27. Hannah

TWENTY-SEVEN

HANNAH

As my fingers brush the fabric of the T-shirt, his hands move, and he grips me under my arms.

I don't have time to react before he drags me forward. And pulls me off my chair and onto his lap.

Or, more specifically, to straddle his lap.

When he lifted me, my traitorous legs spread themselves.

I flatten my palms against his chest, where I was touching him before, only this time it's rising and falling with heavy breaths.

He slides his hands down my sides and grips my hips.

"Mr. Lovelace," I whisper. "What are you doing?"

His lids half lower when I say his name like that, and the thighs beneath my butt flex.

"Fuck, Babe. I'm gonna need you to call me that again." Maddox's voice is nearly a growl. "And I'm gonna need you to be in a skirt when you do it."

Warmth floods my core, a pulse building between my legs.

This is crazy.

Ridiculous.

A dream.

I lean forward. "Why a skirt?"

He drags my body closer. "All the better to fuck you in."

His growled words startle a gasp out of me. I was not expecting him to be so direct.

A strong hand slides up my back, holding me in place as Maddox closes the distance between us and presses his mouth to mine.

I don't even try to resist.

His lips are warm and surprisingly soft.

Demanding but gentle.

I tilt my head, getting closer, as I slide my hands up his chest and wrap my arms around his neck.

The movement causes a groan to roll out of Maddox's throat, and he uses his hold on me to pull me in even closer.

And that's when I feel it. Against the front of my jeans.

A shiver of desire rolls through me.

I felt it the other day. Felt his hardness against my belly when he was holding me. But having it between my legs. Having it there. Lined up where I want him most.

It's intoxicating.

He's intoxicating.

His tongue swipes across the seam of my mouth, and I open, letting him in.

And when he tastes me, my hips rock.

This time, we both groan.

All of him, every damn inch, is big.

So freaking big.

The kiss deepens. Grows. Becomes more frantic.

We lean into each other, and his facial hair rasps at the edges of my mouth.

Just like I imagined.

I want to touch more of him.

Want to feel the warmth of his body again.

I move my hand from his neck, down his chest, then over the hem of his shirt that's still bunched up over his stomach, then farther until I have his warm skin under my palm.

His tongue pulls out of my mouth, and mine chases it, swiping against his lips.

Behind me, his knees lift, and I slide a little more down his thighs. Our bodies are flush now. And the pressure is there. Right where I want him. Where I need him.

"You're a bad girl, Miss Utley."

I curl my fingers, dragging my nails across his flesh. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Mr. Lovelace."

A big palm grips my ass. And god, it feels so good.

He makes me feel so good.

A burst of loud laughter filters through the door, reminding us that we're not alone.

Maddox drops his forehead to my shoulder.

I lift the hand from his stomach and hook my arm back around his neck, hugging him to me, as we both catch our breath.

The hand still on my ass flexes. "Fucking hell, Hannah."

A puff of humor leaves me. Glad he seems to be as affected as I am. "You started it."

He snorts and shakes his head against me.

Giving in to the urge I've had since I first saw him, I slide one of my hands up the back of his neck and run my fingers through his short dark hair.

He nuzzles into my touch.

I want to stay like this forever, but the reminder of other people also serves as a reminder that this is where I work. And I can't get fired for fooling around in a study room.

I rub my fingers through his hair once more. "So, The Count of Monte Cristo ?"

His back rises with a deep inhale. " The fucking Count of Monte Cristo ."

Maddox lifts his head, and his hooded gaze fills me with confidence.

I force a serious expression onto my face. "Upon closer inspection, I've come to the conclusion that your body is satisfactory."

He fights a smirk. "I appreciate the thorough checkup, Dr. Utley."

I press my lips together and nod. "My pleasure." I reach for his shirt and tug it down, covering his tempting middle. "But I'll still have to submit the bill to your insurance. Following protocol and all that."

"I understand." Maddox holds a steady look before he chuckles and shakes his head. "You're something else, Little Bunny."

"Something good, I hope."

"The best."

Sparks of joy dance across my skin.

Strong hands rest against my sides. "But if I fail this class, I'm blaming you."

"Can't have that."

I try to climb off his lap, but my feet are hanging above the ground.

I wiggle my hips. "Mind giving me a hand?"

He lets go of me with one hand, then smacks it down against my ass. The spank is loud in the little room.

"Mr. Lovelace!"

Maddox is grinning as he rubs his palm against my butt. "Sorry, but I've wanted to do that since the first time you ran away from me."

"Brute," I accuse without heat.

Sighing, he grips my waist with both hands and slides me backward. One of his legs moves beneath me while he uses his foot to hook the leg of my chair, dragging it over so I go right from being on his legs onto the seat.

Unable to help myself, my gaze drops to his lap.

The tent in his jeans has my heartbeat picking back up.

He presses his palm down on his length and groans. "You gotta stop looking at it like that."

I bite my lip. "Sorry."

"No, you're not," he laughs. "But you can make up for the torment by reading to me."

Turning toward the table, I clear my throat and put my hand on the book, dragging it over in front of me.

"Where are you?" I ask when I don't see a bookmark.

"Page one." I can hear the smile in his voice, and I'm not sure if he's lying, but I decide we might as well start together at the beginning.

Opening the cover, I watch out the corner of my eye as he scoots his chair closer. And closer. Until it's right up against mine.

It's been a long time since I've read aloud to someone, but I don't feel nervous. Maddox won't judge me if I mispronounce a word.

He settles his arm across the back of my chair, his chin going to my shoulder as he leans into my side.

"I'm ready." His voice rumbles directly from his chest into my body.

Relaxing into him, I prop the book on the table and read the first line.

"On February twenty-fourth…"