Page 65 of Wretched Heart
“No,” Maddie says quickly. “The agreement was between Hunter and I. And he trusts me.”
Ash’s gaze flicks to me. “After knowing her for a week?”
“Yes,” I say.
Ash drains his glass. “But you didn’t trust me, did you, brother?”
“I just saved you the trouble of trying to talk me out of it,” I reply. “We shouldn’t have gone after Barrett the way we did. We were poorly prepared, and we didn’t stop to consider the collateral damage. We didn’t just humiliate Maddie, we put her safety at risk. I’ve seen firsthand what her brother can do.”
“Me too,” Mace says. “And we did intend on telling you, Ash. It was the day we had to cut short the video call. Maddie was in town and her brother tracked her down. Ifwe hadn’t got there in time, he would have left her for dead – if she was lucky. I was brought up better than to turn my back on someone being abused like that.”
“Me too,” Reid says.
“Jesus, was everyone in on this except me? Did Jake know?” Ash sounds tired, and unexpectedly resigned to what I’ve done. I’m starting to think Maddie might have performed a small miracle. She’s kept the conversation civil and Ash is coming around to our point of view.
“Only us,” I assure him. “And I take full responsibility for my actions. As of today, we have control of the paper mill. Maddie’s replaced Hugo as chair so we can start turning things around. It’s why we do this.” I need to remind him of the bigger picture.
Ash blinks. “You put Maddison in charge?”
Shit. I forgot I hadn’t told him about that either.
“I thought the codicil gaveyoua seat on the board?Sheshouldn’t be a part of this,” Ash continues.
“Sheowns half of the company,” Maddie points out, barbs cutting through the honey in her soft tone. “But my marriage to your brother has meant we work as a partnership. And we’re pretty good at it.”
“He gave you something he shouldn’t have.”
“You mean my voice?” she asks. “You really should have met my father. I’m beginning to think you might have had a lot in common.”
“Don’t presume to know me, Maddison.”
She leans forward, meeting his glare. “And don’t presume to know me,Asher.”
He shakes his head as if she’s just confirmed whatever suspicions he’s holding. “I can see you have your own agenda,” he says coldly. “Don’t expect me to be so willing to trust you. As of now, everything changes.”
I can only see Maddie’s profile, but I see her blanch. “What does that mean?”
When I hear the fear in her voice, I rise to my feet. “It means my brother and I are going to carry on this discussion in private,” I say, shooting Ash a warning glare.
Maddie twists in her seat. “But this is about me! And I’m done with letting other people dictate my future.”
I take Maddie’s hand and coax her to her feet. Ignoring the eyes on us, I say, “Do you trust me?”
“Yes.”
“Then go to your room and pack your things,” I tell her. I’m tempted to leave a pause, if only to fuck with Ash, but I can’t do that to Maddie. I can see her pulse fluttering in her neck as she takes a steadying breath. I lean in close. “You’re my wife, and from now on, you share my bed.”
Her cheeks redden, and the heat that radiates off her body has nothing to do with anger. “That sounds a lot like you dictating my future,” she mumbles, but a smile tugs at the corners of her mouth.
“Got a problem with that?”
“Nope,” she says, leaning in to press her lips gently to mine. “And I suppose I do need to move now that someone’s broken my bathroom door.
When she goes to step away, I wrap my hand around her neck and pull her back. I plunder her mouth with my tongue until her body softens. Only then do I break the kiss.
“You know where to find me,” she says, her smile spreading as she glances down at my thickening cock that’s impossible to hide in my sweatpants.
If anything’s going to get rid of my erection, it’s the frosty glare Ash directs at my wife as she draws closer to him. Maddie might not know how volatile my brother can be, but she’s had to deal with worse. I shouldn’t be surprisedwhen she walks right up to him. He blinks as if he can’t believe she isn’t running away to hide.
