CHAPTER 23
FALLON
So Madoc wanted to talk.
This was new.
I couldn’t get off the bed without his permission, and I was totally naked and vulnerable while he conducted his Q&A.
I sighed, knowing I owed him this much. And more. “A few months after I left I snuck back,” I added. “You were having a party, and you had someone with you.”
As much as I’d gotten past hating him for that, the feeling of betrayal could never be forgotten. He had been sitting on the edge of the hot tub with his legs in the water while some girl blew him. He had been leaning back on one hand with his other in her hair, and his head had fallen back. He didn’t see me looking through the patio doors.
His dad and Addie were home but undoubtedly asleep. I thought I’d worked it well, arriving in so late. He’d be in bed. I’d sneak in. We’d talk.
My timing couldn’t have been more wrong. Or more right.
I ran out of the house, away from someone I was too young to love.
Madoc averted his pained eyes. “You shouldn’t have saved yourself for me. I don’t deserve it.”
“I didn’t,” I whispered. “I saved myself for me. Part of it was that I didn’t want anyone else but you, but the truth was I just didn’t want anyone. Even you. I was in over my head. I needed to grow up.”
His body was so still. He’d stopped advancing, and I wanted him to know that none of this mattered anymore. I’d lived with it and had plenty of time to get over everything. He was still adjusting.
I lay back on the bed, watching his eyes come back to me as I rolled onto my stomach and looked over my shoulder at him.
“Fuck the past. Remember?” I told him, keeping my eyes and tone serious. My pose might be to redirect his attention back on me, but I wanted him to know that while I understood his concerns, we were done talking.
His eyes softened, and he walked around the bed, leaning down over me on his hands.
He was so close, and I faltered when I felt a streak shoot from my chest down between my legs.
Please touch me, Madoc.
I gave him a sly smile and hooded my eyes, trying to be sexy. Kicking up my legs, I crossed my ankles and swung my feet back and forth.
He turned his head, running his eyes the whole length of my body in a way that made me feel as if a warm blanket covered every inch his gaze touched. Reaching out, he grazed the skin of my back with his fingertips, and I closed my eyes.
“How’s school?” he asked, and I popped my eyes open again.
“Madoc! For Christ’s sake!” I yelled.
I hated questions, and now was not the time!
He arched a scolding eyebrow at me. “Temper, Fallon,” he warned.
I clenched my teeth, seething.
But then I was shocked out of my anger when he grabbed me by my thigh and hauled me to the edge of the bed, flipping me over onto my back.
“Madoc!”
Parting my legs, he hooked me under my knees and yanked me to meet him at the edge.
My heart pumped like a ten-pound weight pressed against my chest, and a sweat broke out over my neck.
What the hell? Why was he handling me?
“School,” he urged like a warning.
“It’s . . . it’s . . . good,” I stammered. “I’m studying Mechanical Engineering. You?”
I didn’t laugh, because I was mad, but this should’ve been funny, I guess.
He ran his fingers between my legs, massaging my entrance. “Pre-Law,” he responded in a light, nonchalant tone. “Surprise, surprise.” He sounded like he was having a business conversation.
“Yeah,” I breathed out, trying really hard to figure out what the hell my mind should be on right now. His questions or the sensation of his prodding fingers. “Pre-Law? How’s that?” I asked.
“I like it, actually.” His eyes weren’t on mine. He was watching everything his hand was doing. “I think I’ll be good at it. So what does the Valknut tattoo mean?”
He slipped a finger in, and my belly exploded with fireworks.
“Um . . . what?” I gasped.
What was the question?
His finger—or fingers, I thought it was one, but I felt so full—had to be buried down to the knuckle, because he was so deep when he started massaging my insides with small circles.
Holy shit. My eyes rolled to the back of my head.
“The Valknut symbol, Fallon,” he reminded me.
I barely unclenched my teeth. “Can I tell you another time?”
Please, please, please, pretty please?!
His sly little smile peeked out as he watched his fingers moving inside me. Triumphant bastard.
“One more question.” He raised his gaze to mine. “Do you trust me, Fallon?”
I stilled, knowing right away what my answer was. “You’re the only person I trust.”
Sitting up with my legs still hooked on his arms, I looked up at him and whispered, “And I’ll make you trust me.”
He was going to wake up in the morning with me still here.
He pulled me up to stand on the bed, and I wrapped him up in my arms, hugging him to me. His smooth jaw rubbed against my chest as his head lowered, trailing kisses over my collarbone and down my breasts.
I ran my fingers through his short blond hair and leaned into his mouth. Chills spread everywhere, and I shivered.
He took a nipple between his teeth and then covered it with his entire mouth, sucking hard. “Damn,” I sighed, completely helpless.
I let my head fall back as I moaned. His hot mouth sucked and released, bit and let go, over and over again until I felt like there was a spark of electricity shooting from my heart straight to the heat between my legs.
Then, he turned his attention on the other one: kissing, nibbling, and damn near eating me alive.