“Oh, I like the sound of that.” She rose on her tiptoes, begging him for a kiss.
He ignored the offer, determined to say what he needed to. “We can start off slow—”
“No, Maddox, that’s not what I want,” she said, wiggling against him, inviting him to take her right there in her living room. “I don’t want gentle. I don’t want careful. I want what you’ve given me already.”
He stared at her mouth and swiped his thumb across her parted lips. “And what’s that?”
“Something raw and real. Passionate and wild.”
He dropped his head, bringing his mouth so close to hers, he could feel her warm breath against his lips. “If that’s what you want, then there’s something you’ll need to do for me.”
“What’s that?”
“Wait.”
His grin rose at the surprise rushing across her features. When he walked by her, she called, “Wait for what?”
Once he’d reached the door, he grabbed the handle and glanced over his shoulder with a smile. “For the game to begin, sweetheart.”
Chapter 4
Bright and early the following morning, Joss entered the station, passing by Maddox’s office. Heat flooded her with no effort on his part. Maybe it was the intensity in him when he focused on whatever he was doing or maybe it was something else, Joss didn’t know. Regardless, he looked hotter than ever before, and how that was possible was another thing she didn’t know.
The more she thought about it, the more she wondered if it was because of the offer he’d made. Really, she’d never met anyone like him. So bold. Arrogant without being overly cocky. Demanding in the best kind of way. He simply knew what he wanted, took it, and made no apologies for it. She liked that about him. Perhaps that’s what drew her to him.
She squeezed the strap of her bag and slowed her stride, getting a good look at him sitting behind his desk. One hand was behind his head as he stretched out his thick chest and talked on the telephone. She stumbled a little, and her shoe scuffed the floor. That’s when his eyes met hers. Slowly, he lowered his hand, his posture stiffening. A rush of energy flooded her. Exactly as it had last night when he’d come to her house. Her lower body pooled with heat, yearning for his touch…his hot kisses…and his dominating, powerful sex.
His eyes followed her, the seconds feeling like minutes. Regardless of the dangers of being with Maddox, he was not a guy to say no to—not that night at the bar or the night at the barbeque or when he’d offered her more last night. He delivered where Nick had failed. His touches brought out something in her, something new and refreshing and exciting and thrilling. Nick had always felt like he silenced her. Like he didn’t want her to be who she was. The control Maddox possessed was the exact opposite. Somehow, his dominance and intensity freed her, making her feel like she was breathing easier. Making her happier than she’d felt in a while. And all he asked for in return was no attachment.
No mess. No emotions. Exactly what she wanted, too.
He finally blinked, the spell gone, and as fast as she’d seen his desire, his shields snapped into place and his expression hardened. She didn’t take it personally—she understood, and she appreciated it, too. Police stations, like any workplace, could be rumor central, and her new job mattered to her. She’d worked hellishly hard to get where she was. The last thing she wanted was for others to think she’d screwed her way to the top.
Her eye contact broke when she moved past the door, and she exhaled the breath she hadn’t even known she’d been holding. And in that same second, a firm grip latched on to her arm, yanking her sideways. “What the—” She was tossed into the station’s family bathroom.
Emilia hastily turned around and locked the door.
Joss blinked, aghast. “You did not pull me into the bathroom. What if someone saw you, what in the hell would they think?”
“Whatever. No one saw me.” Emilia waved her off, her eyes twinkling. “Besides, it’s the only room where we know we won’t be overheard.” She moved to the sink and turned the faucet on all the way, then spun around and pointed a finger at Joss. “You banged him, didn’t you?”
“Seriously?” Joss snorted, rolling her eyes. “By what you saw on my face as I walked down the hallway, you could tell that?”
Emilia scanned Joss over from head-to-toe. “Oh, hell yeah, it’s that obvious. You have that glow. I know that glow. I saw it the day after you slept with him in the bar. So, spill. Every. Single. Detail.”