The Devil's Storm Read online

  “I’m inclined to agree with him.”

  “Let’s get out of here, then.”

  Adrian climbed out first. “Mrs. Atwood,” he said, offering his hand.

  “Mr. Atwood.” Madeleine smiled and placed her hand in his. She didn’t let go until they made it to their suite.

  The door had barely shut before Adrian pinned her against the wall. Madeleine hissed in pain as her shoulders hit the chair rail molding, but his lips soon took away the sting. A delicious taste filled her mouth as her mind got lost in a fog of Adrian Atwood and hot tension released across her body in waves. His lips traveled a familiar course; from her mouth to her chin, down to the hollow between her jaw and ear. Adrian kept his hands planted firmly over her hips at first, but the further his mouth went, the lower he worked his hands.

  Madeleine placed her palms to his chest, feeling the rise and fall of his breath and the pounding of his heart. She worked his fingers over the buttons of his oxford, and he spared his hands long enough to work off his jacket and shirt.

  “You looked amazing in this dress,” he said in a husky tone as he fisted the hem in his hands and pulled it up to her hips. He manipulated the fabric to bring them even closer together, pressing her body right up against his. “Shows just the right amount of skin

  and every curve—”

  “Oh, I hope not every curve,” she joked breathlessly as he pulled the dress over her head and made quick work of her bra.

  “Every gorgeous, blessed curve,” he insisted, taking in the sight of her in the moon-washed entryway. “You’re so damned beautiful.”

  “No, I’m —”

  She started to protest, but he put a finger to her lips with one hand and grasped her breast with the other, instinctively kneading it down to pinch her delicate nipple. Madeleine opened her mouth and wrapped her lips around his finger in reply, gently sucking on the tip. A sense of satisfaction filled her as his mouth fell open and his eyes narrowed. He let out an aroused hiss before crashing his mouth against hers. She slowly wrapped one leg, then the other around his waist. Madeleine wanted nothing more than Adrian buried deep inside her for the rest of the night, his hot, sweat-slicked body writhing against her until they fell into an exhausted heap.

  He wrapped his hands around her thighs as he walked her to the bedroom and collapsed with her on the bed. They became a tangle of legs and arms and roaming hands, their lips connected the entire time, until Adrian placed a kiss on her neck, followed by another, and another, his mouth following a familiar route from her neck, to each heaving breast, down to her navel.

  “I love you,” he breathed. “I’m gonna spend the rest of my life telling you every day and night.”

  Madeleine had every intention of telling how much she loved him right back, but about the time she opened her mouth, he hooked his arms over her thighs and spread them. Her reply devolved to a gasp as he placed his thumb and delicately rubbed at her center, making her shudder through her already-wet panties. Adrian grasped the waist and pulled them down her thighs. She took in every sensation – his scent, the sound of her own, panting breath, the never-ending burning craze inside her.

  He slipped two fingers into her slit, exploring top to bottom in

  small, torturous motions until he delved inside her. Madeleine gave a satisfied cry as he entered, then another as his mouth and tongue joined in harmony. “Ade,” she breathed, running her fingers through his hair, encouraging him on. He hooked his arms tight around her legs and lifted her body to be even closer, deeper inside her. She dug her hands into his shoulders as pure blind, mind-numbing bliss conquered her body.

  When her cries peaked and her hands trembled on his shoulders, her head was still lost in the aftermath of the magic his mouth could conjure. Madeleine vaguely acknowledged the sound of a clang and whisper of falling material sinking to the floor, then sank into a another oblivion of touch as his bared body met with hers. She leaned up and met his lips in another kiss that grew and multiplied, and Madeleine craved the fullness only he could create inside her.

  Madeleine pushed up gently on his chest until he sat back on his knees on the bed and she lowered herself, slowly, appreciatively into his lap. She sighed in satisfaction as she sank to the base of his cock, taking in the sensation of fulfillment. He kissed her and planted his hands on her hips, grateful when she began gently rocking against him. He hissed, tilting his head back as her movements gained speed and intensity. Adrian groaned, grasping her ass in his hands as he pumped in rhythm to her movements.

  “Fuck, you feel so good,” he murmured. “I don’t want this to end.”

  “We’re getting married, baby. You’ve got me all to yourself for the rest of our lives.”

  An open mouth kiss made her drunk with all that was him. Panting with every thrust, he took over, movements rough and perfectly satisfying. “Get up,” he ordered.

  She shook her head before throwing it back in pleasure. “No,” she hissed, knowing full well she was teasing him, but also unwilling to stop riding him for even a second.

  He slapped her ass with a stinging smack, but Madeleine wasn't deterred one bit. “Why can't you ever behave the first time?”

  “You couldn’t make me if you tried.”

  “Is that so?” he managed to gasp. Before she knew it, Adrian had her pinned down to the bed, on her back. He ran his hands from her breasts to her hips, kissing her neck and shoulder just to make her shiver. She moaned as he shoved himself inside her, grasping her hips and plunging right inside her in a frenzy.

  “Damn,” he breathed, getting lost in the waves of pleasure washed over.

  Madeleine was gasping, arching her neck back as her eyes shut tight. “Harder,” she requested.

  Adrian gave a little laugh. “As you wish.” He thrust deep and hard, in complete abandon as her cries grew louder and made his

  head spin.

  “Don't stop. Not yet,” she begged. Madeleine didn’t want this to ever stop.

  He nodded, but the expression on his face said he'd long lost the capacity to think straight. Everything inside her was building, rising, making his heart pound faster and faster. The second she felt that familiar, all-consuming wave of pleasure, Madeleine felt as if her whole soul bounded from her body just to return seconds later.

  Adrian collapsed on the bed next to her, lungs working overtime. Madeleine settled against his chest and he wrapped her right up in his arms and held her tight. "I love you," he sighed, kissing her temple.

  “I love you too,” Madeleine answered in a low, soft tone. She wrapped her arms around him and closed her eyes.

  He smiled, thankful she was there in his arms, that they loved each other more than life itself.

  “Maddie?” She hummed, letting him know she was still awake enough to answer. “Are you happy?”

  “What kind of question is that?” she yawned. “Of course I’m happy.”

  He kissed her softly and slowly, their hands connecting instinctively. “I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure it stays that way. You know that, right?”

  “Adrian, you already do.”

  Chapter Twenty Nine

  Adrian peeked in on Madeleine as he pulled his tie through the final loop. She was still asleep, curled up right next to the spot where he’d slept. He hated leaving her. All he really wanted to do was stay in bed with her all day, “celebrating their engagement” as she’d called it. But he and his father still had a few details that needed to be ironed out, and documents to review and sign to complete the purchase of Harrison Aerospace. Then the real work would begin, and it was enough to make his head spin. For once in his life, Adrian was looking forward to dealing with the business part of things—like his father said, this was a business that truly represented his passion as an engineer, and they had the chance to develop something meaningful.

  He’d tell Madeleine all about it today, after their meetings. He regretted not saying anything about Harrison Aerospace before, and he knew full well
she would be angry he didn’t tell her the full story. But what difference would it have made? Madeleine probably would have taken matters in her own hands and tried to reason with Lee herself. That was the last thing he wanted.

  At the risk of wrinkling his suit and looking less than professional for their meeting, Adrian settled himself back in bed next to Madeleine and wrapped his arms around her. He kissed her forehead and toyed his fingers through her hair, simply because he loved the feel beneath his fingertips. What he loved even more, was seeing the ring he’d spent over a hundred, frustrating hours creating on her finger. It made every curse word, sigh and screw up worth it. It made every year, day, hour and second of living without her fade into the past and illuminate a future where she was the center. Nothing was more important than her.

  Madeleine’s eyes opened lazily, then closed again. She wrapped an arm around him and burrowed into his chest with a groan. “Why are you dressed? I prefer you undressed.”

  “Trust me, I would much rather be undressed and confined to this bed with you all day.”

  “I thought that was the plan,” she whined. “I was looking forward to it.”

  “I’ve got some business-y stuff to do with Dad. I’ll be back around three or four, hopefully.”

  Madeleine leaned up and glowered at him. “Business-y stuff? What business-y stuff could you possibly be doing with your father?”

  Adrian decided it was time to sit up and explain, at least lay down the foundation to tell her everything later. “It’s a long story, but I promise you, it’s exciting, and I will fill you in as soon as I get back this afternoon.”

  “What does he have cooked up now? And how are you going to do business-y stuff with your dad and work at Harrison Aerospace?”

  He leaned up and pressed a quick kiss to her lips. “I’ll tell you about it later.”

  “We’re engaged. You’re kinda supposed to tell me everything. Like when it happens.”

  He furrowed his brow in skepticism, but Madeleine only looked up at him expectantly. “I’ll tell you everything this afternoon. Promise.”

  She groaned and muttered in response. “You owe me an entire day in bed. Undressed.”

  Adrian grinned. “I’ll make you a deal. I’ll give you as many days in bed as you want. Completely undressed.”

  Madeleine turned over, breasts uncovered and he couldn’t have possibly prevented his cock’s instant reaction. He leaned down to kiss her goodbye. His willful hand brushed and grasped one of her breasts as he parted from her. Madeleine gave out a pleasured hiss that did nothing to quell his growing desire. “Sure you don’t want to stay in bed with me?” she asked in a seductive tone.

  He shook his head as her hand traveled from his hip to his groin. “Not in the least bit sure,” he quavered.

  His phone rang; he knew exactly who was calling. It was his father, no doubt waiting at the hotel entrance in his car. Adrian could already hear his lecture about being more than prompt when it came to his business dealings. “I gotta go, baby. I’ll see you later.”

  “If you must,” Madeleine conceded. He leaned down and kissed her one more time. Her lips felt smooth and inviting, though, and her taste always swept through his body and down to his very soul. Adrian certainly didn’t mean to get so caught up in her kiss, or for his body to meld to hers against the bed, or for his hips to find that perfect-fit spot between her legs.

  “Thought you had to leave,” Madeleine whispered as he exhaled and moved from her lips to kiss his way from her jaw to chin, neck to collarbone.

  “He can wait,” he asserted as he leaned up just enough to unfasten his belt and pants.

  “We can make it quick.”

  They both gave a low moan of relief as he slid inside her. His hips instinctively rocked in and out, working in harmony with her body. She wrapped her arms around his neck as tension mounted and their motions became more desperate. His phone rang a second and third time, but they were falling through a mutual oblivion, so lost in each other it didn’t matter one bit of what was happening in the real world.

  He leaned up on his knees and drove himself in deeper. Madeleine cried out, only encouraging his motions. Adrian felt his heart rate climbing out of control as he grasped her hips and took control. “I love you so much,” he murmured as he closed his eyes and focused on the all-consuming feeling of her.

  “I’m so close baby,” she whimpered.

  He plowed into her even harder and faster, desperately wanting to feel her reach that perfect apex of pleasure. “Fuck,” he hissed as her walls tightened around him. “Oh my God…”

  And there it was, the release they both craved, bursting together through the darkness. Adrian placed a grateful kiss on her lips. As they collapsed one last time against the sheets, Adrian’s phone rang a fourth time. Adrian rolled his eyes, pulled up his pants and took out his phone.

  “Yeah?” he said in a pant. Madeleine looked over to him with a mischievous smile and glint in her eye.

  “We’re gonna be late if you don’t get down here,” his father said in a very dissatisfied grunt. “Midtown’s already swamped this morning. Are you still in bed?”

  “Of course not. I’m just stepping out. I’ll be there in a few.”

  Adrian hung up and Madeleine burst out laughing. “If he’s mad I’m blaming you,” he laughed as he rolled toward her and kissed her again. “I was clearly seduced.”

  “You’re the one who took your pants off.”

  “Well for Christ’s sake look at you. What man wouldn’t?”

  Madeleine laughed. “I already said I’d marry you, Adrian. You don’t have to suck up anymore.”

  “On the contrary, my dear,” he countered as he stood and tucked in his shirt and ran his fingers through his hair. “My sucking up has only just begun. Happy wife, happy life, right?”

  “And you better not forget it, either,” Madeleine said, elevating on her knees to fix a few stray strands of his hair. She took one last look at him. “Your pants are a little wrinkled.”

  “Eh, who cares,” Adrian shrugged. “If anyone asks I’ll say quickies take priority over wrinkles. Hey, before I forget, I made you an appointment with Henry at 11:30. The Jeep’s here in hotel parking and valet will bring it around whenever you’re ready.”

  “Oh, I am not looking forward to that,” Madeleine sighed. She was still angry Henry had taken Lee on as a patient when he was already her therapist. “I guess it’s the only way I’m going to get meds before we head back home though.”

  “I know you don’t want to see him, but I think he’ll make it quick. He sounded like he looked forward to seeing how you were, if that helps,” Adrian responded. “Call me and let me know how it goes, okay?”

  “Will you even be able to answer your phone during your big important meeting?” she teased.

  “For you? Always. I’ll see you this afternoon.”

  He kissed her goodbye one last time and struck out to make the living she deserved.

  Chapter Thirty

  “I think I have majorly fucked up.”

  Lee observed Henry was trying—and failing—to keep his expression neutral. “You can’t just pop in my office without an appointment.”

  His face screwed into a disapproving glare. “I pay you enough to make an occasional pop-in. And, you’re the one who’s constantly telling me I’m missing appointments. Call it making up for lost time.”

  Henry sighed and plopped down in his chair across from Lee. “You’ve got ten minutes. Tops. How have you majorly fucked up?”

  Lee faked an offended gasp. “You dropped an f-bomb? You’re always so even-keeled.”

  “I’m just quoting you.”

  “Fair enough,” Lee shrugged. “So...remember last time how my goal was to talk to Maddie?”

  “It’s been a goal for, what? A year?”

  “Yeah, well, on the twelfth, we talked.”

  Henry raised a brow. “Really? How’d it go?”

  “Not good. I ended up sayi
ng the wrong thing and Maddie got upset. It was a disaster, and I felt awful about it later.”

  “I see.”

  “But we spoke again Sunday, and things were actually great. The phone call was brief, but I think we said a lot we’ve been holding back. In the end, we just want each other to be happy.”

  Henry looked pleasantly surprised. “Lee, this is great news. You’ve reached your goal; you’ve worked toward closure with Maddie...I’m not seeing how any of this couldn’t be positive.”

  Lee sighed. “Because I started dating someone.”

  Henry’s brows knitted tight. “Okay, this is still a positive. Moving on and dating is—”

  “I’m dating Emily.”

  Lee watched as Henry’s mouth fell. “Oh.”

  “And we’re not even really dating, per se...It’s more like...try-outs? I guess that might be an appropriate word for it.”

  “Just to be sure, we’re talking about Adrian’s ex, right? They were engaged, weren’t they?”

  “Yeah,” Lee blanched. “They were.”

  Henry just looked confused. “Okay, you’re gonna have to fill me in here. I thought you didn’t like each other. How did you two get hooked up?”

  Lee shrugged. “Atwood Technologies paired up with the museum to do this tech exhibit thing, we needed dates, it seemed appropriate to go together. You know, just as friends. Then there’s all this flirting, and by the end of the night, we’re having the most amazing sex.”

  “So, the relationship isn’t an actual relationship or...? Is it just sex?”

  Lee wasn’t sure how to answer. “Sunday morning rolled around, and we decided to give it a week, just to see what happened. But we’ve spent every day together, and it’s been...it has been the best week of my life since Maddie and I lost our son.”

  Henry gave him a moment to think and process. He always did that when he mentioned Thomas. It was as if Henry was in his head, and he knew the way his throat would tighten every time he had to speak about his son. How could the loss of his son still affect him that way even four years later?