Then she turned to face me.
“Have you lost all your marbles?” she hissed.
Chapter 21
Stella
He was still laughing under his breath when my parents stepped into the dining room. The sound vibrated faintly against my arm where it rested beside him, far too relaxed for the battlefield we had just walked into.
I leaned closer and squeezed his thigh beneath the table.
Dating was one thing. My parents barely tolerated that. But grandchildren? That idea would detonate this house like a grenade.
My dad came around the table carrying plates. He set one down in front of Maddox with a polite nod.
Before I could pull my hand back, Maddox calmly took it and placed it over his cock beneath the table.
A strangled sound escaped me.
My dad paused and gave me a strange look.
Then he smiled politely.
“How are you, Stella?”
The heat of Maddox hardening beneath my palm made my cheeks burn.
“Good, Dad. I’m doing really well,” I squeaked, trying to slide my hand away.
His grip tightened.
Firm. Unyielding.
My mother swept in behind my father and placed the serving platter on the table without looking at either of us. The tension radiating from her was almost visible.
Then she turned and left the room again.
“Do you need a hand?” I called after her.
“No, thank you,” she said stiffly from the kitchen.
I rolled my eyes and watched my dad follow her.
“And you—cut it out,” I hissed, turning toward Maddox.
“What are you going to do about it?” he asked, arching a dark eyebrow.
I flung my head back in defeat.
“Ugh. Nothing.”
“Now about your period predicament.”
I sighed.
Then, slowly, a smile crept across my face.
If he wanted to play…
