Adrenaline

  But damn, I loved her excitement and how she kept me on my toes. She breathed hard, looking at me with fire and a challenge in her eyes while she gripped the sheet tightly around her body.

  I stepped forward, backing her into the sink counter.

  “Absolutely not.” She shook her head, looking at me like I was crazy. “No anal for me.”

  I exhaled a laugh. “I’m not asking for anal, moron,” I joked. “I never did. That’s your overactive imagination at work. But I do want something.”

  We were chest to chest, and the low counter had to be biting into her thighs, but I didn’t move. Looking down at her flushed face and stormy eyes, I got hard simply breathing in her scent.

  Leaning down, I held her head under her ear and devoured her hot neck, feeling her go limp next to me. I took that opportunity to pull the sheet from her body and throw it to the floor.

  She had enough time to yell, “Jared!” before I hauled her up and set her down on the counter, securing her arms behind her back.

  Maneuvering myself between her legs, I smiled down at her like the cocky asshole I couldn’t help being.

  “Jared, seriously? Let me go.” She struggled against my hands, squirming against my already hard dick, and I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to steady myself.

  She wasn’t really trying to get away either, because I knew I wasn’t holding her that tightly.

  “We were in this position once before. Remember?” I asked, our lips almost touching as she looked up at me. “I always wondered what would’ve happened if you hadn’t pushed me away.”

  She rolled her eyes. “It had already gone far enough. I should’ve pushed you off immediately.”

  I rubbed my nose against hers and let go of her hands, placing mine on the counter at her sides. “I’m glad you didn’t. Nothing tasted better than you, and I finally knew what I wanted and needed. It’s what love tastes like.”

  Grabbing hold of her, one hand at her neck and one hand on her waist, I brought my mouth down on hers and pulled her against me.

  Her knees arched up, and her feet rubbed the backs of my thighs, while her hands slowly roamed. My chest, my back, sliding under the back of my pajama pants…

  She pulled back and gasped, “I love you.” And then her mouth was back again. Tate’s chest rubbed against mine, and her hard nipples grazing my skin were like streams of fire trailing to my groin.

  Standing up straight and pulling away from her lips, I gently pushed her back on the counter so that her head and shoulders rested against the mirror, and then I dived into her chest, sucking the soft skin of her breasts. Her hands threaded through my hair, her knees reared up, and her back arched as she moaned.

  “Now, Jared. Right here.”

  Wrapping my hands around her thighs, I pulled her to the edge of the counter and then pushed my pants down over my ass.

  Positioning myself at her entrance with one hand and leaning on the mirror behind her head with the other, I looked at her watching me with arched eyebrows. She was rolling her hips against my cock like she couldn’t help herself.

  The corner of my mouth turned up. “Love you, too.” And I slipped inside of her, feeling chills erupt over my body as she arched her back again and let out a low moan.

  I started slow at first. She was in an awkward position, and I hoped she wasn’t uncomfortable. The set up was great for me, though. I was buried to the hilt, and I bared my teeth as I breathed, fucking loving how good this felt. The counter was the perfect height, and through the mirror I could see her hands gripping my biceps.

  With one hand still flat on the mirror and the other at her waist, I upped the pace, faster and faster. She was so damn wet, and I moved in and out her, feeling like I was losing more breath than I was taking in.

  “Tate, can I—”

  “Faster.” She knew what I was going to ask. “Go faster.” She squeezed her eyes shut, and I let loose, pounding into her and eating up every whimper and gasp of hers like the food it was.

  Pumping inside of her, my hips slamming against hers, I groaned at the sweet rush of blood between my legs. Nothing had ever felt as good as this, and I wanted to fuck her until she could barely walk.

  Her insides tightened around me, contracting and releasing, and she bit down on her lip.

  “Let it out, babe,” I grunted, my head hanging next to my propped up arm and a drop of sweat running down my temple. “You’re so tight. And so damn wet for me. Let me hear you come.”

  She cried out, digging her nails into my arms, and I clenched my teeth and sucked in oxygen as we both exploded around each other. Her whole body went rigid, and her breathing turned shallow. Fast and shallow.

  My pace slowed as everything inside of me spilled inside of her, and she took everything I had.

  Damn.

  We stayed there for a minute, breathing and trying to unclench every muscle, and when I finally opened my eyes, she was looking up at me.

  Reaching up, she threaded my sweaty hair through her fingers and held it. “No part of me is off limits to you,” she whispered, her voice raspy. “But some things have to happen in due time. Got it?”

  A tired smile spread over my face. “Got it.”

  Tate

  I rested my head on Jared’s chest as we lay in bed after the bathroom sex. I was exhausted but not tired for some reason. We’d had sex in the shower, the bed, and the bathroom counter, and I was sure I was going to be in for it again by morning. But still, I wasn’t tired.

  “You should talk to Jax,” I told Jared. “He should ask K.C. out.”

  “What for?”

  I lifted my head and looked up at his still flushed face and damp hair. “He watches her. You see it, don’t you?”

  I knew Jared had ordered Jax to leave K.C. alone, and I knew why. K.C. and I weren’t as solid as we used to be, and Jared wanted her at a distance. At least for now.

  He shook his head, his chest rising and falling harder under my chin. “K.C. is weak. That’s all Jax is attracted to.”

  “That’s not fair.”

  “Jax will take her out. He’ll get into her pants eventually. One time. Maybe five times. And then he’ll be gone.” His bitter laugh made the room seem a little colder. “He needs someone genuine. Someone who knows how to love. Someone who’s steel. That’s not K.C. She’d crack under the weight of a feather. I’m not setting up that train wreck.”

  “And Madoc?”

  He twisted his head to look at me with his eyes pinched up in confusion.

  “Madoc? What about him?”

  Oh, that’s it.

  I threw off the sheet, swung my leg over his body, straddled him, and slammed my fists down on the pillows on both sides of his head. “Madoc covers up everything with a joke or some crazy display. He has nothing that he cares about except you, Jax, and me. What is he going to do at college next year without you?”

  He hooded his eyes as if I were being ridiculous. “Tate, Madoc’s fine. I promise. And so is Jax.”

  “I hope you’re right,” I stated flatly. “For your sake.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “It means that they don’t stand strong without you. Do you have any idea how much Madoc looks to you for direction? How much Jax relies on you? They’re your responsibility whether you like it or not, and you better take care of them, because they won’t ask you for help.” I lowered my face to his, nose to nose and whispered. “Got it?

  It sounded like a threat, and it was supposed to. But he smiled. “Yes, ma’am.”

  It pissed me off that Jared didn’t take the lead Madoc and his brother obviously gave him. He watched out for them somewhat but mostly brushed them off, saying that they could take care of themselves. They needed him more than he realized.

  And K.C. had issues. I knew what they were, which is why I cut her slack for her behavior. But I also knew that someone like Jax would be good for her. I had my doubts about whether she’d be good for him, but I figured one date wouldn’t
hurt.

  And Madoc wasn’t okay. He was visibly uncomfortable with anything heartfelt, and he seemed entirely too content with his endless stream of one night stands. I could count on one hand the number of genuine moments I’d had with Madoc. I loved him. But I still felt like I didn’t know him.

  “I need a bottle of water. Do you think Madoc would mind if I raided his fridge?” I climbed off Jared and started getting dressed in one of Jared’s t-shirts and his pajama pants.

  “I’ll go.” He started to get up.

  “No, it’s fine.” I put my hand out to stop him. “I’d like to get a look at this place anyway. Be right back.”

  Tate

  “Just be warned,” Jared pointed out. “Madoc might be roaming. I don’t think he sleeps a lot. At night, anyway.”

  Um, okay.

  I slipped out the door and padded down the thickly carpeted hallway, stopping dead in my tracks when I looked up and saw just how long the hallway actually was.

  Toffee colored walls were lit up with evenly spaced brown wall sconces, and paintings with gilded frames adorned the spaces between where pieces of furniture sat.

  Yeah, furniture in the hallway. That’s how wide it was.

  On bare feet, I treaded softly. I had no idea if anyone other than Madoc was home, and I didn’t want to have to explain myself.

  I stopped when I came to a break in the hallway. There was the option to either keep going toward what looked like more bedrooms or take a right down a flight of stairs to a tiled foyer.

  I was about to head down the stairs when I heard music and stopped.

  Crap. I curled my toes.

  I didn’t want to run into Madoc. Not dressed like this.

  But as I twisted my ear to the sound, I knew it was someone playing the piano, and it was coming from downstairs. It could be a recording, I guessed. It was beautiful, and I didn’t know instruments or composers, but it was slow and very soft, almost like a whisper.

  Like it was buried somewhere.

  Heading down, one slow step at a time, I made another right into another hallway and found myself in the kitchen.

  The music was louder now, and I swear I could feel its vibrations under my toes.

  Ignoring the refrigerator, I walked around the spacious kitchen with a center island big enough for five of me and saw the door leading to the basement. I knew it was the basement because that’s where the music was coming from.

  Cracking the door open, the tinkling notes flooded through, and my heart instantly started pounding with the soft play of the keys that had suddenly picked up pace.

  I don’t why I decided to pry, but I was curious if it was Madoc. As far as I knew he didn’t play, but there wasn’t much I did know about him, so I decided to be nosy.

  Descending the stairs on light feet, I got about halfway when Madoc came into view. Sure enough, it was him. The ‘Fallen’ tattoo blazed across his upper back, and his blond hair—what I could see—was still styled to perfection.

  I almost wanted to laugh. He actually played the piano. I shook my head, wondering why the hell he didn’t talk about this. He was fantastic.

  He wore black and white pinstripe pajama pants, and his head was bowed to the keys, moving side to side with the music. Lost and completely real, Madoc caressed the keys gently and slowly, taking his time as if each note he played had a purpose and a soul.

  When the rhythm picked up, his body tensed, his muscles flexed, and his hands moved with precision. When the tempo slowed, he looked as gentle as if he were touching a woman.

  I leaned against the wall, watching him and wondering.

  I wondered why the piano was in the basement, and I wondered why he hid this.

  Looking around, I saw everything you’d expect to see in a finished basement. It was decorated almost as posh as the upstairs, except for a completely out of place looking skate ramp between the wall and piano. As far as I knew, Madoc didn’t skate, either.

  Finishing up the piece, Madoc’s fingers stayed on the keys, frozen as the last note disintegrated into the air.

  I started to back my way up the stairs but stopped when he took the sheet music from the rack and almost methodically tore it in half and then put the two pieces together, tearing them in half as well. I narrowed my eyes, watching as he tossed the now ruined music into the trash and then closed the lid to the piano keys.

  I turned and crept back up the stairs, sneaking through the door and heading for the refrigerator.

  Jared probably didn’t know that Madoc played. I can’t see Madoc sharing something like that, and I wasn’t sure if I would tell Jared. He probably wouldn’t care, and Madoc obviously didn’t want people to know.

  The fridge was jam packed with Madoc’s Gatorades and meat. Lots of meat. I found the Evian bottles in the door and quickly took one out, my hands still shaking.

  I felt bad for spying on him, but it was too damn interesting. I wanted to know what else he was hiding.

  “Need a midnight snack?”

  I swung around to find Madoc resting on his forearms and leaning over the island.

  I gripped the water bottle to my chest, probably looking guilty.

  He smirked and waggled his eyebrows. “I can get you a midnight snack.”

  Of course. This was the Madoc I knew.

  “I’m not hungry,” I grumbled. “Do you mind?” I held up the water bottle, asking permission.

  He waved me off. “What’s mine is yours.”

  I closed the refrigerator door and squeezed the bottle, hearing it crack under my fingers.

  “Thank you for our room. It was really nice of you,” I offered. And that was true. Madoc was a good guy. He took care of his friends. “No problem.” He nodded. “Just promise me one thing. If Jared ever gets kidnapped by aliens or turned into a zombie, you’re mine, right?”

  I smiled, loving how he always worked in his harmless little flirts.

  “You got it,” I promised.

  Turning to head back up the stairs, I stopped and looked back at him, studying his handsome face.

  His half smile told people that he was fine, and his quiet eyes never gave anything away, but I felt like Madoc always had something clawing to get out.

  Something like what I saw downstairs.

  “I heard piano music,” I said quietly. “You like classical?”

  He pushed off the counter, laughing and locking his hands behind his head. “It’s not my style. You know that.”

  I don’t why I didn’t tell him that I saw him, but I guess I just wanted to see if he’d lie or be honest for once.

  I took a deep breath and braced myself.

  “And the skate ramp?” I ventured, knowing that I had indeed just outed myself for spying on him. “Do you not skate either?”

  His arms dropped to his side, and his back straightened. The amusement in his flat eyes was gone.

  Now he knew that I saw him playing the piano, and it was clearly something he didn’t want people to see.

  Rubbing his hands together slowly, he stared at the granite island. “The skate ramp’s not mine, Tate,” he said softly and looked up at me. “It’s just trash.”

  Walking back over to the basement door, he didn’t even turn around to look at me. “See you tomorrow, okay?” And then he disappeared back into the basement.

  Right then I knew I was right about one thing.

  Madoc was not fine.

  Deleted Scenes

  Jared and Tate originally didn’t go to Homecoming together…

  My heels came off as soon as I stepped inside. The deep ache in my toes from being cramped into a too-tight space welcomed the cool hardwood floor. After locking the door and double checking the back door, I headed up to my room and switched on the heat on my way.

  Throwing my heels into a corner to be forgotten about until the end of time, I stood in front of my floor-length mirror to take another look at my dress before taking it off. Unzipping the back until it came down to the top of my rear,
I caught sight of movement in the reflection of Jared’s bedroom window coming through the mirror.

  Shit!

  I hadn’t noticed that his light was on. I paused, holding the dress up with one arm under my breasts and another hand at the zipper. My gut told me to get my ass into the bathroom, but something held me back. He stood, paused like me, at his window.

  He still wore the black pants from earlier, but he had changed into a clean white t-shirt. I could see him out of the corner of my eye, so I don’t think he noticed me noticing him. What the hell was I doing? Either zip up or clear out, I told myself.

  ‘You need to use the hammer’…Madoc’s words came back to haunt me. Jared’s game of tug of war had to stop. We’d move left and then right, but we really never got anywhere. Did he punch Madoc because he was jealous? Did he kiss me…twice, because he wanted me? Was I standing here almost naked, because I wanted him, too? The answer to all three was a ‘yes’.

  I wanted him to come to me. I wanted him. Unravel him, I told myself.

  I bowed my head, so my hair fell over my chest on either side, and I let the dress slide down my body slowly. The pounding in my chest hurt, but the blaze I felt on my skin was delicious. I stepped out of the dress and shoved it aside, and looked at myself, seeing what he saw.

  My black, lacy boy shorts hugged my toned skin, and the rest of my body was bare to his eyes. Thanks to running and a summer of outdoor traveling, my skin still held some tan. I brought my fingers up and started threading them through my hair.

  I couldn’t make out Jared’s expression, but he was still frozen in place and intensity rippled off his body like a shockwave. I’d never been naked, or almost naked, in front of a man before, other than the time Jared ambushed me in the ladies’ locker room. His dark eyes on me did powerful things to my body. The pulsing happening between my legs made me weak and turned my breath ragged. Before my knees gave out, I turned on the ball of my foot and sauntered into the bathroom as calmly and evenly as I could manage.