Search Me(49)

“Yeah, well, regardless of how you say it, I would’ve rather you thought it was romantic,” Maddox mumbled.

When I glanced up, I caught the flicker of his wounded expression before he hardened his face. “Aw, I’m sorry. Didn’t realize you were tryin’ to be romantic.”

Maddox rolled his eyes. “All right, you better hold on tight. I’d hate to drop your helpless ass on the steps.”

With a squeak, I brought my other arm around his neck and clasped my hands together. Our faces were mere inches apart, and the intoxicating mixture of his woodsy smell and tequila invaded my inebriated senses. “You’re soooo strong, Maddox.”

When I glanced up at him, he huffed out a frustrated breath. “I can’t believe you got drunk off your ass. Literally.”

I hiccupped. “Yeah, well, you…you shouldn’t have told that guy—” I peered up at Maddox. “What’s Sebastian’s real name again?”

Amusement twinkled in Maddox’s eyes. “You mean West.”

“That’s right. West. You shouldn’t have told West I wouldn’t drink. I hate it when you undermine me…I mean, underestimate me. You’ve done that shit since we were kids.”

“Yeah, well, the first shot of tequila proved me wrong, Princess. The last two were out of emotion—anger and frustration mainly.”

“Yeah and whose fault was that?” The exertion of arguing, coupled with the mention of my consumption of four shots of Patron, sent my stomach churning and lurching. “Oh God. Don’t ever talk about alcohol again,” I groaned as we reached the landing.

“Can you stand on your own?” Maddox asked.

“I think so.”

Maddox gently eased me down onto the concrete. As my legs wobbled, I clung to his neck for dear life to keep on my feet. “Whoa, hang on now,” he urged.

In my drunken state, I couldn’t help the shivers of excitement that ran up and down my spine at the feeling of being plastered against his hard chest and abs. Being held tight in his arms had a dizzying effect. I closed my eyes and snuggled closer to him, inhaling his shirt.

Tensing, Maddox said, “Lane, I gotta get the door open.”

“But I like it here,” I murmured drowsily.

He sighed. “Come on. We need to get inside so you can lie down.” While I kept my head against his chest, he shifted me to the left. “Let’s try this.” He leaned me up against the wall, keeping one palm splayed against my abdomen to steady me. He then unlocked the door and swung it open. His hand then left my abdomen to wrap around my waist. He led me slowly inside.

We both gazed around the room, taking in its peeling wallpaper, tiny kitchenette, and straight back chairs. It looked like something out of a bad 70’s TV show.

“Ah, a single bed.” A teasing grin gleamed on Maddox’s face. “That should be nice and cozy.”

And that’s when I puked.

All over Maddox.

Chapter Fourteen

My eyelids fluttered as I struggled back into consciousness. The smell of smoke mixed with sour milk filled my nostrils. I realized I was face down a ratty mattress. I moved, and pain shot through my arms and legs. Pitch darkness enveloped me except for a tiny beam of light coming through the cracked bathroom door. From the sound of running water, I assumed Maddox was showering.

Groaning, I rolled over in the bed. The small exertion caused my head to spin even more. Cool air hitting my legs made me realize I was absent my jeans. A quick hand swipe over my bare abdomen revealed I was also without a shirt. “What the…” A mixture of white-hot anger and embarrassment coursed through me. Maddox had stripped me while I was passed out. Just when I thought the gentleman in him was overtaking the ass**le, he proved me wrong.

I whirled out of bed, which sent the room tilting and spinning around me. As I brought my hand to my forehead to still the maddening twirling, the events of the evening came crashing over me so hard I shuddered. Each and every word Maddox had said to me played like a movie reel in my mind. Oh.My.God. Maddox had come clean with me. He had cared for me all those years ago, and he still cared for me.

And instead of telling him I still loved him, I’d gotten drunk…and then I’d puked on him. Bile rose in my throat, and I raced as best I could across the small trek to the bathroom. I didn’t want to see more of Maddox than I needed to, but I had no choice. As I started to make a beeline for the toilet, a low groan came from inside the shower, and my horror of puking again quickly vanished.

From behind the flimsy excuse for a shower curtain, every chiseled feature of Maddox’s na**d body was on display. But instead of scrubbing off the sweat and grime of the day, his soapy hand had a much more definitive purpose. It slid up and down over his straining hard-on.

Even though every fiber of my being told me to get the hell out of there, I stood frozen to the spot, mesmerized by his body’s reactions to what he was doing to himself. With his other hand braced above his head on the grimy tile, he pressed his head against his muscular, tattooed bicep. His face was curved toward me, but thankfully his eyes were pinched shut in ecstasy. Tiny pants and grunts emitted from his lips.

My heartbeat thundered in my chest while a slow, steady burn filled my lower half as I watched what he was doing. “Oh God,” I moaned in a whisper before I could stop myself. Beads of sweat popped and crackled over my skin, and it wasn’t from the hot, steamy water. Wetness filled my panties while my ni**les hardened beneath my bra.