Chapter Thirty-Two
Madden
Madden stayed silent during the short walk home. Her mind was racing, and so was her heart. Linc had stood up for her back there, stood up for what she needed. She had almost drawn blood, digging her nails into her palms so deep. How dare Baze think he had any right to decide when they finally mated. Fucking bossy asshole. As soon as the front door closed she whirled on Linc, hands thrown up in the air. “Please tell me that wasn’t about what I think it was about.”
Linc took a deep breath, his eyes automatically glancing back toward Dom and Corey’s house. “I won’t do it, Madden. I swear to you, I’d never let them decide something like that for us.”
“You sure? You let them decide everything else in your life. I mean, we had to sneak around because Baze told you couldn’t see me.” She knew she wasn’t being fair. She knew Linc had stood his ground for her. Not himself. But she was so angry, she felt slightly unhinged. She was pacing around her small living room, her skin heated. “Who the hell do they think they are? Baze, always up on his damn high horse. What’s that guy’s deal? Is he alpha or something? Do you people actually operate like a fucking wolf pack? That’s the most ludicrous…”
She was cut off when Linc grabbed her by the shoulders, holding her in place. He dipped down, making her look him in the eye. “Hey. You’re spinning out, baby.” He wrapped his arms around her neck, drawing her in for a tight hug. He spoke against the top of her head. “I’d never let anyone else decide what’s best for us. Ever. Dom and Keller went along with what Baze wanted because they are worried about their mates. They are worried about the kids. Like you said, Corey is pregnant, and if she gets too worked up it’s bad for the baby. If something happened to Riley, Corey would lose it.”
“We have it under control. Right?” Today had worked out perfectly. Sure, the time span between them being together and her having an episode was getting shorter, but it was still hours apart.
He kissed her head. “Yes, we do. But I need you to hear me when I tell you this.” He put his hands on her hips, holding her at arm’s length. “If I see one of those boys coming at you like that again, I will kill them.” His eyes were brimming with desperation. “The last thing I’d ever want to do is hurt someone. That’s not who I am. But the way I felt when I saw Jasper on you?” He shook his head. “I would have killed him, Madden.”
She took a deep breath. “I’m sorry.” And she was. She was sorry for so many damn things at that moment. Sorry that she’d gotten out of bed last night. Sorry that Jasper had been hurt. Sorry that her actions had caused Linc to go after someone he cared about. Sorry that she wasn’t ready to be mated. Sorry that she was so fucked up about love and what forever meant.
Linc gave her a gentle shake. “You’re losing it again.”
“How can you tell?”
“Magic.” She snorted and he smiled. “Well earlier, you were pacing the house like a crazy person, that one was easy. This time, I could hear your heart rate accelerate. And your skin is getting warmer to the touch.” He put his hands under her t-shirt, his palms cool against her flushed flesh.
“That feels good.” She took a deep breath then let it out. And with it, some of the coiled stress left her body.
“Talk to me, baby. Tell me why you aren’t ready yet.” Linc’s question made her body tighten instantly. “No, don’t get tense again.” He rubbed his hands up and down her back, applying pressure, massaging her taunt muscles. “I just want to know you, Madden. I want to know what you’re thinking and what you’re worried about. I want to ease your fears. I want to be here for you in whatever way you need me.”
Well. That was fucking night and day from the Linc she’d met two weeks ago. Was it all because he was her mate, and he was hardwired to want these things from her? Or was it because he’d truly changed, truly started to grow up? He scooped her into his arms and sat down on the couch with her in his lap. He didn’t push, didn’t pressure her to talk. His body was relaxed and his touch soothing. She laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. “I trust you, I like you. Sex between us is phenomenal. I know that you’ll never hurt me. I love that you stood up for me with Baze. You make me laugh. Being around you makes me happy. Real, honest to goodness, happy.”
“Okay. Where’s the but?” He pinched hers.
“There is no but. I’m just not ready.” She sat up, looking him in the eye. “We were the same, right? We liked our lives the way they were. Zero responsibility. No one to answer to. My inability to commit came from my parents’ sham of a marriage and yours came from the fact that you were raised to be a spoiled playboy.”
“Rude.” His tone was offended, but his face wore a cocky smirk that told her she was spot on with her assessment.
“You changed overnight, Linc. You went from high-fiving our friends with benefits arrangement to saying things like we and us and ours. This is your culture. This is your DNA and your way of life. Not mine. I can’t flip a switch like you can.” Part of her wished she could, but another part of her was glad she couldn’t. Glad that she was holding on so tightly to the person she was, the person she fought so hard to become. “I’m still trying to adjust to the fact that my life is going to be polar opposite from the way I’d imagined it for the last fourteen years.”
Linc cupped her face in is hands. “Madden, baby. When are you going to see it? Your life is going to be what you always wanted. Full of adventure and passion and travel. You want to see the world? Baby, I’ll show it to you. You want dirty trysts in the Pincio Gardens? I’m your guy. I’ll never break your heart, and I’ll never hurt you.” He kissed her lips, making her smile. “We can have adventures. We can have it all.”
He was perfect for her. Linc was the perfect man for Madden. There was no denying it. He said everything that her long-wounded little heart needed to hear. He didn’t want to change a single thing about her. He only wanted to join her. A tear slid down her cheek. “I think I might be falling in love with you.”
His eyes sparkled, and his grin grew, taking over his whole face. “And I’ve been in love with you since the day I was born, baby.” He pulled her toward him, kissing her lips with such passion she couldn’t help but moan in response. He adjusted her on his lap, her legs wrapping around his trim waist. He broke their kiss only long enough for him to remove her shirt and toss it to the ground. Her eyes searched his, silently asking the question she was too scared to ask out loud. “Tonight is not the night, baby. This is our decision and ours alone. You aren’t ready? We’ll wait until you are.”
She stood, slipping off her pants, and then straddled his lap once again. She sat up on her knees, helping him take his shorts off. She didn’t reach for a condom. Instead she sank down on him bare. Impaling herself, the pressure from his cock made her belly tighten. She leaned her body forward, grinding on him, her clit against his pelvis. She threw her head back, whimpering.
He gripped her thighs, his fingertips digging into her flesh. “You better hurry, baby, I can’t hold on much longer.” He palmed her breast, pinching her nipple hard, shooting shock waves to her core.
“More.”
He used his other hand, rolling both nipples. “You like that? Fuck me harder, Madden. I know you can give me more.” He took one breast in his mouth, freeing up one of his hands to grip her throat.
She was so close to the edge. The line she was toeing was a dangerous one, and it made everything feel all that much more intense. She arched her back, grinding on Linc’s cock. Her hands fisted in his hair, keeping his mouth on her. “More.”
His teeth clamped down on her nipple and his hand tightened around the column of her neck. She screamed out his name as she came, shattering around him. The moment she stopped shaking he pulled out. Fisting his dick, he pumped twice and came all over her stomach.
His head was resting on her chest, his breaths coming out in fast pants. “Fuck, Madden.” He licked her sweaty skin, letting out a low growl. “That was really close, baby.”
She used her hands in his hair to raise his head. She kissed his lips, angling over him, consuming him for a moment. “It was really fucking fun though, right?” She winked and collapsed against the couch cushions behind him.
“See? Our life will always be full of excitement.”
She smiled because she knew he was right.