Page 27 of Madden

He chuckles. “Well, I guess I’m hoping it’ll make you less nervous to talk to me.”

“Nervous? You don’t make me nervous,” I lie. Even the words sound forced rolling off my tongue.

The truth is, he does make me nervous. His confidence, the way he carries himself, and how he doesn’t hesitate to go after what he wants is both sexy and intimidating. He commands a presence, and you can’t help but be drawn to him.

“Brielle,” he says. The way he says my name gives me butterflies. “Don’t lie to me, baby.”

I squeeze my eyes shut and blindly reach for the counter, stumbling to set my glass down. It nearly goes crashing to the floor before my hand brushes the edge of the marble and my eyes fly open.

“Madden, we’ve gone over this. I think if you thought about it too, you’d agree nothing good could come from this.”

“From what? Talking to me?”

I curl my lip. “You know what I’m talkin’ about. Don’t play coy.”

He chuckles. “All right, you’re right. Can I tell you somethin’, though?”

“What?”

“I haven’t been able to stop thinkin’ about kissin’ you again since you left.”

I suck in a sharp breath and shake my head. This is what I was afraid of.

I know better than to think Madden Cole could ever want anything more than a fling.

He’s a rock ’n’ roll god in the music industry. He could have any woman he wants, and I’ve somehow caught his attention.

For now, anyway.

It’s only a matter of time. He’ll meet someone new out on the road or at one of his shows, someone who’s there and ready to jump at the chance to give him what he wants, and he’ll forget all about me.

This is exactly why I refuse to let this get between me and my career. My job at Limelight is everything I’ve dreamed of.

I’m finally doing what I’ve busted my ass to do, and I’m not about to throw it all away over a fling that won’t mean anything to him after the article is published in a few weeks.

Still, it doesn’t change how he knows exactly what to say, how damn attracted I am to him, or how badly I wish I could have just one night with him.

I’ve never had a one-night stand, but with him I want to try.

Even if it’s kept between us, and no one ever finds out. There’s no harm if my boss never finds out, right?

Except maybe when it’s over, and I’m left trying to forget having his hands on me and those dirty words in my ear. I refuse to let him take my heart and destroy it, though.

It will be fine if I keep reminding myself it’s all for fun. I could use a little fun in my life.

Hell, look at me. I’m sitting at home alone for the seventh night in a row with nothing but another glass of wine.

“I haven’t been able to stop thinkin’ about it either,” I admit, dragging my lip between my teeth.

“Now that wasn’t so hard, was it?”

I smirk, and for a second, I wish I could take it back. Until he releases a throaty sigh and the sound makes my heart and pussy flutter. It reminds me of the noises he made when we first met, and dammit if I don’t wish those moans were for me.

“When I was talkin’ to you earlier at work, all I could think about was you sitting at your desk. I bet you look beautiful in your dress, those killer fuckin’ legs tempting me when you cross them, and your delicious lips begging for me to have a taste.”

Oh God. I press my palm to my chest, feeling my heart rate kick into high gear. How can he do this to me when he’s hundreds of miles away?

“I want so badly to dirty you up for me.”

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