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Well, yeah, it was Maddox after all. He could easily win anyone over. That was my best friend, ladies and gentlemen.
The men hollered from the living room, and I was guessing it was probably a touch down for their team. I grinned, watching the two most important men in my life finally bonding. Maybe if my dad was here too…
My chest ached, and I rubbed the spot, trying to alleviate the pain. Somedays, the skin around my scars would itch and the scar itself would hurt, like I was pouring kerosene on already burning skin. The doctor said it was all in my head. The pain wasn’t physical anymore, but my brain and body were used to it, and sometimes, they liked to remind me of the pain.
I thought of the day I showed Maddox my scars. It was weeks ago, although it felt just like yesterday, the memory still fresh in my head and my skin still burning from his touch.
Maddox had brushed his fingers over the marks left on my body, touching my past, lingering over the jagged and ugly lines, tracing the dents of my soul and the rough edges of my heart.
He didn’t run away, not like Leo did after taking my virginity. I didn’t see the look of disgust or revulsion on his face. Maddox didn’t flinch.
He stayed and called me a dragon–that was Maddox’s way of telling me what I needed to know.
And when his head had descended toward mine, I thought he was going to ruin everything by kissing me that night. For a brief moment, maybe I had wanted him to, but then I felt an immense rush of relief when he didn’t.
My phone pinged with a message, snapping me out of my thoughts. It was from Riley.
Quick question. Does this make me look slutty?
She had a tight black dress on – one that molded to every curve of her body. Her boobs were practically slipping out, and she had on red lipstick. Her blond curls bounced off her shoulders, in a Marilyn Monroe style, since she cut them last week. Riley was pouting in the picture.
Slutty and cute. I texted back. He’s gonna be shooketh.
If he doesn’t fuck me tonight, I’m going to taser his dick.
I choked back on my laughter and disguised it with a fake cough before Gran could ask me what I was laughing about. Poor Riley was dickprived, or in Riley’s words, she was suffering from dick deprivation. Grayson was being a thorough gentleman and courting Riley, his words, because she doesn’t deserve anything less.
I agreed, but apparently, he was withholding sex because he thought Riley wasn’t ready yet after the fiasco with Jasper. They were doing everything else, except sex–well, a home run. Riley did say they were on third base. She spared me the explicit details except she mentioned how good Grayson was with his tongue, and she saw Jesus. Lucky her.
They had been dating for a while now, and Riley… well, she was deeply and irrevocably in love with Grayson. I didn’t doubt Grayson’s feelings for her because it was apparent in the way his eyes followed her every move, the way his gaze searched for her in a crowded place and how he always had a possessive arm around her hips. Sure, he was gentle–but it was obvious he was trying to tone down his territorial instincts. Anyone could see that.
Especially after all the testosterone went flying across the room last weekend at Colton’s party. That was… intense, to say the least. They both wanted Riley. Riley already made her choice, but Colton was having trouble accepting that.
You should just tie him to your bed and sit on him. Problem solved.
I was only half joking when I sent the text, but then… apparently, Riley didn’t get the joke. Holy shit. That is the best idea.
I quickly typed back a message. Wait! I wasn’t serious.
My phone pinged with a message a minute later. I am. Thanks, babe (;
Oh God. Grayson had no idea what he was about to walk into.
“Is that Riley?” Grandma asked. “Tell her I’m sad she didn’t come over for brunch today.”
I nodded, fighting back a giggle. Sorry, Gran. Riley was a tad busy right now. Busy convincing her boyfriend she was ready to be dicked down.
As I put the last plate away, my eyes found Maddox. He was intensely focused on the football game, a pleased smile on his lips. The indent in his left cheek, a small dimple, winked at me as he let out a laugh at something Pops said.
He looked… at home with my family. Like he belonged here, with us, not in the cold and sterile Coulter Manor, alone with his dark thoughts.
“Lila,” Gran said softly. I looked back at her, and her eyes were glassy as she watched Pops and Maddox, too. “He does a good job of hiding it, but that boy needs a family; he needs love. He’s far too young to hold such pain in his eyes.”
