When was Nix going to stop ruining my life?
Wiping the tears away, I took a few calming breaths, hoping my skin would return to its normal pale color instead of its current blotchy red state. When it became clear that wouldn’t happen any time soon, I dressed in the street clothes I’d worn to the shop and left behind the black lingerie. Instead, I grabbed a pair of long-sleeved silk pajamas and pushed through the curtain.
One look at my face, and Maddox’s transformed into one of anguish. Good, let him see what this push and pull was doing to me. He didn’t get to pretend to be a white knight and expect me to be grateful when he pushed me away, regardless of his motives.
“Bristol . . .” My name hung in the air, but I shoved past him into the showroom.
Silently, he trailed behind me until I reached the counter where the saleswoman, Melissa, stood waiting with a smile. “Find everything all right?” She smartly elected not to bring attention to the fact that I was a hot messafter spending God knows how long alone with a hot man in the dressing room of a lingerie store.
“Yes, thank you.” My voice was thick from my private crying session.
I laid the navy blue button-up set on the counter, and she gushed, “Oh, I just love this one. It’s a beautiful color to complement your eyes.”
I dipped my head, not in the mood for small talk. We had spoken earlier, and she knew that everything left behind in the dressing room was to be sent to my hotel later that evening.
Maddox stepped up to my side, a black credit card dangling from his fingertips. “Put it on my card.”
Melissa’s eyes shifted to me, and I gave a slight shake of my head. She plastered on a bright smile and waved him off. “It’s already been taken care of.”
He turned to face me, but I kept my eyes trained straight ahead. “Why won’t you let me buy this for you? I said I was sorry. Let me do this small thing.”
I swallowed before replying, “Someone else beat you to it.”
Finally, daring to peek at him, I saw the disbelief etched on his face before anger flared behind those green eyes, and a muscle in his jaw twitched. “Care to explain who is buying you a two-hundred-dollar set of silk pajamas?”
Shrugging, I had no qualms about riling him up after what transpired in the dressing room. “Someone who cares about me more than you do.”
Plastering on a fake smile, he held up a finger to Melissa, muttering, “Just a minute,” before dragging me far enough away that we wouldn’t be overheard.
My earlier sadness switched to anger at his possessiveness, and I crossed my arms, ready for battle. “Is there a problem?” I goaded.
Maddox ran a hand through his thick, dark hair. “Is this my punishment for giving you time to heal? Why won’t you listen when I tell you it’s for your own good.”
I rolled my eyes, laying the sass on thick. “You might be significantly older than me—”
“Significantly is a stretch,” he protested.
“But I don’t appreciate being treated like a child. I already have a dad.”
He crowded my space, forcing me to crane my neck to maintain eye contact. His voice lowered to one resembling a growl. “I had my hands on your bare pussy mere minutes ago. I think we can rule out any type of fatherly thoughts.”
Scoffing, I stepped back. “I’m capable of knowing what I want. I don’t need you to tell me.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “And what is it that you want, Bristol? Other than for me to fuck you into next week?”
Damn. I cursed the flash of heat that pooled between my thighs at the mental image his dirty words conjured.
We’re mad at him now, not turned on! Get the message!
Yeah, yeah. There’s a fine line between love and hate, girlfriend. If he told you he changed his mind and wanted to fuck you, you’d have no hesitation in spreading your legs.
That thought sparked inspiration.
I stomped to the back of the store, where there was a special secluded section featuring a variety of sex toys. Lucy had brokered a partnership with an adult novelty company called Desire Selects. It was genius, really. Yes, women might be buying lingerie to impress or excite a partner, but many couples implemented toy use in the bedroom. Cashing in on that combo was a brilliant business move.
Too pissed off to care that whatever I selected would be seen through the X-ray machines at security when we flew first to San Diego and then back to Indianapolis, I grabbed a flesh-colored realistic-looking dildo, the biggest size they had. Not stopping there, I picked out a clit suctioning toy next. After an evil smirk back at Maddox, my final selection was a jewel-tipped butt plug.
Let him stew on that while he’s jerking off alone in his hotel room later.
