Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 96850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Stall.
He could only think to stall and pray this whole Bad Madden thing blew over.
“Come home with me tonight.” Despite the pain in his shoulder, he sat forward, curling his hand around the back of her neck. Massaging her nape. Gratified when her pupils expanded, her breath quickening at his touch. “I won’t have you driving home alone in the dark.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“Come here.”
She hesitated. But when he made it clear he was willing to put himself through pain to get closer, she rushed to perch on the edge of the bed. God forgive him, he took advantage of her being slightly off-balance, pulling her face down to his until their mouths were only a half inch apart.
“Sleep in my bed with me.” Madden twisted their lips together, not kissing, just dragging. Breathing. “The only decision we have to make tonight is which shirt of mine you’re borrowing. If you need one at all.”
Eve rubbed the side of her nose against his, almost absently, as if she wasn’t aware of the nuzzle. Or couldn’t help it. “Nothing will make me forget what’s at stake.”
He sipped at her mouth. Once. Twice. “We’ll talk about this when we’re not somewhere that makes us both uncomfortable.”
“Fine,” she whispered, her palm skimming down his chest now. “I’ll spend one night, but only because you’re hurt and someone should be with you.”
“You’re coming to be my nurse, are you?”
Their lips moved damply on top of each other when she nodded. “Uh-huh. I’m going to wipe your brow and pat your hand comfortingly. Just like in the movies.”
“Nurses don’t usually sleep in the same bed as their patients.”
“I suppose I could take the couch.”
“The hell you will.”
The victory of getting Eve to agree to sleep at his apartment didn’t overshadow the fear of what could possibly lie ahead, but their closeness distracted him, to say the least. He’d successfully stalled any rash decisions. For now. He’d work on the rest as soon as he got discharged from this fresh hell known as a hospital.
“Come get in bed with me right now. We can practice for later.”
“I don’t know if you noticed, but there are two dozen people foaming at the mouth to get back in this room and talk to Bad Madden.”
“I’m already sick of that nickname,” he groused.
“Too bad. You earned it.” Eve started to stand, but she gasped when Madden caught her around the waist with his good arm and tugged her on top of him, farther and farther up his body until she straddled one of his thighs and their mouths were even.
“Jesus Christ. Can’t I have one real kiss, woman?”
She struggled to push herself up without touching his injury. “You had your chance, Mr. Donahue.”
“I was warming you up.” Madden bent the knee between her legs, an action that pressed his thigh up tight, so tight to her pussy, shuddering over the warmth he found there. They stayed like that for long moments, Eve pulsing against his flexed thigh, her hips riding up an inch, back an inch, just once, her teeth sinking into her full bottom lip, the effort to restrain herself visible. “A week is too fucking long without you, Eve. In every way. Not just being inside you. But goddamn, a few hours is too long for that, let alone a week.” He moved his thigh. “Tell me you missed me.”
“I missed you.”
“Kiss me like you missed me.”
She didn’t hesitate, maybe she couldn’t, as she arrowed for his mouth, her lips opening over the top of his with a whimper that balanced his growl perfectly. She balanced every uneven part of him in a split second, his taciturn soul relaxing because what could be wrong with the world when this gorgeous, stubborn woman in a sundress was on top of him, taking great pains not to touch his shoulder, but aye, she was getting wetter against his thigh. He didn’t have to feel it with his fingers to know. He could sense her need in the way she kissed, as if she’d been starving for a week and now, she’d been offered a feast.
That’s what they were to each other.
A mutual feast.
He just needed to keep reminding her until her arguments ran out.
Madden was calculating the wisdom of sliding his hand up her dress and playing with her from behind through her panties, because surely the skirt would hide anything he was doing to her, but that’s when he heard the voices approaching. And he froze.
Those voices were too familiar. He heard them day in and day out.
In the locker room.
On the field.
“Love.”
She mewled her way down to his throat, sucking his skin.
“Love,” he panted. “We have to stop. The team is here.”
“What?” she asked, raising her head and looking adorably befuddled, a rarity for his badass Eve. “Who is what?”