I exit the highway and make a few turns on some side streets. We drive through a small town that has nothing but a gas station, a homestyle restaurant, and a couple independent business, and finally, we’re home—or our soon to be home.
“Is this your shop?” she asks, unbuckling and stepping out of the car.
“Yep. Follow me.” I take her hand and lead her to the backside of the property where there’s a big pond. I turn us around and point at the place the house is going. “The house is going to be over there. The plans have a back porch so we can sit out there at sunset and watch the sun leave the sky over the pond. There’s going to be four bedrooms upstairs with three baths. Then downstairs there's the kitchen, living room, dining room, bathroom, laundry room, and office. What do you think?”
She turns to face me and wraps her arms around my neck. “I think it’ll be perfect.” She closes the distance between us, pressing her lips to mine.
“Want to see the garage?” I ask, pulling her back up the property and to the pole barn. I unlock the door and turn off the alarm. The garage isn’t much, just a typical garage, but the tools and car parts are everywhere, with a half-finished car parked in the center. I tap it on the front fender. “This will be the first one to roll out. What do you think?”
She smiles as she walks closer. “I think we need to welcome it to the family, don’t you?” she says, walking closer.
“What did you have in mind?”
On her walk over to me, she’s slowly working her sundress up her thighs, then her flat, toned stomach, past her full chest, and over her head. She tosses it my way, and it lands on the top of the car.
She’s finally within arm’s reach, and I grab her, picking her up and setting her on the hood. My mouth moves to hers, and her hands get busy freeing me from my jeans. I lay her back as I position myself at her opening. One hand guides myself into her while the other travels her body.
“I love you, Bennet,” she whispers while I take from my body to give to hers.
“I love you too, Maddie,” I say, thrusting into her, filling her until she cries out.
When we’ve both lost ourselves, I pull her up, and we both fix our clothing. She looks at the car with a smile. “That’s better, right?”
I look down at the hood of the car and see her ass print. I laugh. “Much better.”
As we walk out of the garage and I turn to lock the door, my eyes land on the car, and a smile spreads across my face. “I may have a hard time selling that car now.” She laughs but takes my hand and pulls me back to the driveway where we parked.
“You know, I think this property would make for a beautiful wedding.”
I look over at her. “I think you’re right.”
“How much time do we have until the house is done?”
I shrug. “Depends on when we start it.”
“Can it be done by next spring?”
I start the car. “I think so. I’ll call the construction company in the morning and give them the go-ahead to start.”
She leans over the center console. “Thank you,” she whispers, pressing her lips to mine.
“Anything, Maddie,” I whisper against them. “Always.”
23
Maddie
MONTHS LATER…
* * *
The phone ringing wakes me from a dead sleep. “Hello?” I ask, rubbing my eyes as I look at the clock to see that it’s only two in the morning.
“Maddie, it’s happening!” Jazz says, pain evident in her voice.
“On my way!” I hang up and throw the blankets back, shaking Bennet.
“Wake up! Jazz is in labor!”
He springs from the bed. “Okay, I’m up. I’m up,” he mumbles, rubbing his eyes.
I run to the walk-in closet and dig around for some clothes. I’m changed in less than a minute. I’m sitting on the bed, pulling on my shoes when Bennet walks in the room with his toothbrush hanging out of his mouth.
“What are you doing? We have to hurry. I don’t want to miss it.”
“Okay, okay,” he mumbles around his toothbrush. “Doesn’t it take like hours to have a baby?”
I shrug. “How am I supposed to know? I’ve never had a baby before.”
He waves his hand in the air. “I think we’ll have plenty of time.”
We get to the hospital almost an hour later, and Jazz is already in the delivery room. I stand in the waiting room, arms crossed and tapping my foot. “I told you we needed to hurry.”
He scrunches down into his chair. “Okay, I’m sorry, but we didn’t miss it,” he says, looking over at my mom and dad who are almost asleep from being drug out of bed at this ungodly hour.
It feels like hours pass, but Damon comes running into the waiting room. “He’s here!” he yells, causing everyone to jump awake.
Bennet jumps up and shakes his hand. “Congrats, man.”
“When can I see them?” I ask.
“They’re getting them cleaned up now, and as soon as we move into a normal room, I’ll come get you guys,” he says, hugging everyone before rushing back to be with Jazz and his newborn son.
Finally, I feel like I can relax, knowing that everyone is safe and sound. I collapse into the empty chair at Bennet’s side, and he wraps his arms around my shoulders.
“Would it be crazy to think about doing this again, but this time, having it be us in there?” he whispers quietly so as to not disturb my parents, who are slipping in and out of consciousness.
I shrug one shoulder. “I haven’t given it much thought yet,” I lie. Here lately, I’ve been thinking about it a lot. Every time Jazz would complain about having some weird pregnancy symptom, whenever we’d go shopping for more baby clothes, every time a baby passes by me, I’m thinking about it. And while I think it would be great to have a child someday, I’m still not sure that I want to give all of my time to another human being.
“Would I sound selfish if I say that I just want to spend a little more time, just you and me?”
He rests his forehead against mine. “It can be just us until the day we die, Maddie.” Gently, he presses his lips to mine.
“Oh, I know. I think we’re getting caught up in this whole baby business. Instead of saying things we could do with a baby, let’s say things that we can do without one. Like, instead of having a baby, we could jet-set across the world at the drop of a hat.”
He smiles. “We could climb Mt. Everest.”
“We could skinny dip in the ocean while getting drunk.”
He laughs. “We could spend the rest of our lives holding one another while we sleep instead of arguing over who’s going to feed the baby.”
“We could kiss instead of changing diapers,” I add on.
“We could…” he starts, but Damon walks back into the room.
“Are you guys ready to meet him?”
We all jump up like we’ve been lit on fire.
Damon still hasn’t lost the smile. “This way,” he says, leading us down the hall.
We all walk into Jazz’s room, and she’s laying in bed, holding what looks like a balled-up blanket. As we draw closer, I see just the touch of pink skin.
I go to the side of the bed and lean over. Somehow, I forget to breathe. My eyes fill with tears. “Oh, my goodness. Can I hold him?” I ask.
She smiles. “Of course.”
Damon takes him from Jazz and places him in my arms.
“Don’t forget to support his head,” Jazz says quickly. I look at her and can see the nerves rolling off of her.
“Don’t worry.” I sit down and turn him so I can look at him directly.
He has pitch-black hair, just like Damon. And his eyes are baby blue, just like Jazz. He has a tiny little nose, the softest, smoothest skin that has just a touch of baby pink, and chubby little cheeks. I lift him against my chest and press the softest of kisses to the top of his head. I inhale his scent deeply. He smells so sweet. I feel my heart grow wings and fly away.
“What’
s his name?” I ask.
Jazz and Damon look at one another then turn back to the family.
“His name is Gavin Scott Strickland,” Damon announces, and the whole room practically cheers—quietly as to not disturb the baby.
“Hi, Gavin. I’m your aunt Maddie,” I introduce myself. “One of these days, we’re going to be like this.” I lift up one hand and show him my crossed fingers. “I’ll keep all your secrets and won’t tell your mean mommy and daddy.” I laugh.
“Okay, time’s up. Give me my grandson,” Mom says, sitting down beside me and reaching for the baby.
I give him one last kiss and pass him over. I stand to give Dad room to sit down, and I stand with Bennet. He wraps his arm around me. “So, what are you thinking now?”
I shrug one shoulder while I watch everyone fall over baby Gavin. Finally, I look up at him. “I think I’ll make a really good aunt.”
He smiles. “You will,” he agrees.
“But I don’t think I want to be a mom, if that’s okay with you.” I wrap my arms around his neck.
“Then it’s you and me against the world, Maddie. All I need in this life is you.” Slowly, he leans down and kisses me softly.
Months pass, and it feels like no time at all. But the next thing I know, our house is built, and we’re leaving the mansion to stay in our country home. The wedding is just around the corner, and now that the house is finished, I can focus solely on that. Everything has already been done and picked out. Now it’s just time to choose how to set up.
When I pull into the driveway, Benet pulls in next to me. We both exit our vehicles and meet in the front.
“Come on. I have to carry you over the threshold.” He scoops me up against him.
I laugh. “But we’re not married yet.”
“This is our home. It’s mandatory.” He walks us across the yard, onto the covered front porch, and opens the screen door. I love everything about this house. It really is picture-perfect, from the bushes and flowers to the raw wood porch, down to the white screen door.
He slides the key into the lock, and the door opens easily. He takes a step in, and before I can even glance around the house, his mouth is on mine.
“I love you so much, Maddie,” he whispers against my lips.
“I love you too, Bennet,” I reply, pulling his lips back to mine.
I can’t wait to start our new lives together. I’m looking forward to the wedding, the honeymoon, and everything else we may do in the next fifty years. But I know one thing without a doubt: our love, it happened fast and hard. It’s all-consuming. We couldn’t be without the other because it wasn’t something that we chose to begin with. It chose us. And with a love as crazy, strong, and passionate as ours, there’s no room for anyone else. We’re selfish with one another because we can be, because we choose to be. I don’t know where life will take us, but I know that I won’t ever regret not taking the typical route of raising children. Because in fifty or sixty years, I’ll have a lifetime of memories to look back on.
“Promise me something?” I ask.
“Anything,” he breathes out.
“Promise me that we won’t ever grow up. We come first every time.”
He smiles wide. “I promise,” he agrees, pulling me back in.
Our wedding day approaches, and even though I’m ready and want to marry him, I’m still nervous. Jazz helps me get into my dress, and as she zips it up, I look myself over in the mirror.
“This all seems so crazy,” I tell her.
Her eyes look up and lock on mine in the mirror. “Why? It’s a long time coming if you ask me.”
I laugh. “In a way, I guess. But I was never one of those girls that planned their perfect wedding day. Hell, until Bennet asked me, I didn’t even want to get married.”
“So, why’d you say yes?”
“Because it was him and I can’t deny him.” I laugh.
She giggles and shakes her head. “When are the babies coming?” She arches an eyebrow.
“What babies?” I ask, and she thinks I’m joking.
“The babies! When are you going to start trying to have kids?” Her eyes are now stretched wide.
I laugh. “Oh, no. I’m not having kids. Are you crazy?”
“Seriously? Who’s Gavin supposed to grow up with if you don’t have kids?” She’s standing up right now, hands on her hips behind me.
I turn around to face her instead of looking through the mirror. “Jazz, you know me. You know I’ve never in my life wanted children. And Bennet didn’t either, even though he’s completely happy doing so if I change my mind. But,” I shake my head as I sit down to slide on my shoes, “we want a lifetime of each other. We’re selfish and don’t want to share our lives with anyone else. We want to be able to take a trip at the drop of the hat. I don’t want to spend the next fifteen years doing homework or ushering kids to soccer practice. I just want to live my life with my husband.”
Jazz smiles. “I think that was the most beautiful selfish thing I’ve ever heard.”
I laugh and stand up. “Come on, let’s get me hitched.”
We both leave the room and head down the stairs and into the kitchen where I look out the French doors onto the property. Everyone is in their place. The chairs are filled with friends and family on both sides, and Bennet is standing ahead of them all. He looks up, and our eyes lock. I see the corners of his lips turn up.
“Ready to go?” Dad asks, holding out his arm.
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” I tell him.
The doors open and the music filters in. First Jazz walks out holding her bouquet of white and pink roses. Then Valerie follows after her. Finally, it’s my turn. The hold Dad has on me tightens just before he pulls me forward.
On my walk down the aisle, I can’t look around at the guests, the flowers, or how beautiful everything looks. All I see is Bennet. To many, he probably looks nervous, but I know that isn’t the case. He’s not nervous; he’s excited—he’s itching to have me up there where we can start the first day of the rest of our lives. He’s practically bouncing from foot to foot, his hands are clasped together, and I can see the muscles in his hands twitching. But his eyes, they’re not dancing around. They’re stuck on me.
When Dad and I make it to the altar, the preacher asks, “Who gives this woman away?”
“Her mother and I do,” Dad says, pressing a kiss to my cheek before walking away and taking his seat next to my mom.
Bennet finally looks calm and collected as he reaches out and pulls me closer to him, mouthing the words: I love you.
Neither of us were big on the idea of having to write our own vows, so we stick to the normal ones. We both recite the vows the preacher reads off to us, and then we slide on each other's rings.
Finally, the preacher says those magic words: “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”
No sooner have the words escaped his lips than I find myself against Bennet’s hard chest, his mouth pressed to mine while his hand cups my cheek, holding me to him. The crowd around us cheers loudly. So loud, it almost seems like it’s a prerecorded round of applause playing in the background. I tune it out, focusing on my heart that's pounding with excitement, the way his hands are touching me softly, but also holding me to him firmly, and how his soft lips mold to mine.
When he pulls away, we both have smiles on our faces, and instead of us walking down the aisle, he picks me up and carries me down it, back into the house, kicking the door closed behind us. My back hits the wall, and his body is against mine. His hands are a mess, trying to touch all of me at the same time. My fluffy dress is a pile of material as he works it up to my waist. His hand reaches out and touches me. The moment he finds me bare beneath my dress, just like I know he likes me, he’s racing to free himself.
“I can’t wait another second to be inside my wife.” He places himself at my entrance and thrusts into me.
I gasp. “What about our guests?”
�
�It’s just you and me, Maddie. We live our way,” he says against my lips as he rolls his hips.
Epilogue
Bennet
“This was a great idea,” Maddie says as I take my seat next to her on the deck of the yacht we rented.
I laugh and hand over her drink. She sits up and her bikini top that she untied stays on the chair. My eyes zero in on her amazing chest.
She giggles and rolls her eyes as she takes a sip. “Seriously, Mr. Windsor? How many times have we had sex now?”
“It doesn’t matter how many times we’ve been together. I’m always going to enjoy looking at your body.” I reach for her, but she pulls away to tease me.
“Oh, no you don’t, Mister. You owe me one, remember?” She points her index finger at me.
I think back on last night when we docked to get a little time off the boat. Even though we did a ton of things with our time, all I can think about is how she pulled me into the dark alley, dropped to her knees, and sucked me until I had spilled every last drop.
I smile just from thinking about it. “Alright. You’re right.” I stand up and sit on her lounge chair. She slouches back, placing one leg on either side of me. Slowly, she unties the strings on her white bikini but leaves the material draped over her center.
I flip myself onto my stomach, lowering my face to her lap. Using my teeth, I pull the material away and glide my tongue between her folds. Her head rolls back, and a hum escapes her lips. Tasting her, it turns me on, and already my dick is begging me to slide into her. But I owe her one. I force myself to give her what she needs before demanding more.
I flick my tongue against her clit, back and forth until her knees are shaking and her muscles are tightened with anticipation. When I slide two fingers into her, her release breaks. Her hands latch onto the edges of the chair as her hips rise off the seat. She has gasps and moans escaping her beautiful lips. She calls my name over and over. When her release ends, her legs are still shaking. But I steady them as I pull my shorts down and slide between her parted knees. As I kiss her deeply, I position myself at her opening and rock my hips forward, thrusting into her with as much force as I can. Her back arches as she moans into my mouth. My hands find her hips, holding firm as I rock into her, pushing us both to our limits. After she’s come down from her high, I let mine go.
His Every Desire (Contemporary Romance Box Set) Page 19