LOVING THE MADMAN

Breaking Rules

Troy’s voice always did things to me, but the rudeness in his tone instantly drove away every flicker of attraction I felt towards him at that moment.

What kind of question was that?

With the way he asked it, you’d think he owned the damn mansion.

I fought back an eye roll.

“Excuse me?”

His gaze moved to my silky nightdress on the grass, and something dark sparked in his eyes.

He wasn’t in his usual work clothes but in sweatpants and a sleeveless vest, showing off his muscular arms.

“It’s late,” he said through gritted teeth. “You should be in bed. Instead, you’re swimming around, f*****g naked.”

“I should be in bed?” I shot back. “What am I, eight? And how the hell is this your business?”

He stepped into the lake, wading through the water. It swallowed his sweatpants until it reached his waist.

“You’ve been getting on my nerves all day, woman,” he gruffed.

“Excuse you?” I swam towards him angrily. “You’re the one barging in here. I saw you go to your quarters. Why are you suddenly here?”

“I needed air.”

“Yeah, right. And of all places, you come here?”

“I heard a sound.” He snapped. “It’s my job to check.”

“Whatever. Now you know what it was, Mr. Ryder. You can leave.” I turned my back on him, swimming away before he annoyed me further.

But he didn’t leave. I felt his penetrating eyes on me.

Two laps later, I turned back, and he was still there. Watching.

I swam towards him again.

The water shielded most of me, but the tops of my breasts broke the surface. I didn't care, even as Troy's dark, heated gaze dropped to them.

When they rose to meet my eyes, there was a fire in them, and something more.

“By all means, Mr. Ryder,” I said angrily. “Take your leave. You’re interrupting my bath. Or…” I crossed my arms over my chest, tilting my head. “…is there something else you need?”

His jaw ticked, and his dark eyes somehow grew even darker, the air between us singing with tension.

I started to turn away, ready to put distance between us since he clearly wasn’t going to budge, when he grabbed my arm and spun me back to face him.

Stunned by the action, I stared at him wide-eyed, losing my breath.

He was touching me.

He was touching me, and suddenly every part of me came alive… Every nerve ending, every inch of my skin aware of his against mine.

Troy’s eyes told me he felt the same, followed by a low, rough curse muttered under his breath.

“f**k it,” he growled before smashing his lips to mine.

I intended to fight it… this feeling.

I intended to fight him. But it was just too much… the explosion of emotions that came with him kissing me so ferally, so… ravenously.

My defenses cracked under the pressure of it, and I surrendered to him, to the onslaught of emotion, and to the pull of desire.

As his mouth took mine, his hands cupped my face with a desperate, impatient hunger, his thumbs lightly brushing the corners of my lips like he couldn’t get enough of touching me.

His tongue dived into my mouth, moving in a slow stroke that sent heat ricocheting through my body, flooding my head that I felt almost drunk on desire.

The kiss was in no way gentle or sweet.

It was a kiss of blatant want and barely controlled restraint, yet maddeningly intoxicating.

Troy moaned into my mouth, his hands sliding from my face and into the water, where they found my thighs.

Effortlessly, he lifted me, wrapping my legs around his waist as he turned and moved us out of the lake.

The slosh of water against his body was the only proof this wasn’t a dream.

I was kissing Troy, and he was kissing me back. Afraid the moment would end soon, I held on tighter to his neck, my heart pounding so hard I thought it would burst.

No… this had to be the mating bond. Nothing else could feel like this.

By the time we reached the shore, the only thing covering me was him. And I didn’t care.

I didn't care about being naked or about him seeing me. All I knew was I didn’t want it to stop.

He set me down gently and pulled back, his thumb rubbing my swollen bottom lip. I stayed silent, watching him, waiting and dreading the moment he’d decide it was a mistake. The thought alone felt like it would shatter me.

Troy looked away, his fists clenching at his sides as if he were fighting himself.

“Troy…” I whispered softly, reaching for him, but his eyes snapped back to mine… dark, burning with something I couldn't decipher.

“Do you know what you do to me?” he asked, his voice rough.

I shook my head. His eyes were so black it scared me.

“You’re the first woman to make me break my rules. The first…” He stopped abruptly, taking a breath. “… What have you done to me, Athena?”

I cupped his cheek. “Nothing,” I whispered. “I’ve done nothing, Troy.”

We stayed like that for a second before he turned to bend, picking up my nightdress.

He held it out to me, and my stomach dropped because that gesture said everything.

This was over.

I snatched it from him but didn’t put it on.

“Stop fighting it,” I hissed, tossing the dress to the ground. “You want me. I know you want me.”

Troy’s eyes ran over me, dark and hungry. He groaned and looked away.

I moved closer, planting myself in front of him with a frown. “Why do you keep doing this to yourself?” I asked softly.

He looked so good. His sweatpants were soaked, clinging to him, outlining the evidence of his arousal.

My mouth nearly salivated.

By the moon goddess, he looked impressive.

I reached out, running my hands over him through the wet fabric, and Troy let out a low, vulnerable groan.

“Why not just let me…” I said softly, slipping my hand inside his sweatpants and cupping him fully.

He was so hard and so big… so perfect beneath my palm.

Troy’s eyes slid shut, his lips parting as I began to stroke him slowly.

“There’s nothing to be afraid of, I…”

His eyes snapped open so suddenly it startled me. The storm in them made me fall a step back instinctively, my hand slipping away as my pulse raced.

“Princess,” he said roughly. “You don’t know what you’re asking for.”

“I know exactly what I'm asking for,” I replied defiantly.

Troy grabbed my hips, pulling me against him. Even through his sweatpants I could feel his hard c**k, and I couldn’t stop the small gasp that left my lips.

He leaned his forehead against mine, capturing my mouth in another rough, hungry kiss as his erection pressed harder against me.

The feel of it made my knees weak, and I clutched at his shoulders to stay upright.

He turned us before I could think of where we were going, then lowered me gently onto the grass.

“You’re so f*****g beautiful,” he said, not breaking eye contact with me as he parted my thighs and kissed the skin between them.

I shuddered.

Troy hovered over me, the muscles in his arms straining as they supported his weight. His shoulders were unbelievably broad and firm, and I ran my palms across them in awe.

“I’m not going to f**k you yet,” he said in that voice that sent shivers through me. “But I’m going to make you come.”

His words sent a fresh rush of desire through me, especially when he dipped to lick at my ear. “Do you want that?” he asked.

“Yes,” I whispered desperately.

I had wanted him since the first moment I’d laid eyes on him.

His hand slid lower until a finger slipped inside me, and I tightened my grip on his shoulders, my body writhing in pleasure.

He started to thrust into me slowly, preparing me before adding another finger.

“Tell me if you want me to stop,” he said against my mouth, his face serious with the intent to pleasure me.

Was I insane? Why would I want him to stop?

“Don’t stop,” I panted.

A faint smirk hooked the corner of his lip. “Good girl.”

I almost lost my mind right then. When Troy called me a good girl, something in me snapped; my body reacted before even my brain fathomed what was happening.

His fingers moved inside me deftly, touching my G-spot, making my toes curl, and drawing out sounds from me I didn’t know I could make.

I was so wet and tight around him that every thrust of his fingers disrupted the quiet night, filling the air with soft, wet sounds. Even my breaths could be heard.

Stacy would call me a slut if she knew what I was doing—lying on my back underneath the stars, legs open for her bodyguard while he brought me immense pleasure without uttering a word.