The evening is drawing near and we've had another fantastic day. One I'll never forget for the rest of my life.

Maddox has been playful and sweet, making the day that much more meaningful. However, the fact that the storm is over and our time together is coming to an end has been playing on my mind the whole time, and I think it's on his as well. I would’ve never thought Maddox would end up being the man who’d take my virginity when we first met, but now I can't imagine it being anyone but him. But with an ending upon us, I realize there's still so much we don't know about each other, and I want to make sure we make time to learn more.

We’re curled up on the floor in front of the fire with fruit around us, playing a game of Rummy. I decide now would be a great time to cash in on our deal and share our stories that we’ve been keeping from each other.

“So, I think now would be a good time for us to talk,” I say.

“Oh yeah? I kind of had something else in mind.” Maddox waggles his brows, which makes me laugh.

“Not so fast, slick. We made a deal,” I remind him.

“Alright, alright. Do you want to start, or do you want me to?”

“How about I go? I want to get it out of the way,” I admit.

“Okay. Whenever you’re ready, princess.”

“Okay, so, I’ve not really had the best of luck with men in the past. In high school, I was always the shy, reserved smart girl that was more interested in learning and getting good grades than in boys. So, I ended up only dating two guys during high school, both of which got tired of my goody-two-shoes motto. They didn’t think I was worth their time and effort when they realized I wasn’t going to sleep with them. So, of course, this grew into an insecurity and lack of self-confidence issues when I went off to college.”

Maddox grabs my hand and surrounds it with both of us, looking so sweet and tender. It melts my heart, not that he hasn’t already stolen it.

“Taylor, you have nothing to be ashamed of. You’re an amazing, beautiful woman. Any guy would’ve been lucky to call you theirs. They’re idiots and lost out on an amazing person.” Maddox cups my face and rubs the pad of his thumb on my cheek.

I smile, genuinely. ”Well, thank you for saying that. In college, I decided to try to loosen up a little and not to be so uptight where guys were concerned. I dated a guy for a few weeks at school, and I was falling for him, and he seemed to feel the same way. We had gone back to his dorm room after a movie one night, and his roommate had gone to a friend's place. I was going to have sex with him to basically get it out of the way, so I didn't have the virgin tag on me anymore, but when things were getting heated, his girlfriend showed up. I was devastated because I really liked him, but I was nothing more than the side chick, a cheap, quick fuck. I ran out of there as fast as I could and ever since then I haven't been able to trust anyone."

When I finish with my story, I can’t look at Maddox. I don’t want him to look at me with pity. When I finally look up at him, there’s a mix of sadness and fire behind his eyes.

“I want to rip that guy’s head off.” Maddox growls. “So, what happened to him? Anything?”

"No. Luckily, I never really saw him after that. We weren't in the same classes or anything. I never told anyone that before. I was hurt for a really long time over it, but eventually I got through it.”

“But that was a big deal, Taylor. You were ready to give yourself to someone who you thought was special and he took your trust and threw it out the window.” The sincerity in his eyes is so sweet. “I’m so sorry you went through that. College guys can be fucking assholes.”

His cussing makes me laugh, but it’s nice that he cares so much.

“It’s fine,” I tell him. “It all led me here to you.”

Hoping my small declaration doesn’t scare Maddox, I look at him shyly. Telling the story brings some insecurities to the surface, and I desperately want him to stomp them out.

“I'm the lucky one, princess. And honored that I'm the one you chose.” Maddox leans in and kisses me so soft and tender, I’m ready to wrap my arms around him and beg him to erase all those bad memories with new ones. I crawl into his lap and deepen the kiss, but to my disappointment, he stops our kiss and sits with his forehead to mine, rubbing my back slowly up and down.

“If you recall, there’s a second side to our deal,” he reminds me.

“Are you sure you’re ready to talk about it?” I search his face.

"You were brave enough to tell me your story so it’s only fair I hold up my end of the deal."

I start to move out of his lap to give him space, but he keeps me close. So, instead I run around and position myself between his legs and lean my back against his chest, wrapping his arms around me and placing his hands in my lap. When we’re settled back in, Maddox starts to tell me his story.

"I won't go into details or draw out the story, but I’ll tell you the basics. Wendy is my ex-fiancé. She was the light of my life. I was happy and thought she was too. One of her dreams was to move out to the mountains where we’d spend most of our days just the two of us. I’d have a woodworking business, and she’d have her art and photography. When I found this place, I knew it was the one for us. I proposed to her the day we moved in. Everything was perfect, or so I thought. Three weeks later, she left. No note, no explanation, nothing. She was just gone. Of course I worried about her, thinking the worst, but when I realized she took all her clothes and belongings, I knew she wasn’t coming back. Still, I searched for her. After about a month, her brother finally reached out to me and let me know she was alive and well and living in New Orleans with her husband."

“What?” My mouth falls open.

"Come to find out she was already married. They had split up for a short time, but during our time together, they had been talking and planning on getting back together to work it out. I never knew. I thought we were happy. I had never been so hurt in my life. I was bitter and pissed for a really long time. The worst part was that I never had any closure. Never knew why she didn’t tell me or why she’d just leave without saying goodbye. I trusted her and she stomped on my heart. Eventually, time started to heal my wounds, but it didn’t feel the same. I still felt that abandonment. There was nothing to look forward to or happiness in my life. But that’s all changed now. I honestly haven't felt this happy in such a long time and you’re the reason for that. My heart feels whole again.”

My chest aches for Maddox. His story of rejection on that level makes mine look insignificant. I can't believe anyone would do that to him. And to know it affected him enough to leave him with nightmares breaks my heart. Tears start to fall, and I try to swipe them away quickly, but he notices before I can.

“Hey, why the tears?” he asks softly.

“I just can’t believe someone would hurt you like that.”

“I’m alright, princess. I have you now. We have each other.”

I instantly turn around and crash my lips to his. This time Maddox doesn't push away. He pulls me in tighter and drives his tongue into my mouth, searching for mine. The passion between us sends lightning through my body, and I want him to take me, right here in front of the fire. I thrust my pussy against his growing erection, letting him know exactly what I want—what we both need right now.

Maddox responds instantly by grabbing my ass and rocking our hips together. We quickly get each other's shirts off, and without effort, he takes my bra off with one hand. I love the feeling of my skin against his. His warmth is so inviting.

He lays me back and quickly unbuttons my jeans and yanks them with my panties down my legs, kissing my belly and breasts once I’m completely naked. As he makes a trail of kisses back up to my lips, Maddox pulls off his sweats and boxers. There's no foreplay this time around—no sweetness, just passion, and fire.

He licks his fingers and strokes his stiff cock, and before I can even say a thing, Maddox thrusts into my waiting, wet pussy to the hilt. I groan out in both shock and desire, instantly wrapping my legs around him. He sucks on my neck as he pounds into me, moaning my name into my skin. His need for me is desperate and hot. My moans grow louder as his pace quickens.

“I want to take you from behind, princess.” His gravely voice has me wanting to give him anything he asks.

As soon as I nod, Maddox quickly pulls out and flips me onto my belly. As soon as I'm turned, he widens my legs to settle between them and pulls my hips toward him. Maddox rubs the tip of his cock along my wet folds, sliding in just barely enough to have me begging for more. When he’s finally had enough, Maddox’s fingers dig into my hips and drives into me forcefully. I scream out with his movements, the sensation overwhelming and delicious.

“Oh, God! Maddox! Yes!”

My screams speeds up his thrusts, and I can feel myself tightening around him. My body feels like it’s about to convulse if I don’t release soon.

“Maddox, I’m so close,” I tell him between ragged breaths.

"Me too, baby. Come with me. Let me feel your tight pussy around my cock. I want your orgasm all over me.” His dirty words have my body going into overdrive. Holy shit, he has a filthy mouth, and I love it.

“Yes, yes. Harder, Maddox. I want you. More. More,” I beg like a sultry vixen, which surprises the hell out of me. This is all so new to me, I had no idea he could pull this side out of me.

“Fuck, yes, sweetheart. You’re a bad girl, aren’t you?” Maddox coaxes then I feel his hand smack against my ass and it’s like a trigger goes off. My body shakes and convulses, the orgasm hitting me so hard, I feel like I’m going to pass out.

I hear him yell out my name as he comes with me. My arms give out, and I lay flat on my stomach, bringing him down with me. Maddox maneuvers himself so that he’s no longer inside me and is resting next to me with his arm draped over my back while both of us try and catch our breath.

“Goddamn, princess.” He presses a chaste kiss to my shoulder. “What have you done to me?”

We both laugh. Once we’re back to breathing normally, we pull ourselves off the floor and take a warm shower together, taking turns washing one another. We then settle in bed, gloriously naked, falling asleep in each other's arms. Not wanting the moment to be spoiled, we save the harder conversation of my departure for a later day.