Madly and Wolfhardt Read Free

I couldn’t help but notice that Jackson’s expression grew darker and darker with each passing moment.
    When it seemed that my pleasure over his touch and his distaste of it would literally cause me to bust, I could hold my tongue no longer.
    “What have I done to make you hate me?” I asked as I came to a stop in the shadow of a huge maple tree.
    “What?” Jackson’s expression was thunderous yet puzzled. 
    “Don’t even try to deny it, Jackson.  You think I haven’t noticed how much you hate touching me or being near me?”
    “Princess, I—”
    “And stop calling me ‘Princess’ as if we haven’t known each other practically our entire lives.”
    “Alright, Madly,” he snapped.  “I don’t hate you.  I simply have a job to do, that’s all.”
    “Jackson, the least you can do is tell me the truth.”
    “I am.  I—”
    “No, you’re not.  I can tell that you hate me.  I just don’t know why.”
    “I don’t hate you, Madly.”
    “Then why do you treat me like you do?”
    “ You are the heir to the throne.  I am a Sentinel.  I treat you with respect and I protect you.  How else would you have me treat you?”
    I wanted to scream in frustration, frustration because I couldn’t make him say what I wanted him to say.  I wanted him to say that he couldn’t stop thinking about me.  I wanted him to say that he found himself wanting me like I found myself wanting him.  I wanted him to say that he found himself craving my nearness like I found myself craving his. 
    But I couldn’t.  No matter how much I wanted it, I couldn’t make him say those things, couldn’t make him feel those things. 
    I tossed my hair over my shoulder and straightened my spine. 
    “I’m sure you treat me just like the rulebooks tell you to treat me, Jackson.  Just like the perfect Sentinel robot that you are.” 
    Stepping angrily past him, I proceeded on through the forest, leaving Jackson to catch up to me.
    We didn’t say another word the rest of the trip as we made our way through the trees to the outskirts of the park, to the outskirts of Slumber itself, where Kellina’s house lay.
    When the woods began to thin and part, a big white plantation-style home was revealed.  It had two wide wrap-around porches (one on each level), thick, sturdy columns and was situated in a circular patch of lush green grass.  It sparkled brightly in the late afternoon sun, looking nothing like I’d pictured it would.  I had imagined it to be much more rustic, shabby even.  But this mansion was impeccably kept.
    Jackson stopped at the edge of the trees, looking at the house and then scanning the woods all around us. 
    “Here’s what we’ll do,” he said, still watching the house.  “We’ll follow the tree line as far as it goes and then when we get to the grass, we’ll just be a teenage couple skipping school for a walk in the woods, alright?  Just in case someone’s home.”
    Not once did Jackson meet my eyes, which frustrated me to no end. 
    “Whatever,” I snapped.
    I followed Jackson as he weaved his way through the tall oaks and maples.  We circled the house as far as we could, until there was nothing but grass ahead of us.  Jackson stopped, looked back at me and then grabbed my hand. 
    “Come on.”
    We emerged from the dappled shade of the trees into the bright sunshine and I felt its warmth suffuse me from head to toe.  I refused to consider that the bubbling heat in my belly had anything to do with Jackson’s long, strong fingers wrapped around mine.
    “Do you remember when I almost dismembered Collin DeSpirito because he tried to kiss you against your will after your third-level graduation?”
    Jackson’s voice was light and happy, and his question took me so off guard, I had to look up at him to make sure someone else hadn’t taken his place. 
    He was smiling, his face relaxed and gorgeous.  He glanced down at me, a teasing and flirtatious gleam in his eyes.  I was instantly