we’re lounging in his living room, rewarding ourselves with some ice-cold beers, our feet propped up on the coffee table. It all feels so easy.
“I’m pretty amazed that you’ve resisted hooking up with me again, considering you’ve been sleeping here, even if you’ve slept on my couch,” he says.
He’s not wrong. It has been hard fighting those urges. He wanted me to continue sleeping in his bed with him, but I know I would lose that fight. At least on the couch, away from him, I had some control—albeit, not much. But I have too much pride for that. If anything was going to happen, it was going to be him making the first move.
“Believe it or not, I have some self-control.”
He laughs like I just told him a joke.
“I want to talk to you about something,” I say.
He raises an eyebrow. “Is this the part where you beg?”
I roll my eyes. “I just wanted to thank you for helping me. I was hoping you would help me with my launch and maybe help me by finding some employees. No one is this town is going to set foot in this place. They hate me. No one is returning my calls. But I’ve noticed some increased traffic in the area as we get closer to re-opening. I think that’s a good sign, but I know it’s not going to happen without help. People listen to you.”
Madden moves closer to me and touches my cheek. My heart beats rapidly any time he touches me. His simple touch is enough to turn me on instantly. As he caresses my cheek and then my neck, I close my eyes and say, “I need you.” He can take those words as he will, whether he thinks I’m talking about the bar or my desire. Neither answer is wrong.
His touch moves from my neck and down to my chest, just barely gliding over the fabric over my breasts, making my nipples hard. I moan as his thumb rubs in circles over them.
“How bad do you need me?” he says, his hushed voice deep and full of want.
“I need you more than anything.”
His hand goes to the back of my head, making a fist in my hair, tilting my head back so I’m looking him in the eyes.
“Get on your knees and beg me,” he says, his voice dripping with sex.
My body starts to throb for him. I would never beg for anything, but fuck my pride. I’ll beg him for anything if it means having him inside me again.
“Please,” I grovel, my gaze sliding down to the hard mound in his jeans. He unbuttons his pants and slides his massive cock out of the opening of his boxers. I can feel my wetness soaking my panties. “I need you so bad.” My voice is barely a whisper. He pushes my face down to his dick. I open my mouth eagerly as he pushes himself down my throat.
“God your mouth feels good.” He groans and pushes my head down even further. I relax my jaw and throat to take more of him in. “You like sucking my cock?”
I moan in response and feel his dick swell, almost causing me to choke.
“Oh, baby, you’re amazing,” he says. He thrusts his hips faster, fucking my mouth as he holds my head in place.