Page 201 of Between Secrets and Obsession

Just being around her calms me and is a reminder of why I’m doing all this in the first place. “Fun?” I half-chuckle. “I fought some guy this morning with a lot more experience than me, but I managed to take him down. Tyler was proud.”

“You kicked the guy’s ass?” Maddie grins, looking so damn pretty in her sweater.

“I sure did, but I’m gonna be feeling it later.”

She holds out her hand for a high five. While keeping my eyes on the road, I snicker and slap her hand.

“Good to know the no-sex thing is working.” She laughs, and I roll my eyes. “Though I’ve had to bring BOB back into the shower with me.”

I glare. “You didn’t?”

“A girl has needs.” She smirks, but I’m ninety percent positive she’s joking. Well, maybe eighty.

“Yeah, well blue balls are a bitch.” I pull into a small Italian restaurant and take Maddie’s hand, then kiss her knuckles. “But they’re worth it to know I’ll be able to do whatever I want to you after the fight.”

“I expect A-plus treatment,” she teases. “Kinky, rough, hours long sex.”

Groaning, I get hard at her words. I adjust my crotch and clear my throat. “Alright, time to get out of here before I change my mind and jump you.”

Maddie laughs, grabbing the door handle. “Good idea. Also, I was so gonna suggest this place. I’m starving.”

We get out of the truck and go inside. The place is crowded because it’s not very big, but we’re seated fairly quickly. As soon as the waitress greets us, we order our food and drinks since Maddie only has an hour before she has to be back at school.

“How are classes going?” I ask.

“Imagine choreographing a dance recital while studying for finals and not having an outlet.” She flashes a snarky grin because I know what she’s referring to.

“Sounds like you have some pent-up frustration.” I chuckle.

Maddie scowls. “It’s been hell and exhausting. I can’t wait until Friday when all this shit is over, and I can lounge around in my undies until January.”

“So, only a few more days until I lose my mind and have to start sleeping on the couch.”

She giggles, then moves to sit next to me in the booth. “I mean, I won’t tell if you won’t.”

“You’re the devil, aren’t you? Temptation and all.” I wrap my arm around her, and she looks up with pleading eyes. I plant a soft kiss on her lips, and she moans into my mouth. After the fight, we’re going to lock ourselves in her room for a month.

“I might be.” She waggles her brows, and before I can say anything, our spaghetti and meatballs are being placed in frontof us. Maddie stays next to me, and I place my palm on her leg, needing to touch her. I’ve been eating healthy all week, and after the fight this morning, I knew I needed to replenish my body. The two of us eat like we’ve haven’t had a bite in a week, and there’s not a morsel left on either of our plates by the time we’re done.

Maddie leans back and places a hand on her stomach. “I don’t know how I’m gonna walk with this spaghetti baby.”

Her words cause me to nearly spit out my water. That’s one thing about her. She always keeps me laughing.

After I pay the bill and drive her toward campus, we chat about the weather and Christmas and everything in between.

“Hallmark movie marathon this weekend,” she demands. “You kinda owe me.”

Scrunching up my nose, I try to get out of it, but it’s a losing battle. “Fine. But you’re baking those amazing cookies you made last year.”

“If we’re giving demands…” She waggles her brows and bites her lip.

I park in front of the dance hall and lean over, then take her cheeks in my palms. She leans forward, our lips brushing together, and I don’t want her to go. I want to be stingy and take her home. Before I leave for Vegas, I’ve been trying to spend as much time with her as I can. The clock’s ticking. We both know the fight is coming, but for the most part, we don’t talk about the what-ifs. There are too many.

What if I lose? What if I die? What if I’m badly hurt? What if JJ doesn’t keep his word?

It’s made things tense and awkward, so we try not to bring it up, and we’ve been overly careful in public, watching our backs at all times. She’s worried, and I am too, but we’re making the best out of it.

“I love you so fucking much,” I tell her as we break apart, my heart racing as I want more of her.