Nova (MorningStar MC Novels, New Orleans Chapter #2)

Chapter 8

Chapter

Eight

SIMONE

“ M ove, Angel,” I groan as I push her off the counter so I can get to my coffee pot.

“It’s a three-cup day, babies,” I call out to them.

I hate mornings for obvious reasons, but today seems just a little worse than normal. I barely slept because of Maddox. When he leaned into me last night before leaving, I swear he was going to kiss me properly, like on the plane, but nope.

Nothing.

It left me horny and desperate for him, which I now, after overthinking all night so that I didn’t sleep a wink. I am convinced that was his fucking motive.

I tap my fingers on the counter impatiently, waiting for the damn liquid of life to start dripping when my doorbell rings.

“Who in the world?” I drag my ass across the living room and glance out the window.

Maddox is standing at my door, holding a brown paper bag in one hand and a drink tray in his other. It should be a sin to look that good so early in the morning. I move away to unlock my door and get a glance at my reflection in the mirror I have hanging in the hall.

“Eek!” I hastily smooth down my hair and wish I could do something about the bags under my eyes.

With a huge sigh I unlock and pull open the door.

“Morning Dove,” Maddox stands in the early dawn rays, looking like God’s gift to women.

His smile is brighter than the sun shining behind him, and I groan when I remember I haven’t even brushed my teeth yet.

“Yeah, ok, come in.” I drop my hand from the door and turn back to my beeping coffee maker.

“Not a morning person, I take it?” I don’t appreciate his tone or chuckle.

“Mmm.” Wow.

That sounded more mummy-ish than I originally planned.

“I’ll add it to my list.” I ignore the man as I pour myself a mug full of Cuban coffee and splash some sweet cream into it.

“I brought muffins and coffee, but I see you’ve got that covered.” I roll my eyes at the humor he can not hide in his voice at my expense.

“What are you doing here? The party isn’t until noon.” I sit at my counter and drink my coffee, praying it wakes me up.

“After my morning run.” I hold up my hand to stop him.

“You ran this morning?” He nods slowly.

“I run every morning. At least five miles.” Nope.

This was not going to work. I pull the ring off my finger and place it on the counter between us.

“My family will never believe I’m with someone like you.” His smirk sends a jolt of pleasure through my system that’s better than any caffeine I’ve ever tried.

Fucking hell.

“Too handsome?” I roll my eyes.

“Too athletic. I hate Jocks.” His chuckle has me going back to my coffee before my mind thinks of all the other noises that his mouth could make.

Dammit, all to infinity and back!

I need to get my thoughts and libido under control before I beg my fake fiancee to fuck me on the kitchen counter. I close my eyes tightly and start to recite the mantra from the plane ride home.

I don’t need a man, I don’t want a man.

It’s not fucking working now, either.

“Simone, are you alright?” I shake my head and don’t stop whispering the words to myself.

If I say them a few hundred more times, maybe they’ll stick.

“Dove, did you sleep at all? You’re acting a little manic.” My eyes fly open.

“You think!” He seems taken a back by my outburst.

When he raises his hands and goes to step away, all hell breaks loose. Felix was stretched out behind him, sunbathing on the floor, and Maddox stepped right on his tail. He jumps at the loud screech and stumbles over all my other pussies, who come running to find out why their brother yelped out in pain.

Maddox falls over the side of my sofa and ends up on a pile of throw pillows against the coffee table.

“My pussy!” I rush to Felix and scoop him up in my arms.

He meows loudly as I check him for injuries.

“Your pussy? What about my head? He almost took me out!” I roll my eyes at him.

“The only damage I see is a few wrinkles in your suit. Besides, isn’t that how every escort wants to go? Death by pussy?” He shuts his mouth, stunned.

Then bursts into laughter.

“Dove, you are not allowed to pick what’s put on my gravestone.” I’m about to ask him why I’d be a part of a decision like that when my phone rings.

The room fills with the tone I set for my mother’s number, Devil Woman. Maddox seems to recognize the song and laughs harder.

“You really do like cats.” I ignore him and grab the device, promptly sending her to voice mail.

If I have to deal with her at the baby shower, then I am not giving her early access to me now. She’ll just need to wait to torment me.

“Love my pussies. Are you ok?” He’s up and standing now.

“Now you ask? Yes, I’m fine, Dove. How is Felix?” He moves closer to check on him.

Angel hisses at him, and Freckles runs into another room. Minnie just looks bored at the whole ordeal as she sits in front of her food bowl, waiting to be fed.

“He’s okay, I think. You need to remember to watch where you step here, though.” Maddox pins a few stray hairs behind my ear and then brings the ring I placed on the counter in front of my face.

“I’ll promise to mind your pussies as long as this stays on that pretty little finger. Deal?” I’m honestly not sure how much dirtier he could have made those simple words, but I find myself nodding in a fucking trance.

He slips the ring back on my finger, and I almost drop Felix. He’s the only reason keeping me from mounting this man. After all my dirty thoughts last night and the downright lewd ones I’m having now, I’m going to need one hell of a cold shower.

Soon, as in now.

“What are you thinking, Dove?” He pinches my chin and then runs the tip of his thumb across my bottom lip.

Fuck, am I drooling?

My front door flies open, and we both start.

“Simone! Oh, there you…Who are you?” My mother really knows how to make an entrance.

Her arms are full of shopping bags, which I’m sure contain several outfits she deems fit for today’s event.

“What are you doing here, Mother?” I place Felix down on the floor and take Maddox’s arm.

“Mrs. Gauthier, how lovely to finally meet you.” My mother sneers at him.

“The pleasure is all yours.” Absolutely not.

“Mother, you will not disrespect anyone in my house, so behave.” Maddox pats the back of my hand.

“I will do no such thing. Unhand my daughter. Are you aware she’s spoken for? She is engaged to be married!” Maddox turns to me with a smile.

“Dove, when did you find time to spill our happy news?” I’m at a complete loss as to what he’s talking about, but he winks at me as if to say just play along.

“Happy news?” My mother doesn’t miss a beat, playing right into his hands.

“Of course, I’m aware she’s engaged. She’s made me the happiest man alive.” He raises my hand to proudly show off the ring he just put back on my finger moments ago.

“WHAT!” Mother yells as Maddox looks into my eyes like I’m the center of his universe.

“Exciting, isn’t it? We wanted to wait until after the baby shower to announce it, but I guess the cat’s out of the bag now.” Mother curses a few times as she starts dropping bags.

“And who the fuck are you?” Maddox breaks our eye contact and addresses my fuming mother.

“Why, I’m Maddox Deacon, Mom.”

Oh, he’s good.