Bryce

The next few days are painfully difficult. I know Madison’s wondering why I haven’t reached out to her, but between my company and the long hours, I haven’t had a chance. We’re ready to sign a three-billion-dollar deal, and I need to remain focused. This deal will put my company at the top where it belongs. I’m throwing all my energy into work, sleeping at the office, and barely doing much of anything. The nights are long without Madison. Without the woman I love.

The day ends with dinner with a few clients. After saying our goodbyes, I have Peter take Tiffany and me back to the office.

“I think this is going well. You’re back on your game, and nothing’s clouding your vision.”

I know where she’s going with this. “If you’re wondering, Madison and I are still together.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

“Then why was she with Nicholas Reimer? Actually, from what I’m hearing through the grapevine, she’s going to be working for Henry and goes on lunches with Nicholas. They’re together this evening, in case you’re wondering.”

The grip on my cell phone tightens. I don’t respond to what she’s saying and remain quiet. A few days of silence and I’m finding out news that’s going to send me over the edge.

Once we’re back in my office, I give Tiffany the files I need reviewed and tell her to work on it. I’m alone for once today, standing in front of my glass window, staring out into the Chicago night. My mind is wandering, wondering where Madison is, and if she’s thinking of me. The love I have for her is strong, overpowering, but I need to keep a balance between her and my business. I’ve worked too hard to lose any clients or deals. She must understand.

The door to my office opens. “Tiffany. Not tonight.”

“It’s me.”

Quickly, I turn around and notice Madison’s wearing a long black dress with a shawl over her shoulders. Her hair is straight and long, just the way I like. “Why are you dressed up?”

“I had dinner tonight with Henry and Kaylee. It was a fancy restaurant, and I wanted to look nice.”

I stare at her, captivating by her intoxicating eyes. “What’s going on?” I need to hear everything from her lips.

“Next week, I’m starting my new job at Henry’s company in the marketing department, leading a few projects he’s assigned to me. I’ve been seeing Nicholas for lunch because of work, and today, I saw him to let him know I’m transferring my clients to Kaylee. You abandoned me, Bryce. If you’re thinking I did something wrong, then you’re mistaken.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose and lift my eyes back to her. “I apologize. This deal I’m working on is seven months in the making. I’m this close to securing a multibillion-dollar deal.”

“And I’m so happy for you. These past few days, I don’t know …”

“Don’t.” I rush to her, putting my hands on her hips and placing my forehead on hers. “Don’t leave me. I know you deserve a better man. Someone who’ll pay attention and cherish you. I’m sorry. I haven’t been a good boyfriend, and I should let you go, but during times like this, I can’t promise you my time.”

She whispers, “I know.”

Our eyes remain locked, and I find myself drowning in her eyes. She has a vulnerability to her from the way frailty of her tone to the way she’s standing. I can feel her pulling away, and all I want to do is pull her my way.

“Tell me now what’s in your heart.”

“You.”

“Then why do I feel you slipping away?”

Her tears fall, and she shuts her eyes, not allowing me to see all of her. This wall she is putting up between us is ripping me apart. All I want to do is make things right. To console her and be by her side all night.

“You have no idea what caused me to run out of your office or why I didn’t come back to you. These skeletons in your closet are slowly coming out, and they all revolve around Tiffany.” I don’t say anything. There’s nothing to say at this point, so I let her continue. “You have a past with her. She loved you once upon a time, and you never elaborated that part of your life to me. I know your past is yours alone, and I get that. I want you to let me in, Bryce.”

“I have been letting you in. This isn’t easy for me. I don’t do the girlfriend thing or have someone I have to fight for.” I place my hand on her shoulder and take the other to lift her face up, so she can see me. “But I want it with you. Only you.”

She pulls back, her face wrinkling in confusion. “You say these things, and I know you mean them, but Bryce, there’s more to you. These layers, I mean, I’m supposed to be moving in with you …”

“And you still are.”

“Am I? How can this work if you can’t tell me more about who you are?”

I’m as confused and torn as she is, and I’m not sure how to go about fixing what’s been done. If I let her all the way in, she’ll leave me and never look back. I can’t risk losing her. I’ve worked too hard to bring her to a place of loving me. All of me.

“I want you to listen and listen very carefully, Madison.”

“Okay,” she responds, her voice trembling, but I know she’s trying to stay strong.

“I’ve buried my past. I’m going to try to open up and let you in so you can see me.” The idea of telling her this part of me is breaking me. I haven’t spoken about her in years. My heart slowly starts to break. The pain in my chest grows. If I want to keep Madison in my life, then this is what I have to do. “Tiffany and I broke up because we lost our daughter. She was only three months old. Sudden infant death syndrome. It killed us. My little girl’s in heaven, and I can’t hold on to the pain. I pushed it away.” I push the tears back. “That’s why I’m not capable of feeling like a normal person. Tiffany carries the burden of Blaire’s death while I can’t think about her. I pushed Blaire out of my mind. The day she died, I died with her. Tiffany needed me, and I pushed her away. She wasn’t my wife, but we had talked about marriage. Afterward, I left her, and she took a leave of absence from the company. She only just came back to work a year ago. Blaire would’ve been six years old this year.”

The tears stream down her face. I walk to my desk and pull out a drawer I haven’t opened in years. Holding the picture frame in my hands brings me back to that day.

“Daddy loves his princess.” She stares at me, making bubbly sounds. I can’t put her down. “Daddy’s never going to stop loving you. You’re the light in my life. Blaire Elizabeth Hunter. My sweet girl.” This moment will forever hold my heart. It’s days like these I feel alive and free. “All because of you.”

“Bryce?

I lift my head and give her the picture frame. The office remains silent. My heart thumps in my chest, and for the first time since losing Blaire, I cry. My little girl is no long here with me. Madison will never get to meet my perfect daughter. Tiffany will never be okay. We'll mourn the loss of Blaire for the rest of our lives. Everything is my fault. Blaire's dead because of me.

I cry for my princess.

I cry, knowing we’ll be apart until the day I die.

I cry because the truth is there and I can't admit it.

I cry because my world isn’t dark anymore.

“The day I heard your voice was the day I felt alive again. Then you walked into my office and into my life, imprinting me. Madison, out of all the women I’ve been with, you’re the only one worth it. I know you want me to open up more, and with time, I will.”

Madison wraps her arms around my neck and holds me tightly. My gut tenses to her warmth. Her grip on me loosens, and she looks at me. There’s the light again. The light I’ve been yearning to see, and it’s the only light that affects me. It shines brightly, and at this moment, I can breathe again.

“I’m here, Bryce. I’ll be by your side. Let me pull you out of this darkness you've been living in. I'm here now and I'll always be here. You don't have to live with your demons. We’ll take it slow. I won’t force you to open up any more until you’re ready.”

“How can you not think I'm a monster?”

Madison presses her lips to mine. “Because I know the man you are and I know your heart.”

Hearing her say those words has a profound effect on me. I don’t care if she’ll see me and all my brokenness and scars. If she wants to continue this with me, it only shows she’s able to look past all the issues I have—my dominating and controlling ways. We’ll work together to make this work.

“Madison?”

“Yes?”

“Come home with me tonight.”

A wide smile spreads across her face. “Yes.”

The moment we’re inside the penthouse, I’m gentle with my kisses. Tonight, I’m going to make love to her and show her how much she means to me. I have her pressed against the wall, my hand sliding up her smooth and creamy thigh. Pushing aside her panties, I press my fingers against her wet slit and run them up and down, feeling her shudder to my touch. I’m revering her with my mouth, taking all her breath into my body and feeling my soul come alive. She works her hand over my cock through my pants. Quickly releasing my cock, she grasps it, sliding her hands up and down. I’m lost to her touch and don’t register her sinking to her knees. Before I can say anything, she slides her mouth over my cock and tightly holds the base. She pulls my pants down with my boxer briefs and squeezes my ass.

“Fuck,” I hiss, pulling on the silky strands of her hair. “That’s so good. Damn, Madison.”

The way her tongue swirls around the tip and feeling the back of her throat is making me dizzy. There’s so much I want to do to her and so much I want her to feel. Right now, fuck, she’s pushing me deeper into her mouth, and I get harder, feeling my own release approaching.

This is the first night we’ve been together in a few days, and I don’t want her to be on her knees, sucking me off. I want her to feel me and let me fill her precious cunt.

“Get up,” I order her, and she quickly stops and rises to her feet. I take her hand and pull her with me until we’re in the bedroom. “This is where we’re going to reconnect.”

“Okay.” She’s breathless, and it’s fucking sexy.

I turn her around, and take off the dress she’s wearing. The material pools at her feet. I press my lips to her bare back and run my hands down her body.

“Let me love you,” I mutter in her ear. Removing her bra, I toss it on the floor, slowly trailing kisses down her back until I’m at the lace of her thong. “Jesus, baby.” I stand up straight and gently push Madison forward so her ass is in the air. Next to go is her thong. With the slinky material in my hand, I bring it to my nose and inhale deeply. A little moan falls from her lips, and it’s the sexiest noise. Her breasts are round and perky. I lick my lips and watch her pink nipples harden.

“Bryce.”

“I know, baby. I know exactly what you need.”

I guide her to the bed and lift her until her head's on the pillows and my body is over hers. My cock is hard, and my balls are fucking tight.

I need her.

Bending down, I kiss her cheeks and take a deep breath. Her arousal is sweet. I position myself between her thighs. The head of my cock slides along her entrance while I rest on my forearms.

“You mean the world to me Madison. With you is where I belong. Promise me you won't leave?”

“Yes. I promise you. Please make love to me.”

I push myself into her tight hole and relish in the feel of her warmth around my cock. The moans spill from my lips as I pull out slowly and push myself inside her.

“Baby,” she whispers, and pulls me down to kiss my cheeks and then my lips.

I'm taking my time cherishing her body and feeling every inch of her. Making love with Madison is better than anything else. A few more slow and sensuous thrust and I feel her clamping down on me.

“Come with me,” I whisper.

I’m filling her with my seed, and she takes all of me. The sigh of pleasure tells me she enjoyed that just as much as I did. Everything about her is perfect. I feel her heart beating against mine. I don’t want to leave her, but I need to take care of her.

“I’ll be back.”

Rushing to the bathroom and back, I clean her, and she watches me. Once I’m done, we get under the covers, and she rests her head on my bare chest.

“This is where I belong.”

“And this is where you’ll always be,” I tell her.