Page 16 of Adored By Jonah

“Is it selfish if I say no?” Maddie asks, biting her bottom lip.

I step towards her, running my hands up her thighs until I’m gripping her waist and pressing myself against her. “It’s okay to be selfish every once in a while my sweet. Especially since you’re the least selfish person I know.” Leaning down, I run my nose against hers before kissing her softly. “You taste so sweet.”

Maddie runs her hands up my chest and around my neck and pulls me down to her. “Kiss me again.”

For a few moments we get lost in a kiss that starts tender and ends with me lifting Madding onto the counter and me kissing down her neck to her round tits. As soon as I think to pull down the top of her dress, I pause and take a breath. This wasn’t the night I planned for us.

Maddie runs her soft delicate hands up my neck. “What’s wrong?”

I grin at her. “We’re going to be late for our reservations.”

I help her off the counter and wipe under bottom lip fixing her make up. “Ready?” I ask, holding out my arm.

I can tell she’s disappointed, while at the same time excited. Looping her arm through mine she gives me a huge smile. “Ready.”

Chapter Six

Maddie

Jonah tookus to the nicest restaurant in Jolly. We sat inside at a candle lit table with a gorgeous view of the ice capped mountains as the sun went down. We toasted the night with champagne and laughed the entire night. I love how carefree and happy Jonah always is. He never minds how crazy and uptight I can be, just slides right in and takes me down a notch or two so I can enjoy whatever we’re doing. I’m going to miss him so fucking much.

I hate that this will be the last night we spend together. I hate that I have to tell him goodbye. It’s not fair that I only got him for such a short time. I don’t know how my bastard of an ex found out about us, but he did and he’s making me choose. I’ll always choose Gracie, but telling him goodbye is going to hurt worse than I ever imagined. I trusted Jonah, believed him when he said he’d prove he was the one man I could believe in. I never thought it would be Mark to drive us apart.

I try and stay upbeat, not wanting to ruin our perfect night that Jonah spent so much time planning. God I wish there was another way, but I don’t see one. Once dinner is over, Jonah takes us back to his cabin which he has candles set up around the living room. He starts a fire in the fireplace and lights the candles as I sit there wondering what the hell I’m going to say. I shouldn’t have come here. I should have had him bring me home and told him goodbye from there, but it was too hard. My heart is literally breaking.

When Jonah sits beside me on the couch he takes my hand and rests it in his lap. Facing me, he stretches one arm along the back of the couch and traces the side of my face with his other hand. I lean into his touch, wanting to feel it for the rest of my life. “Madelyn, you make me the happiest man in the world. I hope you know that.”

Oh God.

He leans in, brushing his lips against mine before kissing me. When he pulls back he holds my face in the palm of his hand as he stares into my eyes. “I love you Madelyn.”

That’s the moment the first tear falls. I pull back, brushing the tear away. “I’m sorry, Jonah. I can’t do this anymore.”

“Do what? Maddie, what’s going on?”

“He gave me a week to make my decision. And the week is almost up,” I say, unable to look at him.

“He who?” Jonah asks, sounding as frustrated as I’ve been the last few days.

I look at Jonah and see how upset he is which only makes my heart hurt more. “My ex-husband, Mark. He found out about you and I. He said he didn’t want another man in Gracie’s life and that she already had a father. He said if I didn’t stop seeing you, he’d take Gracie away from me.”

Jonah shakes his head. “He can’t do that Maddie. You have full custody of her.”

“I do, but he’s a powerful man back where we’re from. Hell, he golfs regularly with some of the judges. He didn’t fight me on custody of Gracie during the divorce because he didn’t want her. I doubt he even wants her now, he’s just using her to get back at me for leaving him and moving on.”

“He’s just trying to intimidate you.” Jonah says, holding my hands in his.

“Well, it’s working. I know what he can do. He’ll take her away from me out of spite, I know he will. If I don’t do what he wants, he’ll take my daughter away from me and make it so I’ll never see her again,” I cry.

Jonah pulls me into his arms and runs his hand over the back of my head as I cry into his shoulder. “Shh, I won’t let that happen.”

I shake my head back and forth before pulling out of his embrace and standing. I pace in front of him, tears falling. Eventually I stop and look up at him. “I’m so sorry Jonah,” I say, my voice trembling as the tears fall. I wipes at them furiously, but they continue. “As much as I lo…like you, I can’t be with you. I think you should take me home now.”

I hate the look of hurt in his eyes and that I’m the one that put it there. “What was tonight then?”

“I needed one more night with you. One night to say goodbye to the best man I’ve ever known.”

“You don’t have to say goodbye, you can have every day and every night. Don’t let him do this to you, to us,” he says staring at me intently.

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