Take a Chance on Me(71)

“What are you doing?” She grabbed his wrist, trying to pull him away even as her body quickened.

The pulse beating fast against his tongue didn’t lie. He licked, scraping his teeth over her skin. Lifting his head, he whispered in her ear, “Tell me the truth, and I promise to put you over my knee and give you a proper spanking.”


Inner muscles clenched and rippled along his fingers, and he laughed wickedly. “Oh, someone definitely likes that idea.”

“You’re the worst.” She groaned and clutched the door handle as she rocked into his hand.

His cock hardened as he pumped into her hot, tight core. “Admit it—”

A horn blared and he reluctantly pulled away, but not before he planted a hard kiss on her lips. “You are in so much trouble when we get home.”

She shivered, her eyes flirting up at him. “Drive.”

He drove the next couple of blocks to the farmhouse, turning up the drive. The tires crunched over gravel, and he frowned to see an unwelcome car in the driveway.

He pulled behind the Mercedes and his stomach tightened. He glanced at the porch and flipped off the ignition. “Oh, hell.”

“Who’s that?” Maddie asked.

Jesus Christ, could anything else go wrong? “It’s my mother.”





Chapter Nineteen



“I don’t want to meet your mother,” Maddie said, completely horrified. She stared at the attractive older woman with champagne-blond hair, wearing a pale tan linen suit and standing on Mitch’s porch.

Mitch laughed. “Yeah, well, today isn’t exactly going as planned, is it?”

Maddie bit her lip. “I know. It’s a mess. We didn’t even get a chance to talk. . . .” She felt herself flush ten shades of scarlet as the images filled her mind of them, wild and abandoned in the front seat. “In the car.”

Mitch tightened his grip on her hand. “I didn’t give you much of a chance to do anything but get your brains f*cked out.”

With brows slamming together, she angled her head at the woman watching them from the porch. “Your mother.”

“She can’t hear me,” he said almost absently as he contemplated the woman who’d given birth to him as though she were a stranger.

Neither mother nor son rushed to meet each other.

“Are you okay?” Maddie asked. It had been a stressful day, and she wasn’t sure how much more either of them could take.

“Let’s get this over with.” His voice was like the hard blade of a knife.

Their fingers unlaced, and they exited the car. They walked around and he took her hand, striding up the stairs so quickly that she had to rush to keep pace. When they reached the top of the steps, he nodded to the older woman. “Mom, this is a surprise.”

“Mitchell.” She inclined her head. “I’m sorry for arriving unannounced, but you know your father. He’s probably having my calls monitored.”

Mitch smirked. “He’s turned into a paranoid son of a bitch, hasn’t he?”

Amber eyes that matched her son’s flickered, then turned to rest on Maddie.

Mitch slid his arms around her. “Maddie Donovan, meet my mother, Charlotte Riley.”

Maddie held out a hot, sweaty palm and said primly, “Mrs. Riley, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Charlotte’s hand glanced over hers, polite but remote. “You too, dear.”

Mitch hugged Maddie more tightly. “What can I do for you?”

Maddie cringed at his words and gave him a little nudge with his elbow. “I’m sure your mom has had a long ride. Maybe you should invite her in.”

“Yes, thank you,” Charlotte said, her expression warming a smidgen when her lips curved in the barest hint of a smile.

Mitch sighed and went to the door, tugging Maddie along as though she might try to run away if he let go. When they walked into the foyer, Maddie’s gaze immediately fell on the mirror. She blanched.

She looked horrible. With flushed cheeks, rumpled clothes, and hair a rat’s nest, she looked like she’d been doing, well, exactly what she had been doing. Unable to help herself, she examined her neck, and found a red spot, glowing like a neon sign, where Mitch had bit her. Pulling free from Mitch’s grasp, Maddie fussed with her hair to hide the mark.

He threw his key on the accent table, the clang of metal against wood too loud in an already tense room. The three of them stood, warily watching each other while they waited for someone to break the ice.

It sure as hell wasn’t going to be her. Maddie pressed her lips together as she fought the urge to babble.

Finally, Mitch put her out of her misery by pointing to a suitcase near his mother’s expensive tan pumps. “Are you planning on staying?”

“May I?” Charlotte asked. Her tone was cool, but something flickered in the older woman’s gaze. Something sad and hurt.

Why wouldn’t she be? Her husband’s alleged affair with another woman had been splashed over every media outlet in the modern world. Maddie’s heart warmed in sympathy and she asked, “Do you want some lemonade? It’s homemade.”

Charlotte gave her a hesitant smile. “That would be lovely, dear.”

Maddie practically ran to the kitchen, pulling out glasses and filling them with ice. She busied herself while Mitch and Charlotte walked through the swinging door to sit down at the table in stony silence.