She threw back the covers and crawled out of bed. For a second, she considered grabbing a cast-iron skillet to knock him out with but figured the momentary satisfaction wasn't worth breaking the fragile peace they'd formed.
When she stepped out onto the patio, she expected to see him tossing boulders or chopping down every tree on his property.
But instead, he was hammering posts into the ground next to the side of the cabin. No wonder it had been so loud—some of them were only inches from the building's foundation.
"What are you doing?" Hope asked.
Maddox glanced up at her between blows. As usual, he looked like an angry god of myth, all sculpted flesh and straining muscles.
"My omega wants a bathroom," he said. "So, my omega gets a bathroom."
Hope was dumbfounded. Her mouth hung open as she blinked. Not in a million years would she have guessed that this was what he'd been working on out here so early.
But he clearly wasn't lying. Hope looked around and took in a pile of the lumber at his feet, freshly cut and smelling of sawdust, the can of shiny nails, the unopened bag of cement. He was really doing this.
For her.
Something inside Hope gave way. The protective wall she'd started building as a child began to collapse.
No one had ever made anything for her—just for her—before. Her parents had been too wrapped up in the church to focus on their children. That had been Hope's job. She'd been the one tasked with making sure that her siblings' needs were met. She was the buffer between them and the disappointment of their parents' neglect.
Everything Hope had ever owned was a castoff, from her clothes to her bed to her Bible. Even after she'd left the church behind, she'd had to make her own way in the world. Create her own happiness.
At least her childhood had taught her how to make a meager paycheck stretch. She knew how to thrift and budget. She was used to mending tears instead of buying new clothes. She could make rugs out of rags and polish the scars out of second-hand furniture.
But watching someone create something with their bare hands just for her felt overwhelming…tender to the point of pain.
For the first time, when she looked at Maddox, she didn't see a scowling alpha who was powerful enough to tear her in half if he wanted to. She didn't see the differences in their size or strength or nature.
She saw him as a man. An incredibly sexy alpha who cared about her. Who wanted to satisfy her needs. And not just in his bed.
Apparently, she wasn't the only one who'd felt the shift in their relationship. Maddox was meeting her halfway. He was building her a private room—one he didn't give a damn about—all because he wanted her to be comfortable.
Hope rushed from the patio to his side. Maddox put down the sledge and took her into his arms.
"Thank you," she said, squeezing him as tightly as she could.
But Maddox wasn't content with a simple hug. He lifted her up against his chest, supporting her with his strong hands on her hips. Hope's feet dangled above the ground as his mouth met hers, hungry and hard.
His tongue swept over her lower lip, demanding entry into her mouth. Without thought, Hope obeyed, tangling her fingers in his thick dark hair.
One of his hands swept up the length of her spine, while the other dove down to cup her ass. Hope moaned in approval.
Yes. This was what she wanted. Even though it had only been a few hours since the last time she'd taken him inside her, she still craved more. She always would. It would never be enough.
Far too soon, Maddox pulled back, breaking the kiss. Hope tried to nudge him forward again, but his body was like solid steel, refusing to budge.
His chin cocked up an inch. His nose lifted into the breeze, and for a second, his black eyes narrowed.
Then he threw her to the ground.
The impact jarred Hope's spine. The air in her lungs left in a rush, leaving her gasping.
What the—
Maddox's body crashed on top of her, his weight crushing her, making breathing impossible. She struggled as hard she could against him, but it was no use.
"Be still," he growled against her ear. His command was so powerful that even though she was desperate for breath, Hope couldn't help but comply.
A half-second later, she learned why he'd tackled her. Something whizzed over their heads. Hope felt more than heard it pass.
But she couldn't miss the loud crack of a bullet burying itself deep inside the hard wood of the cabin wall.
Oh shit.
Hope's heart pounded. Her mouth opened, but there was no breath to scream.
The narcos were back. And this time they'd managed to get close before Maddox had noticed. Close enough to take a good shot at both of them.
They wanted her dead, and they weren't going to stop until she was in the ground. Just like Dave and Sandra.
Hope knew she should have fought harder to get to a phone yesterday, to call the police and let them know what was happening.
But instead, she'd let herself get distracted by Maddox's cock. By the hypnotic feel of his touch.
And now they were both going to pay the price.
Maddox wrapped his arms around her and rolled them toward the foundation of the cabin. Once there, he pushed her underneath, into the crawlspace.
"Stay here," he commanded. "Don't run. Don't move. Don't make a single sound."
Hope was left nodding frantically as Maddox bolted to his feet and took off running. She closed her eyes the moment his boots disappeared into the shadows of the trees. She forced herself to take in slow and steady breaths.
Silent breaths.
And then she listened to the silence.
* * *
The bastards had come back. Maddox should have known they would. Betas never learned their lessons.
But how the hell had they made it so deep into
