They laugh. “Have you heard from Bennet?” Damon asks, and it feels like the whole room has shifted.
I shake my head. “Nope, he doesn’t know where I live, and I changed my number for a reason. That night I went to his house, he had another woman there. He called me over and over, but I didn’t answer. I figured, if he’s going to do what I told him to do, I should too. I said I was going to move on and forget, and that’s exactly what I’m doing.”
Jazz looks over at Damon. “How’s he doing anyway? You haven’t said anything about him in a while.”
Damon nods, and I can’t help but focus on every word he says. “He’s doing okay. After his dad passed, it took a while to get everything in order. But he’s running the company like always, and he works in his spare time building his drag cars.”
My eyes grow wide. “His dad died?”
He nods. “Yeah, it was really hard on him. He missed a ton of work, and every time I called to check on him, he was plastered. But he pulled himself out of it, came back to work, started this new business on the side, and I think he’s finally starting to date again.”
My eyes fall to the table between us, and I bite my bottom lip. My heart is racing from hearing about Bennet, and there’s this sensation in my stomach that makes me feel uneasy and a little sick. My mind begins drifting off, thinking about the time we spent together. I can’t even count how many times I cried myself to sleep after going to his house that night. Suddenly, I regret changing my number. Maybe I should’ve heard him out. Deep in my heart, I know I still belong to him, no matter how many guys I date or hook-up with to fight off the feelings.
But I’m glad that he’s moved on and is doing well. It sounds like he’s doing better than I am. I still think of him often, and a few times, I’ve dialed his number just to hear his voice. I never talked though, and he stopped calling my number back after the first dozen times.
I miss him. Everything in me misses him: the way he would look at me, the way he’d touch me, the way everything in the world felt right when we were together. I miss his scent, his laugh, the sound of his voice. I miss the heat that would radiate off of him when we’d sleep. I even miss the soft snores that would escape after we spent hours having sex.
“What time is your date?” Jazz asks, snapping me from my thoughts.
“Oh, um, eight,” I answer, mindlessly.
“You know it’s going on seven now, right?”
My head pops up, and my eyes land on the clock on the wall. “Fuck. I have to get ready.” I set down my glass and sprint down the hall toward my room.
I hear them laughing from behind me.
“Call me tomorrow, Mads. Let me know how it goes.”
“I will. Thanks for coming. Maybe this weekend I’ll drive out and check out all the work you’ve done to the old house,” I yell down the hallway as I pull my black dress up over my body.
“Love you,” they both say in unison.
“Love you back,” I yell, rushing to the vanity to fix my hair and makeup.
It’s pushing eight when I step back and look myself over. My black dress hugs every curve and ends mid-thigh. My black pumps make my legs look longer and shapelier. And my dark hair is soft and flowing around in me. I add a little red lipstick to my lips and grab my clutch just as someone knocks on the door.
I quickly pull it open to find James on the other side. I smile and lean in for a quick kiss. “Hi,” I say when I pull away and close the door behind me.
“You look beautiful,” he breathes out, handing over flowers.
“Thank you.” I take the flowers and set them inside before stepping back out and locking the door.
“This is a nice building. Have you lived here long?”
“Just over three months now. My last place caught on fire. Luckily, I had insurance, or I never would’ve had the money to afford this place.”
“Sometimes things end for a better future,” he says, and for some reason, I can’t help but read into that statement. Maybe things ended with Bennet to pave the way for him. Maybe Bennet wasn’t supposed to be my happily ever after. Maybe Bennet was only placed in my life so I’d recognize love when it came around. I wish I could believe in fate, but Bennet hasn’t been placed in front of me since. If we were meant to be together, fate wouldn’t take so long, would it?
I shake my head. “My thoughts exactly,” I agree, wrapping my hand around his arm as we step into the elevator.
He leads me outside and opens the door to a fancy sports car.
“Is this yours?” I ask.
He nods. “Did you picture me having something else?”
I laugh. “No, this looks just like you,” I say, sliding into the seat. As he walks around the car to get behind the wheel, I can’t help but think of Bennet again and the first time I got into his car. God, why is he on my mind so much tonight? It must be because Jazz and Damon mentioned him. It doesn’t mean anything. I take a deep breath and clear my head, wanting to focus on James and give him a fair shot since this is my first attempt of dating since Bennet.
“So, where are we going?” I ask as he shifts into drive.
“I figured we’d have a nice dinner, and then maybe go somewhere for drinks?”
I nod. “Sounds like a plan.”
We have a fancy dinner at some expensive place, the kind of dinner that looks beautiful but doesn’t come close to filling you up. When we leave, I almost ask to run through a drive-through before going for drinks, but I don’t. When we pull up to some club I’ve never been to, he climbs out and hands over the keys to the valet. I open my door just in time for him to catch it and help me out of the car. The red rope is removed, and we’re allowed to walk into the building. I think we’re heading to the bar, but he directs me to a flight of stairs and into a private VIP area. There’s a quiet room that’s lit up with black lights. It only has a couch and one table with a fully stocked bar. He sits me down and then heads to our private bar for our drinks.
The way the space is set up, one wall is nothing but windows, overlooking the rest of the club. I stand and walk up to the window, looking down at the bar and crowded dance floor. My eyes skim the room, and for some reason, they’re drawn over to the far corner where there’s a man standing up from his table, eyes locked on mine.
It’s Bennet.
Even though it’s dark and hard to see since it’s so far away, deep in my soul, I know who’s looking at me. My lungs and heart freeze and my lips part as I stand there staring back at him.
James walks up to me and hands me my drink, snapping me from my daze.
“So, what do you think? Have you ever been here before?”
I take a sip, hoping it clears the fog from my head. “No, it’s a little crazy, isn’t it? I mean, who goes to a club to be alone?” I ask, motioning toward the empty VIP section we’re in.
He shrugs. “I like to come here. I can have my private room to relax in, then head down to the club if I feel like socializing. But right now, I want to get to know you better.” He takes my hand and pulls me back to the couch.
We both place our drinks on the glass table in front of us, and he turns his body toward mine, his hand landing on my knee. “So, tell me, Madeline, what is it you like to do outside of work?”
I shrug. “What everyone else does, I guess. Usually, through the week, I just hang out at home and have a quiet dinner, or I’ll go to the new gym I joined. On the weekends, I get all my running done, and I’ll hang out with my best friend. You know, pretty normal stuff.”
“You work out? I figured you did. Not many women have an ass like yours.” He grins and winks.
I fake a smile, not sure if that’s supposed to be a compliment or not.
He picks up his drink and finishes it off before standing for another. It seems, the more he drinks, the less he cares about what he says. I’ve known him for a month now, and he’s always been rather shy and quiet. When he did flirt, it was always something sweet. It wasn’t talking about my ass an
d placing his hands on my body. I try to count how many drinks he’s had tonight and figure it has to be at least six between dinner and now.
He sits back at my side and his hand lands back on my leg, but this time, higher up on my thigh.
“You are amazing, you know that?” he whispers, leaning in and pressing his mouth to mine. I kiss him back for a moment but then lean away, breaking the kiss. “God, you taste like heaven,” he whispers, moving back in.
I place my hand on his chest, hoping he understands it means that this is far enough. I don’t mind a simple kiss, but I’m not going to be fucking him in front of this bartender either. His kiss gets harder and more forced. Before I know it, his body is almost completely on top of mine, and I’m being pushed back against the arm of the couch. I break my lips away from his.
“James, that’s enough,” I say, just as he moves his mouth back to mine. His hand comes up and squeezes my breast, and I push him off of me, causing him to fall into the floor.
“Don’t ever call me again,” I say, grabbing my clutch and storming out of the room.
I slam the door behind me, but I can feel him chasing after me. I pick up the pace but can’t go too quick on the stairs in these heels. My eyes flash over to the corner, where I see Bennet stand up when his eyes land on mine, but I tear them away in an effort to keep my head down so that I don’t fall.
I push my way through the crowd, and just as I’m almost to the door, James reaches out and grabs my wrist. He spins me around to face him. “Maddie, what’s your problem?” he asks loudly, above the music.
“Let me go, James.” I try pushing his hands off me.
“No, just tell me what’s wrong,” he tries, his hands growing tighter around my wrists.
Bennet steps up to my side, only looking at James. His jaw is twitching, and even though he looks cool and collected, I can tell he’s ready to pounce. “Let her go,” he demands.
“Who the fuck are you?” James asks, turning his attention back to me. “Come on, Maddie. Just come back upstairs with me,” he pleads.
“I said let her go.” Bennet steps forward, shoving James back, and catching me when I stumble.
The moment his hands are on my body, I feel like I’ve been set on fire. Our eyes lock, and I see his Adam’s apple bob as his jaw tenses.
Our connection is cut short though because James jumps between us, shoving Bennet back.
“I don’t think you want to do this, man,” Bennet tells him.
James nods. “You inserted yourself into our business. I suggest you walk away and leave us alone.”
Bennet shakes his head. “I can’t do that.”
James shrugs and begins rolling up his sleeves. “Your funeral.” He jumps toward Bennet and Bennet reacts quickly, swinging and landing a solid hit to James’ stomach. He recovers quickly and swings, landing a blow to Bennet’s jaw. I hear the loud crack over the music, but it doesn’t faze him. He doesn’t even stumble back. He just attacks, throwing punch after punch and not stopping until James is running away with a busted lip and a bruised eye that’s swelling shut.
I’m standing by the bar, frozen, while the whole club is going crazy. I hear someone yell that the police are coming; bouncers are going crazy, now trying to break up all the fights that started. But all I see is Bennet. He holds out his hand, and I look from his hand to his eyes and back.
“Come with me, Maddie,” he asks, low so only I can hear.
I hear a gunshot from somewhere in the room, and I jump, slapping my hand into his. He pulls me into the street and inside his waiting limo. He slams the door closed behind us and yells for the driver to go. The driver hits the gas so fast, it throws us both back in our seats, tires squealing.
Neither of us talks for a moment; we just let our hearts calm and even out. Finally, he looks over at me in the darkness. I look over at him, unsure of what to say. His jaw ticks and his Adam’s apple bobs again. He opens his mouth to say something, but I can’t wait to find out what it is. In fact, I don’t care what he’s about to say. I just lean forward and press my mouth to his.
20
Bennet
I want to yell and scream at her for even going out with that guy. I want to tell her that I better never find her again with a guy like that, but I don’t have time to say any of it. She leans forward and presses her mouth to mine, and my whole fucking world stops. There’s nothing left but me and her. My hands reach out and pull her onto my lap as I deepen the kiss. She tastes of a sweetness I’ve missed. My blood begins to boil beneath my skin, and my heart is pounding like a jackhammer. Even though there are so many things to talk about, I can’t get myself to break this kiss to say any of it. All I can do is live in this moment, hoping it never ends.
Her hips start to move back and forth against me, causing my dick to harden like stone. Her hands start pushing my jacket off my shoulders, and I quickly shrug out of it. I break the kiss.
“What’s your address?” I whisper.
She rattles it off, and just as I yell it up to the driver, her mouth is back on mine, her hands, loosening my tie. I trail my lips over to her jaw and down her neck. She lets out a moan that makes me feel like I’ve been struck by lightning; it makes my dick twitch against her.
“We’re here,” she says, sliding off my lap. She takes my hand and pulls me from the car and into the building. She leads me to the elevator and pushes a button. When the doors close, I’m back on her. My hands tour her body, needing to feel every inch, needing to make sure this is real and not some stupid dream—God knows I’ve had many of these dreams over the several months.
Her fingers get to work on the buttons on my shirt, unbuttoning them at the speed of light. I pick her up and press her against the wall, pulling back enough to look into her icy blue eyes.
Just looking in those eyes brings up so much emotion for me. I’m drowning in it: sadness, pain, regret, and love. “Fuck, I’ve missed you so much,” I whisper as I move my lips back to hers. My hand slides up her inner thigh, brushing against her bare core. Without warning, I slide my finger deep inside, making her call out loudly.
A part of me wants to be pissed that she decided against the panties tonight for that asshole she was with, but the rest of me just wants to pretend that she knew she’d run into me.
The elevator dings and the doors open. She breaks our kiss, and I allow her to slide down the wall. I pull away, but she doesn’t release my hand—like if she does, I’ll disappear. She drags me from the elevator and up to a door. While she digs around for her keys, I press my groin against her ass so she can feel how turned on I am. My hands pull her hair away from her neck, and my lips find the soft skin beneath it.
She gets the door open and we stumble through. She spins around, catching my lips with hers. She pushes my shirt over my shoulders and onto the floor. When her hands land on my belt buckle, I pull away.
“I don’t know what this is, but I don’t care.” I spin her around and place her hands on the table in front of her. My fingers find the zipper on her dress, and I slowly lower it. “I’ve spent the last several months dreaming of this day, Maddie. And now that it’s here, I’m taking my time with you. This won’t be hurried or rushed.” I pull her dress down her body until it lands in a puddle at her feet. When I glance down at her, she’s completely naked, wearing nothing but those fucking black pumps. “I’m going to fuck you until you beg me to stop.” I reach around and slide my fingers between her folds as I gently bite down on her shoulder. “When I’m done with you, Maddie, you won’t be able to walk away from me again.” I spin her around and catch her lips with mine. My tongue demands entrance, and she allows it as she wraps herself around my body.
I place my hands on her ass as I carry her through the apartment until I find her bedroom, and then I drop her onto the bed. As she scoots up the bed, I unbutton my pants and kick them off, watching her the whole time as she lays herself back and watches me. She’s more toned than ever. It’s easy to see she’s been keeping
up with her workouts even though I haven’t left the gym in hopes of finding her. I take her ankle in my hand and unstrap her shoe. When I toss it to the side, I do the same with the other. I place her first foot to the left of me, and then the other to the right, so she’s spread out for me. She doesn’t shy away. She licks her lips and lets out a soft moan when I pick up her knee and press a kiss to the inside.
When my lips kiss up her right leg, I pick up the other and do the same. Finally, I kiss my way to her center, and I suck her clit into my hot mouth. Being able to taste her again has me ready to explode. She’s breathing heavy and moaning and whimpering. When my name slips past her lips, I have no choice but to slide into her. She wraps her arms around my neck as I thrust into her as hard as I can.
“Fuck, I missed you,” I whisper against her mouth while I roll my hips against her.
“I’m sorry, Bennet,” she cries out. “I love you,” she whispers, causing my hips to pause. My hands cup her face, and our eyes lock; hers are full of tears.
“I didn’t want to mess things up for you; that’s what I told myself. But honestly, I was scared. I was scared of the feelings I was having for you. And I was scared when you said you wanted marriage and kids.” The tears overfill her eyes now.
I shake my head. “I just want you, Maddie. The rest of it, I don’t care about. I just want you, baby. I need you,” I confess, moving my lips to hers where I kiss her softly for the first time in months. Her muscles squeeze my cock that’s still inside her, and my hips start to move gently on their own.
“I love you, Bennet,” she mumbles against my lips.
“I love you too, Maddie,” I say, never allowing my hips to stop.
It feels like her muscles are squeezing every inch of my cock, and it makes my release rise to the surface. I know I’m about to come and I can’t stop it. I place my hand between us and rub her clit while I thrust up into her. Just as her cries and whimpers find my ears, my release bubbles over. I let out a loud moan as my hips take on a mind of their own, moving back and forth quickly with shaky jerks. We ride out our release together until we’re both spent from the physical and emotional toll on our bodies.
His Every Desire (Contemporary Romance Box Set) Page 16