Page 29 of The Penalty

All of him. Just as all of me was his.

A content sigh rolled through his body. I rested my forehead to his, gently running my nails up and down his back. We slowly molded our bodies together in a sweet embrace and sat without saying a word for quite a while. Only the seagulls and the ocean provided a serene ambient soundtrack.

“You should stay with me while you’re here.”

Oh my God. The lack of control I have over my own mouth is astonishing.

“Yeah?” He leaned back to look at me. “That’s awfully forward of you.”

I shrugged. “Or you can waste your money staying alone at a hotel. Up to you.”

The subtle etched lines fanning from his eyes when he laughed reignited the flurry of butterflies in my stomach. Yes, he was devilish and all of those other things but he was also beautiful and gentle and made me feel emotions I thought I’d locked away permanently.

“I would love nothing more than to spend every possible moment with you. Fall asleep next to you. Wake up with you in my arms. For as long as you’ll have me.”

I melted. For as long as I’ll have him?

That’s easy.

Forever, please.

Xavier

Ilove New York.

More specifically, I love the woman scurrying through her New York flat, flushed and breathless from being thoroughly shagged after stepping out of the shower.

We’re supposed to be at some ring ceremony for her team but when I saw her standing in the bedroom wrapped in a towel and staring into the closet, it didn’t take much convincing on my part that we could be late.

I’ll steal every possible moment with her I can. The last week has already flown by in a hazy, lovesick blur. Tonight’s event will be our first actual date since I arrived.

“Almost ready, love?”

Victoria shot me an incredulous look while slipping into her heels.

Even annoyed, she’s gorgeous.

Wavy red hair. Emerald eyes glowing. And the short, fitted dress she wore? I won’t last the whole party without ravaging her in a corner or wherever I damn well please.

“I would have been ready an hour ago but someone couldn’t control themselves.”

She’s fucking adorable.

“I didn’t hear any complaints. In fact, I distinctly heard several cries for more.”

The pink blush crawling across her cheeks was so damn sexy. I wanted to trace the color with my tongue.

“Just because you’re self aware about how irresistible you are doesn’t make us any less late for this party.”

“I told you I was everyone’s type.”

She huffed, walking past me in a musky vanilla scented swirl. “And I told you I’m not everyone. Let’s go, Maddox.”

Since this was an official New York Legends event and Victoria was one of the top executives, we were treated to our own driver and car for the evening. And of course, me being me, I made sure Victoria knew exactly what I wanted to do to her and with her on the ride over.

“I’ll be surrounded by my coworkers,” she scolded in a low voice once we arrived and walked toward the Caldwell estate. “Behave.”

The rosy glow on her cheeks betrayed the futile effort she made to keep this night chaste and professional.

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