Authors: Melissa Johns
“She’s obsessed with Mike. She loves social status and me being with him is big to her.”
He groaned and walked inside. She followed behind him as he made a beeline towards her parents. She grabbed his arm. “Hunter, please think before you act.”
He glared at her and then back at the group. “Madison and I are leaving.”
Carter jumped in. “I’m so sick of this. I can’t take the fact our family can’t be in the same room with each other. Alicia’s family is so loving and caring. We can’t even get along. The minute
Madison shows up, things get tense and uneasy. Why is that, Mom?”
“Carter, why are you getting so upset?” she asked.
“Mom, you can’t be in the same room as your daughter. You don’t see that as a problem?”
“Of course I can be in the same room. She’s standing right there.”
Carter sighed and threw his hands up in the air. Madison walked over to him and hugged him. She whispered in his ear. “Thank you.”
He pulled back and looked at her. “Maddy, I’m trying to make our family whole again.”
Madison chuckled. “The problem is that we were never whole to begin with, Carter. I was always the outcast. It’s just the way it is with us. But, you and I have a chance at a better life with each other. I’m not worried about them anymore. I have you and that adorable fiancée of yours.”
Alicia came over and hugged her. “You will always be a part of our lives.”
She smiled and continued, “I have the best boyfriend and I’m starting a career. I’m fine. I’m with you, Carter. I can’t take the drama anymore. It is what it is.”
Hunter grabbed her hand and kissed it. “Let’s go home.”
She smiled and nodded. “Good idea. I love you guys.”
Carter looked at his parents. “You can’t see that she has grown up, can you? Will you ever accept her?”
Madison didn’t wait for a response. She kissed Alicia and headed out the door. Hunter pressed the button for the elevator. “You ok?”
She nodded. “Yep, I’m getting better at this.”
They stepped into the elevator and he pulled her into his arms. “I’m proud of you.” He kissed her lightly. She moaned softly as he smirked. “What was that for?”
“You, your lips are a drug for me.”
“I’m happy that I can help you out.”
The elevator arrived at the lobby as they walked to his truck. They drove back to this apartment and headed straight towards the bedroom.
Madison yawned as he removed his shirt and tie.
“You tired?”
She nodded. “I feel like the move is finally catching up with me.”
He nodded. “I’m not surprised. Come here, baby.”
She walked over to him as he wrapped his arms around her. “I want you to close your eyes and sit on the bed. I have a surprise for you.”
She smiled as she sat down. She heard him leave the room and come about fifteen minutes later. He grabbed her hand and whispered, “Keep your eyes closed.”
She felt him lift her shirt over her head as he traced his fingers down her bare arms. She moved closer to him as she heard the hitch in his breathing. His fingers moved down her stomach and undid the buttons on her jeans. He moved them down her legs as he placed a kiss at her core. She moved her hands into his hair as he removed her socks and sneakers.
“You are killing me, Hunter. Can I open my eyes?”
“Not yet. Follow me.” He grabbed her hand and led her across the room. She felt silly in her bra and panties. She could feel the tiles underneath her feet and knew she was in the bathroom.
He moved behind her and undid the clasp on her bra and moved her panties down her thighs. He stood up and told her to open her eyes.
Madison was surrounded with candles and he had drawn a bath.
She sighed. “Hunter. This is beautiful.”
“I knew you needed some rest. You deserve this.” His hands ran down her arms as she turned around.
She kissed him lightly as he parted her lips. She ran her fingers over his chest. “Are you joining me?”
He smirked. “Only if you want me to, I understand if you want some quiet time.”
She undid his dress pants and let them fall to the floor. She allowed him into the tub first and then moved in front of him. She laid her head back against his chest and closed her eyes.
He grabbed her hair and pulled it up into a ponytail and gave himself access to her neck. “Tell me what is on your mind.”
“I’m just thinking about tonight. I’m with Carter, I’m sick of crap. Their wedding is very important to me and I don’t want any drama there. Alicia is already on edge so I don’t need to add onto it.”
“You aren’t the problem, Maddy. It’s them. They need to move on from the thoughts that you are a little girl who they can ignore. The world is ready to see what Madison Sinclair has to offer.”
She smiled. “Thank you for supporting me.”
“Always, I’m always by your side.”
“Can I ask you something?”
He nodded as he continued to kiss her neck.
She bit her lip and wasn’t sure how to phrase it. “Do you have a wild side?”
He stopped kissing her and looked at her. “What do you mean?”
She closed her eyes and shook her head. “Never mind.”
“Maddy, tell me. I want to know what you are thinking about.”
“I recently had a conversation and I wondered if all guys were into a darker side of sex?”
He smirked. “You mean bondage, whips and chains or having sex in public?”
She blushed. She wasn’t comfortable. She leaned back against him and closed her eyes again.
“Hey, talk to me. Who were you having this conversation with? Alicia?”
Her thoughts panicked. She didn’t know what to say. She tensed as she moved out of the tub. She grabbed at towel and leaned against the sink.
He followed behind her and reached for a towel. “I want us to have an open relationship, Madison. If there is something you want to try, I’m here to fulfill everything you want but you need to tell me what it is.”
“It’s not about me. It’s about you.”
He looked puzzled at her. “Ok, I’m confused. Why don’t you start at the beginning?”
She walked into the bedroom and sat on his small couch. “I’m new at all of this, Hunter. You have been my first at everything. What if I can’t give you everything that you want?”
He smiled and kneeled in front of her. “Did you really just say that to me? It’s nice to be in a relationship where it isn’t all sex. We talk and get to know each other. Yeah, sex is the cherry on top but you give me everything that I need.”
“You don’t have fantasies?”
He laughed. “Who the hell have you been talking to?”
She blushed and came clean. “Mike and I were talking about his past and he shared with me about his ex-girlfriend. The subject came up.” She looked up at him and couldn’t read his face.
“So you are talking about sex with Mike?”
She frowned. “Not really, just came up with his girlfriend story.”
Hunter stood up and grabbed his pajama bottoms. “There is one thing you should know about me, Maddy. I have a jealous side. I’m trying to understand this fast growing relationship between you and Mike but it’s hard especially when he brings out questions like this.”
Madison
stood up and looked at him. “But I’m asking you about it not him. I’m asking you if you have desires like that not him. I want to know how I can pleasure you and make sure I’m completing you.”
He grabbed her towel and released it. He pushed her onto the bed and kissed her neck. He braced her hands above her head as he whispered in her ear. “You are everything I need and want. We will explore this relationship together, ok?”
She nodded as she lost herself with him.
CHAPTER EIGHT
The arena was filled with red and black jerseys. The fans were cheering and yelling as they found their seats. This was it, game seven in the cup playoffs. Win this game and they are going to the finals.
Hunter and Carter left early afternoon to head to the arena. Alicia drove Mike and Madison to the game. They hopped into the elevator that took them up to the suites.
Madison looked straight ahead and didn’t stop to say anything to her parents. Mike kept up with her. They waved to Alicia as she disappeared.
Right before they entered Hunter’s suite, Mike grabbed her arm and stopped her. “Why do I have this feeling you are ignoring me? You have barely said a word to me today. I sent you a few texts last night and never heard back from you.”
Madison sighed and leaned against the wall. “Just having some issues with Hunter, I guess.”
Mike looked at her. “Anything you want to talk about?”
She shook her head. “That’s probably not a good idea.”
His eyes tightened as he tried to figure out the hidden meaning behind her comment. “Is it about sex?”
Madison blushed. “Oh my God, his parents are right there. I’m not discussing this.”
She walked into the suite as Mike followed behind her. They were greeted by Hunter’s family. They ran over and hugged
Madison. Hunter’s dad handed Mike a beer.
It was late in the third period. Hunter wasn’t having a great game. They were down by three. The arena was silent. The fans started to exit the arena.
Madison looked around at Hunter’s family as they started to clean up the suite. His mom looked the worst. Maddy grabbed her hand and held onto it. “It’s ok. There is always next season.”
She nodded. “But, he could be traded and I won’t see him during the season. I love having him here. It was so easy. I know flights are easy to take but if we are across the country from him, I will be lost.”
She nodded. “I know but we can’t worry about that yet. Time will tell us what will happen.”
She patted her hand and got up. “He’s going to need you, Maddy. He’s going to be a mess tonight.”
Madison looked back at the ice as the clock ran out. The other team was heading to the cup finals. Carter and his teammates gathered at center ice and held their sticks in the air to salute the fans. The season was over.
Alicia joined them shortly after the game was over. “The guys are meeting us up here.”
Mike looked at his phone. “Hey, I need to run. I’m getting lift from a friend of mine.”
Madison
looked at him. “We could have given you a ride home, Mike.”
He shrugged it off. “Don’t worry about it. I think Hunter will need you tonight. I don’t want to be a third wheel. We will talk when you get back home. Please thank Hunter for the tickets.”
Once he left, Alicia turned towards her. “That was nice of him.”
Madison
nodded. “I’m really worried about Hunter.”
Alicia groaned. “Me too, Carter will be so upset. He thought this was their year.”
“How should I act around him?”
“Just be supportive. It may take a few days for his head to clear but he will be ok. This is what they do.”
Carter walked into the room and stopped. “Well, that sucked.”
“I’m so sorry, sweetheart. There is always next year.” Alicia hugged and kissed him. “We can focus on the wedding now. You know, it’s only a month away.”
He smiled. “That’s all I care about right now.”
Hunter walked in shortly after and sat down on one of the stools. “It’s time for a round of golf.”
Madison grabbed his arm and squeezed. “I’m so sorry, Hunter.”
He nodded. “I just want to go home to the beach and forget about it.”
Carter looked at him. “You might as well stay tonight since we need to clean lockers out tomorrow. We can all head back tomorrow and have a cookout at our house. Get the summer started.”
Everyone agreed and headed towards the elevator. Alicia and Carter hugged them and they parted ways. Hunter opened his truck door and helped her in. Once they were on the road to his apartment, he turned his attention back to her. “Where’s Mike?”
“He headed back to the beach tonight.”
“Is everything ok?” he asked.
She nodded. “He wanted to give us some space. He figured with the loss, you wouldn’t be in the mood for company.”
Hunter pulled into the parking lot and turned off his truck. “That was nice of him.” He hopped from his truck and opened her door. “Come on, I need junk food and you curled up next to me all night.”
She smiled. “Everything will be ok, Hunter. Yeah, it sucks right now but we are heading back to the beach and starting our summer together.”
He nodded as they walked into his apartment. “Can I get you something to drink?”
“A glass of wine would be fine.”
He disappeared into the kitchen. Maddy walked out onto the balcony and sat in one of his cushions chairs. She looked over the city and realized how much she already missed the ocean.
Hunter came out and placed her glass on the table. “I will apologize upfront if I seem miserable tonight.”