“Seriously? That’s what you’re worried about with everything that’s going down?” I simply stare at her because she already knows the answer. Her well-being comes first. “You’re ridiculous.” She huffs out, feigning annoyance, but I see the edge of her lip curve up.
The house is dark when we pull up. Bennett’s car isn’t in the driveway; only the light in the kitchen window is on, but it’s always on. He’s likely still at the station or dealing with the board or whatever crisis comes after announcing a teacher’s murder to the whole school and one of the students being taken into custody. I’m sure he’s getting an earful from parents too. The few that care.
“Your brother’s not here?” Madeline asks as we climb out of the car.
“Guess not.” I punch in the code for the door. “Make yourselves at home,” I tell them as we enter the side door into the kitchen. “There is one spare room upstairs.”
“We can?—”
“Not happening, Buttercup. You’re with me in my bed.”
“I’m not making my best friend share a room with...” She glances over to Grant. “A man I thought might be a murderer an hour ago.”
“But he’s not,” Luke pushes back.
“The night is young,” Grant says, opening my fridge. “Might end up killing you by the end of it.” I ignore him.
“They’re dancing around each other. A room together might be good for them,” I tell her.
“That’s not the point,” she huffs back, putting her hands on her hips, making my eyes drop there. I want to grip her while she’s riding me. Yeah, she’s in my bed tonight. That’s not negotiable.
“All right, Mom and Dad.” Grant shuts the fridge.
“I’m like right here,” Georgia whispers. She’s still got that bracelet clenched in her hand. I need to buy my girl jewelry. Don’t those girls wear name necklaces? Except I’ll get mine on it for her to wear. This may be the best idea I’ve ever had. The thought of her wearing my name on her at all times soothes something inside of me. One day, hopefully sooner rather than later, she’ll agree to take my last name.
“Luke—”
“I won’t make her share a room with me,” Grant finally says, dropping the teasing. “I can take a couch or whatever.”
“No, you can’t do that,” Georgia starts to protest.
I pull Madeline toward the pantry, my hand on the small of her back. Grant and Georgia can bicker it out on their own. “You really need to eat something.”
“I’m fine, Luke.”
I turn her around, cupping her face in my hands. “You’re running on adrenaline and fear, and I can hear your stomach growling from here.”
She laughs, but it’s breathless. “When did you become the responsible one?”
“Since I found something for the first time in my life that I give a shit about.”
Her eyes go wide. The pantry light catches the gold in them and makes her look unreal. Like I dreamed her up. But she is real. I have never met anyone like Madeline in my life. The world could use more of her in it, but unfortunately for everyone else, there is only one, and she’s mine, and I’m not letting her go.
“Luke,” she whispers, melting for me.
“I know.” I rest my forehead against hers, my thumbs tracing her cheekbones. I’ve lost my mind, but I know there is no use trying to find it. I used to think people who fell head over heels in love were crazy, but now I understand them fully.
She rises up on her toes, her hands fisting in my shirt, and kisses me. Hard. Desperate. Like she’s been holding her breath for hours, and I’m the only air.
I lift her onto the small counter, stepping between her knees, and kiss her like I should have been doing since the moment I met her. I slide my hands up her thighs, her waist, and her ribs, mapping every inch I can reach through fabric, which is suddenly too much of a barrier.
“Luke,” she gasps against my mouth. “Grant and Georgia?—”
“Fuck ‘em,” I say, and she laughs. I move my mouth to her neck and nip her there.
“Luke.” She moans my name like a prayer and a curse all rolled into one. Fuck, I don’t want to let her go, but I need to feed her. When I pull back, she lets out a small huff, like I didn’t just give her what she was asking for.
“Come on, I’ll feed you and then you can have your way with me.” I grab some egg noodles off the shelf. When I step back out, Georgia and Grant are gone. I expect Madeline to go track them down, but she only smiles and gives a slight shake of her head.
