Page 24 of Safe Haven

“I’m pretty sure providing orgasms was not part of the contract.” Technically, I didn’t sign a contract, but still. I called my friend Lydia who put me in touch with Alaskan Security and I told them I needed help. I didn’t also request someone to grind on to completion, so I’m confident that was not part of the deal.

“I’m not upset. And if I’m not upset, you shouldn’t be upset.” Maddox seems to think this is a simple sort of problem to resolve.

And that has me wondering.

“Does this happen a lot?” I try to climb off of him again, my embarrassment joined by humiliation. “Do you mess around with most of your clients?”

I shouldn’t be horrified at the possibility considering what I’ve just done, but I am. I don’t like the thought of another woman doing what I just did to Maddox and him reassuring her it’s absolutely fine. That he’s there to see toallher needs.

It pisses me off. Makes me feel like I want to swing my baseball bat at some unknown woman’s face.

And that’s probably an overreaction.

“No.” The denial jumps through Maddox’s lips as he pulls me back into place. Then he sternly repeats, “No.” He shakes his head, adding another layer of rejection. “This doesn’t happen with all my clients.” When I try to get up, he holds tight. “It hasn’t happened withanyof my clients. Only you.”

I don’t know if that makes me feel better or worse at this point. Do I like the thought of him getting rubbed on by another woman? Hell no.

Do I like hearing I’m the only weirdo who’s done it? Also no.

I force myself to look at him, so he can see how much I mean what I’m about to say. “I’m still sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. It was inappropriate.”

Maddox studies me for a second, his blue eyes moving over my face. “Maybe, but I didn’t stop you.” His gaze falls to where his hands grip my hips. “Actually, I remember being pretty encouraging.” His attention comes back to my face. “So if what just happened was inappropriate, we’re both equally guilty.” He shakes his head again. “But I don’t feel like what you did was wrong.”

I press my lips together, desperately wanting to not feel bad about something that felt so good. “I don’t think you did anything wrong.”

“Good.” Maddox lifts one hand to smooth my hair back. “Considering we’re both adults who get to make choices and decisions, I think our opinions are all that really matter.”

Technically, he’s right, but there’s still one sticking point here. “But I’m paying for you to be here. That makes you basically my employee, and?—”

“Have you sent any money to Alaskan Security?”

Now he’s splitting hairs. “Well, no. Not yet. But I’m sure they’re going to send me a bill at some point.”

Maddox shrugs. “Until money exchanges hands, I don’t see a problem.” He flashes that unassuming smile that’s probably confused more than a few people, coming from a mercenary. “And I’m really good at seeing problems, so there must not be one there.”

I narrow my eyes. “Stop trying to make me feel better.”

His grin widens. “Nope.”

Suddenly, I’m being lifted into the air. The change in altitude startles me, so I latch on to his strong body, linking my legs at his hips and both arms around his neck. “What are you doing?”

“I’m putting you to bed. You need a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow you’ll feel totally different about all this.” He easily carries me out of the room and down the short hall.

I reach out as he passes the bathroom. “I need to brush my teeth.”

Maddox stops, lifting a brow at me as he turns. “You’re getting a little demanding.” He carries me into the small room and drops my butt to the counter beside the sink. “Always gotta brush your teeth before bed.” He grabs my toothbrush and squeezes on a line of paste before handing it to me. “It’s like I came in and screwed your whole routine up or something.”

I take the prepped brush and start scrubbing, trying to wrap my head around how easily and quickly he defused the meltdown I was well on my way to having.

Maddox pauses brushing his own teeth to look me over. “You’re starting to think about it again. I can see it on your face.” He spits the paste from his mouth into the sink, rinsing it down. “If you don’t quit worrying about it, I’ll have to figure out a way to even the playing field so you’ll stop feeling bad.”

I nearly choke on my toothbrush, because me rubbing against Maddox and accidentally getting off is very different from him purposefully bringing me to completion.

And I am not as opposed to it as I know I should be.

Maddox’s blue eyes fuse to my face as he drops his toothbrush to the counter. After taking mine from my hand and slotting it into the holder, he stands in front of me, hips easing my knees apart. “Would that make you feel better? If I’m the one who makes things happen this time?”

I can’t answer him. All I can do is swallow hard, accidentally sending a mouthful of toothpaste foam to my stomach. I don’t even notice how gross it is, because the next second, Maddox is pulling me closer to the edge, bringing my body practically flush to his.

---