Page 121 of Play Dirty

She shakes her head. “It doesn’t matter. My contract with Adieu à L'amour is embarrassingly generous. I don’t need all that money. How many shoes and purses can I possibly buy?”

“So you gave it to Brenna?” I demand incredulously.

Her brows knit together. “I’m not crazy… I didn’t give herallof it. Just five million.”

“Justfive million?!” I gape at her. “Seriously?

“I have more,” she says softly. “All the money from my brownstone. All my savings and retirement funds. And the other twenty million Adieu à L'amour is paying me… there will be some taxes and such, but it’s alotof money, Marty. Isn’t it?”

I swallow, trying to wrap my head around her selflessness. “It is.”

“Are you…mad?” She looks tentative again, and I mentally kick myself.

“Mad? Baby, you did something unimaginable for me. I don’t know how I’ll ever thank you.”

“I don’t need you to thank me—I only need you to love me.”

“That’s the easiest thing in the world. I already do.”

I drop my lips to hers and it feels like home.

It doesn’t matter where we are.

If we’re together, we’re home.

Chapter38

Stevie

Our kisses startsoft but quickly grow hungry.

I’ve been without him too long and my body is on board even though my brain is more cautious.

Technically, nothing has changed.

He has custody now, but my reputation still precedes me. Even in court today, I could see the jurors watching me, judging, trying to decide whether or not I was such an evil woman that I was somehow responsible for Damien’s rage.

“I haven’t been with anyone else,” he whispers against my mouth.

“Me either.”

He crawls onto the bed, tugging me with him.

Then he flips onto his back and pulls me astride him.

I sink down slowly and a moan escapes me as I gaze down at him.

“That’s my girl.” His eyes burn into mine.

He runs a hand over my breasts, down my stomach, and over my hips, his touch gentle, unrushed….seductive. It’s a little intoxicating to watch him touch me. But it sends my emotions into overdrive. I love him so much I can’t imagine a world without him. Especially now that I know he loves me too.

But I don’t want my past to impact us—or the children.

They’re the ones who’ll have to defend their stepmother to classmates, and I know how cruel kids can be.

“Stephanie.”

He’s never called me by my given name before and I blink in surprise.

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