Mad Love (Hearts Are Wild): Hearts Are Wild (10 page)

Always a part of something and yet not…

Hollowness filled her. Sadness.

“Hey. You okay?” Toby wrapped an arm around
her shoulders.

She turned her head and forced a smile.
“Yes.”

The last thing she wanted was for him to know
how uncomfortable she felt around his family. He’d introduced her
to everyone over the course of the afternoon and while she’d
attempted to talk to all of them, she just didn’t have the skills
to go deeper than the most superficial conversation. Her efforts
barely scratched the surface of
‘
nice weather we’re
having
’
.

“Are you sure?”

His concern warmed her. Turned her smile
genuine. “Yes. Just a little tired. Overwhelmed.”

“Yeah, this lot can be a bit much to take
even when you’re used to them. Why don’t we cut out? We can go home
and watch a movie.”

“Oh, no.” She didn’t want to make him leave
his sister and sister-in-law’s combined baby shower. It was bad
enough that she felt like a gatecrasher. “You should stay. I’ll
call a cab.”

“What?”

The more she thought about that idea, the
better it sounded. She needed some time alone to process everything
and she really was tired. “You can stay and enjoy the rest of the
party and I’ll see you Monday at work.”

Reminding herself that they were coworkers
only increased her urge to flee.

“I’ll just say goodbye to Cassie and Shaye.”
Madison pushed to her feet. “Thank your parents for having me
here.”

Toby stood. “Let’s go.”

“No. No. You don’t have to come with me.”

He gripped her chin lightly but firmly,
making it impossible to avoid his gaze. “You’re here with me. You
leave. I leave.”

“But—”

“Don’t argue, Mad. You won’t win.” Toby wove
his fingers through hers and tugged her toward his sister and
sister-in-law.

“Toby.”

“Not another word other than goodbye to my
family, Madison.”

Well, there was no denying the hard edge of
his voice. Neither could she ignore the little tremor that ran
through her at his commanding tone. He’d used that voice on her in
bed and she shivered with remembered sensation. What was it about
this man ordering her around that heated her blood and softened her
muscles? She yielded to his demands and did it willingly.

She’d never been malleable. Never let anyone,
other than her parents, tell her what to do. Somehow Toby
controlled her. Did it in a way she not only accepted but
welcomed.

What on earth had he done to her?

He’d gone from someone she barely tolerated
to someone she wanted to spend all her time with. And it wasn’t
only his bedroom skills that appealed to her.

She’d discovered so much about the man
today.

He loved his family unconditionally. Even
those who weren’t blood related got the same level of
consideration, the same genuine interest and respect from Toby. He
freely showed his affection too. With his family. With her. It
wasn’t something she was used to and it took her by surprise every
time he directed his attention towards her.

But she was beginning to crave that part of
him. Wanted to be on the receiving end of one of his infectious
smiles or his care and concern for her wellbeing.

Madison hadn’t felt that level of interest
ever. Not even her parents were as attentive to her welfare beyond
the rudimentary necessities of raising a child. Unlike the family
surrounding her, with its warmth and love, her parents had made
sure she was fed and clothed but done little in regard to emotional
nurturing.

If she were honest, she’d never felt loved by
her parents. She’d just assumed they held that sentiment in regard
to her. After spending the afternoon with the Morelands she doubted
her parents even knew what real love was.
She
didn’t
understand the depth of emotion this family showed one another. Not
with any true knowledge.

She grasped the concept in an intellectual
capacity but when it came to the sentiment itself Madison had no
personal exposure to drawn on. What she felt for her parents didn’t
compare to what she’d witnessed exchanged between Toby and his
family. Or even between her and Toby.

Madison wasn’t sure she was capable of such a
profound connection though. Surely she would have encountered it by
now if she were? Was what she was experiencing with Toby the
beginning of a deeper relationship?

So much to think about. Too much to explore
while in the presence of the man himself. He’d already proven he
short-circuited her brain. She needed space. Time.

Unfortunately, it didn’t look as though Toby
was going to give her either.

Madison hadn’t said a word since they’d left
his parents’ house. She’s bid a polite farewell and thank you to
his sister, sister-in-law and parents, and allowed him to lead her
out to his car.

He wasn’t sure what had changed. He couldn’t
tell if she was upset or angry. He was completely clueless to her
mood and he wasn’t planning on letting her keep him in the dark
once they reached his house.

Of course, he hadn’t asked her if she wanted
to come back to his place; he was taking that choice out of her
hands. If she wanted him to take her home after he got to the
bottom of this strange shift in their relationship, he would. But
he’d do everything he could to persuade her to stay first.

The second they pulled into his driveway, she
spun towards him. “Why are we here? I want to go home.”

“What’s wrong?” Toby would prefer to start
this conversation inside but it seemed Mad wasn’t going to give him
that option.

“Nothing. I told you I’m tired.” She crossed
her arms over her chest.

“I’m not taking you home until you talk to
me.” He turned off the car and removed the keys. “C’mon. I’ll make
us some coffee.”

“I don’t want coffee.”

Angling his head away, he hid a smile. Her
tone was sulky and for some reason he found it super cute. He
figured Madison would not be impressed with his thoughts. “I want
coffee.”

He didn’t really but it was an excuse to get
her inside and at this point, short of picking her up and carrying
her in like he had last night, he’d use anything at his disposal to
get her into his house. Although, he wasn’t ruling out a fireman
hold just yet.

He’d climbed out and rounded the hood when
her door flung open. “I don’t drink coffee after three, it keeps me
awake.”

Toby smiled and held out his hand.

He didn’t really care about her coffee
preferences. The fact she was walking towards him and would soon
follow him into the house was his only concern right now. When he
got her inside, he’d find out what the problem was, fix it, then
take her to bed.

He’d been waiting all day to peel her out of
that sexy outfit she had on. It was some sort of all-in-one thing
that he’d spent hours trying to work out how to remove. He wondered
if there was a hidden zipper somewhere or if the bow at the back of
her neck was the way to get it off.

However it came off, he wanted it on the
floor of his bedroom at some point tonight. But first, he had a
mood to figure out.

“If you don’t want coffee, I can offer you
wine.”

“I don’t drink.”

He glanced over at Madison as they made their
way up the path. “At all?”

“No.” She shook her head. “I’ve never wanted
to try it.”

“You’ve never had
any
?” How was that
possible?

She shrugged. “When all my peers were going
to parties and getting drunk, I was too young, and by the time I
was old enough I was busy studying.”

She’d left something out of that explanation.
He wasn’t sure what but he knew that wasn’t the whole story.

Toby knew she’d gone through school ahead of
time, but it had never occurred to him that she wouldn’t have
experienced the same things he had in high school and university.
Now that he put his mind to it, he could see the connection to her
struggles to interact, to connect in certain situations.

While she was completely at home and in her
element with the kids in her classes, she was stilted and abrupt or
a silent bystander with adults. He’d seen it today. And now that
she’d pointed him in the right direction, he completely understood
why the change in mood this evening.

“Well, I think it’s time you got an education
in alcohol.”

“Oh no. I don’t think so.” She tried to pull
her hand from his. “I’m quite happy not drinking, thank you.”

There was that prim-and-proper tone that
revved his engine. Jesus, he was a sick fuck if her haughty manner
got him off. If he were honest, he’d admit everything about her got
him off.

Grinning at her, he unlocked the front door
and ushered her inside. “Humor me. I want to see you try new
things. You didn’t have a problem with it last night.” He winked
and watched a gentle flush wash up her throat and into her
cheeks.

“I…well…that’s…” Madison sighed. “Fine. But
only a taste.”

“I’ll accept that.”

He threaded his fingers through hers and led
her to the kitchen. If he could convince her to try something new
every day, he’d be a happy man. And he wasn’t only talking about
sexually. Although he would admit the idea of exploring new
pleasures with her in bed was more than appealing, he also wanted
to see her find pleasures outside the bedroom.

***

“That’s enough for you, lightweight.” Toby
plucked the glass from her hand.

“Hey. I wasn’t finished,” Madison complained
with a pout.

He chuckled. “You’ve had more than enough for
a first attempt.”

“But I really liked it.” Was that her voice,
all whiny and pleading? She sat up straight and her head went a
little woozy. “Wow.” Grabbing the edge of the couch, Madison tried
to steady herself.

Smiling, Toby leaned over and whispered in
her ear. “Feeling it now?”

She nodded. Big mistake. That dizzy sensation
multiplied. “Oo…”

“Like I said. Lightweight.”

“I barely had a glass.”

“Actually, that’s your second.”

“Really?” Madison didn’t remember finishing
the first.

“Yep.” He placed her glass on the side table
next to his. “I think it’s time for bed.”

“Oh, of course. Right.” She stood on unsteady
legs. Was she drunk on less than two glasses of wine? “I’ll call a
cab…”

Toby laughed and scooped her into his arms,
making her head spin for a whole different reason. “Not a chance.
Bed. As in
my
bed, Ms. Tipsy-lightweight.”

“Are you going to get me to try more new
things?” she asked while snuggling her head into the side of Toby’s
neck. Heat rolled off him, making her want to get closer. “You’re
so warm and comfy.”

“Jesus. I think you’re a one-glass girl from
now on.” Toby entered his room and strode to the bed. Lowering her
to the soft bedding, he hovered over her. “Can you get undressed
yourself or do you need help?”

“Undress me.” She went for sexy but when he
smiled at her with humor, Madison figured she’d missed the mark.
Sighing, she said, “I wish I was sexy.”

Toby reared back. “What?”

She pouted. “I’m not sexy.”

“Mad, you’re one of the sexiest women I’ve
ever known.”

“No I’m not. You don’t want to rip my clothes
off all the time.”

He made a sound that was a mix between a
groan and laughter. “You have no idea.”

“You
do
want to rip my clothes
off?”

“Madison, I’ve spent the whole day with a
semi.”

“A semi what?”

The sound he made now was definitely a laugh.
“Half a hard-on.”

Half? “How do you have a half? Show me.” She
scrambled up and reached for his pants.

“Whoa. Wait.”

“But I want to see. You’re getting me to try
new things, right? And I’ve never seen half a hard-on before.
Actually, till last night, I’d never see a full one up close and
personal.”

“Fuck.” he pushed her hands away and took a
step back. “Let me do it, and we have to be quick.”

“Why?”

“Because just the thought of you wanting to
see my cock gets me hard; actually showing it to you is guaranteed
to have it standing at full-salute attention.”

“Someone looking at you makes you
aroused?”

He dropped his pants and Madison kept her
eyes glued to his groin. She watched as the thick shaft that hung
between his legs grew thicker and rose up until it almost brushed
his stomach.

“Wow. You weren’t wrong. That thing just
stood right up.” Reaching out, she caressed the steely length from
base to tip.

“Mad,” Toby growled, his hands fisting at his
side.

“I want to suck it again.”

“Fuck.” He stepped back out of reach. “You’re
drunk.”

She laughed. “I’m not that drunk.” Tilting
her head to the side, Madison considered his words. “Nope. Not
drunk. A little mellow, definitely feeling less inhibited than
normal, but not drunk.”

“Christ, Mad, you’re killing me.”

“Why?”

“Because I’d love nothing more than to tumble
you to the bed and let you suck me. To suck
you
. Lick you.
Fuck you into next week.”

She grinned. “That’s what I want too.”

“Not until you’re sober.” Toby crossed his
arms over his wide chest and took another step away to punctuate
his statement.

“Well, that’s it. I’m never drinking again.”
Flopping back on the bed, she threw an arm over her eyes. “How long
’til I’m sober?”

“Morning.”

Madison jack-knifed up. “What?”

“I’ll fuck you in the morning and not
before,” he ground out.

She eyed him. A vein pulsed at the side of
his forehead; a matching tic throbbed in his jaw. His eyes were
black as night and his whole body was rigid, as though one touch
and he’d snap.