Because You're Mine (5 page)

              “Please,” she begged.

              It was then that I looked her square in the eye. I wanted to let her know that I was serious about this. She was border line stalking me and it was starting to piss me off. “Alexis, unless you want to get tossed out on your ass again, leave me the hell alone. Enough is enough.”              “Why don’t you want me, Holden? Every other man wants me but you. Why?” I didn’t have time for this shit. I turned to walk away. 

              Her manicured nails bit into my forearm. “Holden, don’t you dare walk away from me.” Her voice was tight with anger.

I jerked my arm from her possessive grip. “Go home, Alexis.” I snarled.

Muttering something under her breath, she stomped off toward the exit. Damn, that girl had some serious fucking issues.

              My night took yet another dramatic turn about half an hour later, when Madison walked through the door. Wearing the same thing she had on this afternoon, my dick remembered exactly what those nipples looked like when they were hard beneath her white fitted T.  

Shit
.

I couldn’t be near her right now. So like a pussy, I made a beeline for Archer’s office. My poor dick just couldn’t take it. She was like gasoline, and my hard on for her was a raging fire burning out of control.

I met Archer as he was stepping from his office. “I was just comin’ to find you,” He stopped mid-step, eyeing me curiously. “The fuck’s up with you?” 

              “What?” I asked, rubbing the back of my neck.

              “Well, for one, your face is red as fuck. Two, you’re nervous. And three, I’ve known you all your life. The fuck’s up?”

              “Maddie’s here.” I informed him.

              “What’s that?” He leaned forward, giving me his ear.

              I cleared my throat. “Maddie’s here.”

              “Help me out here, brother. Who the fuck’s Maddie?”

              “Madison Waters. Big E’s daughter.”

              “Well, hell, why didn’t cha say so? Get out there and get to crackin’.” Archer grabbed my shoulder, giving it a tight squeeze. “The fuck you waitin’ for?” he urged.

              “I just need a minute.” It was killing him not to call me a
pussy
. I could see it written all over his face. Archer was a man of few words and even fewer emotions. We may be blood, but we weren’t torn from the same cloth.

              “I see. Well, don’t take too damn long. I need your ass out on that floor.” He held open the door of his office so I could enter.

From the window I watched as Maddie spoke with Katy from across the bar. Her head thrown back in laughter caused something other than desire to stir inside of me, something more profound and primal. This woman was different.

             
Special
.

              I could feel it. Buried deep inside my dark, twisted soul, I could feel it breathing new life. Clawing at me to take what was mine.

CHAPTER six

Sometimes the heart sees

what is invisible to the eye.

-H. Jackson Brown Jr.

Madison

              Rolling out of bed, I made my way downstairs to the kitchen. I’d only stayed at Archer’s last night long enough for one drink, and to meet the mystery man himself.

Katy had hit the nail on the head when she’d told me the man dripped sex appeal, but had some serious personality issues.

              As in…he didn’t seem to have one.

              She swears he has one in there somewhere, but I just didn’t see it. He didn’t even smile when he shook my hand. His gruff voice and tone with Katy set me on edge right away. I still wasn’t sure what to make of him.

              Standing in the mud room, I shoved my socked feet inside my mother’s rubber boots. Once I fired up the coffee pot, I was out the door.

My father was a retired FedEx pilot-turned farmer. We used to have cows, chickens, pigs, and the whole shebang. But they’d toned it down a bit over the last few years. Now, they only had a ton of chickens, the horses, and Drake. My parents weren’t rich by any means, but my father had bought stock in his company early on, so they lived comfortably. They’d made a good life for themselves. They’d made a good life for me.

Growing up, these were my everyday chores. Only, they didn’t feel like chores then, just like they didn’t feel like chores now. I loved being around the animals, especially my horses.

Bella and Samson had their heads peeking over the door of the stalls when I walked inside the barn. I could hear Bella’s hooves stomping the ground in excitement when she saw me.  “Bella,” I cooed, rubbing up and down her silky white neck. “I’ve missed you, girl.” I rested my forehead to hers. Bella had been mine for fifteen years now. She was a beautiful white and tan mare. Samson, our gelding, snorted and bobbed his head. He would not be ignored. “Alright, alright.” I chuckled, petting the center of his chocolate and white diamond patched head. The door to the barn creaked open, and my heart hammered against my chest at the sight of Holden standing in the doorway. “What the hell are you doing here?” I yelped.

              He walked towards me while his eyes roamed the length of my body. I shivered beneath his deliberate stare. “I came by to see ya before I got started in the field.” His eyes crawled back up to mine, a shit eating grin marring his handsome face. “Forget something?”

His grin morphed into a smirk.

             
What the hell?

I took a few steps back as he inched closer. “What the hell are you talkin’ ‘bout?” He rubbed the side of Samson’s neck with one hand and smoothed the other down the front of his head before locking eyes with mine. My nipples pebbled beneath his gaze, it was then I realized…I didn’t have on a bra.

             
Shit!

              I folded my arms across my chest. “I wasn’t expecting anyone.” Heat flushed my cheeks. 

              “I’ve seen tits before, Maddie.” His hand continued stroke Samson.

              “Well, you haven’t seen my tits before. And its
Madison
,” I sneered.

              “You always this pleasant in the mornin’?” He crossed his arms and faced me.

              “No, I’m much worse when I haven’t had my coffee in a timely manner.” The longer he stood there, looking at me like that, the more my anger melted….into…something else. 

              “That’s a great idea. Why don’t you go make us some coffee and I’ll finish up in here.”

              “Listen, Hol-” I started.

He took another step forward, his arms still crossed. “I’m not leaving here ‘til we talk. It seems we’ve gotten off on the wrong foot here, and I’m willing to bet that us being at odds won’t sit well with your father. And in his condition, I’m not aimin’ to piss him off. Now, if you wanna feed the horses first…fine. I’ll whistle while you work, sweetheart.” He took another step forward, dropping his arms. His fierce blue eyes held mine, bolting me to the ground as he towered over me. “But I have a feeling you’ll want to run along and dress properly before we have that cup of coffee. That is, if you don’t want me staring at your
tits
the entire time.” He licked his lips, shrugging his shoulders. “Your choice,
Maddie
.”

              I swallowed hard several times before stomping out of the barn. I couldn’t find my voice anyway. I wanted to tell him to go to hell so bad, but my mouth just wouldn’t work. And oddly enough, I actually
wanted
to have coffee with him.

              Barreling up the stairs, I found proper clothing as Holden had instructed, and took a little extra time in front of the mirror swiping on lip gloss and putting on a coat of mascara, making my wide blue eyes look brighter. What the hell was I doing? Chucking the mascara in my bag, I took a deep breath. He was just a man.

No big deal.

I’d never been so damn conflicted about a man like this before. One minute, I wanted to ring his neck, the next, I wanted to kiss him senseless. God, I wanted to do so much more than kiss him.

Wiping the slew of naughty thoughts from my mind, I went back downstairs. I found Holden leaning against the counter when I walked into the kitchen. My stupid heart leapt in my chest.

“How do you take your coffee?” he asked, setting down his cup.

              “I can make it myself.” I took a step towards the coffee pot.

              “Sit down and tell me how you take your damn coffee. Please.” he demanded.

              “You always this bossy?” I jerked the stool, sitting down at the island.

              “You always this stubborn?” he retorted.

             
Yes
.

              “Splash of hazelnut.” 

              “No sugar. Why does that not surprise me?” he mumbled.

              “You tryin’ to piss me off?” I asked blowing the top of the steaming cup he’d just handed me.

              “Nope. Just trying to figure out why you’re so…” he trailed off, shaking his head.

              Holden took a sip of coffee, studying me from over the rim of his cup. His plain grey

T-shirt stretched across his broad chest in the most delicious way, and that dirty Farm Boy hat he had on was ridiculously hot.

              “So…what?”

              “Bitchy.” he finished.

              “Oh, now you’re callin’ me a bitch? You’re an asshole-you know that?” I bit out.

              “Hell no! Look,” He placed both hands flat on top of the island, bracing himself. “I’m just doing what your father asked me to do.” he stated.

I relaxed back in my seat. “Ok, fine. Do whatever it is you think you gotta do. Just keep your comments to yourself. We don’t have to be friends, ya know.” I rolled my eyes. 

              “Has anyone ever told you how fuckin’ sexy you are when you’re pissed off like that?”

             
Seriously
?

              “I wanna punch you in the throat right now. Do you think that’s sexy?”

              He moved quickly. Like a jungle cat attacking his prey. My body was already tingly and heated from just being in the same room with him, but with him standing this close to me, I felt like I was standing inside of a sauna. He smelled so good, and for some damn reason, I had an overwhelming urge to rub up against him.

             
It’s official. I’ve lost my damn mind
.

              “So tell me, Maddie,” His rugged face hovered inches above mine. “You gotta boyfriend?” He was entirely too close, and in serious violation of my personal space. I wanted to move away, but his intense blue eyes wouldn’t allow it.

              “Why do you care?” I questioned, tilting my head to the side.

              He leaned in closer, lowering his deep sexy voice to almost a whisper. “Because I wanna make sure you don’t belong to anyone else before we move forward.” 

              His hypnotic gaze made it damn near impossible to speak. I swallowed hard and found my voice. “Move forward with what?”

              “Gettin’ rid of all this…
tension
we have between us.” One hand moved to the back of my chair while his other hand rested on the island in front of me. His face moved in closer. Another inch or two, and we would know exactly what the other tasted like. That thought excited me. My parted lips searched for words, but I came up with nothing. His head dipped towards my neck and his calm, even breath met my sensitive skin. My tortured lungs sucked in a breath. “You feel it…don’t cha?” he pulled back, looking deep into my eyes.

              “I don’t feel anything.” I lied.

              Holden studied my face, his knowing eyes moving back and forth as he searched mine. “Right. I gotta hit the field.” He walked around the counter, picked up his coffee cup, rinsed it out, and placed it in the sink. Without another word, he sauntered his cocky ass out the back door while I sat there…speechless. Trying to figure out how the hell I was going to avoid Holden Brooks and all of this…

             
Tension
.

Katy greeted me with a hug when I arrived at her townhouse to gather her for our lunch date. We video chatted at least once a week, but that was nothing compared to hanging out with your best friend in person.  We’d decided last night we would go for lunch today, and then go visit my father.

              Katy and I had been best friends since we could walk. Her father was the preacher at our church growing up, and we did everything together. She was the perfect child until she turned eighteen and moved out of her parent’s religious home. Then, she went crazy. Well, as crazy as Katy could get without compromising her faith, that is. Underneath all of her tattoos and rough exterior, was the kindest person I’d ever met. She never met a stranger and her heart was good as gold. Each and every tattoo that sleeved her right arm had some sort of significant meaning to it. She had too many to count, but they only made her look even more beautiful.

Today she had on a white flowing top that made her lightly tanned skin glow, a pair of dark skinny jeans that highlighted her every curve, and cute black flats with her usual funky jewelry. “Come in. I’m almost ready.”

              A few things to know about Katy, the girl loved thrift stores and Pinterest. She was a fountain of information when it came to DIY or turning someone else’s trash into treasure. Until Katy had educated me, I had no idea you could make a coffee table out of palettes or use shower rings for purse holders.

              Who freaking knew?

              I followed her to the bathroom. “Where do you wanna eat?” I asked, watching her apply her red cherry lip gloss in the mirror.

              “Windy City?” She smacked her lips then smoothed her long black hair.

              I shrugged. “Sounds good to me.” I followed her into the bedroom. “Katy, where the hell is your bed?”