"Breakfast, Mr. Barns'!"

Despite my eyelids being screwed tightly shut, blistering sunlight permeated the lids. Cracking my sleep heavy eyes open, I sat up.

A yawn escaped me, and I tousled my bed head, probably making it 100% worse. Rosie, the friendly maid I thanked my lucky stars for, gave me a dazzling smile. "Morning, Mr. Barns'!"

I yawned again. "Rosie, it's Austin to you. You're the only friend I've really got in this place." Maddox was more of an enigma than a friend, and I didn't have enough contact with other people to make friends here. Most of the staff here also tended to give off unapproachable and standoffish vibes.

A dimple appeared on the middle aged woman's face. "Of course, Austin."

She bustled about setting my breakfast on the bed in front of me, and straightening some clothes and books I had left laying around. My cheeks heated. "Sorry about the mess. I get kinda bored in here."

"Oh, that reminds me! Mr. Stone said to tell you that you may have free range of the estate. When outside, you must have a guard or himself with you. For obvious reasons."

I snorted. "Obviously."

"As well, Mr. Stone said to tell you that your little stroll outside the other day would not go unpunished, whatever that means." I felt a shiver of desire course down my spine at the last sentence.

Rosie continued chattering on after taking a breath. "Of course, basic rooms like Mr. Stone's office and bedroom are off limits. Unless he gives you permission." Finished with her tasks, Rosie plopped her hands on her plump hips, while surveying the room.

She started for the door, and I gulped down my toast to try and get my question out before she left. "Wait! Rosie, what room is Mr.....and she's gone." I sighed.

After a few moments, I shrugged. "I doubt it will be hard to avoid Maddox's room in a place this big."

•••••••••••••••••

I was a little afraid I would catch flies from how wide my mouth was gaping. Floor to ceiling bookshelves, the room as long as a bus. A spiral, metal staircase in the corner led to a small balcony overlooking the garden, and a door that led to who knows where.

I like tv as well as the next guy, but I'm a bookworm. And I just walked into a bookworm's dream.

Walking through the sunlit space, I breathed in the musty scent of old books. A fine layer of dust coated many of the spines, and dust mites floated in the air.

"Maddox doesn't appreciate you." I picked a classic Jane Austen, and blew off the cover. So I like a little bit of romance. Sue me.

I wiped the excess dust covering my fingertips on my jeans, practically leaping for joy across the room.

Plopping onto a high back leather chair, I settled in for a comfortable morning. All that was missing was a cup of hot chocolate, and for the fireplace to be lit, and I'd be a movie cliche.

••••••••••••••••

I jolted awake as angry voices echoed down the winding hallway. Rubbing my eyes, I let out a hearty yawn. I guess replaying what had happened in the dining room over and over in my dreams hadn't made for the most restful sleep.

My cock twitched a little at the memory.

The angry voices flooded through the partially open library door, and I glared at my semi erect cock. "Not the time." I scolded.

Maddox's angry rumble reached my ears as he, and whoever he was arguing with, passed by the library and farther down the hall. I was about ready to snuggle back into the chair when I heard Maddox mention my name.

If this had been my first day here, I would have shrugged it off and gone back to Emma. But I felt a somehow...deeper connection to Maddox than I thought possible. I doubt he could sense it. It was tenuous at best, but it was there.

A part of me also must be a glutton for punishment, considering I can only dream of what Maddox would do if he caught me eavesdropping. The thought made my cock fight against the restriction of my pants. Yep, a glutton for punishment indeed.

So I laid my book to the side, snuck to the door, and upon hearing the voices far enough down the hall, followed their direction. At some points, the argument sounded heated, almost to the extent of a shouting match. Then it would escalate down to two reasonable men, albeit frustrated men, having a talk.

The few and far between decor helped me recognize the destination, and soon the telltale slam of Maddox's home office door reverberated around the hallway. Turning the corner to keep the door in my sight, I could make out a few shouted words here and there.

"These shipments...your men.......I'm done."

"I have.....what would you.....important...be there."

I had crept closer to hopefully be able to piece more of the sentences together, until the door knob started to rattle.

"Oh boy. Oh boy oh boy oh boy." Pivoting on my heel, I quickly walked back to the corridor housing my room. However, the large gait of whoever Maddox was with echoed eerily close.

How the fuck did they walk this fast? Whatever, that wasn't what was important. What was important was the fact that they would catch me before I made it to my room. And from the yelling I had heard, Maddox was not in a hugely forgiving mood.

I could play it off, and pretend I was coming from somewhere else. But Maddox was perceptive, and I was an awful liar. He would know. My flushed cheeks, the way I wouldn't be able to meet his gorgeous emerald eyes. Oh dear God, he would know. And somehow I didn't think my punishment would be enjoyable.

My opinion of Stone may have improved over the weeks, but I never forgot what he said to me that first night.

'When they're not more hassle than they're worth.'

I wasn't going to tempt fate. Before I knew what I was doing, my hand clasped around the doorknob closest to me. Swinging the door open, I quietly pushed it shut. Leaning against the door, I placed my sweaty forehead onto the cool white.

Footsteps started to slow as they came closer to my destination, and I spun around in a panic. My eyes darted around the room, and I broke into a cold sweat. Fuck, fuck, fuck.

The open wardrobe in the corner revealed familiar clothes. Maddox's clothes. This was Maddox's room!

This was looking real bad. I wasn't supposed to be here. The memory of how easily Stone pulled the trigger on a living, breathing man, on his driveway flashed through my mind. I stumbled to the side.

My shoulder bumped into a bookshelf, and I grasped a book to keep it from tumbling to the floor. The bookshelf popped out of place, and I took a few confused steps back. Scrunching my brow, I heard the dark, angry timber of Maddox's voice again. Right outside the door.

I looked back at the bookshelf. Honestly, this looked like my best case scenario right now. Pulling on the painted wood, I made a gap large enough for me to slip through, before shutting it. An automatic light flickered on, and I breathed a sigh of relief that I wouldn't be stuck in the dark.

Maddox and his guest slammed the door behind them, then a husky moan sounded. The sound of fabric hitting the floor slipped through the crevices, and my eyes turned to saucers.

Oh my God. They were doing it. In the other room. And I could hear all of it.

The sound of flesh hitting flesh, before a breathy plea sounded. "Maddox..Sir, please. Please!"

My skin suffused with arousal. My dick pushed until my zipper was straining. My hand gravitated towards my groin when a scream of desire wrenched the air.

It took great restraint to stop my hands from descending, but I squeezed my eyes shut, hoping to block out the auditory porn. Backing away from the bookshelf/door, I couldn't stop the gasp from escaping me when I turned.

"Fuck me."