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“It’s more than fifty, but less than one hundred. I think,” he reveals a second later, the disgust evident in his tone. “I’m the one who should be apologizing for not being able to offer you something more…wholesome. If I could take back every single one of those women, I would.”
I sniff back my tears, not caring about the number anymore. “Maybe our tainted pasts can wipe our future slates clean?”
“Maybe.” That is his saddened response.
Wanting to put all my cards on the table, I confess, “Iwasjealous.”
He sighs, rubbing his hands up and down my back. “That’s good. Jealousy shows me that you care.”
“I—”
But he doesn’t let me finish. “Shh. Let me just hold you, Maddy. No more talking. Not tonight.” I don’t know what that means, but I comply. And besides, I think I’ve done enough talking for the night.
As we stand hugging for minutes, I bite down on my tongue before I reveal how much I really do care.
“This would be a lot easier if we had a selfie stick.”
I keep smiling until Madison snaps our picture in front of the Colosseum. Once the happy snap is taken, I turn to her with my eyebrow cocked. “What in God’s name is a selfie stick?”
“You seriously don’t know what a selfie stick is?” she asks, biting her top lip in an attempt to conceal her grin.
“No, I seriously do not. From the name alone, it could be misconstrued as being a number of things.”
She bursts out laughing, covering her mouth to mute her giggles. “Oh my God, you reallyareold.” She continues snickering at my expense while I resist the urge to Google what the hell this thing is.
Her comment, however, does raise an interesting point. I’ve never thought twice about the nine-year age gap between us. Has she? As if on cue, a young man close to Maddy’s age strolls past us, his ridiculous baggy jeans sitting halfway down his ass, exposing his cheap-looking boxer shorts. I highly doubt an intelligent, beautiful young woman like Madison would find this wankster attractive. But I sure as shit know he finds someone like her attractive as he’s completely checking out her gorgeous rack.
My jealousy rivals hers, so I tug on her hand and steer her in the opposite direction.
“Hey! I wanted to look at the tunnels that lead underground,” she gripes, looking at her tour map while I drag her away.
“We can do that later. Let’s go this way first,” I suggest, turning over my shoulder to glare at the disappointed youth.
“Okay, fine. What are you looking at?” she asks, looking behind her. Thankfully, she doesn’t notice my territorial pissing.
As we go on to visit the dungeons, Maddy walks ahead with her eyes wide in awe as she takes in the sights around her. It’s nice to see her so happy, especially after last night. I feared she was seconds away from telling me that she wanted nothing to do with my whore ass after I revealed how many women I’ve been with. I know her jealousy over the server sparked her questions, and most men would be flattered, but I’m not. I’m ashamed that I don’t actually know the precise number. And I’m ashamed that that unknown number of women includes her stepsister.
Juliet has thankfully not contacted me. Here’s hoping that trend will continue when I return home, but I know I’m not that lucky.
Pushing thoughts of the she-devil aside, I turn the corner and see a young woman holding a gigantic stick with her iPhone attached on the end. Smiling, she pushes a button and her photois instantly taken. Looks like I just discovered what a selfie stick is.
Maddy turns to me, her lips tipped up into a knowing grin. “Now can you guess what a selfie stick is, you old fart?”
I reply by lunging forward and capturing her in a bear hug. She squeals as I lift her off the ground. “Put me down, you barbarian!”
Her tiny hands playfully slap at my back, but this only encourages me to squeeze her tighter and call out like a caveman. “Considering our surroundings, I’ll take that as a compliment.”
I love this easiness between us, and every day, I feel like Madison is finally opening up and becoming more and more comfortable with herself and her past. After she confirmed what I knew to be true about her brother, my worship for her grew to immeasurable bounds. The fact she wants to move forward with me, both physically and emotionally, makes me the luckiest son of a bitch alive. But funnily enough, I’m in no hurry to push the physical side of our relationship because I’m enjoying the emotional side so much. I never thought I wouldeversay that, but with Madison, I’m a different man.
“Are you all right?” she asks, looking down at me closely.
She must be able to read my pensive thoughts. Deciding to be honest, just as she was with me, I ask, “So you think I’m old?”
The humor on her face disappears. “What? No, I was just kidding. Why? Do you think I’m too young?” When I don’t reply and lower her to the ground, she nudges me in the ribs. “Do you?”
“Too young for what?” I tease, watching her cheeks flush.
However, she doesn’t let my evasive question deter her from getting an answer. “Too young for you.”
