“Good for us, Owen, right?” Colton smiled.
“Very! You think I could’ve convinced her to marry me if she’d known how many people were lined up?” Owen shook his head.
“Enough.” Cheryl pushed at Owen. “But really, Colton? That’s…crazy.”
“Men are raised differently from us,” Madison said. “They get pushed to screw. The double standard is so deeply ingrained that I can understand why he and the other guys would consider themselves lucky to get paid for scoring. I get it. Mostly. And look, he was smart about the whole thing. He’s an awesome guy, and I’ve made peace with it. Already. But I don’t want to dwell on it, or it might weird me out.”
“And that’s where this”—Cheryl indicated the whole room—“came from?”
Colton shrugged, feeling uncomfortable.
“Okay.” Cheryl shrugged, too. “Okay. Don’t ever tell the parents. That nearly broke Mom. I didn’t know how I would fix that.”
“Madison was a fast thinker.” Owen nodded at her.
Madison jumped and reached behind her to get her phone. She lifted it on the sly and read the screen. A smile crossed her face.
“What?” Colton asked.
“It’s a message from Janie. She says, There are more hot guys here now. Someone named Noah. Ooh la la. And Dave from last night. Apartment spick and span. Dave cooked dinner. Ethan is crazy. Noah mostly normal. He’s weirded out about the romance novel covers. Which is funny, right? Since that’s basically what he does for a living? Telling him that pisses him off. New joke. They were supposed to take shifts, but no one is leaving. I’m off the pain meds and mixing drinks. Get an Uber. I’ll be too drunk to hear you screw.” Madison grimaced. “I shouldn’t have read that last bit. My bad.”
“Get them over here!” Cheryl motioned them over as if they were on the other side of the room. “The party is just starting.”
“I can’t take a sick day tomorrow,” Owen said.
“I can’t either,” Cheryl said. “Because I’m a mom. And moms don’t get sick days.”
Owen held up his hands and didn’t comment further.
“This is what we have to look forward to,” Colton said in Madison’s ear, knowing that it was true. That she was it.
She shivered, and a smile curled her lips. “Bickering?”
“Compromising,” he said.
“Why are all your friends over at a girl’s house?” Cheryl squinted at Colton.
“Janie is the one who…had a hard time the other day,” Madison said somberly. Judging by Cheryl’s tense reaction, she knew what Madison was talking about. “Colton and his friends are being gentlemen.”
“As long as it isn’t a gangbang situation.” Cheryl took a sip of her drink. “That’s not worth the money. Juggling all those penises? No, thank you.”
Owen’s face dropped as he stared at his wife.
“What?” she said. “A bunch of bros and one chick? Maybe she’s crazy like that. Fine. Whatever. But I got kids, man. I don’t need that sort of crazy in my house.”
“This isn’t your house,” Madison said, grinning.
“Consider this bitch sequestered. Boom!” Cheryl made a strange hand gesture that probably came from the eighties.
“I think the train is a little wobbly on the track, hon.” Owen patted her. “You’ll be passed out before they get here.”
“Probably. That is very likely.”
“What do you think?” Madison asked Colton.
He lightly kissed her lips. “Whatever you want. I’m not the one who has to work tomorrow.”
“I need to get ripped and look into modeling,” Madison mumbled, tapping her phone.
Twenty-Six
The next day, Madison sat at her desk, holding her head and wishing she hadn’t stayed up until three o’clock the night before, laughing and joking. She’d enjoyed herself so much, she hadn’t wanted to go to bed. Big mistake.
“I sent you an email,” someone said from the doorway. “It needs a fast turnaround.”
She blearily glanced up at Carl, another of the directors.
“Uh oh,” he said, leaning away from the doorway. “Still feeling under the weather?”
“I feel as good as I look. We’ll put it that way.”
“Don’t spread that around. I’m on vacation next week.”
She didn’t care. Because of that, she turned away from him and clicked into her inbox. “I sent this to you already. Check your inbox.”
“Oh.” He scratched his chin. “I didn’t see it.”
“Clearly.” She put her head back in her hands.
“Okay. Well, I’ll see you in the weekly.”
She gave him a thumbs-up without looking up. The weekly was a meeting that happened every Wednesday with all the directors. It was the only reason she’d come to work. She had three things to share, then she was checking out. Her bed was calling her name.
Two hours later, with her head still pounding, she returned to her desk and glanced at her phone. Three messages. One from Janie cursing her, to which she replied, I hate you. One from Frank—Checking in—which she ignored, or she might be tempted to say, Please don’t, and one from Colton.
She smiled and leaned back in her chair, reading the message. Hey, babe. Great news. My mom informed me that you’re on the guest list for Sunday dinner. It’s a family dinner. I don’t have to force the issue. Very exciting. The next one isn’t for a while, but thought you’d like to know.
It must’ve been a thing in their family, and seeing the extravagant effort Colton had made for a hastily thrown together dinner, Madison could understand the weight of it.
Colton was treating her like family. His parents had accepted that.
It had only been a few days. Certainly she couldn’t hang her hat on their future just yet. She should take a much more conservative approach to their situation.
“Meh,” she said.
“What’s that?” Carl popped his head into her office.
“Why?” she asked.
He tilted his head. “I’m not sure I follow.”
She wanted to ask why he wouldn’t just fuck off already, but that wasn’t something she should say out loud. “What’s up, Carl?” she asked while typing, Awesome! in response to Colton’s text. Although dealing with Martha was certainly not awesome at all.
“Oh. I just wanted to say that I got that email, and we’re all set.”
“Cool. I’m headed out.” She stood too fast. Her head swam, forcing her to brace herself against the desk. “I may or may not be in tomorrow, just so you know. I feel like shit.” And she wanted to play hooky and spend time with Colton. “I’ll check in, though, if you need a follow-up.”
“Yep. Sure. I got ya.” He backed away like she had just acquired a zombie virus. “Take care of yourself. Take as long as you need.”
He wasn’t her boss, and therefore couldn’t grant her extended time off. Try telling him that, though.
Nearing her car, she got another message.
Cheryl: Holy crap, woman. You’re IN with Sunday dinners now? WTH??? Owen is going to be pissed. I had to force the issue and bring him.
Another came in a moment later.
Owen: Bitch. I had to marry her to get an invite.
Madison laughed as one more came in.
Cheryl: I’m never drinking with you again, by the way. I hurt so bad.
Halfway home, her phone rang. She pushed the button on her steering wheel.
“Hello?” she said.
“Hey, sexy. Have you left yet?”
Her smile came from her toes and tingled through her whole body. Her head throbbed in response. “Yes. On the way home.”
“Want to come to my house instead? Janie and the guys are still here.”
“They’re still there?”
“Hair of the dog. Noah just took a cab to a photo shoot half loaded. So that’ll go over well.”
Her stomach swam. “I’m not drinking.”
“Neither am I.
See you soon?”
“Yes.”
When she got there, three drunk people were lounging in the sitting room with the TV on and cocktail supplies crowding a rolling tray. Janie noticed her first from the recliner. Her leg was draped over one side and her body over the other.
“Oh look, it is Satan, the drink pusher.” Janie wiped her hair out of her face. “I blame you.”
“So do I.” Dave raised his hand. “This was not my fault; it was yours. I am not responsible for my actions.”
“Laying it on a little thick, are you?” Janie asked.
“Yes. It’s a solid defense.”
“Not really.” Janie’s head thunked against the chair.
“Where’s Colton?” Madison asked.
“Up in his man cave,” Ethan said without looking at her. “Hello again.”
“Hey, that was cool how you bailed Colton out last night with his family,” Dave said, shifting so he could see her better. “I wouldn’t have come up with that so fast.”
“That’s not saying much,” Ethan said.
Dave ignored Ethan. “Colton was probably shitting himself, right? He won’t admit to it, but his mom is one scary lady.”
“Yeah. That woman is no joke. She makes me uncomfortable.” Ethan shivered.
“That is saying a lot.” Janie noticed Ethan looking over. She raised her eyebrows. “I’m politely saying that you are creepy.”
“Not so politely,” Ethan said, unaffected.
“Touché.”
“I’m just glad it worked out. It was my fault.” Madison shrugged, heading off.
“Are you coming back?” Janie shouted. “This house is too big. I have to put effort into talking to people who are trying to walk away from me.”
“I know. That’s the shits, isn’t it?” Ethan asked, his gaze glued to the TV.
“No,” Madison said, not as far away as they clearly thought. “I’m going to bed.”
“Coward,” Dave said.
Madison found Colton where they’d said she would. He was sitting in front of his computer, looking at the CGI model while jotting down notes on paper. He smiled and put a hand out. She took it and let him reel her in to sit on his lap.
“Hey,” he said, nibbling her ear. “You feel terrible, huh?”
“Very. Very, very terrible.”
“I got to sleep in, so I feel okay.”
“I didn’t ask.”
He laughed and hugged her. “My mother likes you. She has never invited non-family to Sunday dinner.”
“Wow. I wonder why she is breaking the rules.”
Colton lifted her until she was standing and then stood behind her. He took her by the hand and led her down the hall to the master suite, a giant affair decorated with man things, including a beer sign.
“I’m going to put ruffles all over my room to compensate for this,” she said, waving her hand at the sign.
“Just redecorate here. I don’t care. This is the stuff I had when I moved. I put it up wherever. I don’t even notice it. Listen, Maddie.” He stopped her by the bed and turned her toward him. She met his beautiful blue eyes. “I know it hasn’t been very long, but my mother liking you when she rarely likes anyone new, and my sister already thinking of you as a sister after just one night…”
He paused, clearly nervous. Her stomach flipped as anticipation rose, which was a bad thing considering the state of her stomach.
“Sometimes, when you meet someone, the chemistry is instant, like ours.” He swallowed. “And the more you are with them, the more great things you learn about them.”
Oh my God, is he going to say what I think he’s going to say?
“Knowing that my family loves you is just proof that this is right,” he went on. “Knowing that my friends love you, and love your friend, is further proof that moving at the speed of light is okay. It gives me confidence that what I feel isn’t imagined. That this isn’t too soon.”
He blew out a breath, his gaze intense, his hands shaking a little as they held hers.
“Maddie, I love you.”
That thing deep inside of her moved and grew, warming her body and overcoming her. Her stomach flipped and swirled. Tingles spread through her body and across her skin. She felt like throwing up.
That last was because of the night before. The timing was really unfortunate.
“I love you too,” she whispered. “You and I had more passion in our first kiss than I’ve ever had with anyone. And that has grown into respect and adoration. If I hadn’t loved you before Monday, I would have fallen hard and fast because of how you took care of Janie. You’re the best guy I have ever known. Honest and trustworthy and genuine. And super, super hot. Let’s just call that out, because wow. I’m not sure how I got so lucky to have found someone like you. I must be dreaming.”
Colton kissed her. Fire burned through her body. Pushing aside the pain of hangover, she grabbed his shirt and pulled him back, falling onto the bed with him on top. His tongue chased hers as his hands slid up under her shirt to cup her breasts. Thumbs traced across her budded nipples, sending pleasure shooting through her body.
She yanked open his fly and pushed down his pants, capturing his velvety-smooth shaft in her hand. He groaned into her mouth, working at her pants. They scooted up farther onto the bed, ripping at clothes. Desperate to clear the fabric so they could feel each other, skin on skin.
Madison’s breath exited her lungs when he thrust, centering her in the moment. In the feel of him. In his body.
She looped her arms around his neck and squeezed her legs, keeping him deeply embedded inside her. He put his arms to the sides of her so he could rise a little, staring down onto her face.
“You are so beautiful,” he said softly, starting to move. “So smart and powerful. You’re everything I’ve always wanted in a woman. I’m the lucky one, not you.” He kissed her languidly as he pulled out and slowly pushed back in. “And not just because you’d support me while I follow my dream.”
She laughed against his lips, then sighed with each thrust, the sensations sparking heat and pleasure. “I tried for a slow build into love, and that didn’t work. I figure it’s time for something new. This feels right. So I’m going with it. Going with you.”
“Is it too soon to ask you to move in?”
She laughed again. “Probably. But yes. Although I’ll have to keep my apartment. You know why.”
“Yes, I do. But Janie never will.”
“I love you, Colton.”
“I love you. This is going to work out. I can feel it. I’m going to have to explain to my mother why I’m changing my last name to some sort of hybrid thing so you’ll bear our children.”
Her laughter fell away as he sped up. He grabbed her hands and lifted them above her head, entwining their fingers. Their kiss deepened, full of feeling. Raw and consuming. As the pleasure mounted, so did her adoration; she felt his emotion in his movements. In the sweetness of his kiss and the tight hold he had on her hands.
Faster he worked, plunging into her as she rose to meet him. Their moans and heavy breathing filled the room. She ripped her hands from his so she could clutch his back, holding on for dear life as the pleasure rose and sucked her under.
“I love you, baby,” he said softly, his movements intense, his voice dripping with emotion.
I love you, she meant to say. A moan came out instead. Then his name and sounds with no shape. Her whole body tensed, right there. Right on the edge.
Another surge of pleasure blasted her apart. “Oh!” she cried, consumed with it. With him. “Oh God,” she said, shaking with her orgasm. He shuddered over her a moment later, holding onto her tightly. “Oh,” she said again, an aftershock rolling through. “Oh wow.”
Out of breath, she let each of her muscles relax, quivering and shaking with how good that felt. Her eyelids drooped. “I’m glad you never take a day off from being a god.”
He lifted himself off her, and she felt an immediate loss when his body
left hers. A moment later, strong arms lifted her and positioned her on the bed. He climbed next to her and pulled the covers around them. She snuggled up against him.
“Change any room you want,” he said softly. “Just don’t ask me about it, or I’ll have an equal share in my mother’s disappointment in the final product. I’m already at my limit.”
Madison laughed. “First things first: a proper remote that your dad can work.”
Colton laughed and traced her shoulder. “I’m glad I took that one last job. I’m glad I found you.”
“Me too,” she whispered, her heart full, her future warming her with excitement. Her future with him.
“Move in tomorrow, Maddie. Or maybe just never leave, starting now.”
She kissed the side of his lips, what she could reach without moving. “Never leaving sounds good.”
* * *
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Welcome to Big D!ck Escort Service.
If you need a date, we’ve got you.
If you need wining and dining, we’ve got you.
If you need a night you’ll never forget— buckle-up buttercup, because that’s our specialty.
We’ll give you what you need, as hard as you need it.
CODE NAME: BLAZE
All the girls call me Blaze. I set panties on fire.
Just one smile and they are simmering for some of my heat. I light ‘em up and make ‘em scream.
I’m damn good at what I do.
With all the money pouring in, I’m going to ride this gig as long as possible.
But I’ve always got time to help out a friend.
So when my girl-bro Janie is in trouble with rent, I figure I’ll do the right thing and move in with her. Why not? It saves me money.
Thunder (Big D Escort Service Book 1) Page 22