Page 32 of Playing By His Rules

“Mmm.” She made a pleasurable humming sound in her throat and nodded in a blissful manner. “Yeah, you really do.”

He tapped his finger against the rim of his coffee cup and held her gaze. “Did it ever occur to you that maybe the sex is so incredible because you and I are good together, and a perfect match that way,” he said, putting that thought into her head to think about, because the kind of connection and off-the-charts chemistry between them didn’t always come naturally, and it was unlike anything he’d ever experienced before. “And I could ask you the same thing, about having a boyfriend or being married.”

She rolled her eyes at him in disbelief. “Who in their right mind would even want to commit themselves to the responsibilities that come with me and my life?”

He heard the touch of humor in her voice, but the painful truth in her eyes was harder to ignore and struck him in the vicinity of his heart. He hated that she truly believed she wasn’t enough to be on the receiving end of a man’s unconditional love based on the crappy hand she’d been dealt in life.

“Madison, you’re more than just your father’s debt, or your sister’s keeper, and any smart man would see beyond those things to the kind, selfless, strong woman you are.” That was the woman he’d seen over the past few days.

She exhaled a soft breath and placed her fork on the dessert plate, shaking her head. “It’s been so long since my mother died that I don’t know any differently than juggling my father’s debts and being my sister’s caretaker. And honestly, when the men I’ve dated find out what my life is really like, they cut their losses fairly quickly, not that I can blame them.” A small, forced laugh escaped her. “The last guy I’d been seeing for a few months informed me that I came with too much drama and baggage before he dumped me.”

A spark of anger shot through Rick. “Clearly, the guy was a fucking asshole,” he muttered.

She shrugged. “It’s the truth. My life isn’t all rainbows and sunshine,” she said, before tipping her head and arching a brow at him. “And don’t think I didn’t notice the way you skirted answeringmyquestion by turning the conversation on me. Why don’t you have a girlfriend, or aren’t married?”

He met her gaze and smiled. “As cliché as it might sound, I think I’ve just been waiting for the right woman to come along.”

She nodded and glanced back down at what was left of the tiramisu on the plate between them, but not before he caught the wistful look in her own eyes. “Well, hopefully, that’ll happen soon for you.”

As much as he wanted to reply, Rick didn’t respond, because if he answered with what he felt was the truth—that it had already happened with her—he was certain she wouldn’t believe him. Either that or revealing those strong feelings he’d developed for her so quickly would cause her to retreat or shut down her own emotions when she only saw them as a short-term affair.

All he knew was that he wanted so much more with Madison, and while he understood that the logistics of where they each lived might present a bit of an imposition, he was willing to try to figure out a way to make it work, even if it meant driving or flying to Vegas every weekend to see her.

But for now, he had the rest of the week with Madison, and he was determined to show her that he was the kind of man she could depend on. That he wasn’t one of those weak, pansy-assed douchebags who’d come through her life only to bolt at the first sign of trouble.

He intended to prove to her that he wouldn’t walk away just because things might be difficult or challenging, and that she was worth him making every effort to make somethingmorework with her. Rick could only hope, that when their agreement ended and she was faced with the choice of leaving him or giving a real relationship between them a try, she’d at least meet him halfway.

Finished with dinner, he paid the bill and they walked to the Cirque du Soleil auditorium. They took their seats, which gave them an unobstructive view of the theater and the enormous pool of water built into the stage. As soon as the lights went down and the performance began, Rick found himself looking at Madison more than the actual show as she took in the elaborate presentation with wide-eyed wonder and awe. Her breath caught on soft little gasps as world-class acrobats swung on an overhead trapeze and dropped gracefully into the pool with barely a splash, and she watched, enthralled, as synchronized swimmers performed under the water, while other characters caught her attention and made her laugh with their amusing, entertaining antics.

He loved seeing the way her expression lit up with delight and unfettered joy throughout the show, and by the end she had the biggest, happiest grin on her face, which gave him the most pleasure of all—thathe’dbeen the one to give her such a magical, unforgettable experience.

When they returned to the suite, Madison surprised him by taking his hand and leading him directly into the playroom to re-enact that erotic scenario he’d put into her head before they’d left the hotel room for dinner. She stripped down on his command, brought him a crop from the cabinet as he ordered, then dropped to her hands and knees and opened her mouth while he watched those sexy, red painted lips slide all the way down his thick, aching shaft until he was buried against the back of her throat.

Every smack of the crop against the soft flesh of her ass produced an eager moan from her as she’d fucking blew his mind, and his dick, with her enthusiasm, obedience, and pure unrestrained desire. She sucked him off until he came so damn hard he nearly saw stars, and she’d been so aroused by the entire scene and her ability to make him lose control that the moment he’d pushed two fingers deep inside her dripping cunt and swiped his thumb around her clit she’d detonated with her own intense orgasm—her loud, unbridled shriek of pleasure echoing in the playroom.

He loved that she was so open and willing sexually with him, but it was later in bed, when he’d waken Madison up a few hours later after that erotic, role-play session, that he’d decided to show her a different side to having sex with him—without toys, or restraints, or dominate demands. This time was purely just about the two of them, and the raw hunger and desire that didn’t need any extra stimulation other than what their own bodies could provide.

It was seduction in its purest form as he spent an excessive amount of time kissing her, caressing her bare skin with his hands, and stroking her into a fever pitch of impatience with his mouth, and tongue, and fingers—until she was panting with a desperate level of need, frantic for release, and begging him to fuck her.

He knew she expected him to take her with wild aggression, but he provided the complete opposite. With his hips fitted between her spread thighs and his body covering hers so that they were face to face, he made her look directly into his eyes as he pushed his thick cock into her, gradually stretching and filling her with the rigid length of his shaft until they were joined as intimately as two bodies could get.

He moved inside of her in slow, leisurely strokes, her soft, needy moans making him even more determined to climb their way to the peak unrushed so she could feel the soul deep connection between them. Eventually, he felt the change in her body that told him she was close—the restless arch of her back, the impatient grind of her hips against his, and the desperate way she whimpered his name—and knew he’d drawn this sensual consummation out for as long as possible.

Threading his fingers through her hair, he tipped her head back so he could see all her features. So, she had no choice but to look into his eyes and know that this oncoming climax wasn’t one born of gratuitous lust, but real, honest passion and emotion.

“I want to watch you come for me,” he murmured huskily, and groaned when she wrapped her legs tight around his waist, raked her fingernails down his back, and let the pleasure of her release infuse her entire being.

In the throes of orgasm, her lips parted on a blissful sigh, her face flushed with desire, and her lashes fell half-mast. The uninhibited way she gave herself over to him was a beautiful sight to behold, turning him on just as much as the pulse and throb of her pussy around his cock that pushed him right over the edge with her.

Chapter 15

The following afternoon, Rick was in a fantastic mood as he made his way to the golf course located on the resort’s property where he was scheduled to meet Charles Coleman, the CEO of Reign, and a few other board members, for a friendly, informal round of golf at one. Luckily, he enjoyed the game and had a decent handicap, so he wasn’t worried about keeping up with the other players.

As he followed the pathway to the clubhouse, he couldn’t stop the smile forming on his lips as he replayed the past few hours he’d spent with Madison. After their enjoyable night together, they’d slept in, and even after they’d woken up a bit after nine this morning, they’d lazed around in bed because there had been no rush to get up since he had a few hours to spare before his golf game.

With Madison snuggled up to his side like she belonged there, and him feeling a sense of contentment just being with her, he’d sifted his fingers through her hair and listened to her talk about her favorite part of the Cirque du Soleil show, her excitement over the evening’s events still palpable. After a while, they finally got moving for the day, starting with taking a steaming hot shower together, then ordering breakfast from room service.

It all felt like the normal routine of a real couple.

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