Mate Not Wanted (13 page)

Madison grumbled, “Please, let yourselves in, rummage through my drawers, find my sex toys and diary. Maybe even test out my bed to see if it’s springy enough for bedroom action.”

She frowned at the smiling, shining faces of her friends. They looked too damn delighted to have her at their mercy. They were way too eager. She put away her things to find that they’d already run a bath for her complete with scented candles and a glass of wine waiting for her at the tub’s edge.

“Go soak. We’ve got pizza waiting for you.” Lea waved her off.

“Yeah, yeah,” Madison muttered. She went into her room, locked her door, and stripped off her clothes. She wasn’t taking a chance that Lea wouldn’t burst through the entryway and ambush her with hot wax and strips ready to go. An ache began in her sex at the thought of Lea trying to give her a Brazilian after she’d been soaking in the tub for a while. She shuddered at the thought and headed into the bathroom. Vanilla, sage, and lavender swirled through the steamy air. She padded along the cool tiled floor and turned on her CD player, selecting an Enigma CD to help her relax even further. Tension evaporated in her body as the first strains of music filled the small space. She stepped into the tub. A hiss filtered past her teeth as her skin made contact with the hot water.

She sank down into the water until she was totally immersed up to her chin. She rested her head against the back rim of the tub and closed her eyes. Madison allowed her thoughts to drift. Most of what bounced around her brain was her dress options. Would Pierce like what they’d bought? He’d only seen her in pencil skirts, waist cinchers, and corsets. A tendril of fear wriggled through her. She’d spent all this time avoiding him and now they had to interact. What would they talk about? Would he find her interesting? Sweat broke out on her hairline for a totally different reason than the humidity in the air.

Another possibility appeared. What if they were truly mates? It wasn’t unheard of, two different species being matched up. But the thought of actually being his mate—she shook her head.

She got her thoughts in order and tried to relax. What would happen, would happen. Would her lioness finally rear her head?

“
Give him a chance
,” the cat told her in a deep, throaty voice edged in a purr.

“Looks like I’m going to have to,” she said aloud to no one. She focused on forcing her body to melt against the cool porcelain and her mind to go blank. Lea and Alec would be pounding on her bedroom door soon and she’d only have these moments to herself before the glam-squad torture began.

What was Pierce doing right now? Madison hoped that he was having a nice quiet dinner somewhere, maybe planning his date with her. Just because they were going to Shadows for dinner didn’t mean that they had to stay there. She didn’t want anything extravagant or expensive. Money couldn’t buy anything meaningful. She wanted something creative, something that would allow them to truly get to know each other and something that didn’t have to do with football. It wasn’t that she hated the sport; she just didn’t want their time together to be all about his job. Getting to know about that would be for another time. If their first dinner went well, that is.

What would it be like to date him? Private suites, the best of everything—that much, she was sure of. Madison had seen what luxury got you, and she could appreciate his work ethic. Again, she wondered how she could fit into his life. Madison wanted to be more than just arm candy or whatever a footballer’s wife was. She had a life now, a job, a sense of self. Would he understand that?

“Madison, come out before you get wrinkled. I’ve got the wax heated up. You dry off and we’ll get started,” Lea called.

Madison’s stomach dropped. The torture would begin and there was nowhere to run. Those heathens would pick the locks on her doors.

“I really do need to find new friends, preferably ones that have no idea how to burglarize me in my own home,” she muttered as she got out of the tub and dried off. She left the bathroom, strode across her bedroom with her head held high to face Lea and Alec. When she unlocked the door she found Alec standing before her with a pair of fuzzy handcuffs and something that looked suspiciously like a huge brownie. An evil grin on his face and a glint in his green eyes.

“Torture time,” he sang out.

Before she could react he grabbed her hand and slapped one cuff on her wrist and the other on his.

“What the fuck!?” she sputtered.

“You need a Brazilian and…well…I have no clue how to give one so Lea’s doing the honors.”

Alec shoved the brownie in her mouth. She jerked her head back as adrenaline pumped through her veins. She bit down on the brownie and groaned as the fudginess filled her mouth. A sluggishness took over her limbs and she felt her body begin to float. Madison tried to fight harder against Alec but it was no use. There was no energy to use against him. All she wanted to do was take a nap. Even her lioness was sleepy.

“No worries. It’s a catnip-laced brownie.” Alec grinned. “You won’t feel a thing. No pain.”

Fuckers. They’d drugged her. Alec pulled her further into the living room and settled her down on a chaise longue that Lea had moved before the fireplace. Alec picked her up and placed her on the couch. Her head lolled toward the heat. A purr rumbled up through her chest as she chewed on the chocolate treat.

As much as she hated her friends in that moment, she couldn’t resist chewing. The brownie was just too good, and with the catnip everything in the world really was wonderful. Her eyelids slid down. She swallowed the last of the brownie and began to snore, not even aware that she’d fallen asleep.

Sharp pings of pain broke through to her consciousness but nothing could wake her out of her stupor. Minutes stretched into hours. The night lengthened into what felt like a day. By the time she awoke she felt lighter. Her face felt cleaner. When she shifted on the chaise longue the silk covering rubbed against smooth, hairless skin. It was a luxurious feeling. Even the air that brushed against her bare mons felt both wicked and heavenly.

She gazed down at her nude body. Lea and Alec had left her naked in front of the fireplace with a blanket within reach. Out of the corner of her eye she spotted her friends passed out on the couches that were grouped around a low coffee table. Ignoring them, she took in Lea’s handiwork. They’d left a thin strip of trimmed curls that led toward the bare lips of her sex. Her legs were completely denuded of hair. A lift of her arms, one at a time, showed her that they hadn’t forgotten her underarms. She threw her legs over the side of the chaise lounge and went to her bathroom. They’d plucked her eyebrows and reshaped them and had even done her upper lip.

With a shrug, she took a shower and got dressed. She had a new awareness of her body now that it was hairless. Everything felt smoother. Even putting on a cashmere sweater made her aware of just how soft the material was. The roughness of her jeans brought a giggle to her lips. She found herself wondering how the denim would feel against her pussy if she’d forgone panties. Rather than find out, she woke up Alec and Lea, made a quick breakfast of scrambled eggs and toast, and ushered them out of her home as she headed into work. Tonight was her date with Pierce, and for the first time since finding out what they’d done, she was actually looking forward to it. She just had to get through work first.

Sully growled out orders and sent people scurrying for this, that, and the other thing. It wasn’t until lunchtime that she realized she had no clue how she was supposed to meet up with Pierce. She slipped away from Lea to put in a call to him. Madison didn’t want Lea to overhear the conversation and make dirty suggestions that she feared would distract her and cause her to say the wrong thing.

Pierce picked on the first ring. “Madison, is something wrong?”

The smooth growl sent a wave of heat through her as her stomach muscles tightened at the mere cadence of his voice. She swallowed and managed to form words, despite the haze that threatened to overtake her brain.

“Where am I supposed to meet you? Are you picking me up at my place?” As soon as she asked the question she realized how stupid she sounded. Of course he’d have to meet her at her place. She had to go back home to shower, change, and get ready. Madison mentally groaned and cursed herself for not using logic.

“Never mind. I’ll see you at my place. You know the way?” Again she wanted to slap her forehead. Of course he knew how to get there. He’d stayed in her parents’ guest house during the building of his mansion.

Before she could apologize and tell him to forget it, he responded. “Yes, I’ll meet you at the guest house and yes I know the way.” She could hear the smile in his voice and felt her lips curl up in response. “You OK though?”

His concern for her made her heart squeeze and speed up. “Yes, I’m fine. No aches or pains from the pub.”

“Good. Dammit. I have to go. They found me. See you later, love.”

He hung up before she could ask who he was hiding from. Instead, she returned to Lea, feeling eager for the date. Even though she had avoided him in the past, she wanted to embrace this time with Pierce. It was a date after all, and it had been ages since she’d been on one. She just hoped it would go better than she feared it would.

Chapter Eight

Pierce adjusted his tie. Ryan had convinced him to wear a bloody noose around his neck. Rather than continue the farce, he undid the knot and let the slip of silk fall to the ground. He also couldn’t believe that he’d let Ryan take his Aston. Now he’d have to make do with his Lincoln when he really wanted to dazzle her with something sporty and powerful. The Bentley was in the shop for routine maintenance work and a Ducati was inappropriate.

He glanced at the Westons’ guest house. For the last half hour he’d sat in the car trying to figure out what to say and prepare himself for the possibility that Madison would try to get out of the date. If she was going to be stubborn he’d have to kidnap her and drag her out with him even if she was in a robe, slippers, and curlers. He set his jaw in determination and got out of the car, only to turn around, rush back to the vehicle, and grab the box of chocolate truffles and bouquet of flowers he’d bought that morning.

Rather than go with Lea’s suggestions he’d decided to do something that he’d wanted. He had the florist put together a mix of vanilla orchids that gave off a sweet, musky scent. It would calm her down, hopefully. Pierce walked up the stone path and rang the bell. His heart pounded against his rib cage in a rapid staccato. Sweat beaded on his brow and the night air became warm and heavy. A waxen moon hung overhead. His tiger had been silent all night, much to Pierce’s relief. The beast was getting at least part of what it wanted so it was content for now.

As the seconds ticked by he fought the urge to check his watch. He felt as though he’d been shoved back into his awkward teenage years, waiting, hoping for girls to notice him. Now he was an adult and totally off his kilter, all because of a woman taking her sweet time getting to the door.

Approaching footsteps set his ears prickling. He held his breath as he heard the lock slide back and the knob turn. His heartbeat raced, thudding against his chest as if trying to escape. A teasing scent of chocolate, fudge, lavender, orange flower, vanilla, and musk floated out as the door opened. When the entryway was fully unlocked, bright light spilled onto the dimly lit walkway and he was momentarily blinded. He had to depend on his other senses.

Pierce could feel the warmth from the house and from her closeness. His skin tingled at her nearness. Hot blood pooled in his stomach and slipped lower to fill his shaft. His pants became tighter and more uncomfortable. He shifted from one foot to the other as he tried to ignore the swathe of arousal that was trying to wrap around his body. With each bit of air he pulled into his lungs came more of her intoxicating scent. A sense of lightheadedness filled him as he became drunk on her presence.

“Pierce?” Her soft, husky tone pulled him further into desire’s warm embrace. “Are you OK?”

She stepped closer to him. In the silvered moonlight he could see her a bit more clearly and had to suck in a breath as his knees turned to liquid at the mere sight of her. She wore a strapless red dress edged in black lace that stopped at midthigh. Her feet were shod with gold, strappy sandals that brought her level with his chin.

He looked her up and down, shocked at her outfit. This was not the Madison he knew. The sight of all that silken skin on display brought out a protective instinct. His tiger sat up with a low growl. She was showing too much. Only he should see her like this.

“Go back and change,” he bit out before he could think about what he was saying.

She blinked up at him. Her dark brown eyes looked like liquid pools of chocolate, dark, mysterious, and tempting. He could fall in and drown. Something sparkled on her eyelid and there were dark lines smudged around her eyes. Even her lashes looked longer. Who was this woman? He gazed at her mouth and frowned. Her lips were a dark crimson stain that shone in the dimness. Even her cheeks were flushed. Why had she felt she needed to wear makeup for him? He opened his mouth to tell her to go wipe off all that paint but she beat him to the punch.

“Who the fuck do you think you are? I will not go change. If you don’t like what I’m wearing you have to deal with it. And no, I won’t go wipe off my makeup.” She punctuated every word with a poke to his chest. Her sharpened nails glittered in the moonlight.

Madison crossed her arms over her chest, pushing her breasts up and showing off a hint of cleavage.

He moved toward her, feeling the burn of anger through his veins as it battled with his need to drag her back in the house, rip off her dress, and smear her makeup with his kisses.

“You’re not going out dressed like that!” he growled.

She narrowed her eyes until all he saw was a glitter of darkness framed by her lashes. “No. A, you’re not the boss of me, and B, you’ve given me no reason why I shouldn’t dress like this.”