48
Derek
Fuming at the deceitful woman, it isn’t until I stomp into my house full of fury and nearly knock Olivia over that I realize an unfamiliar car was parked out front. Seeing Olivia, I realize why.
Her screech could wake the dead or in this case bring Geary running in, stopping at the sight of me with a woman in my arms. “Great pair of lungs, Olivia.”
“Crap, I’m sorry Derek. You scared me to death.”
“I’m sorry too.” I rub my forehead where I feel a headache forming. “Madison?”
“She went to find you, although I thought she was in your bedroom.” Olivia raises her gaze and blushes slightly while Geary stands to the side, his eyes glued on the petite woman.
Clearing my throat, I introduce Geary and Olivia, and I don’t miss the way Olivia appears surprised at one of my closest friends and employees. Geary even has a slight blush on his dark cheekbones.
“Um,” Olivia takes a step back, “I think I should go and put on some more clothes. I thought everyone was in bed for the night.”
“We would be, but for a conniving woman who I’m about to throw out into the rain,” I rant. “There’s nothing wrong with the main roads, or the road to her house, so she can damn well leave.”
“I think Madison and I have come back in the middle of something.” Olivia’s gaze keeps flittering over Geary, and likewise. It’s enough to calm my temper though.
“Geary can fill you in, I’m going upstairs to see my woman. I’ve missed her.” Smiling, I wish them a goodnight and have a feeling Madison may have made a perfect match with those two.
Smiling to myself, I quickly run upstairs and throw my bedroom door open and have the shock of my life when I find Dee in the middle of my bed—naked. “What the hell are you doing in here like that?” I roar. “Forget that, what the fuck are you doing in my bedroom?”
Her smile slips and becomes forced. “I thought you’d like this surprise.”
“The only surprise I want is to find the woman I love in my bed, and that isn’t you.” I inhale and slowly exhale. “Get dressed now,” I tell her trying to keep my temper, “and get the hell out of my house. Don’t ever step foot on my property again or I will have you arrested for trespassing.”
“You can’t mean that?” The woman is stupid.
“You have five minutes and then I’m calling the sheriff. I want you gone out of my sight.” Then remembering what Olivia had said about Madison coming to find me, my heart sinks when I start to realize just what this evil woman has done. “Where is Madison?”
Her eyes dip. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Don’t fucking lie to me. I’ve never hit a woman before, doesn’t mean I won’t,” I growl and wait.
“She came in here an hour or so ago,” Dee confesses. “I told her you’d just gotten out of the shower and she could wait to talk to you, but she took off.”
Geary’s hand is suddenly on my arm as I lunge toward the bed. I roar and curse loudly while Olivia tries to calm me down enough to talk to me.
“The car is still outside. What about a horse? Would she have run to the stables and taken one out?”
“I don’t know, Olivia.” I grab the strands on my hair and pull, the pain helping me to focus. “Geary?”
“I’m here. Do you have a plan?” He glances from Olivia before his eyes stay on mine.
“For once, no! But I think we need to check if all the horses are accounted for before we mount up and go looking.”
“I’ll go check now.” Geary races out of the house.
Olivia moves to the window and watches. “She’ll be okay out in this? Madison…”
“Your cousin will be fine.” My heart thuds. “She has to be.” Minutes later, I assure her, “Geary is used to this weather, so he’ll be fine too.”
She nods, her arms wrapped anxiously around her waist, and that’s how she is when Geary comes back into the house soaked to the skin. “Horses are all accounted for.”
“So, she’s on foot.” I glance out, more worried than I’m letting on for Olivia’s sake, and maybe because I know I’m going to completely panic if I let go.
“She’ll be fine, Derek. Madison is anything but reckless.” Olivia wraps her fingers around my arm.
“The creek will have flooded by now,” Geary tells us. “That’s where I’m going to start looking for her. Lots of places to get caught when you can’t see where you’re going.”
“Oh God!” Olivia’s hand trembles. “She can’t swim.” She glances between Geary and me, and then decides, “I’m going to get dressed and help look for her.”
I shake my head. “We don’t need to be looking for you as well, Olivia.”
“I can team up with one of you. Please, I can do this,” she pleads.
“You stay with me and do as I say.” Geary holds her gaze.
“I promise.”
“Get dressed.” Geary turns to me. “Do you think she’ll have moved away from the buildings in this weather?”
“She was upset, I’m guessing she could have gone anywhere.” I run my fingers through my hair before I start pulling on rainwear, and then grab the medical box.
“Ready to go?” Olivia stands with her hands on her hips, wearing a pant suit and heels.
“Boots,” I hiss to Geary.
“On it.”
“I know I’m not dressed for this, but my case is in the car with my jeans in, and yes, I actually own a good pair of walking boots, that have been used numerous times.”
“Okay, city girl, let’s get these on you,” Geary says, and she bristles. Smirking, Geary carries on.
It doesn’t take long to get Olivia ready to go outside, and then we’re off.
49
Madison
I’m cold, soaked, hungry, and upset. Also, unbelievably stupid and reckless. I’ve called myself that since I’d ran off and gotten lost, which is when I realized what a fool I’ve been. There is no way Derek would have let me come back to find Dee in his bed, whether he still wanted me or not, he had more manners than that.
We’ve talked on a daily basis and I know he’s just as excited to see me as I am him, and deep down I know he would never hurt me in that way. The biggest thing I should have noticed is the fact that Derek’s wallet, loose change, and watch hadn’t been on the dresser in the bedroom. He leaves them there every night, so he doesn’t forget them in the morning. I’m an idiot.
It’s impossible to see anything in the dark and I have no clue exactly whereabouts I am. There’s no light in the distance that would indicate Derek’s house, and I honestly hadn’t meant to lose track of time nor get disorientated. I’m scared, and I just want to feel Derek’s strong arms around me telling me I’m safe.
Sighing heavily, I glance up to the sky and see nothing. It’s dark and the lashing rain makes it impossible to see the stars, even the moon is hidden. Shivering, I rub my hands up and down my arms for warmth, not that it works much. I can’t decide whether to stay where I am, or to keep moving. At the moment my feet are carrying me toward the sound of gushing water, which confuses me.
On horseback it had taken a while to reach the creek, so I shouldn’t be hearing the sound of water, not yet. I frown wondering where it’s coming from because it’s loud and ominous. Swimming isn’t something I can do with confidence. I can splash around with the best of them, but actual swimming, not a hope. A shiver ripples down my spine when my feet hit a stream of water and my heart begins to race, knowing that if I keep going, something bad is going to happen. Not only that, I’m hoping like hell that there are no snakes taking a swim.
I shudder and finally get my feet to move me backwards, until I turn and run, hoping that whatever I’m running from is too far away to catch me. With the blood rushing around it takes me a few moments and I stop to catch my breath to realize that the sound isn’t as loud. That has to be good news.
Then I hear it—my name being shouted.
The sound becomes
louder, and then I hear another—feminine this time.
It has to be Olivia.
“Over here!” I shout, running toward their voices. “Keep shouting.”
They do and not five minutes later, I’m being wrapped up in Geary’s arms. “You fucking scared us,” he whispers, putting me away from him. “Are you hurt?”
“No. Just cold.”
Olivia wraps her arms around me and holds me close. “Don’t ever do that again.”
“I won’t.” My voice breaks, “Derek?”
“He’s out looking for you, but I’ll let him know to meet us back at the house.” Geary glances at Olivia as though he’s checking her over before wrapping a waterproof jacket around my shoulders.
I smile in thanks. At least it will keep me from getting anymore soaked although I’m not sure it will help at this point. I certainly become warmer with Geary rubbing warmth into my arms as we walk.
He holds me under one arm, offering me support and guidance, and I notice he holds Olivia’s hand with his other. If anything, tonight was worth it just to witness them both getting along so well.
Nothing more is said, but as we approach the house I see a flashlight moving toward us and realize it must be Derek. He hurries toward me and then he’s sweeping me up into his arms, his face nuzzling into my neck. “God.” He shudders. “Nothing is going on with Dee. I promise you.”
I place a finger over his lips. “Shush. I know. I was stupid and let her get to me, but then when I stopped to catch a breath it hit me. You would never betray me like that. Ever. I trust you Derek. I really do.” I bury my nose into his neck and whisper, “I really hate her.”
“Me too, honey. Me too.”
Geary clears his throat. “Although this is romantic, I think we should get inside. Madison needs warming up.” He looks directly at Olivia. “You do too.” He takes her hand, leading her away from the house.
“What?” I gasp. “What’s going on with them? Olivia is never, and I mean never, like, um, that with anyone.”
Derek chuckles. “I wouldn’t worry about her. Geary won’t hurt her.” He pauses, and I raise a brow. “He always said he’d know when he met the woman for him.” He smiles leading me toward the house. “I think he’s met her.”
I pause on the threshold, but Derek tugs me further inside. “She’s gone.” He sighs. “She showed up here earlier saying her power had gone out and she had nowhere else to go, so eventually I gave in and told her she could use a guest room for the night. Geary and I went over to her place to check, which is why we weren’t here when you arrived. She’d made the whole thing up. I’m only sorry that she hurt you before I could kick her out for lying.”
“That woman needs to be put in her place.”
“I did earlier.” He takes my hand and ushers me upstairs. “I’ll run you a bath while I change the bed, and then I’m going to hold you all night.” He shudders against me. “Whenever you leave in future, I’m coming with you.”
“You’ve no idea how much I love that idea.” I grin, trying not to shiver.
“Bath,” Derek mutters in response.
My fingers are numb and stiff as I try to remove my clothing and Derek noticing my predicament slowly helps peel them away. He’s already stripped down to only his jeans, so having him on display for my eyes only, warms my body in ways the bath can’t. As my eyes won’t leave him, I notice the large erection he’s trying to discreetly rearrange, and I smirk. “I think you should join me in the tub.”
He groans. “Don’t tempt me.”
“Why not?”
“Madison,” he takes my face between his warm hands, “I love you, and getting a hard-on while I’m trying to take care of you isn’t my intention right now.”
“You and that hard-on need to be against me in the tub.” I become serious, wrapping my arms around his neck. He grabs my bottom as I wrap my legs around his waist. “I want and need to have your arms around me, and I don’t ever want you to be annoyed with yourself for getting hard around me, even if I’m shivering with cold, or just plain sick. I love that I do that to you.” I rest my forehead against his. “Carry me into the tub. I’m cold but your warmth is working its way through me.”
He sits me on the vanity while he removes his jeans and briefs, my eyes fluttering with awareness when they land on the tightly swollen erection.
“Oh,” I mumble. “I want you inside me.”
I hold his gaze and sigh when I’m completely wrapped around him as he lowers us both into the large tub with me straddling his lap while my breasts press into his chest. “Having you naked and close is certainly warming me through.” I moan against his chest, and feeling wicked, I stick my tongue out and lap at one of his nipples.
He moans and presses my hips firmly against the pulsing hardness, rubbing between my legs. I sit up and move back so that I can see his erection bob in the water. So rigid and long with need.
Derek swallows hard, his hands clenching into fists when I wrap my hands around him, guiding him to my entrance, and then I’m pushing down. He slides in easily, his hands now gripping my hips. I intertwine my fingers with his on my body and move seductively on him.
Our breaths become uneven while Derek lets me control the speed of my rocking, which is slow and sensual. “You feel too good inside of me, I don’t want the pleasure to stop.”
“I’m barely holding on.”
On every downward slide my bundle of nerves rub against Derek, making me wetter, and bringing me closer to release.
50
Derek
It’s difficult to breathe with Madison all over me; her nipples grazing my chest, my cock hard and throbbing for release inside the tight sheath. I’m in pleasure overload and I’m finding it difficult to remember she needs to get warm. She needs to be looked after.
The slow slide downwards causes my hands to tremble on her hips, and when she takes every bit of my shaft into her warm pulsating body, and grinds down, rubbing her pussy on me, I know I’m about to lose it. I can’t hold on much longer.
Then I get the most glorious sight of my woman as she throws her head back, arching upwards, and orgasms. I gasp and grunt with the feel of her contracting around my achingly aroused flesh, sucking and milking my release out of me. My body quivers with the power of my release.
Panting harshly, I rest back against the tub and hold Madison tightly in my arms when she gives in to exhaustion and collapses on me.
“I’m warm now.” Her eyes find mine and a hand reaches up to caress my face. “I missed you, and I’m so sorry I let her get to me.”
“You don’t need to apologize. I get it okay. And in the end, you trusted me, and came back to where I waited.” I kiss her soundly on the lips. “I love you.” I smack her on the bottom. “Don’t ever forget it.”
“Hmm,” she rocks forward, “I won’t.” Her hips slowly rock and tease my cock into getting hard as steel again, but this time I can’t give her slow.
“I need hard and fast, baby.” I grab her tightly around her hips and hold her steady while I climb from the tub.
Her bottom lands on the large vanity and with a gentle nudge she lays back, tightening her sweet little pussy around my shaft.
“Oh,” she moans, arching upwards, squeezing me even harder. “I could come just like this.”
My hands reach up and cup her beautiful breasts, my thumbs pressing and rubbing her hard nipples. The reaction I feel against my hard flesh as she tries to get me moving.
Not one for disappointing a lady, I hold her legs open wide and slowly pull out, watching as my dick appears coated in her release and excitement. I push in through the tight quivering walls of her core before I start thrusting—harder—faster, until I can’t think straight and only feel. I bend and capture a large breast in my mouth and suckle hard.
Madison flies apart, tugging my release from somewhere deep. I push and hold to the hilt, grinding, trying to get even deeper as the top of my head blows off. Having her pulsing in pleas
ure on my cock is exciting and draws the pleasure out for me until I’m exhausted with my head resting on her breasts. “I can’t breathe.”
She chuckles, and I groan when small after pulses flutter along my length, currently hardening again.
“You’re insatiable.” She laughs.
“It’s all your fault. I can’t get enough of your sexy body.” Raising myself to hover over her, I use a finger to trace along her brow, bringing it down to run along her plump lips. “But most of all it’s because of this feeling inside of me called love. It’s because of how much I love you that my body is reacting the way it is.” I offer her a wry smile. “It’s all because I love you.”
Slowly withdrawing, I help her into a sitting position and I don’t miss the wince as I do. “I’ve hurt you?”
“No. Think I need some sleep.”
I smile. “That is the plan, and no waking me in the middle of the night for my body,” I tease, kissing her waiting lips. “Sleep, Madison.” I kiss her forehead. “Let me tuck you in.”
After I’ve quickly dried us both, I help her into bed and spoon her from behind.
“Derek,” she whispers, “Just so you know, I love you with my body and soul.”
Tears hover close to the surface as I bend and kiss her shoulder.
I never once thought I’d fall in love again, after the loss of my wife, just over ten years ago now. But here I am, with the woman I love sleeping in my arms. She’s young and that does scare me, but I know between the two of us we’ll make it work.
THE END
Of If Only
51
Prologue
Seth
The moment I close the bedroom door behind me, my legs no longer hold my weight and I slide down the door, my ass thumping to the ground. My legs are bent up to my chest as I wrap my arms around them, my face buried in my knees. Silent tears stream from my eyes for the first time since I discovered what Paige was going through. I’ve kept my worry and fear locked inside of me and seeing Paige so broken tonight really was the last straw.
McKenzie Cousins Box Set 2 Page 21