Page 106 of Maddox

She nodded, trying to smile as she stared me in the eyes. “I hope you don’t mind me just stopping by. You did give me your address. I needed to talk to you. I needed to see you. I just… I just needed you.”

I glanced around her into the driveway. There were no other vehicles in sight. “How did you get here?”

“I hired an Uber from Winchester.”

“Winchester?” How in the hell did she get there?

“I rented a car in DC, but figured every rental car had a GPS, so I dropped it in Winchester.”

Laughing softly, I shook my head. “Smart. Did anyone follow the driver?”

“No. I was very careful. The driver dropped me off a half mile down the road. I headed into the woods and waited before I came to your door. Just to make certain there were no issues.”

What was really going on? She’d escaped on her own. What the hell was she trying to do, get herself killed?

“You are one bad woman. You took a huge risk.” I pulled her purse and bag from her hand, putting both on the floor. She didn’t object, but her body remained tense as she searched my eyes as if looking for assurances that coming here was acceptable.

Fuck, yes.

“I know I did, but I couldn’t stay away,” she added, obviously nervous. “I trust you. I know you won’t allow anything to happen to me.”

“Damn it, Char. Let’s get you inside.”

“Please. Just hold me.”

The haze was lifted. I slipped my arm around her waist, dragging her against me as I pulled us both into the house.

The need to touch and kiss her was overwhelming. All the emotions I’d experienced came rushing to the surface. I was crazed with desire, the need more intense than I could remember feeling.

As soon as I’d pulled her into safety, I captured her mouth, immediately thrusting my tongue inside. We both struggled to close the door, barely able to do so. I pulled her jacket off, dumping it on the floor, longing to feel the heat of her body.

I spun her around, pushing her against the wall and crushing my weight against her. The feeling of just having her close, of being able to inhale her sweet perfume was intoxicating as hell.

She rolled her arms around my neck, pulling her body even more tightly against mine. I dominated her tongue as I’d done before, but it was as if I was tasting her for the first time.

With my heart hammering in my chest, I realized just how lucky it was having her inside my home.

And how dangerous.

There were questions that needed answers, but right now, none of that mattered. I picked her up off her feet and she immediately wrapped her legs around my hips. As I carried her through the living room, the high was maintained. I’d never thought I’d see her again and here she was in the flesh and blood.

I carried her in front of the fire, easing her down and breaking the kiss. Without uttering a word, I dragged my tongue from one side of her jaw to the other while she moaned. Her eyes were closed, her body finally starting to relax in my hold. After nipping on her earlobe, I bit her neck. Maybe I was hoping by marking her she’d truly be mine.

When she finally pushed me away, she darted her eyes back and forth across mine. “I’ve missed you.”

“You have, huh? How much?” My cock was already throbbing, shoved against the tight confines of my jeans.

Her smile becoming wider, she cupped my face, tickling my beard with her fingers. “How could I not miss this face?” She pulled at my shirt, yanking the edge from my jeans. I allowed her to take control, rolling the material over my head and pitching it aside.

With the hunger only increasing, I used both hands, grabbing her by the sweater and pulling her forward. “You had me worried.”

“I can handle myself. I told you that.”

“Uh-huh. You just think you can.” I ripped off her sweater, taking another deep breath. She was even more beautiful than I’d remembered, every inch of her skin shimmering. I immediately cupped both breasts, rolling my thumbs back and forth across her nipples. They were already hard and almost instantly her breath turned shallow.

I bit down on one through the lace, longing to rip the material. She laughed, the sound filled with nervous energy. As I tugged both sides away, exposing her hardened buds, she let off a strangled moan.

“I’ve missed this.”

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