Page 35 of Madden

“What are you doing?” I chastise him but don’t resist.

I kneel on the booth seat next to him, and he leans back, trying to reassure me there’s enough space.

When he catches me shimmying the bottom of my dress up to allow room to climb onto him, he reaches his hand down to skate up my thigh, and this time, I turn the tables on him.

I grip the base of his neck, tilting his head back against the seat, and fire blazes in his eyes. He shoots me a warning look and shakes his head.

“Nuh-uh,” he growls.

He pulls his hand away but not before his finger brushes over my panties, and this time, it’s me who’s gasping.

His hand tightens on my hips, urging me onto his lap, and this time I obey. Once I’m straddling him, his hands slide up my legs, banding his arm around my waist and forcing me closer to him.

“I promise this isn’t the only reason I asked you here tonight,” he whispers against my mouth.

“Then what was the reason?”

He eyes my mouth, pressing his palm against the side of my face.

“I’m still trying to convince you I’m not the person you think I am.”

I curl my lip into a smile.

“Two friends having fun, right?”

He leans in to kiss me again, pulling back to whisper, “If that’s what you want to believe, I’ll go with it for now.”

I pull back, my brows deepening.

“Well, what is it you want?” I ask.

He exhales and seems to think about it. Something about sitting this close to him while asking such a serious question feels more raw.

“Do you mean with you or in life?”

“All of it,” I say, seizing the opportunity.

I keep telling myself this is for fun. After ending things with Mitchell, I need to get back into the dating scene.

We live in two different worlds. At some point, I need to face the reality that despite what we want, it may not be possible with each other.

No matter how hard I try to slow down and live in the moment, I can’t change who I am. I’m a planner and like to be able to see the path ahead.

This is what’s terrifying about being with Madden. Everything about this feels so new and unfamiliar, and the future with him seems so unclear.

“I mean, I grew up living an ordinary life in a small town. In the summer, we spent much of our time at the beach or on the boardwalk. I think, on some level, I still want that life. I want a family and to raise my kids where I lived.

“On the other hand, I’ve been chasing this dream forever. It’s my passion and what I love. I want to see how far A Rebels Havoc can go.”

“You and I, we come from two different worlds,” I say, admitting my fears out loud.

“Same world, baby, just different places. We’re living in it together now. Stop lettin’ your pretty little mind come up with every reason this will never work out.”

He still manages to read me like a goddamn book.

He smirks, and I shake my head. “I’m right, aren’t I?” he adds.

“I’m not overthinking anything. I’m being realistic. It’s easy for you to live with your head in the clouds, Mr. Rock Star.”

He catches me off guard when he wraps his hand around my throat and pulls me in to kiss him. Only this time, the heat between us turns all the way up.

His fingers dig into my hips as if he’s holding me, not wanting me to stop him. He hums in appreciation when my body relaxes, his tongue brushing along my mouth until I open up for him.

It’s easy to forget all the things that could go wrong when I’m here with him.

When he pulls back and I press my forehead to his, he whispers, “Live in the moment with me. Please.”

He grips my ass, and I grind my hips against him.

Maybe this is living, but it feels like free-falling, and all I can do is hope he’ll be there to catch me when it all comes crashing down.

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