Page 33 of Waiting to Lose
AS HE ENDED his call with Dave, he could feel the rage boiling within him. He glanced over to Madi, who was patiently sitting on the couch, wrapped in his blanket, trying to process the events of the night. He took a deep breath and concerned himself with the strain in her face.
He stepped toward her, and her eyes flicked to his as if he’d just pulled her out of some deep thought. “You okay?” he asked.
She nodded her head sheepishly, and he was reminded of the girl he’d found curled into a ball on his bus.
“Baby, I’m so sorry.” He opened his arms to her and was pleased when she readily flew into them. He held her and rubbed her back as he had done months ago when Peter Markum had tried to rape her. “I will never let him that close to you again. I will kill him with my bare hands if he ever steps near you.”
“I know,” Madi said, reassured. “I think now I oweyouan apology.”
“For what?” Jake pulled back briefly and squared her shoulders to face him. “What are you talking about?”
“It seems I may not be as strong as I thought. Maybe you were right to keep this from me. Right now, I kinda wish I didn’t know.”
Jake kissed her forehead and Madi climbed onto his lap. “I know this is really bad. I know you’re feeling scared again, but you were right. You are strong and youcanhandle this. If you would have known, Nate would have come with you, and you would have never come in contact with him.”
“Maybe. Maybe we both had valid points.”
Jake lightly nodded. She glanced up into his eyes before dropping her head to the floor once again. Jake lifted her chin with his fingers. “I’ve missed those big brown eyes of yours,” he said with a smile. “Please look at me so I can see you.”
Madi grinned and batted her lashes at him, causing him to chuckle. He leaned forward and planted a soft kiss on her eyelid. She inhaled deeply and turned her body to face him better.
He peered down into her eyes and saw a small smile cross her lips. He immediately felt more at ease, knowing she was safe with him.
“Hi,” she said.
“Hi,” he replied with a smirk.
She glanced around the room. “Where’s Murphy?”
“At my parents’ while I’m on tour.”
She nodded. “I guess you don’t have to call me tonight.”
He huffed through his grin. “No, I guess I don’t. I’ve never been happy to not have to call you before.”
“You’re happy?” she asked.
He smiled as he suddenly realized what he had in front of him. She was where he had wanted her to be for months. “You’re really here?” he asked.
“I am. Do you need proof?”
“I think I might.”
She leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “That’s a very nice cheek, Mr. Morgan. Did you feel that, or do I need to pinch you?”
Jake leaned forward and softly pressed his lips to her cheek. He wasn’t able to pull away. His lips trailed her cheek, to her ear, then down to her neck, where he took a long, lingering breath. “You smell edible.”
Madi moaned slightly as his lips trailed kisses along her collar. “Am I forgiven?” he asked.
She puckered her lips and stared into his eyes, searching them. “I’ll forgive you on one condition.”
“Name it.”
“Promise me that, from here on out, there will be no more surprises. No more protecting me without my knowing what you’re protecting me from. I love that you love me as much as you do, but I don’t ever want to doubt you again. Okay?”
He nodded as he lifted a stray piece of her hair back into place. “How did I get so lucky?” he asked.
She smiled. “Youarelucky!”
