Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 75142 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75142 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
“I could … use your studio?” I asked, momentarily lost in shock. His studio was a multimillion-dollar complex, and there was no fucking way I’d be able to afford it. It was basically being used for only the highest-dollar projects. I still couldn’t believe we’d gotten it for Academy.
“Sure. Why not?”
“Um … I could never afford it.”
Maddox shot me a look. “I invented it. And there are three people in the entire world who can run it. I trained the other two people, so I wouldn’t have to be there every day. That’s why it costs studios so much to work with me. I’m not charging you.”
I opened my mouth and then realized I had nothing to say. What he was offering was outrageous and so utterly generous.
“I … I don’t even have an idea.”
He shrugged. “So what? If you’re not auditioning, you’ll figure out what you want to work on. You have money. You have time. The project will come to you. I believe in you.”
Could I do what he was suggesting? Was that even possible? My agent would probably have a fit if I told her that I didn’t want any more auditions. But it wasn’t her career; it was mine. I had Maddox. He was here, fighting for me to be the best version of myself. I’d never thought I’d have that. I’d never thought any of this could be possible.
“What do you think? Tell me what’s going on in that beautiful head of yours.”
“I’m lucky to have you.”
He beamed. “Well, that’s true.”
I stood on my tiptoes and pressed a kiss to his lips. He wrapped his arms tight around my waist and deepened the kiss.
“Thank you,” I whispered. I sniffled again.
“For the kiss?”
I rolled my eyes at him. “For talking me down. For … believing in me.”
“Josie,” he said, cupping my cheek, “I love you.”
Tears came to my eyes all over again at those words. “I love you too.”
“God, you don’t know how good it is to hear you say that.”
“Oh, I think I do.”
He dropped his mouth on mine again. It was slow and possessive. With those three words, I belonged to him. I always had, but we’d sealed it. There was nowhere else I wanted to be. Nowhere else that I felt safe and cared for. Maddox was willing to fight for me. He’d loved me when I was nobody and when I was a television star and when I was once again a nobody. He loved me just how I was. And somewhere in all of my own panic about my career, I’d forgotten how valuable that was. I didn’t have to do all of this alone.
“Come on,” he said, taking my hand and drawing me out of the building.
“Where are we going?”
“Home.”
Twenty minutes later, Maddox was opening the door to Gran’s house. He let Walt outside, got him inside with a bone, and then tugged me into the renovated master bedroom.
“I love you,” he said.
He kissed my shoulder.
“I love you.”
He dragged down the zipper on my dress.
“I love you.”
Another kiss at the base of my neck.
“I love you.”
My dress puddled on the ground.
“Oh, look. I was right. I do like it better on the ground.”
I laughed and reached for him, stripping him out of his button-up and slacks. We fell onto the bed. Our bodies intertwined among the sheets. His hands traced a map of my skin. Mine moved through his dark hair, running through the curly strands. Our lips molded together. We writhed against each other. No distance or time between us. Every touch and kiss and feel heated and intense.
As if sparks were under my skin, and they ignited every place he touched.
I couldn’t get enough of him. Couldn’t get close enough. Our chests and hips pushed together. Our legs tangled. Our arms locked around each other. And still, I wanted more. I wanted to feel all of him until we were one.
“Please,” I gasped against his lips.
“I love you,” he said again as he kissed along my jaw.
“More,” I pleaded.
The scruff of his five o’clock shadow dragged along my neck as he brought his kisses lower and then across my collarbone.
“I want all of you, Josie.”
“I’m yours.”
He lifted my leg higher around his hip, angling our bodies to meet. The first touch of him at my entrance had me seeing stars. I was so enraptured with him that everything was heightened tenfold.
“Is this what you want?” he asked, his voice low and throaty.
“Yes. Oh God, yes.”
“Tell me you love me.”
“I love you so much,” I said, claiming his mouth again.
He thrust inside of me in the same moment, and we both cried out at the joining. We fit together like the missing puzzle piece. Whole and complete.
We could barely move in this position, but we didn’t need to. Just the rocking of our hips was enough friction to push me toward the edge. With all the heat and contact, it was as emotional as it was physical. A coupling born of love and not just primal need. But I wanted him here in my heart as much as I wanted him here inside of me.