Page 58 of Accidental Fiancé

I wasn’t sure. “Money?”

“He runs a charity. How much money could he have?”

I huffed a laugh. “Charities make more money than you think, but more importantly, he’s a Black. He has access to the family funds just as much as any of us do.”

“You think it’s an embezzlement scam?”

“No, that takes too much work. I think she’s a gold-digger.”

We fell silent for a beat before Maggie quietly asked, “Do you think she was whispering the truth about us to Marcus?”

“How would she know?”

“I’m not sure. But she’s always acted like she knows everything about everyone so it’s hard not to believe that.” Maggie hugged herself, then turned away, her lower lip trembling.

I brushed her curls from her face, pinning them behind her ear. I let my palm linger on her cheek to savor the soft warmth. But then I felt her shake, and it crushed me. When she peered up to meet my gaze, my breath stuck in my chest. My voice scratched out, “Maggie, I won’t let her get away with this. Not here, not now, not ever. Say the word, and we leave.”

“It’s just…” She lost her voice as she pressed herself against me and wrapped her arms around my waist. She whispered, “Just hold me.”

When I closed my arms around her trembling body, I vowed two things: One, I would destroy Chloe Foster, and two, I would do whatever it took to prevent Maggie from feeling me harden up while we hugged.

We were friends. Nothing more. No matter how much my heart cracked every time, I forced myself to believe it.

Chapter 21

Maggie

Iwas certain Julian felt my heart drumming in my chest as he held me. It pounded so loud in my own ears that it drowned out the sounds of the kitchen chaos across the hall. Surely, he knew how much this was killing me. Being near him. Smelling him. Feeling his body against mine. I swore I felt his hardness but that could have been just my imagination.

He cleared his throat and took a step back. “You good?”

“I don’t know what I am but I think we should go.”

Julian took a deep breath then blew it out slowly. I knew that face. It was the same one he had that day after kissing me behind the cafeteria, the yearbook picture. Absolute disappointment. “Are you sure?”

We had come up with a safe word for me to use if I felt overwhelmed and needed a quick exit. Coconut. His mother was allergic to it, so there was little chance of saying it accidentally while we were among the rest of his family because there was zero chance of it being served in any capacity. If I said coconut, this was over. No more Chloe, no more bone-penetrating dread.

And no more being Julian’s fiancée.

That thought panicked me worse than the idea of seeing Chloe again. I wasn’t ready to give that up. I knew it wasn’t real,but I didn’t want it to end. “No, I’m not. I just… I can’t think straight right now.”

Again, he reached out for me, pulling me to him. This time he was the one who needed the comfort, his hand rubbing up and down my back and he rested his chin on the top of my head. “I’ve got you, Maggie.”

The words calmed me, unlocking something deep inside. Julian got me. He made me feel seen. Understood. I nestled my head against his chest and melted into his embrace. Our bodies fit perfectly together. He felt like home.

I should have been unsettled by the thought but I wasn’t.

I breathed in his clean, cucumber scent. It gave me a new surge, aiming my face at his mouth. I pressed my lips to his before I knew what I was doing.

He let a moment pass before he pulled back, shock widening his eyes.

Oh God, he’s pissed. I broke the contract. I’m so fucked.I stammered, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. I?—"

Julian’s mouth crashed into mine with hunger as he framed my face with his hands and staggered me backward against the door. His soft stubble burned my face as his kisses grew more urgent. His hands pawed for access, over my shirt, my pants, any part of me he wished.

And I let him. I wanted it and I would have begged for his touch.

I arched myself against his hand, groaning for more. His teeth on my throat, his fingers shoving into my pants. My kiss ripped away the leash we held on ourselves. I tugged at the hem of his polo shirt, pulling it up and out of his pants. I latched onto his mouth, eagerly feeding on his enthusiastic grunts when I groped him.

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