Page 57 of These Jagged Edges

I swallow hard, guilt rising in my chest. "Maddox, I’m so sorry. Hurting you was never my intention." My voice is barely above a whisper, and I wrap my arms around myself, trying to hold it all together. "I know it doesn’t seem that way, but when I look at her…I see myself." My confession hangs in the air like a weight.

Hands cup my face. "There’s no part of you that reflects her."

"That's because when you look at her, all you can feel is the pain and heartache she’s inflicted. I look at her and Ifeelhow lost she is. Her pain and helplessness mirror who I was not so long ago. It's as if she's searching for something she can't find. Maybe working here will do for her what itdid for me."

Maddox raises his eyebrows in confusion. "What's so special about this place?"

I grab his wrist, my grip firm as I look into his eyes. "Don’t you see? It’s given me something I’ve been searching for my whole life—peace. A real home, a family to call my own, and a place where I finally feel like I belong. But most of all, it’s given me you. And you... you’re everything."

Maddox seals his lips over mine in the sweetest kiss before wrapping his arms around me. I savor the feel of his heavy weight on me.

"I love you," he whispers, his voice both rugged and tender, carrying all the depth that is Maddox Wilder.

"Damn it!"

"Watch your language, Sebastian James Taylor!" I holler over my shoulder towards the backyard.

The boys are both helping Vic and Mercy put a swimming pool together. Vic bought it as their early birthday present. It isn’t anything too fancy but it’s big enough to help beat this damn heat, and nobody’s telling Vic what can or can’t buy the boys. Case in point, the big ass swing set in the back yard. I argued with him over a tire swing, and he showed my ass. I came home to this monstrosity already assembled and he swore he had “lost” the receipt.

The boy's birthday is always a rough day for me. No doubt I’ve enjoyed watching them grow but a small part of me will always miss them being babies. But doesn't every mother? They really mean don't blink when you have kids because time truly does fly. One night you're trying to soothe two teething babies, then you blink and they begin to lose teeth faster than you can keep up with.

"Penny for your thoughts, Pretty Girl?"

Maddox's deep voice startles me, sending the shirt in my hands flying at his face. "Jesus! You scared me!"

Maddox gives me a flirty smile. "I'm just glad it wasn't a taser this time."

I groan. "Will you ever let that go?"

"Woman, my balls still tingle every time I step on your porch."

Without being asked he folds the shirt in his hand, adding it to the pile and reaches into the basket to fold with me. Who knew something as mundane as helping me fold laundry could be so damn hot, but it is. I swallow as I watch his strong hands flex as they fold my children's underwear. Hands capable of so much destruction yet, touch me so tenderly. Hands that have helped rebuild me into a strong version of myself with every touch and caress.

"Baby, you keep looking at me like that, and I'll shut that fucking door." He cuts those stormy green eyes at me.

“Oh yeah? And then what?" I push back.

Maddox never stops folding. "I'll strip you out of those tight ass shorts and put you right up here." He nods to the dryer in front of him. "Spread out so I can see that delicious ass body that drives me fucking crazy."

Fuck, he’s teasing me, and damn him, I like it.

"Keep going, I need to hear more." My hand slips inside my shorts. Thankfully, I'm hidden behind the door and if anyone looks in all they would be able to see is Maddox's large frame folding tiny underwear covered in turtles.

Maddox folds another shirt and adds it to the pile he's started. "Nah, I think that's enough." He picks up another shirt and begins folding. Oh, damn him! He knows what he's doing, but luckily for me I know how to play this game.

"Your right,friendsshouldn’t speak so crass to one another," I say swirling a finger over my clit.

Maddox drops the shirt and turns his big body towards me, backing me against the wall. "Friends?" he sneers as the word aloneoffends him, and I know I've got him. "Woman, I'm not your fucking friend. So, take your hand off that pretty pussy and give me what I want."

"What do you want?" I ask innocently.

"Evie," Maddox growls at me.

"Maddox," I moan as I slip a finger in my wet center.

Maddox narrows those green eyes on me.

"I'd hate to ruin our friendship by telling you how wet I am or how good it feels to touch myself."

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