sat up on his knees, pulling her up with him. He took a deep, shuddering breath and held her left hand between them, watching his fingers stroke her palm. “I understand why you kept the secret and ran from me. When my grandfather says he does things in my best interest, I know it’s a lie, but when you do,” his gaze rose from her hand to her eyes, making her gasp silently with the intense love she saw in them, “I know you mean it. I know you still thought you had to protect me.”
He leaned his forehead against hers. “I know what you’ve gone through missing your mom all of these years. Not telling me mine was alive and breaking your own heart to save mine—Maddie, I forgive you for not telling me.”
Her relief came out in a sob. Her body couldn’t hold all of the love she held inside. If she didn’t release it, she’d explode.
His eyes fell back to her hand. “There’s one thing standing in our way. Did you mean it when you said you wanted to marry him, or were you angry about what happened to your father and taking it out on me?”
She brought her left hand to her right and eased the ring off her finger. “Of course I didn’t mean it. You make me a crazy woman. Always have. It should’ve never gotten to this point. I should’ve told you about Enzo and your mom. We could’ve been together this whole time.”
“Shh.” MJ held out his hand and Maddie placed the ring in it. He stood and crossed the room to the chest of drawers, opened the top one and set the ring inside.
Maddie watched as he walked back to her, stopped beside the bed and crossed his arms over his chest. “Are you mine?” he asked.
Her heart raced in anticipation of what was next. “I’ve never not been yours,” she answered.
MJ crawled onto the bed and straddled her. His penetrating eyes promised he’d give her what she’d been missing for so, so long. He’d make her whole again.
“I’m taking what’s mine,” he said, gently nipping her bottom lip with his teeth. “Over and over and over again.”
Maddie closed her eyes as he sucked her bottom lip into his mouth and pushed his hands up under her shirt over her bare skin. She’d taken her bra off when she changed into thin cotton pajama shorts and a tank top for bed, and his hands covered her breasts, kneading and rubbing.
“No stopping tonight,” she pleaded. “I need you.”
“No stopping. Never again.”
He lifted her tank top over her head, then got rid of his own shirt, tossing both to the floor. She watched his fingers trail down over her breasts, teasing her taught nipples. The sensation set her on fire. His cherishing expression sent her reeling.
He eased down and flicked his tongue over her nipple before taking it in his mouth. His hands worked their way lower, and pushed her pajama shorts over her hips. “Are you still on the pill?” he whispered against her skin.
“Yes.” She pushed his head back to her breast and guided his hand between her legs. “I can’t wait another second to have you.”
He rubbed her over her panties, sending flames through her center. “Take them off,” she begged, grappling with his zipper. She wasn’t sure if she meant her underwear or his shorts, but both needed to go.
“We have all night,” he said, trailing kisses down her sternum to dip his tongue in her belly button.
“No.” Maddie wriggled under his warm fingers, his wet mouth. “I need this right now.” She reached inside his boxer briefs and wrapped her hand around his hard, long length to prove her point.
MJ tugged her panties off and ran his hands from her shoulders down over her breasts, stroking her stomach and stopping on her thighs, parting them as he settled his shoulders between them. He paused for a moment. She watched him taking in the sight of the key tattoo on his chest finding it’s mate again. The lock beside her hip.
“MJ,” she whispered, rocking her hips against his shoulders, tearing his attention away from inked promises.
“I need to make sure you’re ready,” he said. “It’s been a long time for me, Mads, and I won’t hold back and be gentle this first time. I don’t want to hurt you.”
She groaned in frustration. “I know you’re big and I know I’m ready to take you. Please put—”
His tongue dove inside