Page 6 of Sweet Addiction

She freezes, no doubt at my proximity, before exhaling and forcing herself to relax. “I took some pictures from my balcony earlier; I was downloading them.”

Moving to the side, I pull out the stool next to hers and sit. My eyes roam over the pictures, mainly birds in the sky and a few of the sunset. “They are good. You like photography?”

She scans my face, her teeth sawing at that full bottom lip again. “I do. It’s the only thing that’s mine.”

I hear the conviction in her voice, and I frown wondering why she didn’t mention this at dinner when I asked her what she would be doing after school. And then I remember Scarlett’s response and it hits me. Scarlett wants Madison to follow in her footsteps and being the good little daughter, that I bet she is; she doesn’t want to disappoint her mom. “You were humoring your mother earlier.” It’s not a question but more of an observation. I didn’t see any excitement when she was talking about acting.

She sighs, rubbing her temples. “I really don’t want to talk about this right now. And definitely not with you. I don’t even know you.”

I snort. “Sweetheart, it’s obvious you cannot talk to your mother about this so why not me? And no, we don’t know each other.Yet. But we will.” I lean in, enjoying when her breath hitches. I affect her. Good. Because she has damn well affected me. “We will know each otherverywell Madison.”

She pulls back, glaring at me. “Do you have no concept of personal space?”

Grinning, I say, “No. I quite like being in your space.”

“You are being inappropriate,” she hisses and starts gathering up her things.

Pushing to a stand, I smirk down at her. “Oh sweetheart, you don’t know just how inappropriate I can be.” I jerk my head at her laptop. “Stay; I am going to bed.”

She watches me like I am a predator about to pounce and maybe I am. All my earlier thoughts of staying away from her have left my brain. Everything inside me tells me to forget about the consequences. To act on every single one of my primal instincts and claim her. I stare at her, briefly wondering if she is a virgin. Shaking the thought away, I almost snort. Because there is no way a girl that looks like her still has her cherry intact.

I grit my teeth, trying to tamp down the anger I feel at that. It’s irrational but I can’t help the thought that some little asshole took what should have been mine. I pause. What. No. Madison or her virginity does not belong to me. I shake my head. Fuck. I need to get away from her. She must be a witch or something, messing with my mind. Yeah. That must be it. I don’t get territorial over women. Especially not ones I don’t even know.

With one last smile, I get the hell out of the kitchen and upstairs to my assigned room. I feel all fucked up. On the one hand, I want to say fuck everything and taste every inch of the forbidden fruit. But on the other… I need to think about my career, about the contract I entered with Scarlett.

Although our relationship is strictly for show, I know it would hurt her to know I am thinking about her daughter in a sexual way. And no doubt it would completely kill my career. I can imagine the headlines now. I huff a laugh. I hate the fame that comes with playing football. There is also the small promise, I made Brett and Clarissa. I said that I would change. I need to keep my word.

But it would be so good… touching Madison. Kissing Madison.

Sliding under the sheets, I am in two minds. The angel on my shoulder is telling me to do the right thing, be good and stay away from her. Yet the devil is pushing me to cross every line and never look back.

Question is, which one will I listen to?

ChapterSix

MADISON

The first day of my senior year is finally here. And I am so ready for it.

It’s been a weird couple of days since that night in the kitchen. I might be completely wrong, but I swear there was something suggestive in Knox’s tone when he said.“Oh sweetheart, you don’t know just how inappropriate I can be.”

Butterflies erupt in my stomach just thinking about those words and his deep, gravelly voice as he rasped them. I hate to admit it, ashamed even. But my panties were wet after that interaction with him. I can only imagine what would happen if he did get his hands on me. I shake my head quickly, ridding myself of the thought before it can fully develop. What the hell is wrong with me?Ugh. That asshole is messing with my head.

Rolling over, I grab my cell to check the time. Six thirty a.m. I need to leave for school in forty-five minutes. Dropping my phone down, I slide out of bed and head for my en-suite bathroom where I make quick work of showering, cleaning my teeth and moisturizing. Moving back into my bedroom, I grab my uniform. Pulling on the shirt, skirt and knee-high socks, I pad to the floor-length mirror and stare at myself.

My green eyes shine even brighter in the morning light, but I don’t miss the flash of anxiety swimming in them. I’m not worried about school per se; I just know that I become someone I am not when walking the halls of Westview Academy. I only have myself to blame; I know that. But school’s hard. And it’s all about keeping up appearances. I know it’s not just that though. I am drowning in my worry about telling Mom the truth about what I really want to do with my life and the internship. This is why I hate being in LA. I become a fake version of myself.

In New York, I am Madison Devereux, the girl who wants nothing more than to be a wildlife and nature photographer. The dork, who loves to lounge around in sweats, eat junk food, watch documentaries and avoid drama. That’s who I am. That’s the real me.

Here and at school, I become the Madison Devereux my peers expect. Popular cheerleader, sometimes bitch, and the girl who dates the captain of the football team and quarterback, Talan Conetti. Together we are the power couple of Westview. But it’s all a lie. A lie that I must keep up for one more year.

I hate being someone I am not. But it’s a necessity to get through the joys of high school. Kids are vile. If you show any weakness, they will exploit it, step all over you, just to reach the top. It’s utter bullshit but it’s the world we live in, and I can tell you now that Mean Girls got it right with their depiction of school. It is like being in the wild. People you think are friends are probably just waiting for you to fall, so they can take your place. It’s dog-eat-dog at Westview, and I will become anyone I need to stay at the top. Even if it is all just an act, it’s where I’m safe.

I frown.

Maybe my mother is right, and I should follow in her footsteps?

Shaking my head, I drag my hairbrush through my dark hair and pull it into a high pony before coating my lashes in mascara and my lips in gloss. That will do. Grabbing my bag, I make my way out of my bedroom and down the stairs to the kitchen where I find Knox. Alone. My eyes rake over him as I lick my lips. No man should be allowed to be that attractive. In black slacks, that mold to his thick muscular thighs and a shirt that clings to his chiseled body, he is every woman’s wet dream. My cheeks heat and that damn pulse—that seems to be a regular occurrence around him—starts up between my thighs. I shove the feelings he evokes in me down, before ripping my eyes from him. Focus Madi. Make your coffee and get out of here. Moving to the coffee machine, I don’t say a word to him. It’s awkward, especially when I feel his eyes boring into my back, but it’s better than the alternative. Talking to him.

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