All In by Fallon O'Donahue Page A

splayed where her body was just a moment ago, as if it reached out for something, or someone, to hold onto.
    She shook her head and took care of business in the bathroom. She stared at her face in the mirror, and all the old insecurities came rushing back. He had been good to her last night, but she knew that it wouldn’t be enough. He had been gentle where he needed to be. Rough where he needed to be. Unlike past partners, he sought out her pleasure before taking his own.
    But as she looked at her reflection, one word crossed her mind, “Slut.” Then another word, “Fat.” Then insult after insult until she was reminded why she didn’t do this sort of thing—why she had to walk away. Again. Why celibacy was a better option.
    Fat tears streamed down her face as she washed her mouth out with Listerine. She spit out the mouthwash, washed the day old makeup off her face, and left the bathroom to collect her things. She found her clothes in piecemeal around the house. They certainly had made use of every room. The thought heated her cheeks and her sex pulsed at the memory. She could still taste him on her tongue.
    “What are you doing?” strong arms wrapped around her waist just as her t-shirt dropped down over her torso. “Clothes are a sin,” he grumbled into her neck.
    “I-, I have to go,” she pulled away, heading toward her purse.
    “No,” he grabbed her wrist, pulling her back into him. “I told you, I would’t let you run away,” he whispered onto her lips before kissing her. Apparently she wasn’t the only one who thought to be minty fresh in the morning. His teeth tugged her lower lip as she felt wetness pool between her legs. Anxiety and desire warred inside her.
    “I’m…not,” she stumbled as he nibbled his way down her neck, his teeth biting hard on her shoulder.
    “Don’t lie to me, Cass. I know you, remember? You always run away. ‘Best one night stand, ever,’ you said,” he stopped kissing her and looked her in the eye. “You’re not my one night stand. Not now. Not ever. You’re mine,” he growled before whipping the t-shirt off over her head and throwing her down on the couch.
    “Mine,” he said, pulling her pants off of her, and thrusting his fingers deep inside her sex. She threw her head back and released a loud moan.
    “Oh, God,” she panted as he mastered her body. She tried to reach down, to take hold of his erection, but he took both her hands in one of his and put them over her head.
    “Mine,” he ordered, raining kisses down her neck, her breast, her stomach. She didn’t know how he found it, but she watched through hooded eyes as he tore the condom wrapper open and rolled it down his length.
    “Do you want me, Cass?” he stopped touching her, and just waited. She stared back.
    “Do you?” he asked again, this time rolling her nipple between his fingers, shocks rocking her core. She moaned and nodded.
    “Oh, no, darling. Tell me, out loud. What do you want?” he demanded, rubbing his length between her slick folds, and stroking once, twice.
    “Oh, God. Maddox, you. I want you,” she screamed, bucking into his hand.
    “Finally,” he sighed, thrusting into her. He pulled out at an agonizingly slow pace and then thrust in hard again—over and over until she was at a tipping point. His hand working the sensitive nub, his mouth playing with hers until they both shattered.
    “Don’t pull away, Cass. Not when I just found you,” he whispered into her hair, holding her close.
    “I’m not,” she lied.
    “You are. You do this every time someone gets close to you. You keep them at arms length. Let me in,” he tightened his grip. “What are you so afraid of?”
    You , she thought. Y ou, breaking my heart in a way that it can’t be repaired. She sunk into his embrace, unable to answer.

12

Maddox
    H e knew what she was doing. He knew how afraid she was to leave herself vulnerable. She had told him that once, when she thought he wasn’t interested in her.