Page 3 of Sweet Addiction

I could take her up on her offer but then it just complicates things. And I don’t need any more complications in my life. “Scarlett, listen to me and listen good. We,” I jerk my finger between us again to emphasize my point. “Are not going to have any kind of sex. Not even a hand job. The kisses when we are in public are for show. Nothing more. If I want to fuck, I will hit up one of my regulars. One who has already signed an NDA so they can’t talk about it to the press. I suggest if you want sex, you do the same because I for one will not be touching you.”

She glares up at me and stomps her foot like a damn child. “What is so bad about me? If you can fuck a regular, why can’t you fuck me? Close your eyes and pretend it’s someone else for all I care. But it makes sense for the duration of our contract to not risk being intimate with anyone else. I will not be humiliated Knox.”

“I won’t. Which is why I said,ifI want to fuck, I will use my discreet girls. Trust me, I have more on the line than you do, and I am not going to risk it for anything.” My words leave no room for argument.

Scarlett’s lips curve into a saucy smile. “I guarantee by the time this year is up, I will have had your cock inside me.” She reaches down to grab me through my shorts but I’m quicker and knock her hand away.

I laugh. “Tell yourself whatever you need to make you feel better.”

Her eyes narrow then she sighs. “My daughter, she is coming home today.”

I nod, draining the last of my shake before dropping the glass in the dishwasher. I have seen pictures of Madison around the house, but none of them seem recent. From what she has told me, it’s clear that Scarlett loves her daughter, but I get the feeling she is a bit of a stage mom with her. Whenever she talks about Madison, it’s mainly about getting her into the world of show business. “Great. How much does she know about us?”

“Not much. She called a couple days ago asking about our engagement. I told her I would speak with her when she gets home.” Scarlett takes a seat at the counter where her laptop sits.

I eye Scarlett as she taps away on the keyboard. Though her daughter is eighteen, I hope she isn’t a brat. But with a mother like hers and a rich father, I have a sneaky feeling she will be. “Perfect. Well, I will stay away from her as long as she stays away from me.”

Her head snaps my way. “You will be living together and working at her school Knox; how the hell are you going to be able to ignore her? I know you didn’t sign up for the whole kid thing but deal with it. Madison is my daughter, part of my life and for the next ten months she will be part of yours,” she growls.

“Doesn’t mean we need to be the Brady Bunch. I will play my part in public but don’t expect me to be the doting stepfather behind closed doors.” I wave her off because, yeah, no, I don’t do kids.

“Knox,” her voice is a warning. “You will be nice to Madison.”

“Of course, I will. I’m not a monster,” I say, rolling my eyes. With one last look at her, I leave the kitchen and head out to my car. I feel tense and the only thing that works when I am this uptight is fucking or a workout.

For now, the gym will have to do.

* * *

Pulling up to Scarlett’s house, I sigh, once again my thoughts going to why we couldn’t have lived at my house while we are playing the perfect celebrity couple. I know why though. It was a condition of Scarlett’s. She didn’t want to uproot her daughter what with her starting her senior year. Plus, her house is only fifteen minutes from Westview Academy, the private school Madison attends and I will be teaching at, whereas mine is an hour. I shake my head, wondering how the hell I got into this mess and ended up here. I know it’s my fault but still, I think I would have rather picked up trash from the side of the road.

My cell ringing breaks me from my thoughts. Grabbing it from the cupholder, I huff when I see Clarissa’s name flash on the screen. Swiping, I answer. “If you are calling to set up a photo op, I am really not in the mood,” I say by way of greeting.

Clarissa chuckles. “Always so dramatic. That’s not the reason I was calling but now that you mention it, you haven’t been seen together in over a week, so maybe it is time to get your faces out there. Take Scarlett for dinner Knox, get papped.”

Ignoring her, I say, “Why are you calling?” The sound of air blows down the line and I know she is summoning patience to have a conversation with me. I don’t mean to be an asshole. It just comes naturally.

“Sports Today wants to do an interview with you. I am not quite sure what it all entails, but I am certain they will ask questions about your… relationship and when you are coming back to the NFL,” Clarissa finishes.

“If you think it will do good then schedule it. But only under the condition they don’t ask about Scarlett. I don’t want to sit and lie through a whole interview,” Clarissa speaks trying to cut me off, but I don’t allow it. “Tell them, my private life is just that. Private. It’s off-limits. Say whatever you need to, but I refuse to be interrogated about my fake fiancée for a sports magazine. End of. Yes, the world thinks we are engaged and a real couple, but I don’t want to do more than the bare minimum when it comes to Scarlett. This will end as soon as the year is up.”

Her voice is softer, almost placating as she says, “Okay Knox. I will see what I can do and email you the details. In the meantime, do thebare minimumand get your ass out with Scarlett. Go grocery shopping, the gym, the damn dentist. I don’t care. Just get seen,” she growls before hanging up. I grind my teeth together and resist the urge to scream. I fuckingloathesmiling for the cameras, kissing and cuddling Scarlett like we are so in love. I hate being fake. But what’s the alternative? I just need to suck it up for ten more months. Then I can get the hell back to my normal life.

Pushing open my door, I climb out, grab my gym bag from the passenger seat and head inside. Opening the front door, I step into the foyer to silence. I smile. Maybe Scarlett and her daughter went out? Suits me just fine. I can grab another protein shake and get Gretchen, the housekeeper slash chef to make me a nice steak with vegetables. But first I need to shower.

Whipping my sweaty shirt off, I saunter up the stairs and move down the hallway to my bedroom only to stop when a tiny girl steps out onto the landing. Her head pops up at the sound of my footsteps, her piercing emerald eyes landing on me as her brows scrunch up in confusion before a look of recognition crosses her face.

Her gaze narrows and I have never seen eyes so green in my life. They are mesmerizing. “You must be Knox? The fiancé?” Her soft, raspy voice goes straight to my cock making it jump in my gym shorts and my heart pounds in my chest. Jesus. I have never had a reaction like this to a woman in my life and Christ I have slept with some beautiful women. Actresses. Models. Socialites. You name it. I’ve fucked them. I can honestly say, as I stare at this tiny, bright-eyed woman in front of me, that they all pale into insignificance. She makes them look average. My gaze rakes over her from head to toe. She is perfect. Absolutely stunning. Like a flawless little doll. Nothing like the girl in the pictures.

She shifts on her feet and it’s then that I realize I haven’t spoken. I clear my throat. “Yeah. You must be the daughter?”

She smiles and nods. “Madison.”

Stepping toward her, I watch spellbound as her gaze rakes over my six-pack. Her throat bobs on a swallow and she shivers. It’s not cold. I must be affecting her. Good. I grin my gaze never leaving hers. “Nice to meet you, Madison.”

She eyes me for a beat, her cheeks turning pink as she blushes and blurts. “Likewise. Do you know where my mother is?”

I shake my head. “No. I went to the gym. She was here when I left.”

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