Page 4 of Sweet Addiction

“She must be running some errands. I will give her a call.” She fishes her cell out of her tight denim shorts pocket and pushes her bedroom door open. With one last look at me, she steps inside, shutting me out.

Moving closer, I press my ear against the wood, wanting, noneedingto hear that voice again but all I hear is silence. I want to open the door separating us and go inside—even if it’s just to stare at her.

Madison.

The stunning, dark-haired, green-eyed beauty.

I smirk.

Something tells me things just got a lot more interesting.

ChapterFour

MADISON

Ohmygod.

I have seen pictures of Knox McCabe, but they don’t do him any justice. In real life, up close and personal, he is godlike. Not only is he insanely hot, but his body is also sculptured like a damn statue. One that someone took their time, perfecting every ridge and line.

Pacing my room, I hit call on my mom’s number again. She wasn’t here when I arrived although she promised she would be. I was greeted by our housekeeper, Gretchen, while Scarlett is off doing who knows what. And now I am left in a house with a man I don’t know but looks like every woman’s dream, and I am… lusting after him. My mother’s damn fiancé.

Sighing, I drop down on my bed, my mind going to the way he looked at me with those, deep brown eyes and a slight smirk on his lips. I don’t have much experience with men—despite my reputation at school—but he looked… hungry. Looked like he wanted to devour me. Or maybe that’s just normal and how he looks at every woman he meets. I mean if the gossip rags are to be believed, he does have a bad reputation when it comes to women and until my mother was pictured with a different one draped on his arm every other night. So why such a big change. Can someone really do a complete three-sixty in such a short amount of time? Become a totally different person? I don’t know, which is why I have my suspicions. What I do know is that in those couple of minutes outside my bedroom, he awoke something inside me that I have never felt before with a guy, and it scared me. I need to stay the hell away from Knox McCabe.

A knock on my door has me jolting up and butterflies taking flight in my stomach. My mom wouldn’t knock, and I doubt it’s Gretchen, so that leaves one person. Pushing to a stand, I take quick steps and pull the door open, finding exactly who I expected. He smirks down at me, the look so sexy it should be illegal. I clear my throat. “Yes?”

He pins me with a look so intense, it hits me straight in the core, then bringing his finger up to his lip, he runs it across the plump flesh. I track the movement, transfixed, wanting to replace his finger with my lips. I shake my head as soon as the thought develops. What. No. I don’t want that. Ican’twant that. I narrow my eyes, making him grin. “I just spoke to your mom. She had a last-minute meeting but is now on her way home. Dinner will be ready in thirty minutes. Scarlett would like us all to sit down and eat together.” His voice is so deep and raspy, it makes me shiver. Knox doesn’t miss my reaction and the smug look on his face grows bigger.

Feeling annoyed at myself for feeling like this over someone who is completely off-limits, I give myself an inner pep talk to pull myself together. Huffing, I throw him my bitchiest look and say, “Ookayy,” I drag the word out. “My mom couldn’t have returned my calls herself and told me that?”

He lifts one of his big shoulders as he flashes his straight white teeth. “Guess not.”

I roll my eyes. “Great, well I will see you both at dinner.” I go to shut my door, but Knox doesn’t move. Raising a brow, I say. “Anything else?”

“No sweetheart. See you at dinner.” He winks and saunters away with so much swagger, a pulse starts between my legs.

Jesus. What is it about him? Whatever it is, I need to heed my earlier thoughts and stay away from him.

Knox McCabe is dangerous.

Unfortunately for me, I’ve always been an adrenaline junkie and like living life on the edge.

* * *

“Oh sweetie, look at you. You are even more beautiful than when you left for the summer,” my mother gushes as she holds me at arm’s length while she studies me.

I roll my eyes at her dramatics. “Mom, I look exactly the same as I did when I left. Maybe a little curvier, but the same.”

“Casting directors are going to love you. I can’t wait to get you back out auditioning and whatnot,” she says, completely ignoring me.

Pulling out of her hold, my cheeks heat when my gaze lands on Knox to find him already watching me with a curious look on his face. His eyes roam over my face before zeroing in on my lips. He licks his own and again I see the same hunger staring back at me as I did earlier. What game is he playing?

A clap sounds, breaking our stare off and my mom speaks. “Let’s sit. Gretchen is ready to serve dinner. Knox baby,” I frown when he grimaces. Interesting. “You already met Madison, but I want you to get to know her properly over dinner. After all, you will be spending a lot of time together, here, and then at school. I want you to get along.”

“I am sure we will get along just fine, Scarlett,” Knox responds flatly. Almost like he is annoyed.

Taking a seat at the table, Mom sits opposite me while Knox takes the head. I glance between them, as I try to work out their deal. Mom stares at him with hearts in her eyes but Knox doesn’t give her an ounce of attention. It’s like she isn’t even here. Me on the other hand, his gaze shifts and lands on me. He smiles. I feel more warmth in that one action than I have in any interaction he has had with his supposed fiancée.

Clearing his throat, never taking his eyes off me, he says, “So, Madison, you are starting your senior year?”

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