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“You’ve promised to love and cherish me,” I reminded him, my fingers toying with the edge of my shirt and I knew he could read my intentions. He swallowed so hard, I could hear the dragging noise in his throat. “And I’ve promised to do the same. So you can call this a pretend marriage all you want…” I swallowed hard against the lump in my throat. “But to me this is going to be real.”
I can’t tell you how long I’ve been in love with you.
He stood like he’d been frozen in place and I could feel his eyes burning into me.
“This is a farce, Madelyn. I’m just holding someone’s place for you and Daniela.”
Who the hell had done such a number on this man? I had a suspicion, and it made me hate Jess even more.
“Just so you’re aware of how this is gonna go…” I trailed my fingers down my neck slowly and I watched a shudder ripple through his body. “I don’t believe in divorce–maybe something I should have mentioned before. You’re stuck with me now, Beckman.”
I will make you fall in love with me. Somehow. Please, God…
He ran one big hand through his hair; the only other sound in the room was that of the dog crunching his way through the dish of food.
I stepped forward, lifting my palms to place on his chest and immediately his hands went around my hips. I wasn’t short, but Adam was tall, and I let my fingers drift to the hem of his shirt before pulling the tank over his head.
He was all smooth, warm skin and I leaned close to kiss the curve between his neck and shoulder, something that made him sigh softly. It sounded like desire and resignation, and when I pulled back to look at him his eyes were hard and glittery.
“I can’t, Madelyn, because then I can’t remain objective.”
What the fuck was that supposed to mean?
“I’m not asking you to be objective.”
That’s the very last thing I want.
I swallowed before lifting my face to his, running my thumb slowly back and forth across his bottom lip. “I’m asking you to stop fighting it and letushappen.”
I’m asking you to love me.
With a frustrated grunt he lifted and spun, setting me firmly on the cold marble countertop of the island, and I wished I’d pushed my pants to the floor the moment before.
“You’re going to get me in trouble.” His voice was low and angry. “You’ve always been the one thing I couldn’t have.”
“Says who?” I asked, wriggling closer, wrapping my legs around his waist and hooking my heels into his thighs.
He didn’t answer, just huffed at me before grabbing one hip to anchor my lower body to his, then shoved his other hand into my hair and brought his face down to mine. His kiss was raw and desperate, like he needed to eat me alive, his tongue setting a relentless pace.
I matched him, pushing against him as I gave it back as good as I got and he released his grip on my head, lowering his hand to cup my breast, his thumb brushing gently back and forth and the moan that drifted from my mouth matched the one I heard deep in his throat.
“You want this, Madelyn?” he asked, his words hot against my neck, and I arched into him when his head dipped and he trailed kisses from my throat to the fabric covering my breasts.
“Only my whole life,” I managed to pant, my hips churning restlessly against him. The man had always incited a riot in my chest–and other places.
He stilled and pulled back, leaving me panting and frantic. There was a strange look on his face. “You don’t mean that.”
“Yes, I do.”
It was true, but I wasn’t supposed to admit it to him. I could feel him hesitating, doubting, pulling away, and I grabbed his hands, placing one over my hammering heart and wrapping the other around my back, so he was palming my ass. Then I tightened my legs around him. “You’re not going anywhere, Beckman,” I whispered. “It’s taken me more than twenty years to get you here.”
He barked out a short, strangled laugh. “Don’t, Madelyn. I refuse to be your disappointment.”
“Disappointment?” I let him go, leaning back on the island against the palms of my hands, letting his eyes wander over my body. I knew what he saw: strong arms, a defined stomach and thick, firm thighs. Small breasts, supported by a great wall of muscle. I had the body of a twenty-year-old bodybuilder and hell if I was going to let all that hard work go to waste when I had this man here to appreciate it.
Scooting my butt, I hopped down off the countertop and reached around him to grab two firm handfuls of his ass, lifting up just a little to find his mouth again, and I whispered against his lips, “Tell me you haven’t thought about it,” just before I nipped his lower lip with my teeth. I could feel him trembling with the effort of restraint and I knew I was right, but this had to be his decision.
I pressed one last soft kiss to his mouth and trailed my fingers down his chest. “I’m not like her, Adam, and I don’t know what she did to you, but I can guarantee you one thing…” I stepped back slowly, turning to walk from the room. I could hear his heavy breaths behind me as he stood watching me go. “You won’t regret a thing.”
