Page 135 of Messy Strokes (Wrecked Roommates)

He comes a few seconds later, his cock pulsing inside me as he collapses and burrows his head into the crook of my neck, catching his breath.

“Fuck,” he mutters.

I laugh and drag my fingers along his spine. “Pretty much.”

“How’d I wind up being such a lucky bastard, Mads?”

“I, uh, I don’t know about that one,” I return, pushing away my guilt, refusing to let it taint this moment the way it’s tainted so many others.

“I do.” He shifts his weight onto his elbows but stays buried inside me, keeping me pinned beneath him and holding my gaze. “Best mistake I ever made was putting Penny inside you. If she weren’t mine… If you weren’t mine…” He swallows and presses a kiss onto my forehead. “I don’t know where I’d be. Thank you.”

“You don’t need to thank me.”

“I love you, Maddie.”

Almost choking on my guilt, I squeeze my eyes shut and whisper, “I love you, too, Milo.”

More than almost anything.

35

Maddie

“Are you ready?” Milo asks, his arms snaking around my waist and pulling me against him, my back to his chest. He looks incredible. Suave. Decadent. Hell, he looks almost sinful with his hair brushed back and his eyes dark and tempting as they meet mine through the reflection in the bathroom mirror.

It’s amazing how easy we fit. How perfect I feel when I’m in his arms. How he can make me feel safe and protected, yet terrified out of my mind at the same time. Because it’s opening night at the art gallery. And I’m expected to do the impossible. To be in two places at once. To support the love of my life while convincing Marty’s dad Penny belongs to him.

It’s easy to forget about Marty’s texts. About the hole I’ve dug for myself. About the lies I’ve woven together to keep my family intact. But time’s up. Tonight’s the night. And I’m not sure I’m strong enough to go through with it.

Actually, I know I’m not. I don’t know what my other options are, though. The truth is, I don’t have any.

I lean into Milo’s unwavering hold for another second, then turn around in his arms and face him fully, pasting a tight smile onto my face even though a small part of me is dying inside.

“I’m supposed to be getting ready,” I remind him.

“You look ready enough.”

“Oh, I do?”

“Mm-hmm,” he hums, his gaze bouncing from my red-painted lips matching my dress to my wavy hair pinned over my shoulder. “You look gorgeous.”

“Iwilllook gorgeous once I’m finished doing my makeup.”

“No. You look gorgeous right now. Like this.” He cups my cheek. “Thank you for encouraging me to do this. To take a chance. I couldn’t have done it without you.”

“You don’t need to thank me,” I hedge. “If anything, you should be thanking Jos. He’s the one who told me about this little shindig in the first place.”

“Jos would’ve never convinced me to submit a piece.”

“I think you’re giving me too much credit.”

“I’m not. You’ve changed my life, Mads. You’ve made me feel like I can breathe again. Like I can live again. You and Penny…you’re my world.”

The acid in my stomach claws its way up my throat as I stare at the second button on his shirt, desperate to disappear.

I can’t do this. I can’t be looked at like this. Like I’m an angel when I’m the opposite. I bite my lower lip to keep it from quivering and release a slow, unsteady breath, unsure how much longer I can pretend everything’s all right without my façade crumbling around me. I’m sweating.

Man, I’m sweating.

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