Page 31 of Fractured Frets

“Don’t start, Mom. We know.” I glided over to the kitchen counter with Slip in tow and grabbed my clutch. We’d put up with the disappointment from our families and the headline meltdowns for weeks. People just needed to accept it. What was done was done, and now it was up to Slip and me to work on our future. I tapped him on the arm. “Let’s get out of here.”

“I’m all yours.” Slip waved toward the front door. “Lead the way.”

But as I took a step toward the hallway, I swayed. Shit. Was I ready for this? Our first outing since we’d gotten hitched. Was I prepared for the onslaught of reporters and paparazzi?

Yes . . . no . . . maybe. Crap.

My silver high heels clicked on the floorboards as we headed for the front door. My heart rate quickened, stampeding against my ribs. My palms sweated.

“Hey?” Slip drew me to a halt halfway down the hallway. “You okay?”

“Yeah. I’m just nervous about facing the media tonight.”

“Don’t be. We’ve just got to smile, acknowledge we’re married, and move on. And we’re gonna have fun. I promise.”

That was what I wanted. But that also worried me. When Slip and I were together, we often had too much fun. Laughing. Drinking. Joking. Flirting. Last time we’d done those things, we’d ended up married. Nothing could outdo that.

I fidgeted with his bow tie. “How can you be so calm?” I needed some of whatever he was on...wait. No I didn’t. But too much tension coiled through my body. Too much tightness twisted in my muscles. A Xanax wouldn’t hurt.

Mischief danced through his eyes. “You want something to help you relax?”

Curious, I arched an eyebrow. “Like what?”

“Hmmm. Something we both need.”

His hands circled my waist. Fumbling behind me, he swung open the office door and guided me into the room. He kicked the door shut and walked me backward toward the desk. He lifted me onto the edge and yanked my dress upward.

He grinned as he eyed my bare pussy.

Heat shot through my veins. Just the way he looked at me had me coming undone.

He unzipped his suit pants, ripped out his hard cock and thrust into me.

I wrapped my arms and legs around him. Oh, yes. He knew exactly what I needed.

“There was no way we were making it out of here without me fucking you.” He smiled against my lips as he drove into me time and time again.

“I would’ve jumped you in the car.”

“Couldn’t wait that long.”

“No. Neither could I.”

Chapter 10

MADDY

Waking up to no scathing headlines on Friday had been a win. Slip and I had arrived twenty minutes late to the awards ceremony last night thanks to our hot little quickie in my home office. Jodie, my publicist, and my fellow castmates hadn’t been happy. But one thing I could not fault Slip on was when we’d rushed along the red carpet and sped through interviews and photographs, he’d remained professional and always a gentleman. It was my night, so he’d let me shine. But that hadn’t stopped him politely excusing us from any reporter who’d tried to drill us about our marriage and moved us on to the next.

We’d had fun. Laughed. Stolen kisses as we’d made our way into the venue. We’d whispered dirty jokes to each other throughout the ceremony. We didn’t stay long at the after-party.

This morning, the entertainment sites had reported we looked happy, in love, smitten. Finally. We made the best dressed list. Eat that one, Mom! After a few hellish weeks, some good news was what we needed. I prayed it stayed that way.

Slip and I spent most of the day in bed. Perfect.

On Saturday, following a long day of taking Mom to physical therapy and massage appointments, shopping, and picking up her new oxygen machine, Slip and I headed to Cole’s house for the evening.

The whole band had come home during the break in their tour schedule so Cole and Flint could catch up with Ava and Sutton, and everyone could be there to celebrate Ava’s birthday.

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