Page 33 of Sweet Addiction

KNOX

“Fuck,” I mutter under my breath, scrubbing a palm down my face.

I hate that Madison just saw Scarlett kissing me, but what was I to do?

I couldn’t exactly push her away in front of a room full of people. No. I did the right thing by letting it happen—even though it doesn’t feel like it.

Scarlett grips my bicep as she stares up at me. I grimace and not just because she is holding me but for the fact I can still taste my dove on my lips. Does she taste her too? The thought makes me want to vomit.

“Do you see what a power couple we could be? Everyone is enthralled by us. Give us a chance, Knox. You won’t regret it,” she whispers for only me to hear. I search her face, rolling my eyes when I see the money signs in hers. I am not going to get into this conversation with her again. I push out of my seat.

“Where are you going?” Her brow cocks in question.

“To the restroom and to check on your daughter,” I state.

She glances past me, frowning when she sees Madison is no longer with us. Scarlett is so self-involved it’s gross. I swear I could fuck my dove right in front of her and she would miss it. “Oh, okay. Thank you. I would go myself, but I have some people I need to talk to.”

I grit my teeth. Though Scarlett loves her daughter, I don’t think she is a priority in her life. She is more a tool, used however Scarlett wants and Madison allows it because of some misplaced notion that she is indebted to her mother because she gave birth to her. It’s hard to watch. Running a hand down my tie, I look down my nose at her in disdain. “You do that Scarlett.”

Weaving through the tables, I make my way outside of the function room to the restrooms. It’s the only place I can think of that Madison would have disappeared to—unless she went home. I frown. She better not have. If she thinks running away from here will stop me, she is wrong. I will chase her down, follow her to the ends of the earth just to prove a point.

Coming to a stop at the ladies’ room, I shove the door open not giving a fuck if anyone else is in here. “Dove?” I call out but there is no answer. Checking all the stalls and finding them empty, irritation surges through me. Making my way outside, I pull my cell from my suit jacket, bringing it up to my face to open the lock screen. Scrolling to her number, I hit call. The dial tone rings out for so long, I am just about to cut it off when she picks up.

“Where are you?” I bark in greeting.

She exhales so hard it sounds like wind down the line. “I went home.”

“What?” I demand.

“I went home, Knox,” she says slowly. “I got an Uber. I’m about twenty minutes out. I am tired, emotional and what to be alone.” Her voice cracks slightly making my chest tight.

“You shouldn’t be getting cabs in on your own Madison. Anything could happen. You don’t know who you are getting in a vehicle with,” I bite out because anger is my go-to emotion when it comes to this girl.

“Yeah well, I would rather risk that than see you and Mom kissing again,” she snaps before the line goes dead.

My jaw clenches in annoyance. I get her anger, but I won’t tolerate this behavior. It’s about time my dove knew exactly who she is dealing with. Pulling up the Uber app, I order my own ride, smiling when it shows it’s five minutes away. Not wasting time, I stride out and wait at the entrance. Thankfully, there are no reporters left outside, giving me the silence I need. A car rolls up by the valet, and checking the app, I find it’s mine. Shoving my cell back in my pocket I step toward it, open the door and slide inside. “Hey man. Dustin, right?” I ask just to make sure it is my ride.

His eyes meet mine in the mirror. He nods. “Yeah. You’re Knox McCabe?” I press my lips together in a thin line. “Big fan. I thought it was bullshit you got suspended,” he tells me as he pulls out onto the road. I want to agree with him, and maybe a month ago I would have. But all roads lead here. If I hadn’t gotten suspended, then I would have never met my dove.

Getting comfortable, I lean my head back on the headrest, closing my eyes as the driver talks about football. He wasn’t lying when he said he was a fan. I humor him, responding to questions but all I can think about is getting back to Madison. Finally, around thirty minutes later, we pull up to the guardhouse of Scarlett’s gated community. Pushing the door open, I get out, knowing I will need the five-minute walk to the house, to calm down some of the anger Madison stoked in me by leaving. By putting herself in danger. I know it hurt, seeing that kiss and I get it. I do. I mean, I’ve done some questionable things when it comes to my dove. Like knocking that fucker Talan unconscious and disconnecting her car battery. But whatever. There are no lines I won’t cross for her.

Stepping past the guard house, I nod when he greets me then punch the code into the side gate. Strolling through, I breathe in some much-needed air. I don’t know why I feel so on edge. Yeah, I’m pissed but it’s more than that. I hate that Madison just ran out on me like that. Especially after I still had her juices on my tongue from finger fucking her. It was probably an asshole move of me to touch her like that while her mom was on stage, but I never pretended to be a good man.

Scarlett’s house comes into view. I smirk, my cock turning to steel as anticipation and adrenaline shoots through me at the thought of what I am going to do to her. Coming to a stop at the front door, I grit my teeth when I remember that I don’t have a key. I could buzz the door but then that would defeat the purpose of surprising Madison. Reaching up, I am about to press down on the pad that will alert Madison or Gretchen to someone being at the door, but something stops me. Reaching for the knob, I turn and when it opens, fury like I have never felt before pulses through my veins. Yes, this is a safe, gated community in a nice neighborhood but does my dove have no self-preservation? Anyone could jump the fence and break in.

Stepping into the dark foyer, I quietly close the door and take a breath. My head snaps up in the direction of Madison’s bedroom, my heart rate spiking in my chest. I need to see her, be inside of her. Now. Taking the stairs two at a time, I stealthily move down the landing, coming to a stop outside her door and kick it open.

Madison yelps, dropping the towel that is covering her delectable body. Prowling inside, I kick the door shut, before closing the distance between us. Cupping her face, my lips smash to hers before she can speak or deny me. I kiss her like she is the air I need to breathe. Like she is everything. My whole world. And she is.

Somewhere along the line, what started out as lust turned into something so much more. I never thought I was the type of man to fall in love or to even be monogamous. But without even trying, Madison is changing everything I thought I knew. I’m not mad about it. I embrace it, allowing myself to fall deeper and deeper under her spell, with every touch, every kiss. As if coming to her senses, she tears her lips from mine, shoving me away as she steps back. She is trying to put space between us. I won’t allow it. Not now. Not ever.

“What are you doing here?” she mumbles. Then as if remembering she is naked her eyes widen before darting down her body. Whimpering, she bends, grabbing the discarded towel, but I pull it out of her hold, throwing it somewhere out of her reach.

Gripping her hips, I pick her up. Her legs wrap around my body on their own accord. Even though she is mad, she still can’t resist me. Running my tongue up her neck, I bite down on the sensitive flesh before giving it a soothing lick. Madison shivers when my mouth drops to her ear. “I thought that would be obvious Dove,” I rasp. “I am here to punish you for leaving and putting yourself in danger.”

I pull back so I can look into her green orbs. They show me everything. The eyes are the window to your soul, and it has never been more true than it is in this moment. “I just started my period. We can’t have sex,” she blurts.

I smirk, running my lips against hers. “Oh Dove, you have so much to learn. A little blood doesn’t scare me. In fact, I want to paint my dick with it, just like I did when I took your virginity.”

---