Page 147 of Maddox

Our bedroom.

I still couldn’t believe I was sharing a bedroom, a house, and a life with the fabulous man.

Even if he could be a pain in the ass.

But I had him under control even though he thought it was the other way around.

I’d started writing a book, a romance novel of all genres. I was lucky. I had my own personal alpha male to provide inspiration.

Nothing could be more perfect than a day like today.

“Goddamn, it’s hot,” Maddox growled as he rubbed sweat from his face with his arm. “Why is it a million degrees?”

“Because it’s summer, goofball,” I told him, laughing as I continued watering the flowers in the huge pots. I glanced up at him standing on the ladder and knew he was without a doubt the best-looking man in the world. “We need to get finished. We have our first guests rolling in later today.”

“Yeah, I know.” He continued grumbling. “Your fault.”

“My fault.”

Oh, yeah, baby. He was even sexier today. Maybe it was how he looked in the sun. Like a true god.

Especially dressed in faded blue jeans, work boots, and nothing else. With his skin kissed by the sun and his hair in a constant state of being tousled, he could grace any calendar.

“I like winter better.” He pulled back slightly, staring at the flag holder.

“You hated winter.”

He huffed and climbed down the ladder. “Don’t throw that in my face.” As he wiped his face again, I couldn’t help myself.

“Looks like you need to be cooled off.” I backed away by a few feet, turning hose water on him full blast.

“What the…” His shoulders slumped, but I could tell his clenched jaw I was in trouble.

I couldn’t help but to laugh. We’d worked so hard over the last few months, trying to turn the ranch into a destination location. At least the barn had recently been completed. I’d worked on artwork and the webpage while he’d handled most of the grunt work.

The guesthouses were works of art and we were in the process of considering adding a commercial kitchen with patios and gazebos for renting out for celebratory events.

That had been a hard sell since he was a hardheaded man. But I was slowly wearing him down.

He stood where he was, shaking his head a few times. If I didn’t know the man so well, I’d say he was preening for me. Everything about him took my breath away, including the way the bright sun created a glow on his skin.

I was too busy enjoying the view to realize he’d suddenly lunged toward me. He managed to tackle me to the ground. I not only squealed from his sudden move, I also dropped the hose. As it danced back and forth like a snake, I was almost instantly as soaked as he was.

“Oh, you!” I yelled, laughing as he rolled us back and forth on the beautiful lawn we’d suffered trying to grow. “You’re hurting the grass.”

“I think it can take a little romp. Unless you’d prefer in the hay.” His laugh was freer than it used to be, the husky sound always creating instant arousal.

He pressed his hands on either side of me, pushing up from the grass. As he peered down, water dripped off his face onto mine. The look was carnal, the man intent on devouring me.

Just as he’d done so many times before.

I’d never known such passion. I’d never felt such joy.

I pressed my hands against his chest, kneading his muscles with my fingers. As he slowly dropped his head, he created another wave of intense heat. I curled my leg around him. “What do you want, big boy?”

“Big boy, huh? That’s Master to you.”

“Not a chance.”

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