Page 52 of Madden

He sighs. “Thanks.”

I push my covers down my chest and brush my hair away from my face.

“The only thing missing was you.”

My body relaxes, and I nod, as if he can see me. “I wish I was there.” My voice cracks. “I’ll see you soon, though. I got the time off work, so it looks like you got a friend for the drop party.”

He chuckles. “I’ll have the most beautiful date there.”

I’m impressed I managed to set my alarm and even made it to work on time the next morning.

For the rest of the week, I’m going through the motions. Madden and the guys have more press while they’re on the West Coast before they fly back to Carolina Beach.

We’ve kept in touch, talking daily every chance we get. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t looking forward to seeing him.

If anything, this has only solidified that whatever is going on between us means a lot more to me than some meaningless fling.

I think what terrifies me most is that it’s not to him.

My flight arrives in Wilmington on Friday evening. I told Madden not to worry about picking me up when he mentioned having practice with the guys. So when the sliding glass doors open outside the airport and I see him standing next to his car, I can’t help but grin.

I glance around me, my eyes shooting from side to side before I take off running toward him.

“Gettin’ a little risky, don’t you think? Going out without the big guys hired to protect you.” I smirk.

He curls his lip and shakes his head, pulling me toward him. His large arm swoops around me, holding me snug against his body when he leans in and grumbles in my ear.

“I can protect myself just fine, thank you.”

I tilt my head back, running my finger over his chest. “So big and strong. I think you’re right.”

He releases me and steps back, shaking his head. “Get in the car.”

I giggle when he reaches for the door handle, holding the door for me while I climb in.

When he takes the seat next to me, he leans in close, his warm breath heating my neck up to my ear.

“Wait until we get back to my place,” he taunts. “I’ll show you just how strong I am.”

My breath hitches, and I turn toward him, my eyes tracing over his sharp jaw down to where his muscles flex in his forearm when he grips the steering wheel.

“Care to elaborate?” I ask.

He grins and shakes his head. “You’ll have to wait.”

I start to think back to when he was in NYC and stayed at my place. The way he carried me to my room and tossed me onto my bed like I weighed nothing.

The thought spurs something inside me, and I lean against his arm, running my finger over his chest and down his stomach to the bulge growing in his jeans.

“I think I’ve waited long enough, don’t you?”

“Brielle,” he warns.

“Madden…” I hum, peppering kisses along his cheek to his ear.

He leans his head into me, and I grin when I notice the slight shiver when I flick my tongue over his earlobe, earning me a low growl.

He floors it, his car zipping in and out of traffic, keeping his eyes trained on the road while I continue my slow torture. Each brush of my hand over his body pushes him an inch farther.

---