Marcus: The M Series, Book Three (41 page)

Other works by Ryanne Anthony:

Honey Babe

BROKEN (Th
e
M
Series, Book One)

Th
e
M
Series, Book Two
:
M
ARIAH

Th
e
M
Series, Book Four
:
M
ADISON

Th
e
M
Series, Book Five
:
M
ATTHEW

Th
e
M
Series, Book Six
:
M
ONICA

Th
e
M
Series, Book Seven
:
M
AJOR

Th
e
M
Series Finale
:
M
ENDED

Effection:

An M/Negative Ion Series Companion Novel

FALLING: Book One of the Negative Ion Series

DESPAIR Book Two of the Negative Ion Series

FELL: Finale of the Negative Ion Series

More soon!

Keep reading for an excerpt from

Th
e
M
Series, Book Four
:
M
ADISON
…

O
NE

I Seriously Need a Life Coach

Groaning, I blink my eyes open and slowly look around the room. I don’t recognize anything. Where the hell am I? Think... um... shit! Nothing.

Okay, okay... don’t panic.

Don’t panic? Right! I barely remember my name… Madison Yvonne King.

Good. Now that that’s cleared up, sit up and think.

“AH,”
I yelp as I roll my palm on my forehead. Damn it... I have the worst headache. Was I drinking last night? Stupid question... better one would be,
what
was I drinking last night? This is definitely a hangover.

Think, Madison, think!

I sigh heavily, remembering the night my soul mate/best friend tapped my temple and snapped at me to listen to my conscience more. I wanted to strangle her but two days later, she proved to be right.

It was the night Terrance broke off with me after I finally admitted I loved him and I was only sixteen and not nineteen as I had claimed. He shouted that I didn’t love him; that it was a crush because I had no idea what love was and was too young to understand it. He stormed from the hotel room and never looked back. I never saw him again. I was hurt and angry, but he was right. It was a crush with benefits.

Now, I listen to my conscience and try not to answer her. Verbally, that is.

Okay, think... I went to the bon voyage party for Craig and... Jesus! Nothing! And I still don’t know where I am. It’s obviously a hotel room. What’s on the night stand? A pamphlet. A.H.? I’m in the Allenton? Damn it... that’s where the party was!

I swing my legs off the bed and wince. Why the hell is my sex sore? Oh, no! I am totally fucking naked!
HO-LY HELL!
I had sex last night... with Brad? No... Brad had the nerve to walk in with some blonde, blue-eyed, silicone-filled, wannabe goddess last night. To
my
boss’ going away party. No way was he getting any from me after that.

God, I haven’t been this sore since Matthew. Wait… no. No way was it him.

Then who?
THINK
!

Okay... I remember talking to James, but he’s married and I would never...

You were drunk...

That’s true! Wait... I was also talking with Ronald, an A.D. and Ben, a sound engineer. Was it one of them?
SHIT
! I can’t remember... fucking alcohol!

And now I’m talking to myself. Fucking wonderful.

The room is silent… the whole suite is. I must be alone. Great. Whoever it was didn’t have the nerve to stay and face me. Maybe it
was
James... and he had to run home to his wife and just left me here.
Shit
! What have I done? Oh, God... I hope we were safe!

I peek in the trash can and sigh my relief. There’s a used condom in the trash... no, there’s more than one... 1, 2, 3? Three fucking condoms? We must have went at it all night! Wow... too bad I can’t remember any of it.

All night? Oh, no! What time is it? Where’s the fucking clock?!

I see the time and screech as I jump off the bed. I only have fifty-one minutes to get ready and be seated at the anchor desk. I’m going to be so late! Where the hell are my clothes? My purse is on the floor by the bed. What the hell is it doing there? I quickly search for my other things, wincing as I move. I’m frustrated and excited at the same time as I move about the room.

In the suite’s living area, I see my panties first and decide I can do without those for now. I find my bra next and...
Whew
! There’s my dress! I can wear that to the studio... Okay, now where are my shoes? I look around as I stuff the panties into my purse. I should check the wallet...  yes! All there!

Okay, I wasn’t raped or robbed. Feeling better already, I hurry to the bathroom. I’ll just tidy myself up and shower at work. I should have a suit in my office closet. I may have to go on air sans panties...

I rush from the bathroom and head for the door, finding my shoes near it. He’s still not here, whoever the hell he was. I need to figure out who he is and pray he’s not married or something.

In the elevator, shake my head. I cannot believe Brad brought his side chick to my boss’ party. I know we weren’t exclusive but I think I was starting to feel... something... for him and I thought he was getting there, too.

Let me quit lying. I wasn’t feeling shit from or for his ass. Still... why was he there?

I’m going to miss his sexcapades, though... he loved everything and he loved to teach. That’s all right, fucker... you tall, handsome, dickless, vanilla ice cream-colored freak you! My next man will appreciate your tutelage, just like you enjoyed Terrance’s.

Who said Jewish men aren’t players? Whoever started that rumor should be strung up by their privates and hung upside down from them on a rusty hook.

I need to call my assistant. I pull out my cell as I exit the elevator. Once outside, I put my arm up to hail a cab and get one almost immediately.

“WBN Studios, please,” I tell the driver as he leers at me. Irritated, I shake my head. I’m pretty… I get it… now drive, asshole.

I frown and speed dial Gia Montgomery, my under-appreciated, irreplaceable assistant.

“Madison! Thank God! I’ve been calling you for over an hour! Where the hell are you?”

“I’m in a cab now but I was at the Allenton; I drank too much and spent the night. Can you check which suits I have in the closet and if there’s underwear?’

The cabbie grins.

“Sure. Good thing you’re near; you’re already cutting it close. I have your pages already and you have that phone meeting with your agent this morning, after first broadcast. Oh, and brace yourself: Adam was just here. He is looking for you and he is
not
happy.”

I groan. I have no idea why my producer, Adam Michaels, has such a problem with me. Ever since we met, when I interviewed at the station three years ago, he has treated me with indifference and barely contained tolerance. Total dick. If he wasn’t such a bear to me, we could actually be friends. Well... friendly, at least.

“Is he ever? God, what did I do now? Any idea what’s on his mind, Gia?”

“No,” Gia sighs. “But when he got here around a quarter to four, he was actually in a good mood for a change; he had a slight bounce in his step and was actually smiling. He looked even more handsome than usual.”

Every female at WBN-Chicago thinks Adam is Adonis descended from the heavens. I did, too, for a minute, but then attorney Bradley Winston Gold walked into the studio with his celebrity client during my second week of work here and I thought nothing more of Mr. Michaels.

“Adam smiled? Wow. Sorry I missed that. Gia, stall him if he comes back. I’ll be there in two minutes and I’m going straight to the shower.”

The cab swerves and I scowl at the driver in the rear view. Rolling my eyes, my mind screams,
You just lost your tip, fucker!

“Will do. You have the navy pant suit and the purple skirt suit. And I see a bag from Victoria’s Secret in here, too... Yep, two sets of underwear. You’re all set. I’ll start the water for you.”

I forgot about Brad’s gift last week from his favorite store.

“Thanks, Gia. Have you seen Kristen yet?”

“Yes, she’s in makeup.”

Good. I need to talk to her. My college roommate Kristen Kelly has been my friend since freshman year at NYU and now she’s my co-anchor at WBN. Hopefully, she can help me figure out what the hell happened last night since she does shit like this all the time.

“Okay. I’m coming in the door. See you in a minute.”

I press end then pay the driver and as I walk toward the studio’s entrance, I can feel him staring at my ass. I turn and look back at him with a scowl on my face. He takes off like he’s in a drag race.

“Asshole,” I mutter.

I see our day security guard, Mr. Archer, manning the desk and smile as he buzzes me through. He reminds me of my grandfather on my mom’s side. As usual, with the female staff, he jumps up and escorts me to the elevators.

“Good morning, Mr. Archer. How are you?”

“Having a pleasant morning, Madison. Everything all right with you? Not like you to be late.”

“Everything’s great, thank you. I just had too much fun at Mr. Long’s going away party last night and overslept.”

“All right.” He smiles warmly as he pushes the elevator call button. The doors open immediately. “Well, break a leg on the show this morning. Have a good day.”

“Thank you, Mr. Archer. Good day to you, as well.” I smile again as I enter the elevator.

I get a memory flash as the elevator whisks me up. I’m kissing last night’s mystery lover with a fever, in the hotel’s elevator, and his hands are everywhere on my body. He kisses me lower and then bites at my throat. He murmured something.

‘Finished’
? No. ‘
Familiar’
? No, that’s not it either!
SHIT!

I exit the elevator and run to my office.  I need to figure it out soon or this is going to wrack my brain until I’m certified crazy. I had sex last night and I can’t remember if it was good or not. Well, it had to be pretty good, since there were three used condoms in the trash. Loverboy had stamina, at least. Brad had stamina, but an average-sized dick. He’d
never
leave me sore. No, it definitely was not Brad.

Then who the hell was it?

I scream my annoyance to myself as I open my office door. Gia accosts me as soon as I enter and takes my purse.

“Adam just left and he is boiling now. Something about Brad calling for you. He is on a rampage. I don’t know how you missed him and by the way he looks and sounds, he’ll be back sooner than later. You better get in the shower now.”

I frowned, shaking my head. What the hell did Brad do to Adam?

“Shit! All right. Do I have time to wash my hair?”

“Nope. Just enough to get in and out. It’s gorgeous as is, Madi. You know I love your hair in its natural state. To me, you just need a little of that moisturizer you use. Go on. I have everything laid out in the bathroom already. I chose the purple skirt suit with the white pearl-buttoned top.”

“You are a God-send, Gia. Thank you,” I grin as I rush to the bathroom, stripping as soon as I get in there.

“Yeah, yeah. I know. And you don’t know how you would breathe without me. Yadda, yadda,” Gia says, picking up my discarded belongings. “I have to go downstairs and get you ready for the show. Go! You only have seven minutes in there!”

I grin as Gia leaves. She even knows how I like the temperature in my shower and she has it perfect. Nice and hot and pulsing. I pin up my hair then grab my body wash and as I’m cleaning myself I get more flashes of me and Loverboy in the shower. Him behind me, rubbing my breasts and kissing my ear, down my throat. Sliding a hand down and cupping my sex while gyrating against my ass. Then those fingers began circling my clit...

“Damn it!” I utter when a fist pounds at the bathroom door, effectively knocking out the memory flash.

“Madison! Get out here!”

Damn. Adam’s caught up with me.

“I’m in the shower, Adam! Give me a minute!”

“You don’t have a minute,” Adam shouts back. “I need to talk to you and you’re on the air in thirty-eight minutes! Have you been in make-up yet?”

I was so close to shouting back, ‘It would be kinda dumb to shower after I had my makeup applied.’

Shit! I need to get away from this guy. We’re going to drive each other crazy. Sighing in a huff, I shut the water off and climb out of the shower and dry as quickly as I can while wondering how he got inside my office.

“Just come back in five minutes, all right, Adam? I need to dress and then I can get into make-up,” I yell, loading my toothbrush.

“Fine! Five minutes! Starting now!”

“Fine! Five minutes!” I mimic as I rapidly brush my teeth and gargle. I hurriedly dress. What the hell is so important that I can’t even get seven minutes in the damn shower?

I look in the mirror as I moisturize and fluff my shoulder length, chocolate brown hair. Hmm. Maybe I should pin it back. Nah, I’ll just pin the top leave the rest down.

I wash my hands and sigh. Better go see what A-
damn
Michaels wants. I know he’s ticked that I’m late but I still shouldn’t have to deal with his shit, again. I’m so not in the mood for it today.

I open the door and startle when I see Adam sitting in a chair across from my desk. He breaks his scowl for a moment. His eyes soften and a half smile creeps up as he looks me up and down.

“What?” I ask him impatiently.

“Your blouse is open,” he murmurs. “Nice bra. Black looks really good against your skin.”

I look down and see my blouse is half buttoned and my nipple can clearly be seen through the lace in the bra, sitting erect. What the hell? It’s not cold in here. I hurriedly button my blouse then tuck it into my skirt.

“Look, Adam, I’m so sorry I’m late and I missed the meeting, but I had a... um... crazy night. At least I think it was crazy; I can’t remember most of it,” I breathe out rapidly.