He hadn’t been sure what Madeline would do afterward. If she’d want to throw her clothes on and get out of there quick. But she didn’t. When he tugged her back into bed, she’d come with him willingly, and she didn’t pull away when he wrapped an arm around her.
Her body was warm and soft. Her hair spread out over his chest. She wasn’t a particularly small woman, and she felt substantial beside him. Like he could really hold on.
“Are you about to go to sleep?” she asked after a few minutes. Her fingers were idly rubbing against his side.
“Not anytime soon.” He could hear the smile in his voice. Hopefully she wouldn’t read too much into it.
She shifted so she could peer up at him. “So you don’t go to sleep right after sex?”
“Sometimes I do. But it’s the middle of the day, and I don’t feel particularly sleepy at the moment. Why?”
“Nothing. Just...”
She trailed off, but Ken understood what she wasn’t saying. Josh—the selfish asshole—had probably rolled over and gone to sleep after sex all the time instead of holding her, talking to her, making her feel appreciated.
Ken’s former annoyance with the boy had transformed over the past year into an intense dislike he never felt for anyone but genuine criminals, people who harmed others without a qualm. He couldn’t believe Josh had had Madeline—Madeline—and treated her the way he had.
When he felt his body tightening, he forced himself to blow out the anger. He couldn’t tell Madeline what he was thinking right now. She’d think he was turning creepy and intense and make a quick getaway.
Ken didn’t want her to go. Not yet.
Her hand was moving slightly, still rubbing his side, and it strayed high enough to trigger a ticklish nerve under his arm. He jerked without warning or volition.
She raised her head. “What?”
“Nothing.”
“What?” She frowned at him, looking utterly scrumptious with her messy hair and heavy eyes.
“Nothing. I’m a little ticklish.”
“Really?” Her full lips slowly stretched into a smile. She reached for him with clear intent.
He clamped his arm down to keep her from achieving her goal.
Giggling, she tried again, this time faking him out by a sudden move to his other side. She got him, tickling him for a few seconds, which was long enough for him to let out a ridiculous burst of sound. Then he managed to pull her hand away, turning her onto her back, holding her down with his weight and tickling her until she squealed.
“Okay!” she finally exclaimed. “Okay, I surrender! I won’t try to tickle you again.”
He was hot and breathless and grinning down at her. “Promise?”
She made a face and stuck out her tongue.
He tried to hide his amusement and couldn’t quite do it. “Promise?” he repeated.
“Fine. I promise.” Then she muttered under her breath as he released her. “For now.”
“I heard that.”
Giggling, she settled at his side again as he wrapped an arm around her. “I’m not sure I like this change that sex makes in you.”
She was obviously teasing, but he was still curious. “What change?”
“You’re supposed to be all easygoing and laid-back, and sex has turned you into some sort of demanding alpha male.”
For no particular reason, he kind of liked the sound of that. “Yeah?”
“Yes. And now you think I’ve given you a compliment when I haven’t. Just like a man to get it exactly wrong.”
“So you’re saying you don’t like me like this?” He gave her a hot smile and an eyebrow twitch he knew would make her laugh.
It did. She leaned over to kiss his shoulder. It was the sweetest thing. “No. I don’t.”
“Liar.”
“I’m not lying.”
“Do you need to be tickled again?”
“Asshole.” When he made a show of straightening up and extending his arms, she relented. “Okay. Fine. I don’t mind it too much, just as long as you keep it in the bedroom. I’m really not into alpha males in regular life.”
He smiled up at the ceiling, hoping she couldn’t feel how fast his heart was racing. “It’s a deal.”
ON SUNDAY, MADELINE drove to Norfolk with Ria and Skye so they could do some shopping. She loved hanging out with her friends and liked to look at stores, but she normally didn’t buy anything when she was with other people.
She didn’t know why, but all her life she’d always just browsed with other people and only bought things when she was alone.
She was in a jittery mood today, however. She kept thinking about Ken. Replaying how good the sex had been yesterday. Visualizing the appreciative look in his eyes. Not just when she was naked but afterward, when they were just teasing and laughing together.
It was a heady feeling and one she wasn’t used to. He’d even texted her this morning to tell her he’d had a really good time yesterday and he was available for another go if she was interested.
Those were his words. Another go. It sounded just like him and made her giggle.
It was especially nice not to have to wonder what the guy was thinking after sex.
So her good mood prompted her uncharacteristic lack of inhibitions at the stores. She bought a designer purse that was way too expensive, a cute dress, and a sexy nightgown that she claimed just to want for no reason. So maybe she’d visualized herself wearing it for Ken, but she didn’t have to admit that... even to herself.
Her friends didn’t question the purchase. Any of her purchases. So maybe they’d believed her when she said she just wanted to feel pretty for herself. Which was absolutely true. For the first time in a really long time, Madeline was starting to feel like herself and not Josh’s girlfriend.
They ate a late lunch afterward before they returned to Azalea, and they ended up at Ria’s house to drink the bottle of pink champagne
