Page 14 of Sweet Addiction

My whole body heats in embarrassment, but I jut my chin in defiance. “Fuck you. Stay away from me Knox. And stay away from myboyfriend. You are my mom’s fiancé. Remember? So, stay the hell away from me.” I go to walk away but he grabs my wrist.

Pinning me with a look, he says, “No, I am not. Our relationship is an arrangement, set up by our publicist. Strictly platonic. I told your mother to tell you the truth, but she has this misconceived notion that something is going to happen. It’s not. Never will. Not now I know you exist.”

My heart pounds in my chest. Why? I don’t know. It doesn’t matter what they are, or whether it’s fake, it’s still something and I need to stay away.

So then why has my body come alive in a way I have never experienced at this new piece of information?

I know why; I just don’t want to admit it. To me. To him.

But the truth is, I want Knox McCabe. No matter how wrong it is.

The question is, will I betray my mother to have him?

ChapterEleven

KNOX

My dove stares at me like I’ve lost my damn mind. I feel like I have. She drives me fucking crazy. Despite our situation, I feel like I have this ownership over her. She is mine. Whether she knows it or not. And I don’t want that fucker Talan touching her.

My gaze drops to her neck, to her pulse that is beating wildly. My words have sparked something inside her. She liked hearing them. If it wasn’t obvious that she wanted me last night, after I listened to her touching and making herself come with my name on her perfect lips. It is now.

She wants me.

I want her.

If I am going to have any chance with her, it’s time that Madison Devereux knew the truth.

Her lips part, exhaling a breath. “What?”

Stepping into her so there is no space between us, I cup her face. “The only relationship I have with your mother is a business one. Nothing more. Nothing less.” Remembering where we are, I sigh, dropping my hand. “We can’t do this here. It’s too risky.”

Seeming to snap out of whatever trance she was in, she puts space between us, her eyes narrowing. “That doesn’t change anything. As far as I and the world areconcerned,you are with Scarlett Grisham. Nothing will happen between us. Last night was…” she trails off, her cheeks turning pink. “Well, it was a lapse in judgment. I don’t know what I was thinking. I must have temporarily lost my mind.”

I smirk. “We both know that’s a lie dove. Your mind might be telling you that we can’t happen, but your body is very much on board with it. That’s okay though; we can catch your brain up to everything else. We are going to happen. Mark my words. I don’t play to lose dove. Especially not with you. I will have you,” I say arrogantly. It’s my ego talking but fuck it. I mean every word. “Now listen and listen good. Talan doesn’t touch you. He doesn’t look at you. He doesn’t fucking breathe near you. Got it?” She glares, ready to argue but I cut her off. “You are late for class. Run along little dove.” Her mouth drops open, her face turning red as she silently seethes. She wants to say something, but I don’t give her the chance.

With one last look at her, I stride down the hall, making my way out to the field. I was supposed to be on the field ten minutes ago for a gym class. Jason scowls at me, before making a point of glancing at his watch. Though I don’t give a fuck about being late, I need to remember that he submits my weekly reports to the judge who sentenced me to this shit.

“You’re late,” he states the obvious.

“No shit,” I deadpan. I might need to follow his rules right now but that doesn’t mean, I will let him treat me like a little bitch. “I had to use the bathroom.” The lie comes easy.

I know he doesn’t believe me, when his eyes narrow. Clearing his throat he says, “Go and run the boys through warmups. Being a pro athlete, you should know how to do that right?” he says sarcastically.

I nod, my fingers coming up to my head in a mocking salute. “Being that I am the highest paid player in the NFL and last year I was named the GOAT. There would be something seriously wrong if I couldn’t do basic warmups for high school juniors.” I cock a condescending brow. “Wouldn’t you agree?” I ask it as a question, but I don’t want an answer. Instead, I swagger away to warm up the boys. I am over his bullshit. I am over Schwartz’s bullshit. It’s like they want to see me fail. But I won’t. I will do everything in my power to show them that I am more than my reputation.

Fifteen minutes later, I am done. The kids look like they are about to die after what I just put them through. Yeah, I was a bit cruel, making them do the exercises I would usually do before a big game. I was trying to prove a point. Jason wanted them warmed up. That is what I did—even if half of them look green in the face.

“Fuck Knox, what did you do to them?” Jason whisper hisses in concern.

I shrug. “You wanted them warmed up.” I open my arms wide with a grin. “I delivered.”

He shakes his head. “You’re fucked up man.”

I chuckle. “Yeah. I know.”

He eyes me. “Go and get them rounded up. I think some light jogging is about all they are capable of right now.”

A laugh bursts out of me on its own accord. “Hey, I only did what you asked. If they can’t keep up, then they shouldn’t be in gym gear,” I say over my shoulder as I walk away from him. Maybe I did push them too much. But I stand by my words. If they can’t handle a few little exercises, then they shouldn’t be out here on the field.

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