Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 107115 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 428(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107115 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 428(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
She was terrified it would come to that, and she wouldn’t be able to live with the pain or the guilt. “I’m not worried for me. I’m worried about you.”
And us.
“Don’t. Todd may have connections, but I know how to protect myself. We just have to stay strong, use the time we can get away from the asshole, and outlast the Pershings. If we do that, we’ll walk away together and never look back.”
“I want that.” Madison hoped that after her three-month penance, she could simply put her hand in Matt’s and walk into the sunset with him, especially since the man she loved seemed to want her for more than mind-blowing sex. She wanted forever with him…but even if he wanted the same, Todd would never make that easy.
“I’m not going to give you up a second time, especially to him,” Matt vowed. “I was serious when I said you’re mine.”
She felt his words deep in her heart. “I made such a stupid mistake when I married Todd. I’ve wished a thousand times that I could go back. I’d always pick you.”
Matt dropped a worshipping kiss on her lips, so different from the desperate, fevered kisses they’d shared minutes ago. This was slow and full of a completely different sort of passion, the kind that came from a place far deeper than his sex drive. It warmed every corner of Madison and filled her with hope. After the last three horrible years, maybe she and Matt could work it out and live happily ever after. Didn’t the universe at least owe them a chance?
The thought was an enticing one, but useless. The universe owed them nothing, and she feared some mistakes were forever.
Madison clung to him, pressing herself against his damp skin, drinking in the scent of his body, and trying to commit this moment to memory forever. She didn’t even want to think about the long three months ahead. She refused to imagine the rest of her life without him.
After another tender kiss, Matt pressed their foreheads together. “And I’d definitely pick you over my freak-out. I didn’t handle that well. I’m more fucking sorry than you know.”
“Your dad’s girlfriend committing suicide in his kitchen was a lot. I understand. It’s okay.”
“It’s not.” He grazed her still overheated cheek with his thumb. “I knew the guys you’d dated in the past had always abandoned you. I never meant to make you feel like you weren’t important. You are, honey. More than you know. I wanted you in ways I didn’t know how to deal with.”
“You’re important to me, too.” He was everything to her. “And we’ve both made mistakes.”
“More than a few. We won’t be perfect, but we need to communicate and be honest. We can’t fuck up that horrifically again.”
“You’re right,” she said as he slowly pulled free and disposed of his condom.
Even with a mere few feet of distance between them, Madison had to shove down tears as she crawled off the bed and stripped the sheets. She didn’t want to be weepy or clingy. She shouldn’t be a pessimist, either. But if she was already anxious about how long she and Matt would have to wait to be together again, before she could show him without words how much she loved him, how on earth would she keep her shit together until the midterms? The trials in front of them felt daunting. Madison tried not to let anxiety defeat her.
In silence, they stacked their few possessions in Jack’s duffel and set it by the door, then systematically cleaned the cabin. Madison bagged up the last of the trash. As they heard the whine of the boat’s motor in the distance, Matt carried their belongings outside and killed the generator.
Their idyll was over. Her stomach tightened. Dread sat like lead in every corner of her body.
Matt eased beside her in the humid heat of the July evening. Around her, birds flew, insects buzzed, and gators lazed. For those creatures, life went on as normal. Hers was falling off a cliff. The Pershings would expect her to put on the straitjacket of “acceptable” behavior for public perception. This time, Todd would tighten her bindings because there would be more eyes on her. And because he was an asshole. Matt would be beside her, but she couldn’t take comfort or pleasure from him without risking everything.
He pulled her against his side as the rattle of the boat motor came closer. She closed her eyes and tried to disappear into his touch. He tightened his hold, his embrace telling her that he was there with and for her. As much as Madison might have appreciated pretty lies in that moment, she was glad he didn’t bother with platitudes.
“Where are we spending tonight, do you know?”
“Not exactly, but I have guesses.”