Maddie (Corked and Tapped Book 8) Read online

  “Clara set us up? After ten years, she set us up?”

  “She did. I asked her to.”

  “I still might kill her.”

  He chuckled. “I’m hoping by the time I’m done ravaging you, you’ll thank her instead.”

  She shivered at the memory of how he had already ravaged her. “What is this? What are we doing?” Her heart raced.

  He grabbed her waist and scooted both their bodies down the bed until she was flat on her back. Hovering over her, he leaned his chin in his palm. “It’s two people who had the hots for each other ten years ago exploring the possibilities. It’s also been the most amazing night of my life. I was worried. What if we didn’t have a spark? What if you didn’t still find me attractive? What if you thought my plan was too creepy? A thousand concerns.

  “But here we are. I had so much fun flirting with you at the bar, and you flirted back. I didn’t show up at Corked and Tapped tonight with any preconceived ideas. I just went with the flow.” He slid his free hand down to her waist and then tugged the sheet down to expose her breasts.

  The moment he cupped her breast, goose bumps rose on her skin again. She gripped his biceps, staring at his face. The more she looked at him, the more she recognized him. He had filled out so much in the past decade that she might not have recognized him even without the mask. The eyes would have given him away, though. He was right about that.

  He leaned closer and kissed her gently. “I love how you came alive with me. I love every single noise you make when my mouth is on you. I love how you squirm when I suck on you. I want you to stay tonight. I want to see what we can be together.”

  It was like a dream. She couldn’t believe this was happening. The man she’d dreamed about for almost half her life was holding her naked body. He’d made her orgasm. Twice. An incredible feat. No way would she leave. Not until he kicked her out. Even if it hurt like hell when he returned to his station overseas, she still wouldn’t give up this opportunity to be with him.

  Better to have loved and lost…

  “I’ll back off if you want. We don’t have to have sex tonight. Just stay.”

  She shook her head immediately.

  He frowned, swallowing, misunderstanding her.

  “I don’t want you to back off. My body is on fire. I want you inside me.”

  His eyes slowly closed, a smile forming again, and then he blew out a long breath. Seconds later, he released her and rolled off the bed. He grabbed his pants from the floor, dug in the pocket, and returned, holding up a condom. “Warning,” he began as he climbed over her. “I haven’t had sex in a damn long time, and you’ve had me hard all night. I’m going to come super fast. I promise to make it last longer the second round.”

  She set her hands on his arms. “How many of those did you bring?” she asked, nodding toward the condom in his hand, unable to keep from grinning.

  He groaned. “Plenty.”

  “Cocky much?” she teased as she slid her hand down and then wrapped her fingers around his erection. He was big. He was going to stretch her. She didn’t care. She had wanted him forever. She’d dreamed of this day for years, never expecting it to happen. And now…

  “Hopeful.” He opened the condom and rolled it down his length, knocking her palm out of the way. After nudging her legs apart and situating himself between them, he threaded their fingers together and lowered over her, planting their combined hands above her head again. “I love how your breath hitches when I restrain you.”

  She was panting now, renewed wetness already flooding from her channel. “I didn’t know this about myself. No one’s ever held me down before.”

  He smiled. “Well, I intend to do so again.”

  Chapter 8

  It was hard to breathe. It was hard to think. It was hard to do anything except stare into his eyes and pray this wasn’t a dream. If she suddenly woke up to find out it wasn’t real, she would cry.

  He lowered his face and kissed her. Again. Deep. So much meaning in his kisses. Lust and desire and urgency.

  She felt the same things he conveyed with his lips. Need. A need she’d never experienced before. None of her previous sexual experiences had even come close to comparing to this one. So much more intense. So much more feeling.

  His erection slid against her opening, making her whimper. She bent her knees and planted her heels, lifted her hips to meet his strokes. “Levi…” she murmured against his mouth. “Please…”

  “God, I love the sound of your voice begging me. It’s music. You’re intoxicating.” He lined up with her entrance and slowly slid into her. Gradually, watching her face the entire time.

  She held his gaze as long as she could, but the moment he was fully seated, the base of his shaft rubbing against her clit, her eyes rolled back, and she moaned.

  “Oh yeah. My God, you’re gorgeous.” He flattened their combined hands above her head and held her tighter. “We might need more condoms before morning,” he whispered as he slid out slowly and then back inside her just as languidly.

  Her breath hitched. Her clit was so sensitive from the previous two orgasms that she was already on the edge of another one. She lifted her hips again.

  “Stay still, sweetheart. Let me do the work. You’re going to make me come if you keep squirming.”

  Her mouth was dry. She licked her lower lip. “Isn’t that the idea?”

  He smirked, holding himself steady deep inside her. “I’m trying so hard not to orgasm too fast. I want to remember this first time together as something that lasted more than five seconds. I want to remember the look in your eyes. I want to remember the way you kept licking your lips. I want to remember every detail.” He thrust a bit deeper as he finished speaking.

  She moaned. No man had ever spoken to her like that. No man had ever cared if she got off or how quickly he came. Ever. Levi was a unicorn. And she could easily fall hard for him. If she was truthful with herself, she already had many years ago.

  He released her hands, pressing them into the mattress above her head briefly, silently telling her to leave them there. And then he slid his down to cup her face, his fingers threaded in her hair.

  His expression was intense. Deep. His eyes drawn slightly together. Serious. He stroked her lip with his thumb. All the while, he slowly made love to her. The tightness she felt the first time he slid inside had settled into a delicious friction she never wanted to end.

  “Levi…”

  He smiled, his fingers gripping her head. “I want you to come, Maddie. Come with me.”

  She wouldn’t have thought that possible, not after two orgasms, not from penetration. But his words… Damn, he could make her come with his words alone. Her arousal shot higher. Her clit throbbed against the base of his shaft.

  He ground against her with every pass, increasing the pressure, driving her higher, making her vision swim.

  “Damn, that’s sexy,” he murmured.

  She couldn’t respond. All her concentration was on her clit. Her eyes rolled back. And then she pulled in a long breath just before her body responded to his touch and a third orgasm swept through her.

  This one was slower. Sweeter. Deeper. And Levi thrust forward one last time, grinding against her as he too came with a long groan.

  She was still gasping for oxygen when he set his forehead against hers, his breathing heavy, his body twitching. Her own body was also still engaged, her channel gripping his erection, milking him.

  Nothing in her life had ever felt this good.

  She lifted her arms from above her head and set her hands on his shoulders. She was shaking. Scared. Nervous. Concerned.

  She couldn’t know if they could maintain this relationship when he was deployed. She didn’t even know if he would be going back overseas tomorrow or the next day or when.

  Yeah, it scared the hell out of her. This night had been the best of her life. Even the exciting thrill of not knowing who he was had titillated her. But now… God, what happened next?
/>   He held her tighter as he slid his face down to settle it against the mattress beside hers, his breath coming in shallow pants against her neck. “Maddie… Jeez.”

  She kept her eyes closed, afraid to face him. She was starting to shake uncontrollably against her will. Was all this worth it? If he left her tomorrow and she never saw him again, would she later regret this night? Because the truth was, she was now ruined for any other man. What if he didn’t feel the same?

  Levi’s arms were shaking too, and he finally slid out of her and lowered himself to her side, one leg over both of hers, one hand over her belly. He stroked the underside of her breast with his thumb absently.

  She loved the feel of him against her. His warm skin. He smelled so good.

  The pressure of his body holding her.

  Oh yeah, she was screwed.

  Levi slid a hand up her body and cupped her face. “You okay?”

  “Better than,” she whispered, turning her face toward his palm. She closed her eyes, willing herself not to think about the future. If tonight was the only night she would ever get with him, she would make the most of it.

  Levi rose up on his elbow and looked down at her. He might have been frowning. “Let me get rid of this condom. Be right back.”

  She nodded and then watched him roll from the bed and pad toward the bathroom. No wonder he had a hotel room. He didn’t live in Atlanta. He lived wherever the navy sent him. She should have wondered why her mystery man had a hotel room. Why hadn’t that sent up a red flag?

  He was back in seconds, climbing alongside her and then pulling the blankets over them. He started on his side, but then rolled to his back, taking her with him so that she was lodged against his side. “You’re shaking.” He rubbed her arm.

  “Still recovering,” she whispered honestly.

  The lights were still on. He hadn’t touched them. He kissed her forehead, his arm wrapped around her shoulders, holding her close. “I know this was fast. Intense. Are you sorry?”

  “Never.” She shook her head against his chest and then lifted her face to look down at him. “If I live to be two hundred years old, I will never forget this night.”

  He smirked. “I might find ways to make even better memories, forcing this one to seem paltry. Hell, I might erase everything you’re thinking in about ten minutes, as soon as I recover from round one.”

  She stared at him. The years had only improved him. If she’d met him today, she would have fallen even harder than she had ten years ago. He was more rugged, but it only made him more mysterious and intriguing.

  Yeah, she would go another round with him. She would go as many rounds as he wanted, no matter what the consequences were. She could never say no to him. She was so doomed that if he deployed tomorrow, she would willingly wait with baited breath in hopes he might return to repeat this night in six months or even a year.

  “You’re pale, and you look disappointed,” he pointed out.

  She shook her head. “So far from the truth.”

  “Tell me the truth, then,” he whispered. “Talk to me.”

  She shook her head. “My mind is getting away from me. Ignore it. How many more condoms did you say you had?”

  His brow furrowed, and he rose up, flipping her onto her back so he could hover over her again. His hand landed on her jaw, cupping her face, holding her gaze. “Something’s off. You’re acting strangely.”

  His expression was one of concern, brows still drawn together, lips in a straight line.

  She ran her palm up and down his arm. “Nope. I’m fine.”

  He lifted a brow. “You’re not fine.”

  She rolled her eyes dramatically, wanting to get off this subject.

  “I rushed you. You’re regretting this.” She would have interjected, but he kept talking so fast she couldn’t get a word in. “I got so caught up in the excitement of seeing you when Clara came to me that I never stopped to think about how you might feel. And then when you stepped into the bar tonight, I nearly swallowed my tongue. I’ve seen pictures. I’ve gotten updates on your life, but seeing you in person…” He sucked in a breath, his hand pressing against her face. “I knew immediately I wanted more. I wanted everything. I rushed you.”

  She shook her head. “You didn’t rush me. I’m right here.”

  “But you’re having second thoughts.”

  “I’m not.” She blew out a breath. “Levi, you have it backward. I’m totally into you. You’re even better than I remember. If you’re sensing a hesitation, it’s because I’m concerned about how I’m going to feel when you leave. I’m not particularly proud of this fact, but I’ve dated a lot of guys. I’ve had more than my fair share of one-night stands. I made a promise to myself months ago that I wouldn’t do it anymore. It always left me feeling hollow and lonely. And then I saw you tonight and threw my convictions out the window because something about you was different. At least that’s what I told myself. And you knew Clara. And I haven’t dated anyone in a while. And…so many ands. I let myself do this. And I’m not sorry. I’ll never be sorry. Because tonight was amazing. The best night of my life. Finally, a great night with a great guy who I’m really into. So, it’s going to hurt a thousand times more when you leave.”

  “Leave?” He lifted a brow. “Where am I going?”

  “I don’t know? Afghanistan? Iraq? You tell me.”

  A long breath whooshed out of him. “Maddie, I got out. I’m done with the navy. If I weren’t, I wouldn’t be here. It’s one of the reasons I waited ten years. It’s why I agreed to come to the bar tonight.”

  She stopped breathing, gripping his arm with her fingers. “Wait. You’re back for good?”

  “Yes.” He smiled and then lowered his forehead to hers. “Sorry I didn’t make that clear. I’m back. I’m not sure what the hell I’m going to do with my life. I might find a job I can do part-time while I go to school. I’m not the ideal boyfriend. But I’m hoping you’ll give me a chance.”

  She slid her hand to his neck. All her anxiety fled. Hours of worrying about this being a one-night stand, and instead, it was everything she’d ever dreamed of. “Where have you been staying?”

  “My parents’ house. That’s why we’re in a hotel. I didn’t have another place to take you tonight.”

  Her heart beat faster. “You’re back,” she whispered.

  “I am. And you’re an adult.” He grinned. “I hope I made enough of an impression on you tonight that you’ll see me again.”

  She stroked a finger over his lips. “As long as we stay in this room, we won’t even have to worry about again. We can drag this first date out for at least two days,” she suggested.

  “I’m totally in favor of that.” He smiled broader.

  A few seconds ticked by. “You’re not leaving…”

  “No. I’m not. I’m hoping to slide into your life.”

  “If you’re planning to rock my world the way you did for the last few hours, you can stay as long as you’d like.” She grinned.

  “I’m so glad you feel that way.” He kissed her. “I intended to spend a few more hours convincing you.”

  “I could pretend I’m not yet convinced,” she teased.

  “I like this plan.”

  When his lips met hers again, she melted into him, trying to wrap her head around this new development. The only man she’d ever really cared about was on top of her, interested in her, moving back to town. And he was damn good in bed.

  Yeah, life could be worse.

  She couldn’t wait to see what tomorrow might bring.

  Enjoy the following excerpt from Blaire, the next book in the Corked and Tapped series.

  He stared at her for a moment, and then leaned in close to whisper in her ear. “The fucking hot woman who’s been nervously watching my every move for months while she sits in my bar squirming in her seat over a romance novel doesn’t usually get caught in the middle of a fight and punched either. So, yeah, the police are coming. You need to press charges. Th
en I’ll take you home.”

  She swallowed. Mortification was the only word that came to mind. Her face had heated earlier, but now it was on fire, and not just from the punch. In fact, that part no longer hurt.

  He knew?

  Lord.

  He knew. Kyle knew she had been sitting here week after week stripping him with her eyes while he worked. Could she be more embarrassed?

  He set his forehead against hers. “Please, baby. Don’t freak out on me now. Talk to the cops. Give a statement. Then we’ll leave.”

  She couldn’t move. He’d called her baby.

  He sighed. “I know you don’t like attention. I know this is uncomfortable for you. I get that. And I’m so sorry I wasn’t close enough to stop those guys from hitting you.” He removed the ice from her face, reached behind him to snag her bag off the table and her jacket from the chair, and grabbed her hand.

  Before she knew what was happening, he tugged her around the corner, past the men who’d been fighting, and into a room farther down the hall.

  The guy who’d punched her called out, “So sorry, ma’am. I didn’t mean to hit you. I just—” His voice was cut off when Kyle slammed the door, leaving them in relative silence.

  He flipped on the light and then his hands were on her face again, his brow furrowed, his attention on her cheek.

  “It’s fine, Kyle,” she whispered. “It’s no longer throbbing. I don’t think it’s that bad.”

  He didn’t respond. Instead, he inhaled long and slow, seemingly controlling his anger. Was he mad at her? She pressed her lips together to keep from rambling. Maybe he was frustrated because she wouldn’t shut up.

  Kyle closed his eyes and set his forehead against hers a second time, his hands spread on her neck and up her scalp. He took several deep breaths, and then he whispered, “Scared the fuck out of me.”

  She swallowed, uncertain why he was reacting like this. She had no idea what he meant, and she was afraid to ask.