Chapter Thirty-Eight
Madison
I was happy that I had worn my new black dress. It was good to see the look on his face when he saw me in it. I could also tell that he was undressing with me his eyes all night. We got home, and I almost expected him to throw me against the door again. But he didn’t. He was unusually quiet. We walked inside and made our way to the bedroom without saying anything. I was just about to ask him if anything was wrong when he spoke.
“I love you, Madi.”
The words took me completely by surprise. It was the first time that he had said those words to me. I knew he liked me. But love? I looked at him, his kind eyes, his messy hair, his strong body. It was strange to think that not long ago he was fighting for his life in the hospital. Max had always been the strong one in the team, even though I would never admit that to him. I liked that I could always depend on him no matter what happened. The idea that he could so easily be taken away from me was almost too much to think about.
“I love you too, Max.”
“Max and Madi,” he said.
“Madi and Max,” I replied and we both chuckled.
He walked up to me and hooked a strand of hair behind my ears, then he put his hand behind my head and pulled me towards him. The kiss was slow and meaningful. It was as if just saying the words ‘I love you’ had changed the way we were with one another. I was in love with this man, and I’d been too afraid to admit it even to myself.
“You’re beautiful, Madison.”
“That’s just because I’m in a fancy dress,” I said.
He shook his head. “No. You’re beautiful with or without the dress. In fact, I’m ready for that dress to come off now. It’s been on too long already.”
I turned around and moved my hair off my shoulder. Max reached for the zipper and slowly pulled it down. The dress fell to the floor. He kissed my neck and unclasped my bra. Then he pulled my panties down too. I was now fully naked and still facing away from him. His hands were all over me; he reached around to touch my breasts, then he trailed his hands down my stomach and between my legs. His breath was hot on my neck. I turned around and undressed him, moving slowly through his jacket, tie, and shirt until finally working on his pants. I smiled when I saw how ready he was for me.
“Keep the shoes on,” he said.
I picked up the tie and put it around his neck. “Keep the tie on.”
With the heels on, I was exactly the same height as him, but it didn’t take long for us to fall into bed together. Somehow, my heels stayed on. I kept looking at Max, amazed that a man as beautiful as him had just told me he loved me. I didn’t believe that love was something you said easily to someone. I thought of my sister and how Dalton had said it in conversation. But that was different because he had meant it. Her last boyfriend had said it too, but it had been obvious that it was just a word to him. Just something that you said to girls that you wanted to get into bed. I had a strong feeling that Max didn’t give out that word too easily. I knew that when he said it to me, he meant it.
Sex with Max had always been incredible. He was an attentive lover, and he spent a lot of time thinking about my needs and not just his. I liked that about him. He made me feel special. Sex had also been exciting and different, with the two of us not always even making it into the bedroom on time. But tonight, it felt like something else. I wasn’t sure if it was because he had told me that he loved me, but something about the sex had changed. It felt like it had more meaning. There was the accustomed passion, but also a greater depth of significance, and a sweet need to be together.
Max was on top of me now, smiling down at me. He chuckled when he looked down and saw that I still had my shoes on. I wrapped my feet around him, and he pulled my legs up higher so that he could get even deeper inside me. He pushed slowly, and I moaned. I pressed my hips back up against him, and he sighed. He leaned down and kissed me with so much desire that I felt my entire body give in to the moment. I closed my eyes, bit my lip, and allowed myself to let go. And when he came, it was long and beautiful.
He didn’t pull off me right away. Instead, he looked at me and kissed me gently on the mouth. He smiled at me and told me that he didn’t want to come out of me.
“We’re just going to have to do that again,” I said and smiled at him.
“We’re going to have to,” he said.
He climbed off, and we pulled the duvet high up to our necks, and I snuggled into him.
“I love you, Max Aarons,” I said.
“I love you Microwave Madison.”
I giggled. “So, we love each other, huh? I wonder how long we’ve both felt that way?”
“I get the impression I’ve been in love with you for a very long time. I’ve just been too much of an idiot to admit it to you . . . or to myself.”
“I’ve been just as much of an idiot. So, does that mean we’re not idiots anymore?”
He laughed. “We’re idiot-free.”
“Max, what’s going to happen at work? I mean, we’re partners again. We are going to see each other all the time.”
“So, what?”
“Well, I just don’t want this relationship to hurt us at work. We’ve got something special going there.”
“And we have something special going here too. Madi, all that’s going to happen is that I’m going to want to keep you safe. Which means I’ll probably do my job even better than before. The chief will be happy, we’ll be happy, and everyone will win.”
I chuckled. “I like the sound of that. So, let’s get some sleep because I am dying for a good cup of coffee.”
“Coffee?”
I poked him in the ribs. “You know I only came back with you tonight so that you would take me for good Italian coffee in the morning.”
“I feel so used.”
“Don’t lie. You want it too.”
“I do. Pastrami sandwich for breakfast?”
“It’s an hour away!”
“Yeah? So?”
“Why the hell not? Goodnight, Max. I love you,” I said. I wasn’t sure I’d ever get sick of saying those words to him.
“Goodnight, Madi. I love you, too.”