Bind Me - Page 99

As much as I’d love to claim her as ours, it would be detrimental to what we all hope to achieve. I leave the table first and head into Madison’s room. The shower is still running. I step into the bathroom and shed my clothes on the floor.

When I open the shower door, she lifts her head to look at me. Her eyes are red rimmed and her lower lip trembles. My heart aches to see her like this. I close the distance between us and take her into my arms.

She wraps her arms around me and gives a little sigh. “Why does everything have to be so hard?”

I brush her wet hair out of her face. “Anything worth having is worth fighting for.”

Including her. If I thought this could work in the real world, I would risk everything, including my business. But this thing between all of us is fragile and new. The whims of the press would tear us to shreds.

“I don’t want Elizabeth or any other woman. All I want is you. I promise to let you know everything that happens at the benefit.” I press my lips against the top of her head. “Not that anything will. Even when I dated Elizabeth, we weren’t a hot and heavy kind of couple.”

“Are we?” She lifts her face toward mine.

The absurdity of that question makes me laugh. “I fucked you three times today. That qualifies as hot and heavy. I’m hard for you all the time, princess.”

She shrugs as she snuggles against me. My hard cock rests against her stomach, but there’s no urgency to fuck her. Right now she needs reassurance, and I’m grateful to be the one to give it to her. I rub my hands down her back.

“For now, we’re in this bubble of our own invention. You, me, and the guys. We can’t stay in here forever. The real world will continue to intrude, and at some point, someone might put two and two together. We can delay that by dating other people. By having Coop be the one you date.” I swallow against the ache that brings inside. That one of us can claim her but not all of us. “By keeping up appearances. As long as no one digs too deep.”

She leans back to meet my eyes. “But someone is already looking. I have a stalker and you have a corporate spy.”

I press my lips against her forehead and hold her close for a few more minutes. She’s not wrong. We have things we need to take care of. She also has her roommate doing who knows what to get to her, and we don’t know why she and her boyfriend want Madison. While we have to rely on the police to find them, we’re doing what we can to try to locate them. Our resources are limited, but almost everything is linked to computers now.

They’ll fuck up and we’ll find them.

“Let’s get you washed and ready for bed.”

Her soft blue eyes meet mine. “I don’t want to lose any of you.”

“You won’t.” I press my forehead to hers. “We’ll take care of you.”

I hug her close, hoping I can keep my promise.

After we shower, I lead her to her closet, both of us still wrapped in towels. Earlier today, I had a surprise delivered, and I want to see her face when she sees what I’ve done.

“We need to get you into some clothes.”

Her lips press together, and she drops her chin a little as she meets my eyes.

“If you dress me for bed, I’m expecting you to fuck me. Not like this morning.” She gives me a stern look.

I draw her against me and kiss her softly. “I prefer you to be naked in my bed, but we’ll dress you in something to walk around the apartment.”

Satisfied, she turns and opens her closet door. Her eyes widen, and she gasps as she steps inside. Her hand covers her mouth. Instead of her one little section of clothes, the closet is stuffed full.

“I might have gone a little overboard.” I rub the back of my neck. Seeing all the things I ordered spread out like this, it’s a lot. It started with just a few items, some lingerie, some panties and bras. Then some skirts. Blouses. Of course, dresses.

“You bought all this for me?” Her fingertips trail over the fabric as her wide eyes take everything in.

“Shoes, clothes, dresses, panties, bras, slips, nightgowns, lingerie, pajamas, t-shirts, jeans.” The list goes on. “If you think of it, I’m sure I bought it.”

“Why?” She finally turns those baby blues on me.

I close in on her and take the towel from her body. “Every inch of you should be wrapped in the best money has to offer. You’re gorgeous and kind and intelligent. I want to dress you in clothes I chose for you. It’s a small way to claim you, even if I can’t do it publicly.”

Her blush covers her from the tops of her breasts to her cheeks. Her brow furrows as her gaze runs the length of the closet. “This must have cost a fortune.”

“Not even close.” I draw her into my arms. The towel wrapped around my waist is the only thing between our bodies. Her breasts crush against my chest as I look down at her. “This brings me pleasure. I love seeing you wear the scarves that I gave you. I can’t wait to see you in the clothes I bought for you.”