“Are we? Is the idea of holding my hand or saying the words ‘my boyfriend’ so abhorrent to you that you would rather walk away from a good thing?”Her voice rose. “You want me to call you my boyfriend?”Her reaction amused me. I fell back on the bed, laughing. “Of everything I said to you, that’s the thing you react strongest to?”She grinned, looking abashed. “Sorry. This has come out of left field.”I pushed up on my elbow. “No, it hasn’t. It’s been simmering below the surface for a while.” I swallowed. “I’m not asking you for a lifetime, Dee. I’m asking for right now. Knowing we’re together, as lovers at least, would help me.”At least, for now. I didn’t add.“How?’“I like control and order. All the undercover stuff is wearing.”“You are very controlling when we’re in bed.”I kissed her bare shoulder. “You like it.”“I like order too.”“I know.”She narrowed her eyes. “Nothing changes except a label, right? You aren’t suddenly going to expect me to be at your beck and call? Or tel
. “Why I deserved it when he hit me and told me I was the biggest mistake in the world and he’d trade me for my mother in an instant. He said he wished I had died that day, not her.”She stiffened and I felt the wet of her tears on my skin.“Every place we went, I had to adjust. Find a pattern and routine. As soon as I did, he would yank me away, and we’d start again. His drinking got worse, the jobs paid less. We went from houses to apartments, then to rooms. Those were the worst. I had no way to get away from him, except to hang out at the library. There, I could lose myself in books, work on homework. It was my only peace.”“How did you survive it?” she asked, her voice choked.I shrugged. “I just did. When I was old enough, I got a job cleaning in a store after school. I found my birth certificate in a metal box he always took with us wherever we moved, and I went to the bank and opened an account in my own name. Every penny went in there so my father wouldn’t know. He didn’t care
It was still dark out, but I knew, all too soon, dawn would begin and our night would end. I wasn’t sure I would get another night like the one we had. Dee had been unusually defenseless, and I had taken full advantage of it.And I wasn’t done yet.“Since it’s obvious neither of us is going back to sleep and we’re being all honest, I have a question for you, girlfriend of mine.”She narrowed her eyes. “You can stop calling me that.”“Nope. You agreed.”“What is your question?” She huffed, tossing down the drumstick and wiping her fingers.“What about your childhood, Dee? I know you didn’t have it easy.”“No, I didn’t. All my parents did was argue. My mother was unstable, and my father was absent a lot—even before he left. I tried to protect Cami as best I could.”“Who protected you?”“No one, I guess.”I wanted to tell her I would protect her for the rest of her life, but she wasn’t ready to hear those words. I took the plate between us, placing it on the coffee table. I shifted close
“You are capable of love,” I insisted quietly.“Yes. The lesson came with a benefit. I realized I wasn’t unfeeling like my father. I do love Cami—with all my heart. I’m very fond of Emmy. Even Bentley, Aiden—” she reached out her hand, squeezing my arm “—and you. I am capable of feeling love. Just not romantic love. Never again.”Her tone held finality.“He was at fault, not you.”She stood, brushing off her silky robe.“Regardless, it showed me how easy it was to fall into the trap. I like men. I enjoy sex. Still, it doesn’t mean I have to fall in love—they are not inclusive.”“Some would say the best sex is with someone you love.”“Well, we prove them wrong, don’t we?” She leaned down and brushed my lips. “Enough sharing. I have to get ready for work, and so do you. You can let yourself out, yes?”“Yes.”She hurried away, and I sat lost in my thoughts for a while.Love had burned her. Her father’s desertion, her mother’s rejection, and the asshole that used her. They all made her th
“You’re always fucking hungry,” Bentley growled.“Bottomless pit,” I added, looking at the dishes. There were a lot of them.“I had nothing to do with the situation, and I still got in trouble. Thanks, Maddox,” Bentley snapped.“Happy to have included you in the debacle.”“Shut up, both of you.” Aiden shook his head, reaching for the platter of pancakes. “I’m eating first, then cleaning.”I looked at my half-eaten plate. “Good idea. Maybe we should cover the girls’ plates, and they can warm them or something.”Aiden looked over his shoulder. “Do you think they’re fighting?”“Talking,” Bentley said. “They talk.” He sighed. “They talk a lot.”“I hope Cami is okay,” Aiden said with a groan. “If I have to beat you for this, Mad Dog, I will—but I’ll try to be gentle.”“Whatever,” I snorted. “I can take you, big man.”“You think so? I could snap you like a twig.”“I’ll throw a couple of lemon Danish at you and run. You’ll be so busy trying to catch them, I’ll be fine.”He frowned and starte
His sudden declaration that we were in a relationship and wanted to announce it had shocked me. While his thoughts made sense, hearing the words he used filled my head with warning bells.Dating. Boyfriend. Exclusive. Relationship.Broken down, none of the words frightened me by themselves. Used together, they scared the shit out of me.However, he wanted the words, and the entire time we had been involved, he never once asked me for anything else. To my surprise, I found I wanted to give in to him. To please him.From the moment we first had sex, it was intense. He was exactly what I needed in a lover: demanding, passionate, and controlling. He issued directives I followed without question; I had complete trust in him. No matter what, there was a quiet sense of respect, even when he had me on my knees in front of him. Regardless of the demands he growled in his low voice, his eyes were always warm, his hands handled me with care, and his body drove me to the highest pinnacles of plea
MaddoxMONDAY EVENING, I examined the latest figures, satisfied with what I saw. Our footing was solid—even more than I had envisioned. Our bank accounts were full, our investments strong, and everything pointed toward another massive success with Ridge Towers.I picked up my mug, frowning when I realized I had drunk the contents already. I wasn’t sure how many cups I had downed today. I’d come in early, knowing it was a crazy week ahead. Yesterday, I had left Dee’s place late, somehow unable to tear myself away. I’d had her repeatedly, needing her with an intensity that surprised even me. She was asleep when I left her, curled up in her frilly bed, sated and at peace. I hated to see her upset, but I hoped that since she and Cami had cleared the air, she would be able to move ahead.With me.I shook my head to clear my thoughts. I needed to put Dee aside and concentrate on work.Earlier, I had remembered my promise to Dee about the surplus office furniture, and I checked out the stora
I snorted, unable to stop myself from joining in the laughter. “Peace, brother.”For a moment, all we could do was laugh. It felt good and broke the tension of the day.Bentley stood, his shoulders still shaking with amusement. “I hope The Gavin Group pleases her, or they’ll get an earful.”“She might as well sit in on the meeting since she is going to eavesdrop anyway,” I stated loudly, knowing she would be in earshot.Sandy poked her head around the doorway. “I planned to,” she quipped. “You need me.”None of us argued as she spun on her heel, clearly smug.“This week is going to be interesting.” Bentley brushed off his suit. “I’m looking forward to it.”Given the new role I was playing in the process, I was as well.Wednesday morning, The Gavin Group arrived.Graham Gavin was a true professional—polite, courteous, with an old-fashioned charm that spoke of class. His handshake was warm and his gaze direct.Richard VanRyan was a force unto himself. He was confident, assured, and dyna