Page 80 of Thirst Trap

“You already bought it,” Maddison whispered.

“Yeah,” he said, stepping closer, voice dropping. “Because I didn’t want anyone else to touch it. Or you. Because all I could think about was ripping you out of it.”

Her breath caught. Heat pooled.

He circled her, fingers grazing satin, lips brushing her ear.

“You know this isn’t surviving the night, right?”

Her knees went weak. “Then make it worth it, Daddy.”

His growl vibrated through her bones. He tore seams with his hands, fabric sliding from her shoulders in strips. Every kiss, every touch was possession.

“Obsessed,” he murmured.

“Crazy,” she whispered back.

When he pulled her into his lap, the ruined dress hanging in tatters, Maddison rode him until city lights blurred. Lucas clung to her like he’d drown without her, voice breaking on her name. After, he carried her to bed, tucked her in like something precious.

“I’d burn the world for you,” he whispered, softer this time.

She believed him.

Her phone buzzed on the nightstand. Remy.

Still playing fairy tales? Careful, Maddie. Dresses get ruined. Princes too.

Her chest tightened. Panic clawed , her mother’s voice, her sister’s smirk , until Lucas shifted closer, arm heavy at her waist, lips brushing her shoulder.

“Don’t look,” he murmured, half-asleep. “Stay here with me.”

She set the phone face down. Closed her eyes.

The world could wait.

Even Remy.

Because tonight, she was his.

And if the dress was ruined, so be it.

She wasn’t.

Chapter 44

Radio Silence

It had been a week. Seven days since I told Logan Creams to fuck off. Seven days since I watched his shadow get swallowed by city lights. My phone hadn’t stopped since,missed calls, unread texts, voicemails that began with silence and ended with whiskey-soaked apologies.

Now he was outside my building. Again.

From my office window I could see him leaning against the lamppost, hands buried in his pockets, a cigarette burning down to ash. Not even pretending to hide.

“Creep,” I muttered, yanking the blinds shut. My chest betrayed me, tightening at the sight.

Another message blinked onto my screen.

[From: Logan ??]