Caged(123)

"Sure, but I'm not exactly the kind of woman that other women are jealous of."

"Wrong. You're young, hot, and edgy. You're everything she never was and will never be."

"While that bullshit flattery might work at the country-club bar on a forty-year-old divorcée on a Friday night, it won't work on me." Presley stood and placed her palms on the table, angling toward him. "Why would I be interested in you? I'm twenty-six, baby. You're forty-five. What's the pull between us? Convince me that you're equally ready to play a part in this and I won't just be standing by your side looking . . . young, hot, and edgy." 

Way to throw down the gauntlet, Pres.

Maddox stared at her long enough for it to be uncomfortable for everyone. Then he rolled to his feet in a sensuous move like a jungle cat about to pounce. His measured gait as he strolled toward Presley hit the sweet spot between predatory and constrained.

Molly couldn't get over the change in Maddox's demeanor. He'd gone from disheveled to disarming in a slow blink of his long black lashes. He looked as if he'd spent all night fucking hard in bed, but he didn't have the aura of a satisfied man; instead he looked hungry. Wild. Greedy. Like a man who hadn't gotten enough and was back for more.

He moved in behind Presley, who'd pushed herself upright. "The pull between us is sexual. A man of my experience can get you addicted to my touch, baby." He trailed his fingers across the bare section of her shoulder. "Very addicted."

Presley visibly trembled.

"Every time I look at you, you know I'm imagining all the wicked things I can do to your hot little body and make you beg me for more. Beg me in that sexy bedroom voice of yours. I'll demand what's mine anytime, anyplace. And you'll say yes to me without hesitation." He slid his hand up the back of her neck and grabbed a fistful of her hair. He pulled it hard enough she gasped, but she didn't try to escape when he used his hold on her to maneuver her face next to his. "Couples look at us and want to be us. Not because we're rich or powerful. Couples will envy us because of that zing of sexual need that radiates out from us. They'll imagine us fucking, Presley." His voice had dropped to a raspy whisper. "They know even their most vivid imaginations won't do justice to how hot and dirty we are behind closed doors."

After his hand fell away, Presley looked as if her knees might give out.

Breezily, Maddox said, "Did that convince you?"

"Uh."

One-word answers weren't Presley's style, so Molly knew her friend was rattled. She stood and stepped in. "Interesting demonstration of your ability to fuck with people's heads, Maddox. I'd be impressed if I hadn't already known that's how you achieve results with your fighters."

Maddox leveled a death glare on her, but it wasn't nearly as intimidating as Deacon's.

"Here's what I think. You'd be better served to have one hottie on your arm all weekend. If your ex sees you surrounded by a bevy of beauties, she'll know you're overcompensating. She'll either think, That loser is still stuck on me, or, Good riddance to that dog. But if you're openly devoted to one much-younger lady? That'll get to her. Eat at her. She'll wonder what she could've done differently to keep you. She'll wonder if people are feeling sorry for her because you're so much happier with a newer, hipper model. She'll have a really shitty weekend."

Maddox stared at her for another ten seconds. Then he said, "Damn, woman. You are scary mean. No wonder you and Deacon make such a perfect couple."

Molly curtsied and Maddox laughed. Then she faced Presley. "Your choice whether you're playing the part of Maddox's one true, sexy lady love. It just can't interfere with our main reason for being here, which is to make Amery's life easier. So how about before you commit to anything, we talk to the boss?"

That snapped Presley out of it. "You're right." She flashed Maddox a cheeky grin. "You had me convinced about us having smoking-hot sexy times. Too bad it's all for show, huh?"



       
         
       
        

His eyes cruised over Presley with genuine heat and regret, which had Presley trembling again. "Yeah, roller derby girl, too bad." Maddox looked at Katie. "So are you playing the part of my one, true, sexy lady love?"

"That will seriously curtail me getting any tail-and there are fine ones all over the place." Katie's playful grin vanished. "Seriously, this is my chance to network and get the latest gossip in the world of MMA. That'd be hard to do if I have to be plastered to your side the next two days and nights, pretending I can't wait for you to fuck me."