Page 142 of Sugar

It was made better because I was in his arms with my body half on his. A smile curved my mouth even as my lids grew heavy, but I wouldn’t be able to sleep.

Not until I told him something.

“You get me.”

“What?” he asked. Unlike me, there was no sleepiness in his alert voice.

“You’re the first person in my whole life who gets me. Who understands those dark desires that I didn’t even really understand before you. Any time I brought it up with someone, it ended in frustration, cringe, or both. After a while, I stopped trying and just ignored that part of me. With you, I didn’t have to ask for anything. You gave me what I was looking for without me saying a single word.”

“Madeline—”

I pressed my fingers to his mouth. “Hold on. Beyond what you do for me so effortlessly, you’re brilliant. You have a dry wit and a self-deprecating sense of humor that I find insanely endearing. You’re generous with your time, energy, attention, and dick. And you might be older than me, but that’s not a bad thing. I think we can be honest about how many times you’ve caught me checking you out because you’re sexy. And all of that is why I’m with you.”

I let out a squeak as he rolled us suddenly so his body covered mine, but I still didn’t move my fingers or stop explaining. “Well, that and you told me—not asked me—to be there tonight. But none of that is Chase Majors’ business. It was easier to let his hot air run out. Not to mention, if I was going to cause a scene every time a guy doesn’t take no as a complete sentence, I’d get nothing done. The guy was a creep. Spoiler alert, a lot of men are. Which is why every woman learns way too young that the safest thing to do is not respond to arrogant men. Not because I agreed with him or liked it or?—”

“Enough, Madeline.”

I pressed my lips closed.

“You don’t owe me an explanation,” he said. “But I owe you an apology. I let my jealousy get to me, and I took it out on you.”

“I liked how you did that once we got to Gilded,” I interjected.

And I had. Unlike other guys I’d dated, Easton didn’t turn the fight into a full hissy fit. He hadn’t spitefully lashed out by making me watch at Gilded while he flirted—or did more—with other women to remind me that he had other options, too. All he’d wanted was me.

Me on my knees and handcuffed to his chair, but still…

Me.

“Hush.” He paused. “But noted. Hearing what he said to you… Seeing his hands on you… But I should’ve done my job to keep you safe, not get wrapped in my own bullshit. It won’t happen again.”

He dropped down to kiss me. Unlike the urgent, fervent ones earlier, that one was slow. Tender. Savoring.

Beautiful.

He pulled back just far enough to rest his forehead on mine. His minty breath fanned across my face. “I get you because you’re mine. And you get me because I’m just as much yours.”

Chapter 30

Approach the Bench

MADDIE

It’s a good thing Itold my parents about Easton when I did…

Sitting at brunch on Sunday, Greer flipped through photos fromOld Flame’spremiere a couple nights prior. “I can’t believe you went from never posting pictures of yourself online to having your beautiful face plastered all over the internet.”

“It’s not all over,” I pointed out. “Usually, it’s just my elbow that’s visible.” I patted said elbow. “Hear that, baby? You’re a star.”

Greer rolled her eyes.

“Wren would’ve found that funny.” I sighed forlornly at her empty spot. “I still can’t believe she ditched us.”

“Chris had some big surprise planned.”

“That’s so sweet.”

“I know. She was excited about it.”