Seeing her like this, so open and vulnerable, makes something in me shift. What kind of life makes a simple comment like that pull that kind of reaction out of someone? What kind of people made her feel like she has to carry something heavy behind her smile?
Maddie has scars beneath her beauty, and she does a damn good job covering them up. But the more time I spend with her, the more I see her trauma rise to the surface.
I run my hand through her curls carefully, slow and grounding, then let it settle against her cheek. She leans into it instantly, like she’s been waiting for it without realizing. That alone makes something in my chest tighten.
“Let's just order in,” I say quietly. “We can watch Netflix or something.” She gives me a pointed look and I already know what she’s thinking. As much as I would absolutelyloveto fuck her tonight, I know she’s not ready, and I’m not going to push her.
“I promise,” I add, my voice softer now, “just a movie. That’s it.”
She nods, and I let her pick the movie while I order us some pizza. I half expected her to choose a romance, something soft and girly, but she surprises me when she lands on an action movie.
That alone makes me want her even more.
My eyes were fixated on her throughout the entirety of the movie. Everything she did had me mesmerized. The way she would laugh when one of the guys would say something stupid was by far my favorite thing.
I could listen to the sound of her laugh all night and never grow tired of it.
Every once in a while, she would glance over at me and spot me watching her. I never dropped my gaze, which only made her look away quickly and blush. Watching the way color spreads across her cheeks is becoming something I love.
We stayed there on the couch for a while once the movie ended, talking about everything and nothing. She curled up on one end while I stayed on the other. I hated every inch of space between us. It took every ounce of self control I had to hold to not close the distance, hook my hands beneath her thighs, and settle her on my lap where she belonged.
I’d give just about anything to feel her pressed up against me again. Instead, I force myself to stand.
Walking over to the linen closet, I grab a few pillows and a blanket before tossing them on the couch. As much as I would love to sleep beside Maddie, I wasn’t going to put her in aposition where she felt obligated to share a bed with me. She’s been through enough tonight.
I glance over at her and she looks at the pile of linens before meeting my gaze.
“Is this for me?”
A laugh slips out before I can stop it. Does she actually think I’m going to let her sleep on the couch while I take the bed?
“No, this is for me. You’re taking the bed.”
I pointed toward it. It’s only a few feet away, but she looked at it as if it was on the other side of the room before looking back at me with the smallest smile tugging on her lips.
“You don’t want to…” She tucks a curl behind her ear. “I mean…there’s enough room for both of us.”
Fire. I am a living, breathing flame ignited by this gorgeous fucking woman who’s looking up at me with the most innocent eyes.
I walk over to her and grab her hand, pulling her up from the couch. She looks up at me with so much thought in her amber eyes. I tilt her chin up to me and watch her throat roll as she swallows nervously.
“Let's go to bed then.”
10.Madelyn
Miles hasmy entire body burning just from the way he looks at me. I’ve never wanted to fall asleep beside someone so badly in my life. The thought of crawling into bed alone tonight makes my chest ache. My mind has become a prison I can’t escape, replaying every move I’ve made over the last few months, every secret I’ve kept, until it drowns everything else out. The only time it ever quiets is when he’s close enough for me to feel his warmth.
Miles guides us over to the bed, his hand never leaving mine, and I force myself to keep my composure. I still don’t understand what drew him to me. Maybe it was my curls, or the way I tried to keep him at a distance. Perhaps it was just luck. Regardless, if he knew the real me, I don’t think he’d be looking at me like this.
On the surface, I probably seem like an innocent person with a pure heart, but deep down, it's tainted. The darkest parts of me are rotting my soul from the inside, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it.
“I know I promised we would only watch a movie,” he murmurs, his voice rough with restraint, “but fuck…I want to kiss you so bad, Maddie. I can’t get enough of you.”
As if to prove his point, his hands settle on my hips before he pulls me against him in one firm motion. A surprised gasp slips from my lips as my body collides with his, every inch of me suddenly aware of every inch of him.
He rests his forehead against mine, his eyes squeezing shut as he exhales a slow, shaky breath. His grip on my hips tighten, and I can tell he’s internally fighting with himself.
A small smile tugs at my lips. At least I know I have just as much of an effect on him as he does on me.
