Page 47 of The Billionaire and the Stripper (The Manhattan Billionaires)

When Maddie was tired of walking, Marcus bought her a hot chocolate and she sat down on a bench to drink it. A sudden gust of wind had me shivering and I realized that my coat wasn’t warm enough for the sudden dip in temperature. I pulled the lapels together and tried not to shiver visibly.

Marcus moved to stand right behind me and enclosed me within the folds of his coat. I moaned softly at the feel of his body against mine. He wrapped his hands around my middle and nuzzled the side of my neck.

“Warm enough?” he murmured.

I nodded slowly, unable to put into words how I felt.

“Do you still think I should spend time with Ruby?” he asked sardonically.

I tried to reach behind me and stomp his foot, but he held me even tighter as he laughed softly in my ear.

“Tell me,” he demanded.

“Fine! If you must know, I hate the very idea. Are you happy now?”

“Almost, but not quite,” he said, kissing the top of my head.

Maddie was done with her hot chocolate, and we began walking again. I wondered where we were headed. And if he wasn’t dating Ruby, then, was he waiting for me?

“Marcus,” I began hesitantly.

“All in good time, Celine. I’m giving you a lot of time and space this time around. I want us to be so sure of each other that there’s no room for doubts and suspicions ever again.”

I smiled at him slowly.

That did make sense. But I wished he’d hurry up because I wanted him to hold me again. And God, I wanted to kiss him. I missed those magic kisses. But he didn’t make me wait too long.

This time, when he dropped me off, he came to my door and kissed me goodnight. A long, sweet, bone-melting kiss that had Maddie giggling loudly from the car.

CHAPTER 19

MARCUS

Iswear I was planning to take it slow this time. I was going to woo Celine the old-fashioned way. I was going to show her she could trust me. But she smelled like vanilla and spices, and I hadn’t touched her in a very long time. I was starving for her.

It was supposed to be just a quick good night peck on the lips, but it turned into a long, sweet kiss that only left me aching for more. Rose shrieked with laughter from her car seat which I was still holding, and I could hear Maddie giggling from the car.

Celine smiled against my lips and pulled away slowly.

“We have an audience,” she reminded me.

I blew out a breath and stared into her beautiful eyes.

“What are you doing tomorrow?”

She blinked a few times before she answered.

“Tomorrow? Oh, Tia and I have plans. It’s New Year’s Eve, and we’re having a girl’s night out in Times Square.”

Maybe the kiss had addled my brain because I was sure Celine couldn’t have said anything so stupid. Then I sighed. Of course, she’d said it. Because she was clearly trying to drive me crazy.

“Have the two of you gone mad? After all that Leo and I have done to keep her safe, you’re going to risk it all on one night out,” I roared.

Rose let out an angry wail and Celine’s nostrils flared as she glared at me.

“Look what you did,” she snapped, taking Rose out of the car seat and bouncing her in her arms as she cried. “And thank you for treating me like an idiot yet again, Marcus.”

“Oh, come on! What else am I supposed to say? Monani is still looking for Tia, and you’ve seen what he’s capable of doing. Why would you take such a risk?”

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