Vote Then Read: Volume I

by Carly Phillips

  And he shouldn’t be standing in the middle of his bedroom wearing only his boxer briefs, thinking all of this to himself instead of saying it to her. Because no matter what he thought to himself, unless he gained the courage to say it to her face, it didn’t matter. She was the one who’d said it to him first. She had balls of steel, more than he could ever hope to have.

  He needed to see her.

  He needed her.

  It was that simple.

  Though nothing was that simple.

  He quickly dressed and saw that his parents had arrived to take care of Daisy. He knew he needed to talk to them and his daughter about what might happen, but for now, he needed to focus on Addi. Daisy would always come first for him, but that didn’t mean Addi couldn’t come in a close second.

  His parents gave him curious looks as he practically ran out of the house and to his truck. He didn’t know if his best friend was at home, but he figured she would be since she tended to clean when she wasn’t feeling up to doing anything but thinking.

  Her car wasn’t in the driveway when he pulled in, but of course, she could’ve been parked in the garage like usual. He shut off his engine and took a deep breath, his mind blanking as to what the hell he was going to say to her. He had never been good with words. Never had to be. He’d always put what he felt into his art and how he took care of others around him. He sure as hell hadn’t taken care of Addi when he should have, and now he needed to grovel.

  If Addi wanted to kick his ass, he would let her. He still hadn’t even taken her out in public for a damn date yet because she had been so understanding about how much time he wanted to spend with Daisy. They’d had over a month of hot nights, quick and secret hideaways, and times where they were just together as if it had been the normal thing to do all along.

  He was a bastard, and if Adrienne took him back, he would do everything in his power to make sure he was worthy of the love she had so freely given him. And once again, he needed to stop saying this to himself and say it to her. She deserved dates and flowers and grand gestures.

  And that was just what she would get today.

  He got out of his truck and closed the door behind him. He rang the doorbell and prayed she was inside, then went to his knees. If he was going to grovel, he planned to do it right.

  She opened the door and frowned as she looked down. “What are you doing, Mace?”

  “I didn’t have any jagged glass handy. But if you need me to kneel on that glass in front of you, I will. It’ll hurt, but I deserve far more agony than just kneeling on my knees on your porch.”

  “Mace.”

  “I’m so damn sorry, Addi. I told you over and over again that you were my best friend and that no matter what, I didn’t want to hurt you. And that’s the one thing I did…thinking I could protect what I had, I hurt you. You didn’t deserve that. You didn’t deserve the words I said that cut you like I’m sure they did. I’m so sorry I hurt you. You said you loved me, and I let you walk out of my house. I do trust you. I trust you with everything that I am and everything that I have. I trust you with my daughter’s life, and I trust you with my life. I shouldn’t have put my insecurities on your shoulders. I shouldn’t have let what happened with Jeaniene somehow reflect on you. You didn’t deserve that. You deserved me telling you exactly what I felt instead of what I was scared of. And I shouldn’t have waited so long to come to your door and ask you to take me back.”

  Tears were falling down her cheeks at this point, and he couldn’t help but stand up so he could reach her and wipe them from her face.

  “Mace.”

  “I’m sorry. I’d have gone down on my knees and begged for forgiveness at the shop, or anywhere else you needed me to in public, but I couldn’t wait until you were at work. I needed to see you. I should’ve come before, but I knew you needed your space. You needed time to bake cookies and clean your house to get your thoughts in order. Just like I needed time to get my head out of my ass and realize that I’ve fallen so far in fucking love with you, Adrienne Montgomery, that I don’t know how I could possibly live my life without you. You have been my best friend my entire adult life, and I wish I had known you when we were kids so I could say you’ve been my rock far longer than that. But I love you. I love the way you smile. I love that you put everything into every single thing you do. I love that you put your family first. I love that you are not afraid of what people think about your job or your ink or your hair or any stupid shit like that. I love that you took a risk in opening a business, and that you trusted me enough to take me along for the ride with you. I love that you took a risk on me. And I love that even when you were hurting, you helped my baby girl. Because that is the woman you are. I should’ve known that no matter what happened between us, you would always put Daisy ahead of any hurt. Because that is the kind of woman you are. You would have done that for Livvy or any of your siblings. Because that is the strength that flows through your veins. And I am honored to call you my friend. I am honored to call you my lover. I am honored above all that you love me, and I just hope that you will let me love you back.”

  She was silent for so long, he was afraid he’d either said too much or not enough. He’d told her exactly what he was feeling, yet he still couldn’t quite put into words the depth of his need for her.

  But before he could go on, she put her fingers to his lips and smiled. “That was the most amazing thing you have ever said to me, Mace Knight. And I have known you long enough that you have said some pretty amazing stuff. Because that is the type of man you are. And while I love the fact that you got on your knees to grovel to me, I don’t need you to do it again in public. I don’t need you to prostrate yourself and make anyone think less of you because of what is going on between us. I love you far more than that. And the fact that you love me? Well, that and you saying you’re sorry with your heart in your words makes up for anything you said that night—or didn’t say. You grovel good, Knight. Real good.”

  When she tugged on his arm, he followed her inside, closing the door behind him. He kissed her then, not being able to hold himself back and deny his need for her, for her lips, her taste, just her. When her hands cupped his cheeks, she pulled back and frowned.

  “What?” he asked, his voice breathed.

  “Why did you shave?”

  He kissed her again, biting her lower lip. “Because every time I looked in the mirror and saw my beard, I thought of you. How you loved petting it, how you said it made you want to ride my face. I remembered the way you came on my tongue when my beard scraped up against your inner thighs, and I knew I couldn’t look at my beard any longer without thinking of you.”

  She fanned herself. “Well, then. I guess we’ll have to see how well you can go to town with no beard.”

  He laughed and kissed her harder. “We’ll see. If I don’t live up to my bearded days, I can always grow it back.”

  “Because you’re a giver.”

  “Hell yeah, I am.”

  She led him to the bedroom, and he kissed her, missing her taste. They were gentle at first, slowly stripping each other out of their clothes as they got to know each other’s bodies once again. It wasn’t as if it had been ages since they had one another, but it had been long enough that Mace wanted to memorize every inch of her again. He’d missed her, damn it, and would never forgive himself for doing what he’d done.

  Addi kissed his temple before flicking him. “Stop.”

  He froze. “What? Did I hurt you?”

  She rolled her eyes. They were standing there naked in her room, and she was rolling her eyes at him. This was the Addi he knew and missed. “No, of course not. But you’re thinking about what you did and how bad you feel and you’re killing the mood. So why don’t you go lay on the bed and think of good things—not England, but maybe how sexy I am, please—and I’ll have my way with you.”

  He kissed her hard before moving to lay down on her bed. “Well, since you asked so nicely, but come over here and let me kis
s you. I missed you.”

  Her eyes warmed, and she quickly did as he’d asked. “I missed you, too.”

  They kissed and licked each other, their hands roaming over each other’s bodies. He cupped her breasts, then slid his hand between her legs to find her warm and ready. She slid her hand over his cock, squeezed, then leisurely stroked him as they got to know one another again. And what started out as sweet and slow soon turned into hot and fast.

  He was on top of her, sliding into her wet heat as their gazes met. Her mouth parted, and he rocked in and out of her, her pussy clamping down on him as he withdrew as if all parts of her needed him close. As he felt the same way, it all just turned him on even more.

  She lifted her hips, meeting him as they came together, and she sighed. “I need you to move faster,” she whispered. “I need you.”

  So he moved, increasing the pace until they were panting for one another, the sounds in the room those of sex and need and everything that was part of what he and Addi were. She arched for him, coming hard around his cock, and he followed, filling her up until his body shook and he knew he’d need time to recover before he had her again.

  Because he would have her again. Again and again and for as long as she’d have him. Because she was his as he was hers, and he would never forget that. Not again.

  “I love you,” he whispered. “So damn much.”

  Tears shone in her eyes, and she cupped his face. “Love you, too, old man.”

  Then he kissed her again and found that his recovery time was far shorter than he’d thought. His Addi seemed to have that effect on him.

  And he would never forget it.

  17

  Adrienne threw her head back and arched into Mace as he moved inside her. She was on all fours, her hands gripping the sheets as he thrust in and out of her. He’d already made her come twice at the edge of the bed with his mouth, then once again with him on top of her, then he’d moved so he could play with her ass and rub any soreness away by slowly massaging her even as he fucked her.

  Her hair slid down her back, and Mace gripped it, wrapping it around his fist. He was so big, so strong, that he stretched her with each thrust, and she couldn’t help but move with him because she knew she gave as good as she got.

  When he tugged her back by her hair, she let him move her so her back was to his front and he was fucking her as they knelt together on the bed. He had one hand in her hair, and the other played with her breasts as she reached around her to press him against her even tighter.

  “Come, Addi. I’m going to blow, and I need you to clamp down on me. You’re so fucking good at that.”

  She laughed but turned her head so she could kiss him. “Oh, yeah? How close are you?”

  “Touch your fucking clit, Addi. Or I’ll do it for you. And I know you’re already too sensitive there. Do you want to be the one who gives yourself an orgasm on my cock? Or do you want me to torture you with it and drag it out longer so your already tight little nub aches even more?”

  She honestly wasn’t sure of her answer since both sounded really hot, but because she loved the way he reacted when he watched her play with herself, she slid her hand down over her stomach and just barely brushed her clit. He’d been right, she was so sensitive after so many orgasms in a fifteen-hour period that it almost hurt, but she came right away as if she’d pressed some mythical and magical button that sent her into bliss.

  She shouted his name, and he did the same with hers as he filled her up, his cock twitching inside her as he emptied himself. And she’d never found him sexier.

  “That’s one way to say good morning,” Mace teased as they lay facing each other once they’d fallen from their knees.

  “The best way. We’ll have to make it a routine,” she said, her body all heavy and happy.

  He leaned forward and captured her lips. “We can do that, Addie mine. We can do that.”

  And because he was her Mace, her best friend, she believed him.

  “So, you and Mace?” her father asked, looking down at his coffee.

  “Me and Mace.” Adrienne leaned back in her chair, studying her parents as both either looked at her or back down at their coffees after she had told them that, from now on, she and Mace were an item. They were seeing each other, called each other boyfriend and girlfriend, and were talking about the future. There was no mention of marriage or other things like that because they were still in the beginning stages of dating and being in love with one another. There would be time for talk of the future later because she knew they would have one. She’d already told her sisters that she and Mace were officially together. They weren’t exactly ecstatic about the fact that he had hurt her, but after she mentioned the whole groveling thing, they had warmed up.

  Her parents, on the other hand…she wasn’t quite sure how they would react. But she didn’t want to hide anything anymore. She had to be open and upfront. Maybe not about what exactly went on behind closed doors, but at least the idea of a commitment and all that jazz. She forced herself not to blush, thinking about exactly what she and Mace did behind said closed doors and then tried not to squirm on her seat since she was still a little tender, but she wasn’t quite sure she had succeeded when her mother gave her an eerily knowing look.

  And that was enough of that.

  “Of course, you are, honey. I’ve known for a while now.” Her mom just grinned, and her dad started to laugh.

  “What?” Adrienne asked, setting down her cup. “You already knew? Here I was, ready to stand in front of the Inquisition, and you already knew.”

  “Of course, we knew, sweetheart,” her dad said with a smile. “We’re your parents. We know everything. Didn’t you learn that when you were a kid?” He winked, and Adrienne put her head in her hands and let out a groan. Thankfully, her parents didn’t actually perform the Inquisition, and she was able to enjoy the rest of her coffee before she said goodbye and headed to the shop. She was starting early since she wanted to get a few paperwork things done, but the others wouldn’t be in until later.

  Of course, her day wouldn’t continue to be good because as soon as she parked, she saw the new tags on the front of her building. Someone had put more graffiti all over it, this time using random shapes and letters that didn’t form actual words. She wasn’t beaten, wasn’t sad this time. No tears and no stomach clenches.

  No, this time, she was just fucking pissed.

  Whoever thought they could run her out of the building was sorely mistaken. MIT would just clean up and keep going. Their business wasn’t going to fail because of some asshole. Her people were beyond talented, and everyone who didn’t think so could fuck right off. She called the cops and her insurance agent from her car—again—not bothering to stand out in the cold to do so, then texted Mace that he should probably get in and help her clean up. Ryan was out of town, and today was Shep’s morning with Livvy since Shea was heading into tax season and needed time to prep.

  She took a deep breath and rolled her shoulders back. Shep and Mace had said the action was her putting on her armor so she could kick ass, and right then, they were right. Because fuck the guy who had first come into the shop to belittle their success, and fuck anyone who thought they could take them down.

  They obviously didn’t know the Montgomerys.

  She was out of her car and on her way to the front of the shop when Thea and a man she didn’t recognize came out of the doors of Colorado Icing, her sister’s bakery. Thea had another splotch of flour in her hair—something that made her adorable even if her sister hated looking a mess at work—and a frown on her face.

  “Again?” she said, shaking her head. “Did you call the cops, or should we? Damn it. I’m so annoyed for you.”

  “I’m pretty annoyed myself.” She looked at the man. “Hi, I’m Adrienne, Thea’s sister and the owner of this shop over here.” She pointed her thumb over her shoulder, trying not to let the sight of all the paint and mess hurt her heart more than it already did. She would
not back down.

  “Oh, this is Dimitri, Adrienne,” Thea said, waving her hands. “I thought you’d already met. I’m sorry.”

  Dimitri was the newly ex-husband of Thea’s friend Molly and was also friends with Thea. And, yeah, she had met him before, but it had only been a couple of times and, apparently, she hadn’t remembered how hot he was. He was all bearded and mysterious and now that she remembered, had some serious ink that she had admired.

  “Oh, yeah, I’m so sorry. Hi, Dimitri. I’m apparently not all there today.”

  He smiled, inclining his head. “Hi. And, yeah, I remember you, too, though it’s been a couple of years. Thea was just filling me in on everything that’s been happening with the shop. I know there’s probably nothing I can do for you, but do you want me to walk inside with you and check out if there’s any other damage?”

  She was shaking her head even as he asked. “The door looks fine, so I think it’s just like last time with the paint on the front. I’m going to go in and check, though, but I’ll be okay. She held up her keys that were between her fingers. “I learned how to walk like this a long time ago.”

  “Well, let us know if you need us,” Dimitri said while Thea came forward and gave her a tight hug.

  “Seriously. If you want a donut or a crawler or something, just come on over. I want whoever did this caught.”

  “I know you do. Me, too. I hope it’s not hurting your business.” Adrienne had gotten to know each of the owners in the area since they’d started construction over a year ago, but her first priority was always Thea with Abby and her tea shop now following a close second.

  “Business is fine,” Thea said as she slid her hand through the flour in her hair. “Be safe, and come over later for hot cocoa or something. I miss seeing your face.” She hugged her again before whispering, “And I want more Mace details, please.”