Page 61 of Deserving Maddie

Itwasbarelyfivein the morning, and even though he wanted nothing more than to stay cuddled up to Maddie's warm and sexy body, he knew he needed to get up. She would never forgive him if Gabe caught them together.

"Good morning, beautiful." He brushed his lips across her forehead.

"Mmm." Her eyes were still closed, but she nuzzled her nose into his neck. "Too early."

Yes, it was.

"I know, but it's best I go back downstairs and make it look like I've slept on the couch. I was given strict orders last night, and I did a shit job of following them."

Damn, she was giving him that sexy pout again. It was hard enough resisting it last night, but it was ten times harder when he was already sporting morning wood.

"That pout is going to be the death of me. I'm going to have to punish you for it later."

"Promise?" Maddie's eyes slowly opened and glistened with mischief.

She really was going to kill him at the rate she was going. He needed to get out of bed and deal with his very stiff cock before he wandered around her house and scarred her children for life.

"You're trouble, baby."

He planted a quick peck on her lips and slipped out of bed. Tucking his erection into the waistband of his boxers, he quickly dressed in his clothes from last night. One of his teammates had gone to his house to pack a bag, but it was probably still outside. He would worry about that later.

Ray avoided looking back at the bed. He knew if he got one more look at Maddie's sleepy face, he would cave and slip back in with her.

As quietly as possible, he turned the knob and slipped out of Maddie's bedroom. He didn't make it more than one step before a noise caught his attention.

That extra minute he took in bed caught up to him real quick. He would have to chastise himself later because whether he liked it or not, he was now face-to-face with Maddie's son.

"I thought I told you that you weren't sleeping in my mother's bed."

"Shh." He put his finger up to his lips and looked back to make sure Maddie's door was firmly closed. "Your mother is trying to go back to sleep."

Gabe just stared him down.

"I'm awake."

The door clicked open and Maddie walked out, tying a knot into the same robe he saw on her the night before.

"He was supposed to sleep on the couch." There was so much hostility pouring off the teenager as he stood with his arms crossed over his chest and a scowl on his face.

"Gabe," Maddie sighed, but her son was already stomping back into his room. She stepped forward to go after him, but Ray held up his hand.

"Let me go talk to him, man to man. I owe him that much after ignoring his request."

She didn't look convinced. He ran his thumb along her lip and tugged ever so slightly on the corner where she was currently mutilating the tender skin.

"I got this." With a wink and another peck at the bruised area, he knocked on the door Gabe entered moments earlier.

"Go away."

Not the most promising start, but Ray wasn't deterred. If Maddie was going to allow him in her life, he needed to get used to dealing with moody teenagers.

"It's Ray. I'd like a chance to explain."

That apparently did the trick. With much more violence than was necessary, Gabe threw the door open.

"Start talking."

"How about we go inside so we don't wake up your sister?"

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