Hismother.It was one of the few times Nick had referred to Chloe openly in that way.
“Oh, Nick.” Claire’s voice filled with sympathy. “I’m so sorry. But there are a lot more treatment options than there used to be. The most important thing is to make sure your mother is seen by the best medical specialists. It’s not a one-size-fits-all kind of disease. Treatment needs to be tailored to your mother’s needs.”
“Thank you. I appreciate your help.” Nick fell back in his seat and left ending the call to me.
When I was done, I pocketed my phone and leaned across the console to press a kiss to Nick’s lips. “Hey, you. How about we head back to the cottage, grab some beers, and get naked? We can sit in the spa until we look like prunes, then stuff ourselves silly with—and I can’t believe I’m saying this—your choice of whatever disgustingly unhealthy food you want delivered to our door. And somewhere in all that, we’ll take a look at those accounts.”
Nick blinked, then stared at me blankly. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t listening.”
I sighed and patted his arm. “Just get me home, cowboy. I’ll walk you through it from there.”
Nick threw the car into gear. “Best fucking idea I’ve heard all day.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
NICK
Although Mads’list was an excellent one, there was an additional activity I wanted to add, and so while Mads grabbed those beers he’d promised, I set about lighting a fire in the stone hearth in the lounge.
When Mads returned from the kitchen, he handed me a beer, took a seat on the sofa, and cut me a smirk. “Well, this is... cosy. No spa then, I take it?”
I took a long swallow of beer before placing the bottle on the coffee table and sidling closer to Mads. Then I took his bottle and set it next to mine.
I cupped his face and drank in those beautiful green eyes. “Have I told you how much I love you today?”
A pretty blush stole over his cheeks. “Twice, I believe.”
“Mmm.” I got to my knees on the sofa and straddled his thighs. “Then I clearly need to do better.” I leaned in and licked a path up his neck to his mouth. He shivered and snagged my lips in a hungry kiss, inviting me in. The familiar sexy taste of him shot fire through my blood as it always did. The addition of someSpanish spice and the grassy notes of the Sauvignon Blanc had my cock rapidly hardening in appreciation.
I pushed him back, delving deeper, a soft growl rumbling up my throat as he groaned and shifted under me. He pulled me sideways down onto the sofa, his erection pressed snugly against mine as we jockeyed to find a comfortable position on the narrow cushions.
It didn’t happen.
Frustrated, I scrambled to my feet, taking Mads with me. He watched, amused, as I added a couple of gnarly logs to the burning kindling and scooped a couple of cushions from the sofa onto the rug.
“Get yourself comfortable.” I waggled my eyebrows, which made him laugh, then I headed to the bedroom for lube and towels.
When I returned, Mads had managed the fastest strip in history and was lying spreadeagle and naked on the rug exactly where I’d told him. Those sexy black reading glasses I loved so much were perched on his nose, and he held his thick cock in one hand, slowly stroking himself.
The lewd sight stopped me in my tracks, my heart pounding so fast, I almost couldn’t breathe. It wasn’t just how fucking debauched he looked, although there was that, it was the miracle of witnessing once again this alter ego Mads had that slayed me every single time.
A few minutes earlier, he’d blushed at simply hearing me say how much I loved him, and yet now he lay naked and shameless on the floor, waiting for me to fuck him. It was so mind-blowingly different from the buttoned-up book nerd I’d met the year before, I knew I’d never get enough of him. Never get enough of the mystery and puzzle that was Madigan Delaney Church.
He caught my eye and grinned lasciviously. “Are you going to stand there all day?”
My gaze travelled slowly up from his cock to his eyes. “Jesus Christ, Mads. Just look at you.” I dropped the supplies to the floor by his hips and shook my head. “Maybe warn a guy next time. A fat lot of use I’ll be to you if my heart gives out before we even start.”
He chuckled and patted the blanket beside him. “Get rid of those clothes and get down here. You’ve got work to do.” He hesitated, studying my face. “Unless you’d rather I took the reins?”
The idea certainly wasn’t without merit. It had been a hell of a day, for sure, and the thought of Mads taking control and burying himself deep in my arse was all kinds of comforting. But not tonight.
“Nope.” I shucked my gear as quickly as I could, goosebumps trailing over my skin as I stretched out beside him. The fire crackled promisingly in the hearth, but its warmth was yet to fill the room.
I rolled Mads onto his back and straddled his body again. Cool air hardened his nipples and I sucked on them one at a time. He cradled my head, directing my mouth as he groaned and squirmed beneath me. I kissed my way up his pecs, relishing the brush of his chest hair over my lips. When I suckled on the hollow at the base of his throat, he whispered my name.
“So good,” he breathed. “You always feel so damn good.”
I lifted my head, my face hovering over his. “I don’t know how I would’ve done this without you.” I traced the curve of his lips with my tongue, then nibbled along his jaw, talking as I went. “I’d still be in Auckland, stewing in my anger, finding every reason under the sun not to open myself up to any more pain.” I pulled up to look at him. “Thank you.”
