Page 81 of Madden

Chapter Twenty-Three

Brielle

I’ve lost track of how long I’ve been working by the time I lift my head to look away from my laptop screen.

Stepping away from work for one day tends to come back to bite me with what feels like an endless stream of emails. I push the chair back from the dining table and meander into the kitchen in search of something to eat.

When I told Madden about my plan to work remotely for a while, he offered to set me up with an office in one of the rooms in his house. As much as I reveled in the idea of him making me feel more at home, I knew it was only temporary, and I didn’t want to bother him by having him set up space for me when I could work from other places without an issue.

I finally pull off my headphones and pick up on the familiar sound of his drum set in the distance. He has a couple sets in his house. One down in his recording studio and another for when he wants to mess around.

I shut the refrigerator and stroll down the hallway toward his music room.

The walls are painted a dark gray with floor-to-ceiling curtains open to let the sunshine flow in. Madden has his headphones on and wears his black Dickies shorts I saw him in earlier.

He doesn’t notice me standing in the corner. He’s too lost in the music to see me.

The cords of his muscles strain with the force of the beat on his drums. When he finishes his song, he reaches for his T-shirt draped over his thigh and swipes it over his face.

His eyes flick over to me, finally catching me staring. His face is red, and his chest heaves in exertion. Damn, if it’s not sexy as hell watching him play.

He moves one of the headphones off his ear, his eyebrow raised in concern. He has no idea I’m too busy trying to calm myself down from getting turned on by looking at him. His mind is in another place entirely.

I hate how on edge everything has made him. Where is the Madden I’ve gotten to know over the past few weeks?

“Everything all right?” he asks, and I nod.

“Everything is perfect.” I smile, crossing the room toward him. “I wrapped up early for the day and was going to make something to eat. I thought I’d see if you were hungry too.”

He relaxes when I circle the drum set to stand next to him. He turns to face me, and I cup his cheek, leaning down to kiss him.

His hands grip my hips, pulling me into him, and I take him off guard when I climb onto his lap, straddling him.

“Mmm,” he hums. “I could go for something to eat.”

I bite my lip to fight off my smile and curl my arms around his neck. He drops his drumsticks between us and pulls me closer until our chests press together.

I softly kiss him, and he moans, his tongue swiping along my lips, seeking entrance. When I open up to him, we both groan, and it takes everything in me not to beg him to carry me upstairs.

His hands slide to my hips and up my sides until he’s cupping my breasts.

I need to feel him, for his hands to be all over my body.

I lean back and reach for the hem of my shirt, pulling it over my head and dropping it onto the floor.

He pulls my bra down until my breasts pop free and sucks my nipple into his mouth.

I drag my fingers into his hair and arch my back, the flick of his tongue alternating between sucks has my hips grinding against him, desperately seeking more.

“Tell me what you want,” he mutters when he pulls away.

“You.”

“Be specific.” He smirks. I try to lean back farther, but there’s no room.

He picks up his drumstick and brushes the tip over my nipple, causing it to bead before he flicks his tongue over it again.

“Madden,” I mutter breathlessly.

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