Chapter 20

20

Madeline

"So, what can we expect from you next, Madeline?" the radio host I'm currently talking with asks me early Thursday morning during my first interview of the day. Just like yesterday, I've got a full day of interviews thanks to the schedule Judy has put together for me.

I smile at the host. I've appeared on her show many times and I like her. "I'm writing new stuff that I'm really excited about. And I've decided to post more often on socials and share my process as I go." This is something I've always wanted to do, but Tucker and Darren never let me.

The host's eyes light up. "Oh, that would be amazing! I'm always fascinated to know how songs come together and I imagine your fans would love that too."

"I hope it'll be something fun for everyone."

She wraps the interview up and ten minutes later, I'm on my way out to my waiting car with Leigh and Judy. Leigh hands me a bottle of water while Judy rattles off information I'll need for the next interview, which is for a magazine cover story.

Judy hasn't found it hard to line up interviews. Everyone wants to know what happened with my wedding and what's in my future now that the news has broken about me being dumped by my record label. Darren has demanded I don't speak about my relationship with Tucker, but I haven't paid attention to any of his demands. Instead, Judy has helped me figure out how to talk about my hurt over being cheated on and the way my abortion was discussed publicly without talking too much about Tucker directly. We're keeping the focus on me and my plans for the future.

My phone rings as I'm settling myself in the back seat of the car and when I see Ethan's brother's name on my screen, I answer it immediately.

"Hayden. Thank you for calling me back."

"No worries. I'm in between appointments, though, so I'll need to be quick. Ethan told me you need a contract looked at. Can you give me some context?"

I fill him in on my contract with Darren and why I need it looked over. I don't hold anything back, sharing honestly with him that Darren and Tucker screwed me over with my percentages because I knew no better back then, and that I answered to them like I was an employee more than an artist in my own right. I hate having to admit my stupidity to Ethan's brother.

Hayden's reply, though, is what makes me decide he may just be the lawyer for me. "Send the contract through so I can take a look. It pisses me off when people screw others over because they know they can get away with it. You were young and new to the industry, Madeline, and they should have done better by you. Especially Tucker. I'll do everything in my power to help you get what you're owed, and we'll make sure this never happens again."

"Please call me Maddie. And I really appreciate this, Hayden, especially since I know how busy you already are." I did my research on Hayden and learned he's one of the most in-demand lawyers in New York.

After we end the call, Leigh looks at me. "Was that Hottie McHottie's lawyer brother?"

"Yes. Can you please email him my contract with Darren?"

"I'm on it."

Judy glances up from her phone. "A video of you has gone viral."

My new publicist has perfected her poker face, so I can't get a read on what she's thinking. "Good or bad?"

"It's not ideal." She hands me her phone with the video ready for me to watch.

I stare at myself wearing very little, talking dirty to the camera. It's a video Tucker took of me last year but he's nowhere in sight because he filmed it. The caption makes out that it's a recent video taken by Ethan, who social media hasn't stopped talking about since the video of us was posted two days ago. Speculation is rife that I left Tucker for Ethan and the comments on this video are nasty in their condemnation of me.

I pass Judy's phone back to her while my chest tightens with anger. More anger. It seems like every day brings a fresh round of it. "This is Tucker's doing. He made that video last year."

She nods. "I figured this is part of his campaign to make himself look like the injured party."

"God! How can someone be such an asshole?"

"The world is full of them, Maddie," she says casually and I get the impression she's used to this kind of stuff.

"So, what, do we just sit back and let him get away with this? Or do we, I don't know...is there anything we can do?"

"My advice is we go high. Ignore it and carry on as we are. No good will come from us playing tit for tat."

Leigh scowls. "I hate this. It's so unfair."

"I agree," Judy says, "But it's the nature of this business. People will forget and life goes on. We just have to give them a better story to be interested in, which we are." She looks at me. "People are interested in your story, Maddie. A woman finding herself, coming into her power. I think we should stick with our plan."

I force the heavy weight from my chest, trying to rid my body of the anger consuming me. My thoughts are the same as Leigh's, that this is unfair, but I've seen enough over the last three years to know Judy's right. "Okay, we stick with the plan. And maybe I surrender my phone to you guys so I don't accidentally make a post about what an asshole Tucker is."

Leigh holds her hands up. "Don't surrender it to me. None of us will have a job after I'm done posting exactly what I think of Tucker."

"Right," Judy says, taking charge, "I'll change your password if need be. Now, let's get back to focusing on what we need to get through today." With that, she brings us back to the task at hand, my next interview, and I leave thoughts of stabbing Tucker behind.

It's a long day and I don't return to my hotel suite until seven p.m. I'm hungry, but mostly I just want to collapse into a bath, close my eyes, and forget all the things I have to do tomorrow.

Hayden called a few hours ago to let me know he'll fly in tomorrow morning for a meeting with Darren and his lawyer. He's gone over the contract and advised that terminating my contract is possible. He also asked me to forward him all the contracts I've ever signed for work so he can start going over those too.

I need tonight to psyche myself up for this meeting. Not that I'll be in attendance, but I have no doubt Tucker will retaliate in some way. Leigh told me she's more than happy to take one for the team and personally deal with Tucker if he does. After joking about that, she'd given me a stern look and said, "Tonight is not the night to raid the minibar. Do I need to stay over to ensure you wake without a hangover tomorrow?" I'd had to spend a good five minutes assuring her I had no intention of binge drinking.

Walking into the sanctuary of my hotel suite is my favorite part of the day. The silence is everything I've craved for hours. I kick off my shoes and strip out of my clothes as I walk through the living room into the bedroom and then the bathroom. I run a warm bath and release a calming breath as I slide into the tub.

Usually, when I have a bath, I listen to music or a podcast, but not tonight. I just can't take any more noise today. Instead, I rest my head and close my eyes, enjoying the peace and quiet.

I'm about ten minutes into that peace and quiet when my phone sounds with a text. Chastising myself for not switching it to silent, I begrudgingly check the message. When I see Ethan's name, I can't read it fast enough.

Ethan: This is a secret message that the feds can't read: it's time for you to wrap that filthy mouth around me.

I blink at the text, my heart speeding up at what I think he means.

Me: It's not a secret message without brackets, Black. They can read that. Abort.

Ethan: {Get your ass to your door, Miller. I've come to collect my payment for your orgasms.}

Me: You're here?

I'm already out of the bath, scrambling to wrap a towel around myself so I can run to the door.

Ethan: Yes.

I pull the door open just after his text hits my phone and holy hell, this man is sexy. He's standing in front of me wearing jeans that hug his quads and a casual black T-shirt that I'm all kinds of desperate to peel from his body. But it's the smile on his face and those blues of his that steal my ability to think straight. The way he's looking at me...like he sees everything he's ever wanted to see...I think I would do anything to have him look at me like this every day.

"Hi," I breathe, my first real smile of the day spreading across my face.

His arm is around my waist before I know it and he's pulling my mouth to his so he can kiss me. And god, he's everything I need right now. Everything.

He kisses me how he prefers, long and deep, before letting me go and rasping, "Jesus, I needed that."

My arms are around his neck as I stare up at him, the butterflies in my stomach going crazy. "You should do it again."

His eyes cover every inch of my face like he's taking the moment to learn all the contours of it, all my tiny details, before trailing down my body. Then, his arm tightens around my waist and he pulls my mouth back to his, and the rough groan he makes as he kisses me curls desire all the way through me.

This kiss starts slow but quickly ignites into burning passion. His lips are white heat against mine, his tongue exploring, possessing, claiming. I cling to him, my fingers threading through his hair, pulling him closer, needing to feel every inch of him against me.

Walking us into the suite, he backs me up against the wall, his body trapping me deliciously as he reaches down to remove the towel I'm wearing. "Fuck, Maddie," he growls after dragging his mouth from mine so he can look at me. "I've barely stopped thinking about you the last two days."

My head spins, overwhelmed by the sheer intensity of the need blazing from him. I grip his neck so I can demand another kiss. When our lips collide again, I arch into him, a moan escaping as he presses his hips into mine, letting me feel the hard evidence of his desire.

I'm lost to the intoxicating scent of him, the heat of his body, the drugging sensation of his lips while he makes out with me like he did the first time we had sex.

When we finally break apart, we're both breathless. Ethan rests his forehead against mine, his eyes closed as he tries to regain control. My heart pounds wildly, its rhythm synced with my feelings for this man.

I curve my hands around his body. "I'm so glad you're here."

He lifts his head. "I would have been here yesterday if I thought that wouldn't freak you out."

My heart thuds and I whisper, "You feel this too?" This connection.

Ethan's gaze doesn't waver. Not even for a second. "Yes." He takes my face in his hands. "I'm in this with you, Miller." Then, he's lifting me to carry me into the bedroom.

"I see that I'm late for the strip show," he says as he notes the trail of clothes I left on my way to the bath earlier.

I nuzzle his neck, kissing it. "Such a shame. You would have enjoyed it."

His eyes blaze with heat. "You can get dressed after our first orgasm and give me my own show."

"You think I have more than one orgasm in me?"

He smirks as I repeat his words back to him from the last time we were together. Then, dropping me on the bed, he runs his eyes lazily over my naked curves. "I think we should aim higher tonight." He crawls on top of me and kisses his way up my stomach to my breasts, lingering there for a moment, sending my core into a frenzy of need, before continuing up to my throat, my neck, my lips. "Let's beat our record."

I reach for the hem of his shirt and pull it up over his head, discarding it on the floor. "You don't want me to be able to walk tomorrow?"

The look in his eyes at that question is pure hunger. Dipping his mouth to the side of my neck, he kisses me, his teeth lightly nipping. "I'd fucking love for you to not be able to walk tomorrow," he growls. "I'd keep you right here and demand more of that filthy mouth of yours."

His growly voice tips me over the edge. Not that I knew I was close to it, but now I'm falling so hard and all I can think about is how much I want him inside me.

My hands make quick work of his belt, the button on his jeans, his zipper. Then, I'm pushing his jeans down, his boxers down, and reaching for his dick.

"Fuck," he groans as I stroke his cock and reach for his balls. He thrusts into my hand and groans again before crashing his mouth down onto mine.

When he ends the kiss, he looks at me, his eyes hooded. "Less than a week, Miller." He kisses me again, roughly, his lips telling me how desired I am, and god, I want him to kiss me and touch me like this forever. He bites my bottom lip before saying, "That's how long it took for me to lose my mind over you."

I stare up at him, falling, falling, falling. Letting go of his dick, I bring my hands to his chest so I can push him up and force him onto his back. I'm fast, desperate, and he allows me to take charge, the heat in his eyes intensifying with my every move.

Straddling him, I put a hand to his neck, gripping him possessively. I want this man in ways I've never wanted a man. "How?" I breathe while my body floods with so many sensations and feelings.

He takes hold of my hip with one hand, a breast with the other, and I feel his raw need in the rough way he handles me. "How did I lose my mind so fast?"

I bend my face closer to his while rubbing my pussy against his cock. "No, how did we both do that?"

"Fuck," he growls as I grind on him. "I think it was those granny undies that did it."

"What?" I laugh and I love that he can make me do that during sex.

He gives me a sexy smirk. "Trust me, you look hot as fuck in them. But now that I think of it, it could have been the moment when you faceplanted in my crotch that did it for me." His smirk now looks like pure filth across his face.

I kiss that smirk right off his face before saying, "Your mind is a dirty place to live, isn't it?"

He grabs my neck, all rough manhandling in a way I think I may start living for. "It's nowhere near as dirty as your mouth, baby."

And just like that, with a term of endearment I've never really liked, but now am all about because it feels like a claim, I'm drowning in him.

I let him pull my face to his so he can kiss me.

I let him take all the time with that kiss.

I let him touch me everywhere.

But then, then, when I'm desperate to be in charge again, desperate for him to look at me with raw hunger, I drag my mouth from his and make my way down his body. I kiss every inch of his skin, tasting him as I go, loving the way his muscles react to my touch. And when I reach his cock, I settle myself between his legs and meet his gaze while sucking him into my mouth.

The guttural sound he makes scorches its way to my core. It's a sound I know I'd do anything to hear every day.

His hand comes to my head, his fingers threading into my hair. "Fuck, you feel good," he rasps.

My eyes hold his as I take him out of my mouth and lick the length of him. Swirling my tongue over his crown, I say, "I want you to fuck me hard and fast the first time."

His eyes flash with fire and he thrusts his hips up, pushing his dick against my lips. "And the second time?" he demands. "How do you want it then?"

I open my mouth to let him in, taking him deep, and massaging his balls while sucking and licking my tongue along the length of him in a way I know he likes. "I want to ride you cowgirl style." I suck him back in for another round of the same. "I want to be in control while I grind on you." I take him back into my mouth, but this time, I lick his tip after, circling it over and over, oh so slowly, loving the way he's losing himself to the pleasure. "I want you to stare at my tits while I fuck you."

"Fuck," he surges up, "You've got a mouth on you that I really fucking love." He grips under my arms and pulls me up so he can reposition me on the bed under him. Then, he bends over the edge of the bed so he can locate his jeans, his wallet, a condom. Once he's got it on, he looks down between us, lines his cock up with my pussy, and thrusts inside me, and fuck, he's so fucking big that I forget how to breathe for a moment.

"I'm giving you what you want, Maddie." He pulls out and slams back in, hitting me right where I need him to. "This is going to be fast."

I grip his shoulders and wrap my legs around him. "Good." I barely manage to speak with the way he's fucking me, and all I can do is hold on tight and take every thrust.

Ethan makes good on his promise. He pounds into me, and since I'm so turned on and desperate for him, it doesn't take long for me to come. He orgasms right after me, his thrusts becoming erratic as he chases his release. His hips jerk, once, twice, three times. My nails dig into his back. And my inner muscles clench around him as I take all he has to give.

He collapses on top of me, his weight everything I want, his breath hot against my neck. For a moment, we just lie there, our bodies still joined, our hearts racing in tandem.

Slowly, he lifts his head, his eyes hazy with satisfaction. "It's gonna be a long night." His voice is a rough, sexy rumble that would be my absolute downfall if he always spoke like that.

I put my hands to his abs. "I need to eat something first."

"You haven't eaten yet?" His sexy rumble has disappeared. In its place is a serious tone that says he's moved onto thinking about feeding me.

"No."

"Okay, let's get you some food." He disposes of the condom in the bathroom before coming back and putting his jeans on. "What do you feel like?"

"A hot chicken sandwich with fries." I leave the bed and move into him so I can have another kiss. "And if you wanna judge me for eating all that grease, I don't want to hear it." God knows, I never heard the end of it from Tucker whenever I devoured fried chicken.

He rests his hand on my ass. "I'll never judge you for anything you eat, Miller." He glides his hand over my butt, feeling every curve, and asks, "Where do you want me to go to get it?"

"Nowhere. The hotel makes a good one." I press myself into him, enjoying the sound of approval he makes as I rub against him. "I'm not letting you out of my sight, Black, so that means you have to choose your dinner from the hotel menu too, and I'm not even a little bit sorry if they don't have anything you like."

He grins as he squeezes my ass in the very best way. "It's a good thing I've already eaten since you seem more than happy to let me starve."

I reach for his neck and pull his mouth down to mine for a kiss before saying, "I'd never let you starve. You can eat me anytime you want."

"Jesus," he growls. "You're fucking filthy." Then, with a smack to my ass, he lets me go. "Put your clothes back on while I order your dinner. After you've eaten, I'm going to sit on that sofa in the living room and enjoy the hell out of you taking them all off for me."