Read Shayla Black for Free Online

She hadn’t exactly welcomed him earlier, but now she wanted him gone desperately, as if she meant to protect the child from him. God, did she think him the kind of villain who would hurt the girl? Perhaps so. He had threatened her with the Fleet. Brock grimaced. He probably should leave, but playing this game might show Maddie that he’d always treat Aimee well.
    “ And if I cannot find you, I lose?” he asked the girl.
    She nodded. “Now close your eyes.”
    Maddie cleared her throat and approached the child. “Mr. Taylor is quite busy and does not wish to play right—”
    “ On the contrary,” Brock broke in. “I would never turn down a delightful game with two such lovely ladies.”
    “ See, Mama?” Aimee said, then turned to him. “Close your eyes and count to ten.”
    “ Brock, you don’t have to—”
    “ I want to.” Closing his eyes, Brock began, “One, two, three...”
    As the counting continued, Brock heard Aimee drop her stick horse on the thin carpet, followed by shuffling and giggling. He found his grin widening.
    “ Ten.” He opened his eyes.
    Maddie stood mere feet away, arms crossed, her gaze focused on him. Damn it, she was still beautiful. She still had the ability to make him crave her with just one look.
    “ I want you to leave,” she whispered.
    “ And disappoint your daughter?” He raised a challenging brow. “Never.”
    Strolling away from Maddie, he glanced behind the fireplace screen, behind the worn blue sofa, under an upholstered armchair that had seen better days.
    The house needed updating, most likely from top to bottom. If the receiving rooms looked this shabby, Brock could only imagine the condition of the family’s rooms. He would see to their renovation immediately after the marriage, new furniture, gardeners to prune the yard of weeds, new drapes and carpets, some paint.
    The rooms he would share with Maddie would receive special attention, particularly the room that held their bed. Definitely their bed. He would not have those oh-so-civilized separate chambers. He had been deprived of every lush curve of her body for the past five years. After they spoke vows, he had no intention of doing without her for even one night.
    Their chamber would be filled with fine fabrics to slide against the softness of her skin while he stroked deep into the tight clasp of her sex. A wide, thick mattress so he could roll to his back and urge her to ride him while he filled her with every inch of his aching cock. Or perhaps he’d tie her down, leaving her helpless as he drove her to madness with the slow torture of his touch. Yes. And in case the bed seemed too far away, he’d make certain the room possessed plush chairs and carpets to provide comfort when he wanted to bend her over or order her on all fours so he could fuck her from behind.
    Blood rushed to his cock. Soon, Brock promised himself. Very soon.
    The sound of little-girl giggling brought him back to the present. Aimee had hidden on the far side of the room, so he sauntered in that direction.
    She was an interesting child. Full of personality no one had yet forced her to repress. Possessed of Maddie’s eyes, he wondered from whom Aimee had inherited her blond hair and peachy complexion. Sedgewick’s hair had been dark brown, his skin very pale.
    Brock bent before a cabinet and heard a gasp. A moment later, he opened the door and found the child crouching inside. She jumped out with a shriek, her braids flying behind her as she sought her stick horse.
    “ Am I still the evil knight?” he called after her.
    “ I suppose not. Again!” she demanded.
    “ Aimee,” Maddie broke in. “That is enough.”
    The firmness of her voice told Brock the games were over—for now.
    Aimee’s little face clouded over, tightening up as if she fought tears.
    “ Another time.” Brock told the little girl as he knelt to her.
    “ Promise?”
    “ Aimee, let Mr. Taylor alone,” Maddie chided.
    Brock knelt down to the girl and tapped