by S. Moose
X,
Bryce
My fingers go crazy on the keyboard.
Madison: As much as I appreciate the gesture, I don’t need your credit card. I have money, Bryce. Kinda borderline controlling.
Bryce: This type of control is to benefit you and me. I’m not trying to discredit your worth and what you make. I know you have money. I know you can take care of yourself. But I’d like to be the one to take care of my beautiful girlfriend. Will you let me?
There’s no way I can be mad at him after that statement.
Madison: Fine. Thank you, sweetie.
Bryce: You’re very welcome. I need to get ready and head down for breakfast. Send me pictures of what you’re trying on. Think of me.
Madison: I will, and I will. XO.
I put my phone and wallet back in my purse and head toward the lingerie section again.
We spend an hour at the store and walk out with smiles. I don’t want it to be this way, but if I’m being honest, it’s nice to be taken care of.
“Where to now?” Kaylee asks.
“Everywhere.” I grin.
Chapter 32
Madison
I’m asleep in Bryce’s king-size bed. He’s coming home tonight from California, and the last time we talked, he didn’t seem too happy.
After spending time with Kaylee, Peter picked me up and drove me to the penthouse. I fell right on top of the bed after I took a shower and got ready.
There's an issue with his jet so he's stuck until the problem gets fixed. I turn over and see it’s almost midnight. Instead of waiting, I need to sleep. Tomorrow’s our “meeting,” so I’m sure I’ll be at his office all day, then we’ll have dinner and come back to the penthouse.
Waking up in a jolt, I rub my eyes and glance around the room. It’s nearly three when I wake up again. Picking up my phone from the nightstand, I press Bryce’s name in my contact list, and it goes straight to voicemail. There are no text messages from him, so I try calling again and get the same result—his voicemail. Feeling a little dizzy, I get out of bed, put on my silk robe, and head downstairs for a glass of water. I notice the light’s on in his office, and I know I turned it off before going to bed. Pushing the door open, I look inside and see Bryce sleeping on the couch. There are papers spread over the table, and his MacBook is on. I take a moment to admire the man I’m deeply falling in love with. His face is free of his usual worry lines. Right now, he looks like a younger man without a care or worry.
Bending over him, I press my lips to his cheek, and gradually, his eyes open.
“Madison?”
I smile. “Hi, babe. I found you.”
The biggest grin spreads across his lightly stubble face. Oh, this man is pulling me in deeper and deeper.
“You found me,” he repeats. “I didn’t want to wake you, so I worked here for a while. Must have fallen asleep. You looked so beautiful in our bed.”
Our bed.
“It’s lonely without you.” And idea comes to me. “We’ve never had sex in your office.”
“Why, Ms. Smith, what are you insinuating?”
No words are needed. I slide the robe off and let my hair down from the bun it was in, so it flows past my shoulder.
A slight hiss leaves his lips.
“You need to always be in silk and lace. Fuck, baby, you look sexy.”
I blush. The negligee is quite short and revealing. It makes me feel sexy.
Desired.
Wanted.
I take the few steps to him and bend over to unbutton his black pants. Gripping his briefs, I pull both his pants and briefs down to reveal his awaiting cock. I’m highly turned on; we don’t need foreplay.
Bryce has other ideas.
Getting up, he pulls off his shirt, the buttons scattering across the hardwood floor. His glorious naked body saunters to me, and he lays me down on the large couch. Our eyes remain on each other. I never want to look away.
Keeping still and taking deep breaths, I watch him pull off my negligee. He openly admires me. The deepening need to have him warms my body, and I moan from his lustful gaze.
“Stay still,” he softly commands.
The insane sensuality of his kissing is making the ache grow with each touch of his lips. He pays the same attention to each of my toes. During his moment with my feet, his eyes remain on me the entire time. I watch with fierce desire as he spreads me open and lowers himself down to my pussy, breathing in my scent and groaning. When he flicks his tongue on my clit, I bite my lower lip and feel every touch of his greedy tongue.
With slow and gentle movements, he circles my clit with his tongue and uses my arousal to slide two fingers in. Immediately finding my G-spot, Bryce takes no mercy on me and sends my body to the brink of an orgasm.
My mind and body fall to the pleasures he’s giving. I grip my fingers in his hair and thrust my hips closer for deeper pleasure. The intensity of his licking and sucking allows the wild pleasure building inside me to escape. It’s raw and full of an unassuming craving for him.
“Bryce! Yes! More!” I scream out in ecstasy. I'm on the brink of another orgasm when he stops and trails his kisses up my body. Just as I'm about to protest and scream at him for not letting me come, he pushes himself all the way inside me.
Each thrust strengthens our connection. The relentless pace is causing my body to hold on for dear life. His teeth graze the skin on my neck, softly biting, and sucking lightly. The room smells of sex and sweat from our exertion.
Our bodies tense, moving tighter in an even rhythm. The slapping of him against my body triggers our moans to fill the office. He grows bigger and thicker inside me, so I know he’s close. With three more strong and powerful pushes inside me, he finds his release, and we come together as one, deepening the connection we have in one another. His beautiful roar creates a fervent throb that carries from my body to his. This connection is something only we can feel. Only we can see. It’s how we see each other and how we’re growing to fill the cracks and holes in our lives.
Bryce lazily pulls out and moves to my side to lie next to me. We’re on our sides, staring at each other, neither of us moving or saying anything. The words we’re not speaking are loud enough from the way our eyes dance with each other.
“I love that you’re here with me. I’m going to make this penthouse into our home. Having you here fills the voids and quiet.”
“You can do whatever you want, sweetheart.” He kisses my forehead.
I wrap my arm around his hard body and snuggle close to him. “I love you.”
His lips press on top of my head for a few beats before he says, “I love you, Madison.”
When I go to the apartment to help Kaylee pack, I hear noises from the kitchen and immediately stop.
“You have a bedroom!” I shout and cringe at the moans from Kaylee. “Seriously!”
There’s movement in the kitchen, and luckily, the moaning has stopped. Thank the Lord we’re moving out.
“Hi, Madison,” Henry says and cups my cheek with his hand.
“Ew! Don’t touch me.” I laugh and shove him to the side before rushing to the sink and washing my face. “I don’t know where your hand has been.” Henry starts to say something, but I lift my hand in the air to stop him. “I don’t want to know. Please, keep it to yourself.”
“Yay, you’re here. Let’s start packing,” Kaylee states and hops off the counter, swaying her hips while walking to her bedroom. I hold in my giggling and eye rolling. This girl is completely and hopelessly head over heels for Henry.
“If you two start groping each other or anything of that nature, I’m out.”
Henry laughs and pokes my side before the three of us are in Kaylee’s room and get to work. Apparently, I don’t need to pack my room since Bryce took it upon himself to have Kelly, his housekeeper, do the work. I didn’t like the idea of her in my room. Not because I don’t trust her—because I do—but I’m fully capable of doing things on my own. But I choose not t
o argue or defy Bryce, especially with little things. Now, if he did something stupid and uncalled for, then I’d put him in his place. Sometimes I need to choose my battles with that man.
The three of us get her room packed and ready to go in less than two hours. Bryce is stuck in meetings all day, and he’s not sure when he’ll finish. Our “meeting” was canceled, so I didn’t have to work today. Instead, we stayed in bed until he had to go, and I didn’t want to be at the penthouse alone.
I check my cell phone for the time, and see it’s nearing five thirty. By the time we’re one hundred percent done, it’s six fifteen, and there’s been no word from Bryce. I didn’t want to stop by his office in Chicago and have Peter drive here, so I hang out in the living room with Henry and Kaylee while we wait for Chinese takeout.
“Madison,” Henry begins to say, “I have a position in my company I think you’ll excel in. Kaylee filled me in on your situation, and after doing some research and calling your boss at your internship and talking to Glenn, I’d love to have you work for me.” I still and think about what Bryce is going to do. “Don’t worry about Bryce. He’ll be pissed as fuck, but we’re best friends, and he’d rather have you work for me than another man.”
“Oh, wow. I have no idea what to say.” My heart picks up its pace. I wasn’t expecting something like this so soon.
“My company is investing in a fashion magazine, and since I’m holding a majority of the magazine, I get to make decisions regarding who works for me and what they do. It’s in need of a marketing director. Before you say anything, I know this seems like a lot, but after reviewing your letters of recommendation, grades from college, and your internship feedback, plus how highly Glenn spoke of you, I know you’ll be a perfect asset.”
“I have no idea what to say!” I jump from the couch to have a little dance party. Then I stop and look at them both. “Please don’t hire me because you’re dating her.”
“Of course not, Madison. I need people I can rely on and work hard to better my businesses. When it comes to my career, the livelihood of my employees, and the bottom line, I don’t consider the emotional part in the sense that I’m not going to necessarily hold your hand and be patient for your answer. Since I know you can do the work and do it well, I want you to be part of the future of my company.”
I’m in shock, and I pinch myself to make sure this is real. The pain tingles for a few seconds, letting me know I’m, in fact, very much awake and alive.
“Thank you so much, Henry!”
“You’re welcome. Put in your notice and once you’re done working, you can start at my company.”
Kaylee smiles at me before standing up and joining my dance party. I grab Henry’s hand, and he joins us. Being here with them makes me wonder if Bryce would be silly like this.
Chapter 33
Madison
“What’s this?”
Bryce winks and takes a seat on the edge of the bed. “Open it.” His eyes flicker with excitement. “Go on.”
The large rectangle box has silver wrapping paper and a black bow on top. Gradually, I tear the paper, not wanting to be an impatient maniac even though I can’t wait to see what he got me.
“For fuck’s sake.” Bryce laughs and nudges me.
“Fine!” Once all the wrapping paper is off and on our bedroom floor, I rip the top off and tear the tissue paper covering my present. Sitting pretty is a beautiful black Prada purse. I pick it up and immediately notice it’s the one I’ve had my eyes on. “Bryce.”
“You’re welcome, baby. You should look inside.” The eager grin on Bryce’s face makes me giggle. He looks like a little boy on Christmas morning.
Happy.
Anxious.
Waiting.
My fingers latch onto the zipper to open my purse, and inside, there’s a blue box. The excitement bursts, and my eyes go wide at the beautiful crusted heart pendant. Bryce takes the necklace from my shaky hands and brushes my hair to the side. “A beautiful necklace for my beautiful girlfriend.”
I spin around and kiss him, letting myself fall right into him. “I love you.”
“I love you too. Get ready. We need to leave soon.”
A smile plays at the corners of my mouth. I’ve been working in Bryce’s office for the past few days. I’m still putting together outfits for him and consulting, but mostly, I admire the way he dominates his business. He doesn’t know about the position Henry’s offered me. Knowing how protective and overbearing he is, this may not end well for me… or Henry.
Once I’m dressed and ready, I move my things from my old purse to my new one. My birth control pills fall on the bed, and I panic. I look at the pills and see I’ve missed two days.
“Fuck,” I mutter and double the dose and toss the other missed pill. I groan and rub my temples. There can’t be any mistakes and missing doses. If I end up pregnant ... oh hell, I don’t want to think about it. I’m twenty-two years old, in a brand-new relationship, and I don’t have my life together. Sure, my boyfriend’s rich, and he wouldn’t abandon me, but it’s not convenient whatsoever. If I’m being honest, I’m still in the selfish I want all your attention stage in the relationship.
“Problem?” I look up to see Bryce walking toward me. He looks down, then at me. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Is everything okay?”
“Of course. Just had to take my birth control.” I lift the package to show him. “All good.”
“Good. Come on.”
“Okay.” I easily relent. The uncomfortable notion I could be pregnant is hitting me with force, and all the what-ifs smack me in the face.
My skin instantly tingles as his hand rests on the small of my back. Just like that, all my worries are gone. With one touch, Bryce has the capability to erase my worries and replace it with desire. Pure sensuous desire.
“I like your dress,” he says softly, leaning down to kiss the side of my head.
“You like all my dresses,” I counter and turn my head to look at him. “Is that why I’m missing my dress pants?”
“Of course.” He winks before we climb into the back of his SUV.
While Bryce is in a meeting down the hall, I take it upon myself to organize his files. How this man finds anything is beyond me. He has papers in disarray and some aren’t in numerical order. I grab the papers and put the pile in the correct folder. It’s brainless work. I want Bryce to be less stressed out, so hopefully, this’ll help. He wants me to spend the day shopping and going to the spa. As much as I’d like that as well, I enjoy working and earning a paycheck. It’d be so simple to fall into that life of luxury. My mom always said a woman needs to be able to stand on her own two feet and never depend on someone else to breathe for her. I didn’t know what she meant until recently. Thinking about her brings a sadness I haven’t felt in months. I wonder if she’d like Bryce. Or if she’s in Heaven upset because of how dominant he is with her baby girl. I laugh, imagining her in the clouds, flying high and smiling. The pain she felt here isn’t up there with her. Up in the clouds, she feels love, happiness, and life. She’s alive and will always be alive.
“I miss you, Mom,” I whisper and look outside through the glass, hoping I’ll feel her someway or somehow.
Tiffany saunters in, interrupting my organizing. Her smile immediately turns into a scowl when she sees me. This makes me a little happy. I love getting on her nerves. I know it’s immature and childish, but she deserves it from the way she acted toward me.
“Madison. How lovely to see you.” I don’t miss the annoyed tone she’s desperately trying to hide. I’m a woman who can smell fakeness from a mile away. It’s easy to decipher fake versus genuine. Tiffany’s smile is forced—in a thin line, not showing her teeth, and there’s tension all through her body. Yep. She’s not happy to see me. Tiffany has made herself scarce lately, and it’s been nice not seeing her try to get Bryce’s attention. I roll my eyes when I think about it and feel the bile creeping up my throat. I didn’t wonder about her … until n
ow.
“So you’re here. With Bryce.”
“Yes.” All unkind thoughts of what I wish would happen to her cross my mind. There’s a possibility of her falling on her face with those awful looking stilettos since it’s obvious she doesn’t know how to walk properly in them. She reminds me of a baby calf—wobbly, unsteady, and unsure. Or there’s a possibility of her getting food poisoning and staying home with no one to take care of her. If any of my thoughts come to fruition, I’ll feel bad for a millisecond, and then laugh so hard I’ll probably fall over. Seeing her unleashes the bitch inside me. She comes out to play every so often, but I haven’t seen her in a while. My inner bitch is clawing to get out and give Tiffany a piece of my mind.“Tiffany, is there something I can help you with?”
“No.” She crosses the room to Bryce’s desk. “I need the report we saw in California. It’s important for our next meeting.”
California.
His business trip.
Tiffany went.
He never told me.
My body turns numb. I hide my reaction and tell myself not to display any emotion. This is what she wants. She wants to get under my skin the way I get under hers.
“I haven’t seen it.”
She scoffs. “Of course, you wouldn’t. Why would Bryce tell you anything about his company?”
“That’s rude.”
“Anyway, tell Bryce my flight landed early. I have some things to catch up on since he put me to work in California.” I don’t miss her snide tone. “I’ll stop by later.” She pauses and turns to sit on the armrest of the sofa. “I understand you and Bryce are officially together. I’d say congratulations. Only I won’t.”
“I don’t need your congratulations,” I sass.
“And why would you? It would be wasted. I don’t know what you think you’re doing, but Bryce isn’t the type of man to settle. You won’t see him coming home every night for dinner and sleeping with you at night. If you think you’re going to get married and have kids, then you’re sorely mistaken. You have no idea what kind of man he is, and soon enough, you’ll find out. Bryce isn’t capable of having one woman in his life. He has several. It keeps his life exciting. Do you honestly think you’ll last?”