《Pregnant Too Young Daddy Is A Billionaire Jock》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Michelle I¡¯m afraid of most men. I haven¡¯t told anyone, and I¡¯m not seeing a therapist about it, but it all started after I was raped. Of course, no one knows about that either. I¡¯m scared no one would believe me. Especially since I¡¯m not beautiful, tall, or attractive. I¡¯m a short little book nerd brte. An introverted nobody, and it was a famous football yer on campus who forced himself on me. Why did he do that? Why me? Those exact thoughts are why I keep it a secret. No one would believe me if I said Thomas Hennington pushed me into the wall and forced his junk inside me. Thinking about it makes me sick to the stomach. It happened during my first frat party before any sses had started. Thomas was drunk, but that is not an excuse. What he did was wrong. Yet I feel guilty that I was there. It feels like everything is my fault. Sometimes it makes me want to cry. But no one would believe me if I told them what Thomas did. Therefore, I keep my mouth shut and try not to think about it. I¡¯m not wealthy enough to see a therapist, and I will be fine. I can handle this. There is worse stuff happening in this world. I¡¯m not pregnant¡ªI checked. And my fear of men is a phase that will pass. Despite the mess inside my head, I silently tap away on myptop inside the library. Since its the first year of college, our professor wanted us to bond and make new friends. He grouped us two-and-two to make a presentation together, but my partner wasn¡¯t there. I actually consider myself lucky because I¡¯m supposed to be working with a guy¡ªMaddox Daniels. And although all the girls squealed, I didn¡¯t want to be paired with a guy. Maddox Daniels sounds like a super scary name too. And all the girls called him hot. Sexy. One girl sighed and fought the professor to switch partners with me; what the heck was that all about? Girls are weird¡­ Yawning, I take a deep breath and stand up from my chair. I¡¯m getting hungry and should leave the library. I live with two other girls in a tiny apartment. They usually eat my food, but there might be something left. I roll my shoulders and reach for myptop. But before I can grab it and get out of here, heavy footfalls approach me. ¡°Hey, you!¡± I slowly turn around and freeze. Holy shit. Who is that? Anxiety churns in my stomach when I lift my chin. An insanely colossal guy is heading in my direction. A grey hoodie hugs his muscr arms, and I¡¯m forced to lift my chin to meet his irritated eyes; that¡¯s how tall he is. Judging by his ripped body type, he must be into sports. Football or wrestling? A lineman? Hard to tell, but it must be a position that requires height. I would guess he is six-foot-five, or possibly six-foot-six. Regardless, he is intimidating and handsome. Enough to make me forget how to function. I just stand there like a fool, staring at him while my IQ rapidly drops to zero. Is he a movie star? I¡¯m pretty sure I¡¯m gaping like a goldfish when the broody guy crosses his arms over his mighty chest. ¡°You¡¯re Michelle Henriksson, right?¡± Deep, authoritative voice. I gulp and whisper. ¡°Yes.¡± His relentless eyes dig into mine, and he takes a step closer. I¡¯m suddenly mere inches from him. The fabric of his hoodie almost brushes against me. He obviously lacks respect for personal space. Scary. I would get away from him if the table wasn¡¯t behind me, but I¡¯m captured like prey. ¡°To think I actually found you in the library¡­¡± the guy mutters. ¡°It must be my lucky day or something¡­¡± I continue to stare at him. His chest is ridiculously broad, and the surrounding air screams arrogance. This might be the most intimidating guy I¡¯ve ever met. ¡°Are you listening to me?¡± No, I¡¯m checking you out. ¡°Y-yes¡­¡± He sighs. ¡°The teacher said he gave you my number¡ªwhy didn¡¯t you text or call me? We should work on this together.¡± ¡°Uhhh¡­?¡± ¡°What was that?¡± He leans in closer and boxes me further into the table. Having him so close makes my heart pound. ¡°Wait. Are you challenged or something?¡± I open my mouth, but not a soundes out. The scary guy leans closer. He seems to be checking my eyes, and I hold my breath. Is he going to hurt me? I freeze as he res at me, too nervous about making a move. Too damn scared of him. ¡°Are you on drugs?¡± I shake my head. ¡°Well, why haven¡¯t you called?¡± ¡°C-called?¡± I stammer. He raises his voice while towering over me. ¡°Yes, Michelle?! We are supposed to work together! Exin yourself! Why didn¡¯t you text or call me? Talk, for fuck¡¯s sake!¡± Work together? ¡°I¡¯m¡­¡± His eyes narrow. ¡°Speak louder, like a normal person! No one is going to hear you if you mumble like that¡­¡± I gulp. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Tears are prickling behind my eyelids already, and my tongue darts to lick my lips. Did he mistake me for someone else? ¡°I¡¯m¡­ Sorry¡­ But who are you?¡± My words make him drop his arms from his chest. He sighs and takes a step back to leave my personal space. I¡¯m still shocked by his size. What do they feed this guy with? Screaming vigers? He is huge. Also ridiculously attractive, but in a ¡°he might be a serial killer¡± way that shoots shudders up my spine. I watch him slowly walk away from me to pull out a chair and sit by the table. His lips move. ¡°Sit down.¡± I stare at him harder, unsure what to say or do. ¡°Are you¡ª¡­¡± When I sink my teeth into my lower lip, the guy res at me with anger ticking against his jaw. ¡°Seriously, don¡¯t you have any clue who I am?!¡± I shake my head. ¡°There is a fucking poster of me hanging on the campus wall, and you don¡¯t know who I am?¡± I shake my head again. ¡°Fucking hell¡­¡± He rakes his hand through his sandy hair, shaking his head like I¡¯m the weirdo. ¡°I¡¯m Maddox Daniels, your project partner. Now, do you have a speech-rted disability or something?¡± No, I¡¯m just¡­ Scared around men. Especially around Maddox Daniels. Wait. Why does he have a poster on the campus wall? Never mind, I should answer him. I whisper, ¡°No¡­ I can talk fine¡­¡± ¡°Then speak louder, okay? I can¡¯t afford to fail this ss,¡± Maddox is eyeing myptop like a predator. ¡°What do you have so far? And why aren¡¯t you sitting down?¡± I carefully retake my seat. I¡¯m shaking, yet I somehow find my voice. ¡°I haven¡¯t gotten that far yet with¡ª¡± Maddox rolls his eyes and grabs the side of my screen. He pulls theptop over so he can see my work. ¡°Hmmm¡­¡± Maddox hums. I¡¯m close to passing out. My heart is racing, and my nerves root me to the spot. I¡¯m not sure what to do with myself. Maddox¡¯s eyes roam over my screen. ¡°Who the hell decides to make a presentation about Sweden when you could choose any goddamn country in the world?¡± ¡°Uhhh¡­¡± ¡°And that man in the picture, is he fucking skinny dipping?¡± Maddox looks away from the screen, sizing me up. ¡°Wow, even the most innocent-looking girls are fucking predators. Don¡¯t judge a book by its cover. You can¡¯t trust anyone these days.¡± Is he talking about the man jumping off a cliff into the water in one of my pictures? And we are writing about Norway, not Sweden! ¡°We¡­ We are writing about Norway.¡± His eyebrows shoot up into his hairline, but the relentless, unfriendly expression returns a secondter. ¡°I knew that¡ªI can see the g!¡± Why do I get the feeling he had no clue? ¡°Good¡­¡± ¡°Seriously, I knew it was Norway we were working on all along. I¡¯m not a total idiot.¡± For some reason, I have to bite back a smile. Maddox Daniels is weird. ¡°Sure.¡± Maddox res at me. ¡°I was only testing you.¡± He does this weird thing with his fingers, pointing two at his eyes and then letting them point at mine. ¡°Just checking that your head is in the game.¡± Head is in the game? Who the heck is this guy?! I stare at him. I¡¯m half-convinced that Maddox is insane. But I judge it might be better not to upset him by stating that thought. He is big and could easily hurt me¡ªI should keep my mouth shut not to get on his wrong side. ¡°Are you not happy with my choice of Norway?¡± I think Norway is one of the prettiest countries in the entire world. ¡°No, Norway is fine,¡± Maddox shoots back theptop to my side of the table. I can¡¯t calm my racing heart around him. ¡°I will forgive you for not calling or texting me. You have done well, but tomorrow we will walk here directly after ss. Together. Capish?¡± Words won¡¯t find me, and Maddox grunts. ¡°Is that understood, Michelle?¡± I blush. ¡°Y-yes.¡± His eyes rake me up and down. Maddox appears daunting. Unapproachable. He is probably also used to getting what he wants. His whole demeanor screams power and control. I can see it mirrored in his arrogant eyes and feel it in the tense air around him. Strenght. Leadership. ¡°Louder.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t hear you, Michelle.¡± I weakly inhale before raising my voice. ¡°Yes, we will walk here tomorrow.¡± His eyes narrow. ¡°Together.¡± Wow, so bossy. ¡°Together.¡± ¡°And you won¡¯t stand me up.¡± I wouldn¡¯t dare. ¡°I won¡¯t stand you up.¡± ¡°Finally, I can hear what you¡¯re saying,¡± Maddox says without breaking into a smile, but he appears more pleased. He stands up. ¡°Continue working on that presentation, okay?¡± What?! Where is he going? Isn¡¯t he going to help me?! I force out my shy voice. ¡°W-where are you going?¡± He lifts an eyebrow. ¡°Aren¡¯t you hungry? I¡¯m fetching us a pizza down the block. It will take me half an hour. You will still be here.¡± Maddox turns around without waiting for a response, and I blink after him. Stunned. The arrogance of that guy. You will still be here. Seriously? I shudder. Guys with that kind of bossy attitude scare me. Maddox Daniels scares me. He is the epitome of what scary guys look like. Another shudder. I can¡¯t ever see myself getting along with him¡­ Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Michelle It¡¯s gottente, and I¡¯m still at the library. Unhappiness is all around. I¡¯ve barely gotten any work done because of my jittering nerves. And it¡¯s all thanks to this big guy, Maddox. He is feasting on thest pizza slice while sitting next to me in a chair to see my disy. I¡¯m so ufortable. Why does he have to be in my space all the time?! Timidly, I nce at the clock on the wall and repress a groan. It¡¯ste, and I should head home. It¡¯s relieving to finally leave Maddox, but¡­ Instead of feeling achieved after a long hardworking a day, I¡¯m anxious. The work isn¡¯t halfway done! Why did the teacher have to team me up with Maddox? He iszy and does nothing for the team, while I like to stay ahead of my game! All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Wait. Game? Jesus Christ, now I¡¯m even starting to sound like Maddox! ¡°Are you holding silent conversations with yourself again?¡± Maddox asks while peeling a banana. He is such a bastard, beautiful, albeit a bastard. I don¡¯t dare to meet his eyes. He has already figured out that he frightens me; that¡¯s why he is close. Maddox is the type of person who likes to bask in other people¡¯s difort. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t hold silent conversations with myself.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Sure? ¡°I mean it.¡± Maddox calmly takes another bite of fruit. Smacking his tongue against his pte. I find it annoying, which is probably why he does it. ¡°I have another question.¡± I repress a sigh. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Do all men frighten you, or is it just me?¡± I stare at his muscles and unyielding expression, gulping. ¡°W-what makes you think I¡¯m afraid of men?¡± He shrugs a massive shoulder. ¡°You had no trouble talking to the librarian earlier. She is a woman¡­ But you shuddered in your chair when that gang of teenage boys walked past. You also wore this priceless expression, like you would shit in your pants.¡± Sadness wraps me up like a breakfast burrito while Maddox, the brutish bastard,ughs at his own words. Rude. Why does he have to be such an ass about everything he says? ¡°Its¡­ It¡¯s not nice to make fun of someone for what they fear. You don¡¯t know what they have been through¡­¡± Maddox smiles evilly from his chair, amused. ¡°Ah, what have you gone through then. Let me guess: bullying?¡± How can he say that so easily?! I bite down on my lower lip to keep the tears at bay. I dislike being put on the spot like this. Maddox doesn¡¯t need to hear my backstory. Especially since he probably doesn¡¯t even really care. Yet I whisper, ¡°No, not bullying¡­¡± Rape. Abuse from my parents. Loneliness. Not that I would ever say that out loud¡­ Maddox leans his cheek against the palm of his hand, eyeing me. ¡°What is it that you¡¯ve gone through then?¡± I avert my eyes from him. ¡°It¡¯s nothing¡­¡± ¡°Tell me.¡± Seriously? What makes Maddox think he can just ask me anything? He isn¡¯t my friend or goddamn therapist! We hardly know each other! ¡°Its¡­ It¡¯s none of your business.¡± ¡°Sorry? What was that?¡± Maddox grins wolfishly. ¡°Speak louder; I didn¡¯t hear you.¡± ¡°I¡ª¡± ¡°You¡¯re whispering again.¡± ¡°I said it¡¯s none of your business!¡± I exim, teary-eyed and shaking out of both fear and irritation. ¡°Holy fuck!¡± Maddox lets out a sharpugh. ¡°You look like you¡¯re about to piss yourself again!¡± My only response is to stare at him, a little breathless and with my heart hammering against my chest. Even my lips are quivering. ¡°You¡¯re such a weirdo¡­¡± Maddox shakes his head at me. ¡°You don¡¯t possess a single assertive bone in that spine, do you?¡± His words cut like knives. I try not to show him my emotions and sit still, hoping he will get bored and stop harassing me. But no chance in hell will this jackass leave me alone. Maddox isn¡¯t afraid of confrontation; that much is clear. In fact, he seems to be in his element, as if he enjoys making me squirm in difort. ¡°Hey, I asked a question!¡± I swallow tears. ¡°Why are you always so rude?¡± ¡°Rude?¡± Maddox wrinkles his nose, lifting an eyebrow. ¡°Excuse me?¡± Despite the unsettling feeling in my chest, I re at him. ¡°Yes. You could be nicer¡­ you¡¯re mean.¡± ¡°Nicer? Pfft¡­¡± Maddox snorts. ¡°And I¡¯m not mean. I say things how they are. There is a difference! I¡¯m honest.¡± I swallow thickly. Maddox is a bully. For some reason, his nostrils re. ¡°Whatever,¡± Maddox rises to stretch and stands to his full height. ¡°Grab your shit, and let¡¯s get out of here. I¡¯m driving you home.¡± I blink. ¡°You¡¯re driving me home?¡± ¡°Are you deaf? That¡¯s what I just said. I saw you walking to school today, so I¡¯m giving you a ride. Where do you live?¡± He saw me walking to school? Did he know who I was already? I have so many questions¡­ ¡°Umm¡­¡± ¡°For fuck¡¯s sake¡­¡± Maddox sighs loudly. ¡°Can you at least write it down in a text message for me?¡± I can do that without himughing? Hastily, I pick up my phone. I eagerly type down my address and give it to an impatient Maddox. ¡°Hmm, that¡¯s quite far from here¡­¡± Maddoxments and walks away from me without handing back my phone. Uh. Did Maddox just steal my phone? I gape after his broad shoulders and solid muscle. He is like a mountain that grew legs and decided to start walking. No way could I ever fight him for my phone. I just have to ept that I don¡¯t own one anymore. Maddox suddenly stops. ¡°Youing, or what?¡± Oh. OH. I quickly grab my things and slip them into my bag while Maddox is whistling inside the library. Heads are turned his way, yet no one dares to interrupt the loud behemoth. I hurry to catch up with him but slip over the newly polished floor. There is a squeak from my shoes, and I gasp. I expect to make a fool out of myself. But instead, I¡¯m caught. Finally feeling like I have myself under control again, I slowly lift my eyes to see Maddox staring at me, concern written all over his face. His thick arms are holding me. He saved me. My insides flutter. ¡°Are you hurt?¡± I shake my head with my heart pounding. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Maddox helps me stand. ¡°They should put down a sign that says the floor is slippery. Fucking idiots.¡± I smile. ¡°There usually is a sign¡­¡± ¡°But not today, it seems. The janitor isn¡¯t doing a good job.. Anyway, hand me your bag.¡± ¡°W-why?¡± ¡°Because it¡¯s fucking heavy for you.¡± Oh. Maddox wishes to help me? I take off my bag silently, and Maddox hangs it over his brawny shoulder. He then grabs my hand. His touch gives birth to instant lightning, and I blush as he leads me toward the doors. Calm down, Michelle. Breathe. ¡°Do you live alone?¡± Maddox asks. ¡°Uh, no¡­ I have two roommates.¡± Two girls whose eyes will bulge out when they see a guy is taking me home. A handsome one at that. ¡°Good, because you¡¯re defenseless.¡± I remain silent, unsure what to say. Maddox continues. ¡°I will be driving you home from the library every day this week. It¡¯s safer.¡± That¡¯s actually pretty thoughtful¡­ ¡°Thank you.¡± He doesn¡¯t smile but sounds friendlier when he says, ¡°No problem.¡± I follow him to his car¡ªa ck BMW and try not tough. My roommates are going to freak out about this. Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Michelle ¡°Do you live over there?¡± Maddox nods at a house up the street, his big hands holding the wheel in a death grip. ¡°Yes, but you don¡¯t have to drive the entire way¡­¡± I nervouslyugh and face his stern expression. ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°Um¡­ Because my roommates would freak out if they saw you.¡± He arches an eyebrow. ¡°Fans of mine?¡± ¡°Fans?¡± What is he even talking about? ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m pretty known around campus.¡± ¡°Y-you are?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± That¡¯s some arrogance right there. I swallow. ¡°Well, that¡¯s not the reason.¡± ¡°What is it then?¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± I blush. ¡°Nevermind.¡± He sighs. ¡°Out with it, Michelle.¡± ¡°Okay¡­¡± I shut my eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve never brought home a guy before, and they¡­ My roommates¡­ They are going to¡ª¡± I can¡¯t say it. My heart is pounding too fast, and I¡¯m embarrassed. Ciara and Zendra have told me I¡¯m hopeless when ites to guys and bringing Maddox to the front of our door? Bad idea. They will ridicule me and ask me if I have a crush on Maddox. I can feel the iing bullying in my gut already. Zendra will probably say that working on this group project with Maddox is the closest I will ever get to dating a handsome guy. They are probably right. Guys aren¡¯t exactly lining up the street to date me. Ciara and Zendra, however, are both beautiful and popr. They date guys hotter than hell while I¡¯m this short, pimple-faced introvert who is too scared of men to make a movie. Like, I don¡¯t want to die alone, but¡­ I¡¯m not pretty. And my roommates make sure to remind me of that every single day. ¡°I¡¯ming inside.¡± I look up. ¡°What?¡± ¡°You heard me.¡± Maddox has already parked the car, and before I can intervene, he opens the car door. He takes my bag, and I hastily follow him. What is he doing? ¡°Uh¡­¡± As Maddox strides toward the porch, I¡¯m jogging to keep up with him. He has very long legs. ¡°You don¡¯t have toe inside¡­ You can just leave now¡­¡± Maddox peers down at me but doesn¡¯t say anything. Not one to listen, he opens the door and enters our hallway. The door closes. I hear footsteps. Before I know it, Ciara swans into the hallway. She stops by the wall, leaning her back against it with a gasp. ¡°Oh my, oh my,¡± she presses a hand to her chest. Raking Maddox up and down before sending an evil smile my way. ¡°Are you dating Maddox Daniels now, Michelle?¡± I want to sink through the floor. Ciara knows damn well I haven¡¯t dated anyone yet. She said those words as if I had choices. How humiliating. She is smirking now, knowing I¡¯m embarrassed.She is basking in it, smiling like the Cheshire Cat. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Why does she have to be here? Ciara will make Maddox think I¡¯m even more of a nerd¡­ Tears are prickling behind my eyelids already. The situation worsens when Zendra joins in on the fun with her mouth falling open the second her eyes land on Maddox. ¡°Well, hello there¡­¡± Zendra¡¯s heated gaze rakes up Maddox. ¡°I didn¡¯t know our roomie was friends with Dashing Devils quarterback. How do you two know each other?¡± Quarterback? Oh-my-god, as if I weren¡¯t already ufortable! Of course, Maddox Daniels is a goddamn quarterback! I lift my eyes, expecting Maddox to smirk, but to my surprise, Maddox is smiling. Something tells me it¡¯s a fake one, though. ¡°Michelle and I are best friends¡­ In fact¡ª¡± My world screeches to a halt when Maddox picks me up. What. The. Fuck. The guy is seriously strong! I¡¯ve never been carried by a guy before, yet my legs instinctively wrap around his tapered waist. His cologne wafts over me, and my heart pounds frantically when he presses his lips to mine. Holy shit. HOLY SHIT! Maddox Daniels is kissing me!!! And not a little peck on the lips. No, Maddox forces my lips apart with his tongue and full-on kisses away myst remaining brain cells. Oh-my-god¡­ Maddox is talented. The kiss is hot and passionate. The taste of his tongue makes little goosebumps prickle over my skin. I said I couldn¡¯t stand the guy, but wow. I¡¯m melting in his arms. Electricity and sparks fly between us, and I¡¯m close to begging him not to let go when he pulls away his lips. My heart is racing. I¡¯m out of breath. I stare at him. He stares at me, looking¡­ Surprised? Or is that my imagination? Wait, is that a blush? We keep blinking at each other like idiots. My hands are resting on his muscr shoulders while his arms are wrapped around me. Yet none of us are making a move to create distance between us. I¡¯m not climbing down from his embrace. He is not putting me down. I stay in his arms. Eventually, Zendra clears her throat and pulls Ciara into the kitchen. I catch a glimpse of their faces before they leave¡ªthey are both gaping like goldfish. Once inside the kitchen, I hear Ciara whisper-yelling. ¡°Holy-fucking-shit, Michelle is dating the hottest guy on campus! How the flipping fuck did she manage that?!¡± ¡°I know!¡± Zendra whisper-yells back. ¡°She is so damn lucky!¡± I swallow at their words, daring to glimpse at Maddox. He is still repeatedly blinking at me as if trying to process what is happening. Which makes little sense seeing he was the one who kissed me, not the other way around! What is going on inside that thick, beautiful head?! I gaze into his eyes. He gazes into mine. After a few seconds, he opens his mouth. ¡°Where is your room?¡± Why isn¡¯t he putting me down? ¡°Um¡­¡± I wet my lips. They still feel swollen from the kiss. ¡°It¡¯s thest one down the hall to the left. It¡¯s a door with stickers on it.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± He carries me down the corridor without a word. My arms are still hugging the thick column of his neck. I¡¯m weak in the legs, and Maddox uses his elbow to open the door. Soon I¡¯m dropped off on my bed. I lift my chin to stare at Maddox, baffled when he closes the door. I expected him to leave¡­ But those blue-blue eyes are scanning my almost-empty room. Yeah, I¡¯m broke. I let him take everything in before daring to talk. ¡°W-why did you kiss me out there?¡± He lifts an eyebrow. ¡°Aren¡¯t you single?¡± My skin burns, and I shyly brush my brown hair down my shoulder. ¡°That¡¯s not the point¡­¡± He shrugs. ¡°I saw a perfect opportunity.¡± Opportunity? What? Did he just use me?! ¡°What opportunity?¡± I demand, suddenly no longer shy but fuming over his caveman tendencies. I might not be yelling, but my heart is thundering inside my chest. And my anger is traveling through my veins. ¡°I don¡¯t really date, but¡­ I think I could benefit from you being my fake girlfriend, Michelle. Gold diggers would stay clear of me.¡± Laughter erupts from me. ¡°No, those girls would try harder to flirt with you! Girls would¡­ They would look at me and see there is nopetition!¡± Heughs at me and hands me a wolfish grin. ¡°True¡­ They would look at you, see that you¡¯re as t as a nk, and try to get me.¡± Anger heats my face. ¡°That¡¯s rude!¡± ¡°But entirely true, isn¡¯t it?¡± I blush and avert my eyes. ¡°You¡¯re such a jockhole.¡± ¡°Jockhole?¡± He snorts. ¡°Maybe, but do you want to go along with this n? I mean, looking around your room¡­ You don¡¯t have much stuff, and my wallet is fat.¡± ¡°Really? You¡¯re trying to buy me?¡± ¡°I could buy you lunch every day.¡± My stomach gurgles, and Maddox bursts outughing. It lights up his face, and I experience butterflies. Why? He is such a jerk. ¡°Why would you need a fake girlfriend?¡± ¡°Mostly because of my parents,¡± Maddox replies while studying my empty walls without even looking at me. ¡°But also because I think some girls at school would stay away¡­¡± So he doesn¡¯t want girls asking him out? Why? Ugh, I bet he is one of those sleep-with-them-and-leave-them guys. ¡°I see¡­¡± ¡°So¡­ Do we have a deal?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± I palm my neck and consider his offer. ¡°It would be nice to¡­ Have a decent meal every day.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°But I don¡¯t know¡­¡± ¡°Come on,¡± Maddox urges. ¡°It will be easy food for you¡­ And it¡¯s not like kissing me; maybe hugging me is dangerous. You didn¡¯t feel anything when we did it, did you?¡± I stare at him¡ªhe stares back. And while I would like to believe there is no meaning behind his question, I can¡¯t help but feel like he is ACTUALLY wondering if I felt something. Which I didn¡¯t¡­ He is good-looking. That¡¯s the only reason I felt some flutters when he kissed me, not because we have chemistry. God no! I¡¯m not crazy enough to think we do. Jockholes and quiet book nerds don¡¯t get along. Maddox and Michelle are like snow and salt. ¡°O-of course not!¡± Iugh. It sounds forced, even to me, and I hope Maddox doesn¡¯t notice. But to my surprise, he isughing too. ¡°Yeah, I thought so! There was absolutely no chemistry at all! No lightning, sparks, or wanting to rip off your clothes, and¡­ Yeah¡­ It was just an emotionless kiss.¡± Instead of feeling angry, I¡¯m relieved. Maddox would never go out with me¡ªat least I can stop fantasizing about that now. ¡°Entirely emotionless indeed.¡± We continue to awkwardly smile at each other, but the staring soon turns heated. My eyes study the column of Maddox¡¯s neck and travel to his muscr arms hiding underneath his hoodie. Maddox stares at my lips, then down at my chest and hips. He runs his tongue over his lips and¡ª That¡¯s when I p my hands! ¡°You should probably go!¡± Maddox returns to reality. ¡°Right¡­¡± he moves for the door but turns around to meet my eyes one more time. ¡°Same time tomorrow at the library. Do not stand me up, okay?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dream of it.¡± Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Maddox I need a freaking doctor. Something is seriously wrong with my head. Did I hit it or something? Possible brain damage from birth that didn¡¯t show up until now? I don¡¯t know what is happening to me, but I¡¯m acting weird! I don¡¯t date. I don¡¯t do rtionships. I don¡¯t want a WAG, a partner, or any romance in my life. N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Most girls are bloodsuckers and only out after your money. I know that, and I stay clear of the other gender. I should focus on the game, focus on the goddamn football, and not fall for any distractions. And girls are fucking distractions! Yes, I know this better than anyone. So why am I as hard as a rock in the shower while thinking about kissing Michelle fucking Henriksson?????!!!!! Why her? WHY! I punch the wall and groan at the pain. ¡°FUCK!!!¡± ¡°Will you please keep it down?!¡± Jason¡¯s voicees from the other side of the wall because, let¡¯s face it, we live in misery. Paper-thin walls and no fucking privacy. The frathouse is a goddamn joke and sometimes a running parody. I groan, and Jason sighs. ¡°Maddox, I¡¯ve said it once and I will say it again. Keep it down, will you? I¡¯m trying to focus here.¡± I punch the wall. ¡°No, I¡¯m going through something!¡± ¡°Just wank it out already, amigo!¡± Jason shouts back. ¡°You¡¯ve been saying ¡®Michelle¡¯ over and over again, groaning and then not finishing your business. Just rub one out.¡± This fucking linebacker! I swear I will kill him, fucking kill him! It doesn¡¯t matter that we are best friends¡ªJason is dead to me! ¡°Shut up, Deluca!¡± I growl back at the perverted idiot. ¡°And stop listening through the wall like a creep!¡± ¡°I have a stomach ache¡­ I can¡¯t leave the toilet even if I wanted to. There is no choice but to listen to your pathetic voice.¡± ¡°This idiot¡­¡± I mutter to myself. ¡°I can¡¯t do it now, thanks to you!¡± ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°Because you¡¯re listening!¡± ¡°Go into your room and lock the door.¡± ¡°I will, but not to masturbate!¡± ¡°Sure, amigo¡­ And I will not look up Michelle Henriksson¡¯s online profile while you¡¯re not masturbating.¡± Jesus fucking Christ! Why does Jason always have to be so goddamn annoying?! I could murder him and bury his body in the garden! ¡°DO NOT FUCKING LOOK HER UP!¡± ¡°Why, you shy or something, Maddox? Everyone wants to be with our heartbreaker quarterback, but you turn everyone down. I want to know your type, Maddox. Learn what makes you hard in the shower.¡± Hard in the shower?! My type?! ¡°Michelle is not my type!¡± ¡°Si, I don¡¯t know about that¡­ You have been moaning her name for about forty minutes now, and I¡¯m getting more and more convinced to name my own daughter Michelle¡­¡± ¡°Jason¡­¡± I hiss. ¡°I. Will. Murder. You. In. Your. Sleep.¡± ¡°Empty threats¡­ Empty threats¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m being serious!¡± ¡°Oh, Michelle Henriksson is actually pretty cute¡­ Rosy cheeks, yeah? Very delicate and small too. Ha- ha. You like that, Maddox? Who would have known¡ªthe guy actually has taste.¡± ¡°I WILL FUCKING MURDER YOU, DELUCA!¡± Jason burst outughing, and I grunt in annoyance. Some best friend he is¡ªthe dude needs to have his head evaluated if he thinks it¡¯s okay to listen to me masturbate AND look up my inspiration. Jesus fucking Christ, I¡¯m even admitting it myself. There are way hotter girls than Michelle, yet all I see is her doe-eyes, sweet smile, and delicate hands. Am I out of my damn mind?! ¡°GAH, I hate myself!¡± I kick the wall and wrap myself in a towel. My cock is still painfully hard, and it¡¯s because I¡¯m at odds with myself. I can¡¯t finish myself off. No. I have to resist it! It feels wrong to touch myself while thinking about Michelle Henriksson of all freaking people. She doesn¡¯t even like me! That little thing is terrified of me, and not even a little! She couldn¡¯t sit still when I looked at her! I angrily enter my room and throw myself down on my bed. My arm hangs down to the floor, and I sigh. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t text her¡­ I know better than that¡­ I do¡­ But¡­¡± I pick up my phone, breathing hard while staring at the screen. This is so weird¡­ What am I doing? I have only texted girls to tell them my address before a hookup. Other than that, I don¡¯t text with girls. I don¡¯t call them either. Neither do I date, and yet I¡¯m already typing a message to Michelle. Me: Don¡¯t stand me up tomorrow, Henriksson. I watch the message turn to ¡°seen¡± and feel like puking when I realize I¡¯m actually smiling. FUCKING SMILING while texting a girl. Seriously, where did my balls go? Michelle: You inserted your own number into my phone? Who wouldn¡¯t? I can¡¯t risk Michelle standing me up again. I had to put in my number there¡­ Not because I like her or anything, but to show male dominance! Yes! There is no other reason! Me: Yes. Michelle: And your earlier words, is that a threat? A threat? Is she serious? Does Michelle honestly think everything I do is to scare other people? Like, sure, I think it¡¯s fun, but¡­ Me: Not a threat. Michelle: You promise? Me: Yes. Have a good night, Michelle. I patiently wait for her response like a total sissy. It¡¯s been less than twenty-four hours, and I¡¯m fucking whipped¡ªafter one kiss and her feeling up my muscles like I was hot shit. I rake my fingers through my wet hair. ¡°I¡¯m such a loser¡­¡± My phone vibrates, and my eyes find my screen like a hawk. I¡¯ve never moved this fast in my entire life. I unlock my screen and¡­ Michelle: Good night, Maddox. My lips curl into this stupid smile, and then I smack myself straight in the face to knock it off. ¡°What the fuck is wrong with me?¡± I whisper with growing panic. ¡°I need to see a therapist or something¡­¡± I¡¯m actually worried about my health. My heart is fluttering, and I swear that isn¡¯t normal. Am I dying?¡± Cancer? I get underneath the covers and getfortable. There is a new message from the pixie girl herself. What could she want¡­ I click on the message with a weird feeling in my chest. My heart is thumping, which is so freaking weird. Michelle: Thank you for driving me home today. I appreciate it. The rain came when you left, and I would have been drenched. It was very thoughtful of you. That familiar flutter travels through me again, yet I ept it. I might act like a hardass most of the time, but¡­ I knew it was going to rain after checking the weather forecast. That¡¯s why I offered to drive the tiny one home. But I¡¯m not usually thoughtful, and Michelle better not expect me to act like it either¡­ I quickly type back a message. Me: You¡¯re wee. I sigh heavily while tucking my phone underneath my pillow. ¡°What is it with this girl that just makes me do stupid shit¡­ Fuck¡­ She does weird things to my head¡­¡± Another groan leave my lips. I¡¯m about to have a headache. I don¡¯t know what is wrong with me, but I couldn¡¯t possibly be falling in love, right? Pfft. I¡¯m Maddox. I¡¯m cold as a rock, and thest thing this could be is the beginning of something. Romance is for pussies. Chapter 5 Chapter 5 Chapter 5 Michelle I hate walking into the ssroom every morning. I¡¯m the quiet girl, and when that door opens, I got all eyes on me. The spotlight makes it harder to breathe. It¡¯s making my skin crawl. My heart beats faster, and even though there isn¡¯t straight-upughter or name-calling like in high school, the silence speaks louder than volumes. I hate not having any friends. I hate not having any new clothes. I hate not being normal. I hate not being¡­ Happy. I¡¯m lonely, and it makes me feel vulnerable. Thomas definitely used that to his advantage when he¡­ When he¡­ Raped me. Tears prickle behind my eyes. I think I¡¯m suffering from PTSD. Sometimes I experience shes of Thomas¡¯s face and how he pushed me against that wall at the party. It makes me want to scream. But I refuse to cry. Don¡¯t ever look back. I keep my eyes down not to meet any of the sneers in the ssroom. Stay strong. Breathe. Sadly, I can¡¯t ignore the whispers. The popr girls are already at it, talking about me while throwing me dirty stares. ¡°Oh, look, it¡¯s the ugly duckling.¡± I¡¯m the ugly duckling. ¡°Does she ever change her clothes?¡± No, I have no money or parents to pay for new ones. ¡°Aren¡¯t her parents like¡­ Alcoholists?¡± They are. ¡°I heard they threw her out.¡± I left. ¡°She lives in an apartment together with Ciara and Zendra.¡± Because I can¡¯t pay an entire rent on my own. ¡°It must be hard for them to live with a weirdo. Michelle rarely speaks, and when she does¡­ It¡¯s like a stammer.¡± I¡¯ve been stammering ever since the rape happened¡­ It sucks. I press myptop to my chest and try to walk quickly. I sit down in the back of the ssroom. One of the girls pouts my way and whisper, ¡°I actually feel bad for the ugly little duckling, though. She is so weird and awkward that no one wants to be her friend.¡± Those words hurt, but I try to keep my calm. ¡°Did you sleep well?¡± Shock seeps into my bones. I lift my eyes to face Maddox. What is he doing here? He pulls out the chair next to mine and sits down with a tired expression. ¡°I did¡­¡± I say in a low voice, unsure why Maddox is sitting with me. We are project partners, but this is our history ss¡ªnot themunication for which the presentation is required. ¡°Good for you¡­¡± Maddox cracks his shoulders. ¡°I slept like shit.¡± I nce at Maddox and¡­ What the hell? Those mean girls from earlier? They are staring at us. I almost blurt outughing. Are those girls jealous of me or something? I hope they are. Wait. Am I terrible for wishing that? Probably. But it¡¯s just that they were so mean to me, and revenge is sweet. Maddox breathes augh. ¡°Ah, great, you¡¯re having those conversations with yourself inside your head again.¡± I look at him, and he sighs. ¡°Anyway, you¡¯re cool with taking notes for me today, right?¡± Wait. What? I widen my eyes when Maddox tries to give me what must be his attempt at a charming smile, but he looks more like a grinning lion. Or a hyena¡­ I repress the urge to roll my eyes. ¡°So that¡¯s why you¡¯re sitting with me¡­¡± ¡°Yeah? What other reason would I have?¡± Maddox questions and crosses his arms over the table to rest on them. ¡°I woke up at five to run to the gym, and then I worked out until every limb screamed¡­ My arms are so fucking sore from lifting.¡± ¡°N-not my problem¡­¡± He narrows his eyes. ¡°Did you¡­ Did you just give me attitude?¡± My heart is pounding, yet I manage a shrug. ¡°You¡¯re angry at me when you¡¯re the one who is using me¡­¡± He blinks but quickly recovers. ¡°Well, you¡¯re a nerd, aren¡¯t you? I bet you have top grades in each one of your subjects.¡± ¡°Yes¡­ I-I do have top grades¡­¡± I blush. For some reason, I¡¯m embarrassed about Maddox pushing forward that I¡¯m a nerd. It¡¯s true that I only think of school. But can anyone me me for working hard? College is everything to me; it will help me build a brighter future. Since most of my life has been dark. ¡°See?¡± Maddox yawns. ¡°Your written notes will be way better than mine. Send them to me after our ss is over.¡± ¡°W-why do I feel like I¡¯ve just be your servant?¡± Maddox¡¯s eyes are closed, but his lips form a smile. ¡°Thanks, Michelle.¡± My heart stops, then speeds up again. I should fear Maddox. He is a jerk, and he is massive¡ªa dangerousbination. Yet I experience flutters seeing that smile. What is wrong with me? ¡°I¡¯m going to take a nap,¡± Maddox mumbles. ¡°Poke me if the teacheres over to our table¡­¡± ¡°Uhh¡­¡± I wet my lips and whisper-yell. ¡°You would bite my head off if I tried to wake you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t bite.¡± The teacher is here now. He is talking loudly in his microphone, yet I whisper-yell again. ¡°That¡¯s a lie, and you know it.¡± One of Maddox¡¯s eyes cracks open. ¡°Are you going to shut up at some point? I need my beauty sleep.¡± All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. ¡°See, the point made! You¡¯re an asshole¡­¡± Wow. Did I just show Maddox¡¯s attitude? Jesus Christ, my heart is pounding. It might seem like a tiny thing for anyone else, but holy shit¡ªI¡¯m a rebel! His eyes narrow, and his expression is bewildered. ¡°Did you just call me an asshole without peeing in your pants?¡± Oh, shit! Is he angry at me? I return to my screen since I better not continue this conversation with Maddox if I wish to live. My heart is pounding too fast already; I don¡¯t need more reasons for it to thump. But¡­ Oh-my-god! I can¡¯t believe I showed Maddox sass! ¡°Hey, I¡¯ve been thinking about something,¡± Maddox suddenly says. ¡°You should go to my games.¡± I peer down at him. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because you¡¯re supposed to be my fake girlfriend? You have to act the part convincingly. If I had a girlfriend, she would definitely be at my games and wear my jersey.¡± ¡°Uh, pretty sure your jersey wouldn¡¯t fit me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the point,¡± Maddox mutters. ¡°It¡¯s supposed to look cute.¡± ¡°Why do you need a fake girlfriend again?¡± ¡°Mostly because my parents won¡¯t shut up about me having to find a woman and get married and yada- yada, but also so most gold diggers keep away from me¡­¡± ¡°Your parents wish for you to get married already?¡± He shrugs. ¡°It¡¯s important to my parents, I guess¡­ They have been trying to make me marry a girl named Vanya.¡± ¡°But you¡¯re not interested?¡± ¡°Nope, but¡­ My parents value love over marriage, so if I can convince them that we love each other, they will get off my back. And you want to eat real food, right?¡± I sigh heavily, with my cheeks burning. ¡°I kind of do¡­ I don¡¯t exactly have a lot of money¡­ Sorry for being a food digger¡­¡± Maddox grins like a hyena again. ¡°No problem. It¡¯s actually great. The deal is still on because we both can gain from this, but we must practice doing couple-stuff.¡± ¡°Okay. Like what?¡± ¡°Fuck if I know! Pottery and pumpkin carving and other stupid shit girls love? Dates and oh! You should sit in myp in the libraryter. That way, the rumor will spread that we are dating.¡± I stare at him with my heart racing. The thought of sitting in Maddox¡¯sp and going out on dates with him¡­ Is it wrong that it kind of sounds a little bit exciting? I have no friends, so maybe I could gain something else from this that is more than just free food. ¡°I-I can do thep thing¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re stammering again.¡± Because I¡¯m nervous. ¡°Sorry¡­¡± ¡°And stop apologizing all the time,¡± Maddox sighs and averts his eyes while scratching the back of his head. ¡°We also need to be kissing each other more often.¡± Kissing? I gulp. ¡°Okay¡­¡± ¡°Like a lot.¡± Can I do that? Thest time we kissed¡­ I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s normal, but I felt sparks, and I¡¯m not sure if that is a good sign. But let¡¯s be realistic here; I couldn¡¯t possibly fall for this asshole. Then again¡­ I look at Maddox, and my insides turn to mush. That reaction tells me that I need to be careful with him. He is attractive, and I could develop a crush on him if I don¡¯t keep my guard up. ¡°Lots of k-kissing,¡± I nod at him. ¡°Got it.¡± Kissing Maddox and entering a fake rtionship with him¡ªwhat could possibly go wrong? Chapter 6 Chapter 6 Chapter 6 Maddox The library is peaceful and serene. I¡¯m here with Michelle and eating an apple while she is working on our project. Everything would be damn near perfect. IF ONLY THAT GLASSES-WEARING GUY WOULD STOP STEALING GLANCES AT HER! The bloke is sitting at his own table. Tie and slicked-back hair, all proper, with a nervous smile on his lips. He is undoubtedly in love with Michelle, and it bothers me. Who the fuck does he think he is staring at her like that?! Can¡¯t he see that Michelle is here with me? Michelle isn¡¯t my girlfriend. She will never be anything like that, and I¡¯m DEFINITELY not jealous, but come on! That idiot better stop fucking staring at her! I move closer to Michelle while ring at the other guy. I would be barking at him if I had been born as a rottweiler. ¡°Uhh¡­¡± Michelle nces up at me. She seems ufortable, frightened by the proximity even. ¡°W- why you sitting so close?¡± I narrow my eyes, muttering. ¡°No reason.¡± ¡°Okay¡­¡± Michelle returns to tapping away on her keyboard, and my hackles rise when that bloke keeps looking at her with a dreamy expression. Seriously? He got some balls¡­ Shit. I have to end this once and for all! I will do it with a move that says, ¡°I¡¯m the fucking alpha here, and the bitch is mine!¡± Slowly, I let my arm slip over Michelle¡¯s shoulders. She shudders in response before turning tense, but it doesn¡¯t matter. All I need is for that other dude to stay away ¡°W-what are you doing?!¡± Michelle loses her shit and res at me. It¡¯s hard to take her seriously, though. She is like this tiny angry bunny mad at the lion for eating its entire family. Whatever. I better n dumb since I¡¯m not going to remove my arm from her shoulder anytime soon there are snakes in this library! 1 I don¡¯t trust that other guy for a second. The moment I let go, he will try to get into Michelle¡¯s pants! ¡°What do you mean?¡± I smirk her way. ¡°I¡¯m doing nothing.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t y coy with me! Why did you hang your arm around me?! It weighs a ton!¡± ¡°It¡¯s as light as a feather!¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s huge, and your weight is pressing me down!¡± It¡¯s true. I¡¯m a big guy and need it for the football, but Michelle is overreacting because my arm isn¡¯t THAT heavy. ¡°My weight isn¡¯t pressing you down.¡± Her nostrils re. ¡°Maddox, why are you hugging me?¡± Oh shit! I didn¡¯t even notice. ¡°Because-¡± ¡°Michelle?¡± I look up and suppress a snarl when the tie-wearing bloke stands in front of our table. His smile determined, and what the hell? He is holding a letter and shoves it forward over the table! ¡°I wrote this for you, Michelle.¡± Fucking hell. Is that a love letter?! To my utter horror, Michelle blushes upon receiving it. ¡°Oh, thank you so much, Harold¡­ W what is it?¡± Yeah, that¡¯s what I would like to know! I¡¯m being totally ignored here, and my heart is racing. Why? I have no damn clue, but I feel threatened by Harold¡¯s presence. My chest is tight, and I dislike Michelle¡¯s reddening face. Is she into him???? Not that I care. Pfft! Never. BUT IS SHE?! She couldn¡¯t be, right? Harold got nothing on me! He is shorter andnkier and definitelycks muscle definition¡­ But what if Michelle is into that shit? She hasn¡¯t ¡°identally¡± touched my abs even once, and that happens all the fucking time with otherdies! Which means¡­ Oh-my-god! HAROLD MIGHT STAND A CHANCE! ¡°Why don¡¯t you read itter?¡± Harold asks sweetly. ¡°I have to go now, but¡­ Look at itter, okay? I know you don¡¯t like close proximity, so I thought a letter might be nice.¡± Is Harold actually ring at my arm that is around Michelle? Well, tough luck, kiddo; I move closer to Michelle. She stares at me like I¡¯ve grown two heads, but it¡¯s worth it. ¡°Uh¡­¡± Michelle clears her throat and smiles. ¡°That¡¯s so thoughtful of you, Harold. I will definitely read it once I¡¯m back home.¡± ¡°Great!¡± Harold beams at her. ¡°See youter then!¡± ¡°See youter, Harold!¡± After the fool is gone, Michelle ces the letter back on the table. I re at the letter like a hawk and wish I had super powers so I could burn it with my sheer mind. ¡°I wonder why he gave me a letter¡­¡± Michelle wonders aloud and turns tomato red upon noticing my eyes. Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. I¡¯m inches from her face and stare into her eyes. She shrinks back into her seat, yet I keep my gaze on her. ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious?¡± Her lips tremble. ¡°Uh, no? It¡¯s not.¡± Is she stupid? Probably I sigh. ¡°Harold gave you a love letter, Michelle. It¡¯s probably filled with all kinds of cheesy and dumb lovey-dovey stuff. What do nerds even write to each other: you make my heart race like a Mario kart?¡± 2 ¡°That¡¯s mean, Maddox,¡± Michelle removes my arm from her shoulder with a glower. ¡°And Harold doesn¡¯t like me.¡± I snort and grab her letter. ¡°You wanna bet?¡± ¡°No, don¡¯t read it!¡± I smirk and hold the letter out of her reach. ¡°Toote. I¡¯m already ripping it open. I want to know how much Harold LOOOOVES you.¡± ¡°No, please, Maddox! It¡¯s embarrassing! Don¡¯t read the letter!¡± My devil horns sprout out as I clear my throat. ¡°Dear Michelle,¡± I dry a fake tear with my finger, ¡°Aww, Harold is actually cute-he calls you dear Michelle. Isn¡¯t that a gentleman?¡± Michelle is red in the face. ¡°Maddox, stop!¡± ¡°Not yet,¡± I read the following lines. ¡°I know you¡¯ve had a rough start to the year, but the book club misses you. And I miss you. We used to be such good friends. Best friends.¡± ¡°Please just stop¡­¡± I continue. ¡°You moved away from your parent¡¯s house. It might be for the best. Your mother misses you, the times when she is sober, at least I think she does. I hear her fight with your father a lot. She had a lot of bruises thest time I saw her ¨C¡°. My lips close when I realize this is some personal shit, and I worriedly look at Michelle. She is ring at me while crying right now. ¡°Are you satisfied now?¡± ¡°Michelle-¡± ¡°No, just fuck you!¡± Michelle grabs her stuff. ¡°I¡¯m going home. But don¡¯t you worry, Maddox. I will finish the stupid presentation for both of us because some people take things seriously.¡± With those words, Michelle storms away, and I stare down at the rest of the letter with a pounding heart. I skip the parts where Harold talks about Michelle¡¯s alcoholic parents and stare down at thest sentences. I love you, Michelle. And while I know your situation isn¡¯t the greatest, maybe I could help improve it? You could live with me. We are childhood friends, and even if you don¡¯t have feelings for me¡­ I would like to help put a smile back onto your fac¨¦. Love to hear back from you. Harold. I swallow thickly. That little bloke is a way better person than me. Harold cares deeply about Michelle, but¡­ Why didn¡¯t she tell me about her parent situation?! I can¡¯t be THAT unapproachable, right?! Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Michelle I¡¯m running, and I manage to make it outside the library before tears run down my chin like rain. I wipe them away with a trembling hand and dry my cheeks with my sleeve. ¡°I¡¯m stupid, so fucking stupid for thinking Maddox could be nice!¡± I yell at myself and quicken my pace down the street. It¡¯s dark and scary, but I don¡¯t give a fuck I¡¯m so humiliated. Why would Maddox pick up the letter and read it out loud? Why would he do that to me? What the hell is wrong with him?! I don¡¯t understand. My heart is shattering. Of all the damn people to develop feelings for, why did it have to be that idiot?! He is a big, fucking bully! 1 More tears crawl out of the corner of my eyes. I¡¯m working up a sweat while sobbing in the dark. Maddox Daniels is a heartless jerk. I don¡¯t understand why the girls at campus love him so much! How could he possibly be popr?! Well, I do know-girls don¡¯t care about his cold-bloodedness. All they want is his looks and money. He is hot, but fucking hell; he treated me like shit back in the library. 1 But the joke is on me because I thought we were beginning to be friends, and then he pulls this stunt and humiliates me! I swipe yet another tear with my sleeve. People pass me on the street. Someone bumps into me, reminding me I¡¯m not safe out here. I quicken my pace, I should probably run. Other people aren¡¯t to be trusted, and I¡¯ve already been raped. I don¡¯t want it happening again. My heart is racing at the mere thought. mming against my ribcage as more scary people pass me on the narrow street. The dim light isn¡¯t powerful enough for me to see their eyes. I All I see are Cheshire Cat smiles. Shudders crawl over my skin. I have to get out of here and fast. Arge handnding on my shoulder has my spine turning tense. Maddox¡¯s face appears above me, and I sigh in relief. He might be a bastard, but I don¡¯t think he would ever physically harm me. Only bully me until there was no self-confidence left. ¡°What do you want?¡± I snap at him. Thest thing I need is him knowing I feel safer with him here. His ego would blow into dangerous proportions. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t walk home alone in the dark. It¡¯s not safe, especially since you¡¯re so damn small.¡± Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. There he goes, belittling me again. Rude. Yet, I don¡¯t want him to leave. I swallow thickly. ¡°Are you going to walk me home?¡± He peers down at me. ¡°I don¡¯t¡­ I don¡¯t know.¡± My chin lifts stoutly, and I re at him. ¡°You don¡¯t know?¡± ¡°Michelle.¡± ¡°No¡­ I asked you a question.¡± He sighs. ¡°You¡¯re mad at me¡­¡± ¡°For a good reason¡­ Did youe to apologize?¡± ¡°I-I don¡¯t¡­ Fuck, I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°That much is obvious¡­¡± The sarcasm in my voice is dripping. I¡¯m proud of it too. For one in my life, I¡¯m standing up for myself and pulling off the bitchy tone to perfection. I¡¯m too angry and devastated to be afraid of this bloke and give myself a mental pat on the back. You got this, Michelle. Now, the only thing I need to avoid is looking up at Maddox, and see his handsome face and confused puppy-dog eyes. It would melt me. There is a sigh. ¡°I thought you already knew I was an asshole.¡± ¡°I did, but I thought we were getting somewhere¡­¡± ¡°Getting somewhere?¡± ¡°Bing friends.¡± Silence. ¡°What do you want from me, Michelle?¡± Seriously?! ¡°Respect, Maddox!¡± I stop in my tracks to meet those eyes. He is so much taller than me that it¡¯s fucking annoying. ¡°Respect?¡± He blinks slowly as if the word is alien to him and he needs to speak it with freaking caution. It angers me. ¡°Yes! I¡¯m your project partner, not your damn servant! And that deal we had about me bing your fake girlfriend? If you want me to go through with it, you better listen to me! Don¡¯t read things without permission!¡± I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m lecturing him about this. These things should be obvious! I¡¯m fighting the urge to yell at Maddox and ask if his parents dropped him as a child or something. Like, what the hell is wrong with him?! But since I¡¯m a prime example of a mature person, I lower my voice to pick my following words carefully. ¡°Listen, when you¡¯re with your other friends, do you usually take their stuff without permission?!¡¯ ¡°Yes.¡± Jesus fucking Christ. ¨C ¡°Well, don¡¯t do that with me ever again.¡± It¡¯s a miracle I manage to not raise my voice at this idiot again. ¡°Okay, I fucked up by reading that letter.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± His eyes narrow. ¡°Why do I get the feeling you¡¯re still mad at me?¡± ¡°Because do you mean that apology? Do you understand what you did wrong or why it hurt my feelings?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I mean, do you even realize why I got upset with you?¡± ¡°I do¡­ I¡¯m not a total idiot¡­¡± 1 ¡°Okay.¡± He totally doesn¡¯t understand¡­ I resume walking, and Maddox sighs in agony. ¡°I said I fucked up; what else do you expect? How many times do I have to say it before you act like normal and don¡¯t look at me like that?¡± ¡°Look at you like what?¡± ¡°Like you¡¯re disappointed with me because, let¡¯s face it, Michelle: not everyone is nice and perfect. Lord knows I¡¯m not. I¡¯m an asshole!¡± Instead of snapping, I¡¯m just left feeling defeated. Maddox¡¯s confusion wears me down and I can feel my shoulders slump. ¡°You don¡¯t get it, do you?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°You¡®ve been doing small stuff to disrespect me ever since we started this project. I¡¯m not sure what I¡¯ve ever done to you, but you haven¡¯t precisely treated me like a friend. And I¡¯m not sure if I need that Maddox in my life. So, sure we can be project partners, and I will pretend to be your girlfriend, but newssh: there is nobody here, so let me walk home alone, okay?¡± ¡°Michelle ¡± ¡°No! Be quiet! I¡¯m done listening to you and stop saying my name!¡± Maddox tries again. ¡°Michelle, please, if you would just calm down¡ª¡± ¡°NO! Are you deaf?!¡± I yell at him. ¡°You can¡¯t tell me what and what not to do! I¡¯m done being frightened by you!¡± Maddox, for some reason, sticks by my side. ¡°Okay, Michelle. Let me exin something: it was never my goal to make you frightened by me.¡± ¡°Bullshit, you want everyone to fear you.¡± I try to walk faster, but the idiot has longer legs than me. He doesn¡¯t even seem tired freaking football yers and their endless stamina. ¡°Well¡­ I don¡¯t want you to fear me.¡± ¡°Then what do you want? Do you want to humiliate me again?!¡± Why is there a hill here? I don¡¯t remember there being a hill here¡­ ¡°Wait. Are you mocking me?¡± Maddox sounds insulted. ¡°Maybe.¡± I¡¯m breathing through my mouth. I wasn¡¯t made to walk this fast. ¡°You¡¯re seriously making fun of me?¡± ¡°Who knows?¡± Suddenly, Maddox cuts the path in front of me. I stop in my tracks, and we regard each other in the middle of the street like two street cats ready for a showdown. I drink him in, this dark behemoth before me, and try not to show an ounce of fear. He is tall and grumpy, and his eyes are tired. Maddox is ridiculously handsome. Blue eyes. Thick eyebrows and sandy hair that looks like he has run his hand through it. Damn. I bet he wakes up looking perfect. His cheekbones are a sculptor¡¯s dream, and his masculine jaw flexes while he res down at me. ¡°I¡¯m not letting you go before we have solved this.¡± I hiss at him. ¡°We won¡¯t solve this tonight.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± Maddox shrugs. ¡°Then I¡¯ming home with you.¡± ¡°What?!¡± I snap. ¡°You can¡¯t do that. My roommates¡ª¡± Maddox bends down, picks me up, and throws me over his shoulder. I kick and hit his back, but the idiot doesn¡¯t seem to care. ¡°Release me!¡± ¡°How about no?¡± Maddox resumes walking, smiling, and saying hello to people who stare at using down the street. ¡°You¡¯re such an asshole!¡± I want to p him, but my head is level with his butt. It would be inappropriate to touch that thing¡­ And Lord, even that part of his body is bigger and better than mine! ¡°Rx, Michelle,¡± Maddox yawns. ¡°All I want is to talk¡­ Give me what I want, and I will put you back down on the ground again.¡± ¡°Screw you!¡± ¡°Ah, walking home with you it is.¡± Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Maddox ¡°Please just put me down¡­¡± Michelle begs. I¡¯m still carrying her like a hunting trophy. She is seriously lightweight and needs to eat something. But the fact that I can handle her so easily kinda turns me on. What is wrong with my head? Michelle keeps squirming. ¡°This is embarrassing! Please put me down! Maddox¡­¡± Embarrassing? Pfft! I don¡¯t give a fuck. I¡¯ve red at every fool who has stared at us, and not a single one has kept looking This is fine. ¡°We are almost by your apartment.¡± ¡°Maddox¡­ P-please¡­ Blood is rushing to my head¡­¡± A sigh escapes me. I don¡¯t do friends or girlfriends. Rtionships aren¡¯t for me, yet I relent when the little thing begs me to put her down again. She is like a tiny little rabbit. Defenseless, and it does weird things to my brain. It shouldn¡¯t be legal for a girl of this stature to walk out alone¡­ ¡°Maddox¡­¡± ¡°Fine,¡± I grumble. I grab Michelle and put her down next to me. The fabric of her jacket slides up her t stomach, and I blink at her breasts. If you could even call them that¡­ Those tiny little things in her bras are smaller than my pecs. Wait, why am I even looking at her? ¡°Here,¡± I help pull down her jacket and grunt at her. ¡°You¡¯re giving the entire street a free show right now¡­¡± Her cheeks turn even redder than a moment before. ¡°Oh¡­¡± I crouch to smooth down her jacket to ensure her belly button isn¡¯t showing and pull at the fabric. Michelle freezes to stare down at me. I know that look on her face. She is unsure why I¡¯m nice to her; hell, even I¡¯m unsure why I¡¯m not acting like my usual asshole self. It confuses the hell out of me. I meet her eyes. Michelle is blushing, cheeks all pink, and with her electric brown hair flying around her head, she is¡­ Adorable. ¡°Thank you.¡± Michelle beams up at me. ¡°You¡¯re wee,¡± I stand up. ¡°Now, shall we continue? Your apartment isn¡¯t far from here, right?¡± ¡°I¡¯m still mad at you.¡± I roll my eyes and sigh. ¡°Of course you are. You¡¯re a woman-it¡¯s installed into your DNA to be mad for no goddamn reason.¡± ¡°Wow, you¡¯re really disrespectful!¡± I sneer. Michelle is right about me being an asshole. Not that I see a reason to change myself. I¡¯ve always been like this, and I would have to be a whipped fool to change myself for another person. I¡¯m getting by just fine being like this¡­ Yet, I don¡¯t feel entirely good about myself. Guilt is gnawing at me, so I nce at Michelle and decide to¡­ Open up a bit. ¡°You¡¯re not the only one with troublesome parents. Mine wants me to get married and take over the familypany.¡± Michelle walks by my side, ring up at me. ¡°Is this your excuse for being angry and disrespectful all the time? That you have parents that want you to be married and sessful?¡± ¡°They are ignoring what I want!¡± I correct her and narrow my eyes. It makes me bitter thinking about my family. ¡°I wish to be taken into the NFL. Football is my life. But my parents are convinced it¡¯s a phase and that I will stop loving the sport.¡± Michelle¡¯s fierce expression turns sympathetic. ¡°That is actually terrible. Parents are supposed to support their children.¡± ¡°Right?¡± Iugh bitterly. ¡°I¡¯ve learned the hard way that people fucking suck. Even those close to you will let you down. Football is the only thing I can count on to be there for me. It¡¯s my life. The thing which makes me happy, yet my parents are still trying to make me marry this woman they have found. A total stranger.¡± Michelle is blinking up at me. ¡°An a-arranged marriage? Wow, I-I didn¡¯t think you were serious about that¡­¡± I nce down at her while we walk. ¡°You didn¡¯t?¡± ¡°No, I thought that thing only happened in the movies¡­¡± ¡°Nah, it¡¯s secretlymon amongst the elite and rich people, and my parents are wealthy assholes. They want to ensure a woman doesn¡¯t simply marry me for the money, so they have found another wealthy person to be my wife¡± ¡°I see.¡± Silence ¡°And I take it you don¡¯t want to marry her?¡± ¡°Nope,¡± Iugh. ¡°I¡¯m not stupid enough to believe in true love and all of that shit. I don¡¯t need a woman, a partner, or even friends. I¡¯m a lone wolf, but I want my parents to stay off my back. I stop in my tracks and peer down at Michelle. Poking her nose with my finger and my tired eyes finding hers ¡°That¡¯s where youe in. You¡¯re my fake girlfriend now, and I expect you to show up at my games.¡± Michelle pouts. ¡°Then I expect you buy me lunch tomorrow.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°The luxurious choice, and with a coca-c.¡± ¡°Done¡­ Anything else?¡± She taps her chin. Dork ¡°Not that I can think of¡­¡± ¡°Great,¡± I fish up a piece of paper from my pocket and grab her tiny hand to fold it under her fingers. ¡°This is my schedule. My parents sometimes show up to practice and shit, so be there. She stares at me. ¡°Your parents?¡± N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. ¡°Uh, yes?¡± I arch an eyebrow, close to raising my voice. Michelle needs to have her ears checked since she repeats everything I say. ¡°That¡¯s what I just said.¡± ¡°W-what am I supposed to say to them?¡± ¡°How about hello?¡± I shake my head. This woman is unbelievable sometimes¡­ ¡°Just that?¡± ¡°And that you love me and shit-how am I supposed to know? Tell them I¡¯m funny and nice and that we do pottery together; whatever makes girls love their boyfriends.¡± Michelle¡¯s lips twitch, and then she bursts outughing in the middle of the goddamn street. What is happening? What is so goddamn funny? Why is she wiping tears from her eyes?! I don¡¯t understand! ¡°What is so funny?¡± I demand. ¡°I-I don¡¯t think your parents would¡­ Believe me, if I said you voluntarily went to sculpt pottery with me. And no offense, but you¡¯re not funny, at least not by choice!¡± ¡°What about kind?¡± I ask. Michelle cracks up again, and I stare down at her. Is she making fun of me again?! ¡°Whatever,¡± I grunt, nodding up at her apartment. ¡°You live right there and can walk the rest of the way. We are cool, right?¡± She dries a tear from her eye with her sleeve. ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re still an asshole, but¡­ We are cool for now, Maddox.¡± The way she smiles at me gives me flutters. It makes little sense to me. Michelle is puny, defenseless, and possibly the unsexiest girl on the entire. Yet here I am, blushing in the dark. All because she is smiling at me with her pearly set of teeth. ¡°Cool,¡± I crack my shoulders. ¡°See you tomorrow then.¡± ¡°T-tomorrow?¡± I turn around, ring at her with irritation blowing up my chest. She is blinking at me, all confused ¡°Yes, tomorrow.¡± ¡°What is happening tomorrow?¡± Seriously?! ¡°THERE IS A GODDAMN GAME TOMORROW. CHECK THE SCHEDULE, WILL YOU?!¡± Michelle winces, but instead of fighting me, sheughs. ¡°Okay, okay! Take it easy! I will be there!¡± My nostrils re. ¡°You better.¡± I turn around again, hands down in my pockets. It¡¯s a fucking long way back to my car¡­ ¡°Good night, Maddox!¡± I will be damned, but my lips curl; I¡¯m so grateful Michelle can¡¯t see me right now. I must look like a pussy smiling like this. ¡°Good night, Michelle.¡± Chapter 9 Chapter 9 Chapter 9 Michelle I¡¯m so out of ce. I came to watch Maddox¡¯s football game but didn¡¯t realize the stadium would be so PACKED with people. My nerves are jittering around, and I¡¯m close to puking. I¡¯ve never once before went to one of these games. My heart is racing, and I think I might be sick AND broke. Stupid as I am, I bought the ticket with my own money, and now I¡¯m surrounded by shouting and whistling fans. I didn¡¯t realize this game would be so huge. Outside the stadium, children were getting their faces painted. There is a freaking orchestra ying music, and I¡¯m staring at some girls holding up these banderoles. It feels like I¡¯ve stepped into a movie. A trio of good-looking blonde women with colors painted on their faces holds up this thing that says, ¡°WE WANT MADDOX¡¯S BABIES!!¡± I find that sickening to write since they don¡¯t know him. But maybe that kind of thing is normal to write? Further down, another says, ¡°Jason, call me!!¡± Sighing, I sink into my seat. Maddox offered me a ticket for a better seat, but I said no since I thought its too early to sit with his parents. Next to me, a girl leans forward. ¡°Aren¡¯t you excited?¡± Is she talking to me? I blink, and she turns my way. She is pretty, blonde, and blue-eyed with pink cheeks and a warm smile. Her clothes are bright pastel, and her hair is caught in two buns with sparkly hairpins. Sailor Moon? Realizing she is waiting for an answer, I swallow. ¡°Y-yeah¡­ I guess you could say that. This is the first game I¡¯ve ever been to.¡± ¡°Really?¡± The girl beams at me. She has braces, the only w to her otherwise perfect pretty girl appearance. ¡°I¡¯ve been to plenty of them myself since I know someone on the team.¡± ¡°Oh..¡± I blink repeatedly. I¡¯ve never had friends, but I want the conversation to continue. So I force myself to talk ¡°Who is the person that you know?¡± ¡°Jason Deluca. He is a linebacker and ys for the Dashing Devils. We are childhood friends.¡± I smile. ¡°I have no idea who that is.¡± ¡°He wears number fifty,¡± she says. ¡°I will point at him when they run out of the field, okay?¡± She seems friendly. ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°My name is Addison.¡± ¡°Michelle.¡± What started as an alone event immediately turns fun with Addison. We discuss food and beverages, clothes, and hot guys in the crowd. I tell her I don¡¯t have money to buy anything, and she gives me a soda and a hotdog. She is kind, and I think she has a crush on Jason. . The problem? Jason doesn¡¯t know Addison is back in town. She is secretly here to check him out with the binocrs she brought. In case she would make a friend, she got two pairs, so we are both spying on the field. And when the game starts? Let¡¯s just say we are both checking out asses. I¡¯m shy and afraid of men, but I¡¯m not dead-I still have urges. And all these men are insanely attractive, even though only one makes my heart go boom- boom. Maddox. But of course, he is a distant dream that will never happen. I¡¯m too fucked in the head to ever have sex again. Not that I¡¯ve tried, but¡­ I would probably end up kicking the guy¡¯s balls while experiencing PTSD. Sexual things are scary... Kissing is eptable, but getting sweaty and naked with someone? No, thank you. I want it, but¡­ I¡¯m also terrified. ¡°Oh my,¡± Addisonments and giggles. ¡°Jason sure has grown himself a fine ass over the years.¡± I¡¯ve gottenfortable enough with Addison to roll my eyes. Friendship can be bought, and she gave me a hotdog-we are now best friends. ¡°Why don¡¯t you just tell him that you¡¯re back?¡± ¡°It¡¯splicated,¡± Addisonments. ¡°Jason hates my guts.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Umm, let¡¯s just say I was young and dumb in the past. I was popr and in love with scrawny crybaby Jason. Always had a crush on him, and I showed it in the form of bullying.¡± gasp. ¡°You lied! You¡¯re not childhood friends!¡± Addison gives me a pained smile. ¡°We were friends before I started to bully him all through middle school.¡± 1 gasp. ¡°It gets worse!¡± ¡°I know!¡± Addison cries. ¡°I was terrible to him!¡± I shake my head. ¡°Poor Jason¡­¡± ¡°I know, I know! I called Jason horrible things like fat and ugly, and in reality, I was madly in love with him. Well, crushing on him¡­ Anyway, there is no excuse for the shitty things I did to him in the past.¡± ¡°You have no excuse at all?¡±. She shrugs. ¡°My parents went through a divorce, and I just channeled it through bing a bully, but¡­ It¡¯s not a strong enough reason.¡± ¡°You need to apologize to him.¡± There is a snort. ¡°Jason would kill me, Michelle. Have you looked at himtely?¡± she whistles lowly. ¡°That boy is no longer a boy but a grown-ass man with one hell of a butt.¡± All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Iugh. ¡°You¡¯re still into Jason¡­ I guess that is karma.¡± Sheughs. ¡°Shut up! I¡¯m not into him!¡± ¡°You literally only came to this game to stalk him.¡± We bothugh and talk some more through the beginning of the game. Later, I¡¯m using the binocrs to zoom in on the field. Maddox is wearing the number one on his back, probably because he is the cockiest quarterback on the field. My eyes are glued to him, and the view of his ass in those tight yellow pants is doing weird things to my lady parts. I can see every outline and detail of his ample ass. Yup, entirely out of my league¡­ I sigh and watch him run past other yers with the ball pressed to the side of his chest. Maddox is fast for being so damn big! The crowd is going wild, and the announcer is yelling things, talking about Maddox, and making people shout louder. It gets my adrenaline pumping. I keep watching Maddox, spellbound by the gigantic jerk of a football yer. He jumps over that line and scores a touchdown! There is whistling and shouting, and the girls next to me are going crazy for Maddox. Yelling all kinds of inappropriate things. And me? Every part of me tingles while my chest fills with pride. Maddox is amazing at what he does! ¡°Damn,¡± Addison says. ¡°Number one is hot too-I could serve a family dinner on that quarterback¡¯s ass.¡± My cheeks turn molten, It would be awkward to tell Addison that I know Maddox and that I¡¯m super proud of his performance. We aren¡¯t friends, only fake dating; therefore, I say nothing. The game ends, and people are packing and leaving. I decide to text Maddox since I¡¯m so happy and proud. Utterly amazed. I wouldn¡¯t say I¡¯m a football fan, but more like a Maddox fan. Me: I saw your game! You were amazing! His replyes in fast. Maddox: You¡¯re here?! Oh. Disappointment fills my chest. Am I not supposed to be here? There is another text message. Maddox: Come outside of the stadium and say hi? Right as I¡¯m about to reply, Addison leans over and gasps in shock. I lift my chin in terror to see this smile on her face. ¡°Oh-my-god, is that the Maddox I think it is? The quarterback? Are you friends with him?!¡± ¡°Uhhh¡­¡± I¡¯m not sure what to say. Do I tell her the truth, or do I lie to her? I end up saying nothing. Addison gets sparkles in his eyes either way. And a few minutester, she drags me to where I¡¯m supposed to meet with Maddox. I¡¯ve discovered that Addison is all bubbly and super hard to say no to when she sets her mind to something We make it to the meeting spot, and then I see him-Maddox, sweaty and shirtless and wearing only his yellow pants. ¡°About time you got here!¡± Maddox roars at me. Addison flinches at his tone. She looks between us, probably unsure if Maddox is friendly or not. I¡¯m used to the idiot somewhat, though. This is how the savagemunicates, and I¡¯m about to greet him, but he picks me up. Flying has be the norm, and I¡¯m soon hugged by the sweaty quarterback. He kind of stinks, not that I mind much. I¡¯m more confused why he is looking at me like that. ¡°Hi¡­¡± I tell him. I¡¯m shy and hyperaware that my hands are resting on his broad shoulders. That my legs are curled around him. ¡°Hi¡­¡± Maddox smiles at me, possibly still high on adrenaline from the game and his victory. Seeing him so happy fills me with bubbles, and before I know it, he kisses my lips. Is this kiss because Maddox wants it or to put on a show? Is this a fake girlfriend thing, or does he like me? Probably the first option. I¡¯m not stupid. Maddox doesn¡¯t like me, yet it feels so right to taste his tongue. I feel weightless in his arms, and I¡¯m actually getting wet from all the action. How could I not? Ripped chest. Huge pecs. Massive arms. Kisses me like a god sent down from the skies. I¡¯m buzzing with bees and butterflies and onlye back from seventh heaven once his lips break from mine. Our eyes meet, and he leans in, whispering into my ear, ¡°My parents are here and needed to see that. Act like you¡¯re in love with me.¡± Ah. There it is. My heartbreak and the vast disappointment of knowing there were no emotions behind that kiss. At least Maddox doesn¡¯t have to worry. I don¡¯t need to fake to like him because I think¡­ I think I already do. That kiss was a rude awakening. Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Michelle There is a jarring feeling in my heart. All I want is to continue kissing Maddox, but he slips me down from his muscr torso and proceeds to hug me from behind. The back of my head is faced with his broad chest. He is warm and big and runs his fingers through my hair. I shudder, and I think I hear him breathe augh. He continues to run those rough fingers over my scalp. It¡¯s sweet. It gives me butterflies. But it¡¯s all fake love. We are putting on a show for his parent or parents, and I fight tears when he carefully brushes my hair to the right side of my face. Down my corbone while tilting his head. The gentleness is killing me. I glimpse up, and his relentless eyes find mine. He seems a bit irritated, but I have this notion it¡¯s an emotion reserved for his parents. ¡°It¡¯s only my mom. My dad must have strolled back to the car or something,¡± Maddox grunts. ¡°I can see my mom walking here, though. Her name is Catharina, but everyone calls her Cath.¡± My voicees out low. The proximity is making me rather shy. ¡°Thank you for the information.¡± ¡°Thank you for the information?¡± Maddox¡¯s lips twitch. ¡°You sound so professional.¡± My cheeks burn. ¡°At the moment, I¡¯m a professional actress.¡± He pauses briefly. Those hands run through my hair again, and his voice goes low. ¡°Is that what the kiss was?¡± My heart stops at his tone. His intense eyes are on mine, curious about my answer even though I have no clue why. People are passing out. There isughter and screaming. Yet all I can see right now is Maddox. N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. I like him. I like him a lot and want to jump back into his strong arms, but I know better than that. Keep up the charades. Do not fall for Maddox¡¯s sexy voice, Michelle. He is probably ying with you ¡°What else would it be?¡± I ask. The dimple on his cheek is ying peek-a-boo. ¡°You tell me¡­ Anyway, here my momes.¡± Immediately, I force a smile and bat away the bumblebees. They are buzzing around in the center of my belly. But now isn¡¯t the time to be crushing on Maddox and admiring him. I have to act like his girlfriend and focus, ¡°Maddox! There you are, honey!¡± I spin on my heel, and my attentionnds on a beautiful blonde womaning our way. She is tall and slender. Beautiful; I can see where Maddox got his killer looks from. ¡°Mom.¡± Maddox doesn¡¯t step away from me. Doesn¡¯t hug his mom. He stays by my side, and I notice he is already tense. Oh, this can¡¯t be good. ¡°I saw your game, honey!¡± his mom¡¯s smile is radiant. ¡°Your performance was outstanding, like always.¡± Maddox seems to ease up a little bit. ¡°You think so?¡± ¡°Yes, but¡­ You do realize football isn¡¯t a future for you, right? I saw plenty of yers get injured, bruised, and battered. It¡¯s a violent sport you y,¡± she grimaces as if disgusted. ¡°I Tiope you soon will realize that.¡± Middox inliales slowly. ¡°But I love football.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, I hear you, but we don¡¯t always get to work with what we love, sweetheart. The family company is more important.¡± My eyes bulge out of their sockets. Wow. I didn¡¯t expect Maddox¡¯s mother to be so bold. She is speaking without caring about hurting her son¡¯s feelings. She also doesn¡¯t seem to mind that I¡¯m standing here, listening in on the conversation, Jesus Christ. How is Maddox taking it? I glimpse up at him. Anger ticks against his jaw, and I take a deep breath before grabbing hisrge hand. I¡¯m unsure what I¡¯m doing, but I want to show him I¡¯m here. I squeeze his fingers, and surprisingly, he squeezes back. My heart swells. But the sweet moment is over when his mother peers down at me. ¡°Oh, and who might this cute little girl be? A friend?¡± Cute little girl? Geez, the way she said it sounded so condescending. I might not know Maddox¡¯s mom that well yet, but my first judgment is that we won¡®t ever get along. Not if she is going to call me a cute little girl It¡¯s insulting how she made it sound like I¡¯m a kindergartener. I¡¯m short and shy, but I¡¯m a woman, not a child! Frustration is bubbling up within me. If I was braver, I would stand up for myself and call Catharina out for calling me a cute little girl. ¡°This is Michelle,¡± Maddox hugs me to him and carefully brushes his fingers through my hair before facing his mom. ¡°She is my girlfriend. We are dating, and please don¡¯t call her a little girl just because she is short.¡± I freeze, surprised that Maddox is sticking up for me. Funnily enough, his mother seems shocked too. Perhaps it¡¯s rare for Maddox to defend people? ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m so¡­¡± Maddox¡¯s mom¡¯s eyes rake me up and down. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but dating? You were supposed to marry Vanya.¡± A lump swells in my throat. Maddox¡¯s mom doesn¡¯t think I¡¯m good enough for her son. She is looking at me like I¡¯m a spot on the wall. It hurts. ¡°Mom¡­¡± Maddox sighs behind me. ¡°You know as good as me that true love is more important than anything, and there is no other woman for me other than Michelle. I love her.¡± My lips twitch, and my mood changes from self-pity to being on the brink ofughing my ass off. Dear Lord. Maddox saying there is no other woman for him is funny. He obviously isn¡¯t being truthful. He is speaking in a voice that makes it unmistakable that he is faking everything. The big bully never talks like this about anyone, but it seems like his mom is buying his act, thank god. ¡°Oh, of course,¡± his mom gives me a forced smile. She then wrinkles her nose at my second hand clothes but tries to appear friendly. ¡°I will respect your decision to date whoever you want, and I¡¯m sorry for bringing up Vanya. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, Michelle.¡± ¡°Likewise, Mrs. Daniels.¡± I bow my head a little, and I will be damned; Catharina Daniels actually looks impressed by my manners. Her eyes widen, and a slow smile spreads over her red lips. Perhaps I was wrong about her? Still, I don¡¯t like how she tried to make Maddox quit football. ¡°Anyway, your dad and I are leaving to eat dinner. I take it you will be celebrating with your friends tonight?¡± Maddox smiles mischievously. ¡°There is a frat party, but I won¡¯t be spending time with my friends there. I¡¯m taking Michelle to this restaurant later to have fun and enjoy some good food.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± his mother smiles awkwardly. ¡°I hope you two have fun.¡± ¡°We will.¡± ¡°Right¡­ Anyway, I have to go¡­ Your dad is waiting for me.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let us keep you.¡± ¡°Bye!¡± Maddox¡¯s mother hurries away as if something burnt her. She didn¡¯t get even shake my hand. I nce up at Maddox. ¡°Is it just me, or did your mom act extremely weird at the end?¡± He sighs. ¡°My parents are always in a hurry. They work overseas often, leave for meetings in the middle of family dinner and never have time for each other. I¡¯m surprised they arrived here together.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry...¡± ¡°For what?¡± Maddox arches an eyebrow. ¡°You put on an excellent performance.¡± ¡°I did?¡± ¡°Yup,¡± he scratches my hair and messes it up. I let him because I¡¯m a goner for the idiot.¡± Anyway, should we head to the restaurant?¡± Wait. What? I stare at him. ¡°Umm, were you actually serious about that? Are you really taking me to a restaurant?¡± Amusement crosses his features. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°But I-I don¡¯t have any money!¡± I look around frantically, searching for Addison, but I can¡¯t find her. ¡°And¡­ What about Addison?¡± Maddox snorts and shakes his head. ¡°Jesus fucking Christ. You were too into the kiss to notice your friend running away?¡± ¡°Addison left?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Maddox scratched the back of his neck. ¡°Your friend saw Jason, and the two of them walked off somewhere. He didn¡¯t look happy, but I¡¯m sure your friend is fine.¡± ¡°Jason?¡± Uh-oh, Is Addison in trouble? Isn¡¯t Jason the name of the football yer she was stalking, the one she bullied in the past? ¡°Yeah, but they will be fine.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°Unlike me, Jason is a nice guy. Anyway, Do you want restaurant food or not? I¡¯m paying. We have a deal, remember?¡± I blush upon having Maddox look down at me. He is too close and peering down at me all expectantly. ¡°Uhh¡­ Where are we going?¡± ¡°Somewhere expensive.¡± ¡°E-expensive?¡± ¡°Yup,¡± Maddox smirks. ¡°Anyway, you better decide quickly, pipsqueak, or I might take back the offer. I¡¯m in a good mood after winning this game, and I won¡¯t be this friendly any other time. So what do you say?¡± Chapter 11 Chapter 11 Chapter 11 Michelle I don¡¯t belong at this fancy restaurant, and my onlyfort is that Maddox doesn¡¯t fit in either. Not when he is wearing sweatpants and a hoodie-the only thing he had with him to the game. The rest of his stuff is in the back of his car. I eye his chest, and even though his muscles are hidden behind the fabric and some cheesy slogan from our college, they are still visible. Firm and snug. Maddox is in peak condition. 1 My cheeks turn molten when his eyes catch me looking, and I stare at the floor instead. We finish our drinks in silence. There is no sign of our food, and the atmosphere is thick Awkward. Tense. ¡°They usually aren¡¯t this slow,¡± Maddoxments. ¡°Maybe they burned our food or something.¡± ¡°I bet it would still taste good even if they burnt it. I¡¯ve never eaten at a ssy dinner before. The chefs here could probably serve me dog shit, and I would still like it.¡± Maddox chokes on his drink andughs tears. ¡°Did prim and proper Michelle just say the word ¡°dog shit¡± in a sentence?¡± Did I? Oh. I did. I shyly smile at him. ¡°I¡¯m not good at handling alcohol.¡± He pushes his drink towards me. ¡°If I had known alcohol could unwind you, I would have bought you a drink long ago. Here, have mine too.¡± All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. ¡°Are you trying to get me drunk?¡± ¡°Maybe?¡± I narrow my eyes at him and blush. ¡°You¡¯re a terrible influence. Please don¡¯t try to inspire me to be an alcoholic.¡± ¡°You don¡®t have to drink. That¡¯s not why I brought you here.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t want me to drink?¡± Warm blue eyes move over me. ¡°No. I want you to eat with me.¡± I go still and let my eyes roam his face. Maddox tilts his head as if trying to read whatever is in my expression. Whatever he sees has his features warming up around the edges. Humor fills his gaze. ¡°Are you afraid of eating with me?¡± ¡°No.¡± I¡¯m lying Maddox and I are supposed to be like snow and salt. But I¡¯m already in over my head. He disarmed me when he kissed me, and now I¡¯m sitting here like a toothless tiger. His rare moments of showing me gentleness and sly humor are dangerous. I¡¯m eating from his hands, but I know I can¡¯t get used to it because he might pounce on me like a cat at any moment. Maddox, after taking home that football victory, is suspiciously flirtatious. He persuades and cajoles. He could probably charm a manager-seeking Karen at the supermarket into admitting she was in the wrong. But I know he will turn back into his angry self tomorrow. This is an illusion; therefore, I can¡¯t allow myself to let my guard down. ¡°Then just enjoy the food and don¡¯t overthink,¡± Maddox says and shrugs a massive shoulder. Ah, there it is. The I-don¡¯t-give-a-fuck expression is back on his face. I can finally slump my shoulders in relief. ¡°Will do¡­¡± I say in a low tone. ¡°Will do¡­¡± The foodes, and Maddox and I talk about on-the-surface stuff. We don¡¯t go too deep. He asks me weird stuff, like my favorite color and what kind of flower I prefer, we talk about music, and I rx. But when I dig into my dessert, Maddox throws a question that makes me ufortable. ¡°Do you have any contact with your parents at all?¡± The world seems to slow down, and it feels like someone has ced a heavy weight over my chest. ¡°No¡­¡± I hesitate. I¡¯m not sure if I can trust Maddox, but I don¡¯t have any other friends to talk with. ¡°They picked alcohol over their own daughter, and they refuse to get help. So I decided to cut them off.¡± ¡°And you¡¯re fine with that?¡± Jesus, does this guy just ask whatever he wants and expect people to give him honest answers? Probably. Maddox is the king of unfiltered questions and intense eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t see another solution, and I¡¯m tired of them asking me for money even though I¡¯m a poor college student. I have a schrship, and rent is cheap since I live with two other girls.¡± ¡°How do you pay for rent?¡± I grimace and squirm in my seat. I don¡¯t like the questions, but¡­ I¡¯m trying to give Maddox a chance to get to know me, Call me silly, but I think we could be friends. ¡°I had a part-time job, but¡­ The working hours didn¡¯t suit me, so I¡¯m searching for a new one, ¡°I blush when I catch myself sounding like a beggar. ¡°Anyway, let¡¯s t-talk about something else!¡± ¡°I think I understand you better now. Your parents. Did they mistreat you or something? Is that why you¡¯re so timid and easily frightened?¡± Mistreat me? Well, I suppose my dad hit me a couple of times, but my real feares from when Thomas raped me. I couldn¡¯t do anything, and I still suffer nightmares. Sometimes I wake up screaming¡­ My eyes stare out into the distance. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s probably why I¡¯m so timid and easily frightened.¡± ¡°We need to work on your self-confidence.¡± I snort. Maddox Daniels said ¡°we¡± as if we are on the same team or as if we are friends. It¡¯s endearing, but the big guy doesn¡¯t look amused when he catches me laughing and smiling at him. His nostrils re. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Nothing,¡± I shyly bite back a smile. ¡°It¡¯s just that¡­¡± ¡°Yes?¡± He drawls. I breathe augh before talking. ¡°I sometimes can¡¯t tell whether you like us hanging out or if you hate it. Now you¡¯re wearing a frown and telling me we need to work on my self confidence and¡­¡± I¡¯m unsure where I¡¯m going with this, but whatever I said changes the demeanor on Maddox¡¯s face. The re is gone, and he sighs. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t hang out with you if you were a badpany,¡± his eyes rake me up and down, merciless, yet not as cold as usual. ¡°You¡¯re weird and silent, but I have a feeling there is more to you than meets the eye.¡± I smile. ¡°You think so?¡± ¡°Yeah, I bet you keep all sort of secrets¡­ Like, what is your favorite hobby? And for the love of God, don¡¯t say studying.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t going to.¡± He rolls his eyes. ¡°Bet you were.¡± 1 sink my teeth into my lower lip. ¡°Okay, I totally was, BUT you¡¯re right! There is more to me than meets the eye-I¡¯m excellent at cooking and baking! I love both.¡± ¡°No shit?¡± Maddox leans over the table. ¡°Then why the hell haven¡¯t you baked me cookies yet? I snort, and words form on my tongue, but I don¡¯t dare say them. Dann. How troublesome I want to step out of myfort zone and throw sass back at Maddox. I¡¯m shy and¡­ Timid, But Maddox¡¯s eyes are challenging me right now, and I take the bait. Here goes nothing ¡°Ask nicely, and maybe I will bake you some,¡± I finish my teasing sentence with a wink of my eye. Maddox stares at me, and my heart races. Did I go too far? Did I sound too flirtatious?! My lips quiver and tears form at the back of my eyes. I¡¯m thinking too fast, and my pulse is ticking against my neck. My mind is already plotting on changing my name and moving out of town. I mean¡­ SHIT! WHAT THE HELL HAVE I DONE?! I OFFERED TO BAKE MADDOX COOKIES! MICHELLE, YOU SLUT! I flirted with Maddox and rendered him speechless! I stare at Maddox, barely daring to breathe when he opens his mouth to speak. Here ites, Maddox calling me too forward for offering to bake him some cookies. ¡°I would love some cookies.¡± I blink. ¡°Y-you would?¡± He smirks. ¡°Why are you making this weird? You¡¯re entirely red in the face and look like you¡¯ve seen a ghost. Calm down. It¡¯s just some cookies.¡± I shove out the sound of wedding bells from my head and mentally p myself. Calm down and listen to wise, old Maddox, Michelle. It¡¯s just some cookies. I force a smile. ¡°I will bake you the best cookies ever.¡± Chapter 12 Chapter 12 Chapter 12 Maddox Jason waltzes into the kitchen and gasps. ¡°Are you making homemade choctes?¡± I¡¯m wearing a pink apron and mixing brown stuff-what else would I be making?! There are forms on the table! ¡°Dude, are you blind? Because it ain¡¯t fucking dog shit I¡¯m melting and mixing on the stove.¡± Jason slowly blinks, and I wonder if he is hungover or has an itchy eye or something. ¡°Are they¡­ For a girl?¡± I continue stirring. ¡°Uh, yes? I¡¯m sure as hell not giving these to you or anyone else on the football team.¡± ¡°Huh,¡± Jason smiles like the dumb, tall idiot he is. ¡°I¡¯m happy for you. You and Michelle are finally dating-it was about damn time.¡± I almost choke and spit out the water I¡¯m drinking. ¡°Dating?! We ain¡¯t dating! We are friends.¡± ¡°Wait. You¡¯re making homemade choctes for a friend¡­ Who is a girl¡­ And you¡¯re not dating?¡± ¡°Yes, and yes,¡± I shake my head at Jason. I don¡¯t understand his deal or why he is staring at me. ¡°When did you be such a detective? I read that girls love to receive gifts, and homemade chocte was on the top of that list. Nothing weird is happening here.¡± Honestly, I¡¯m trying to turn a new leaf with Michelle. That¡¯s why I¡¯m making these dumb choctes for her. Jason says something in Spanish and shakes his head at me like I¡¯m the crazy one. ¡°Yes, choctes are an excellent gift WHEN you are dating the other person! You don¡¯t make homemade chocte for just a friend unless baking is your hobby, which it¡¯s not!¡± I lift my nose into the air, determined to ignore my best friend¡¯s unreasonable opinions. ¡°I¡¯m sure friends can enjoy homemade choctes too.¡± ¡°No, Michelle is going to get the wrong idea, but sure¡­¡± Jason sighs heavily at me. ¡°Give her the choctes and see what happens.¡± ¡°You know what?!¡± I snap at him. ¡°I will! And Michelle is going to love these choctes!¡± ¡°Ah, because you¡¯re so good at baking.¡± ¡°Damn right I am.¡± Jason snorts. ¡°Talk about an ego.¡± ¡°Are you seriously dating that skittish girl?¡± N?velDrama.Org owns this. There is a gasp on the other side of the weight room. ¡°Daniels is dating someone?¡± ¡°I heard he made her homemade choctes.¡± ¡°Daniels? No way! I can¡¯t imagine him buying gifts or baking! Are you shitting me right now?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m serious. I heard it from a reliable source.¡± Fucking Jason The gossip starts among my teammates as I lift over three hundred pounds above my head. I haven¡¯t seen Michelle yet, and things are already getting out of hand. ¡°That poor girl,¡± someone isughing. ¡°She doesn¡¯t know that Daniels is a cold blooded bastard yet!¡± ¡°That might be part of why she likes him-girls are into douchebags. You re at them, and they immediately want you in their bed. They wet themselves when they hear muscr men grunt.¡± ¡°Really? Then why am I still single?¡± ¡°Because you¡¯re an ugly motherfucker.¡± The idiots belt out laughter inside the gym while I grunt and puff out a breath of air. Sweat covers my upper lip, chest, back, and entire face. My lungs are burning, and my body is on fire. Thest thing I need is to listen to these people discuss girls with great tits and asses. I try to focus and mentally block out my teammates to keep pushing and wheezing. ¡°So her name is Michelle Henriksson¡­ Does anyone have her added as their friend? I can¡¯t get into her profile¡­¡± What the fuck? Despite the heavy weight I¡¯m bench pressing, I attempt to raise my head to see who said that. 1 ¡°Attention here, man, a few more. Five more.¡± Jason nces down at me, eyes severe and his lips telling me he doesn¡¯t care about the other guys. He is all focused. ¡°Guys, could you shut the fuck up? Maddox is in the middle of a set, and I lost count.¡± Silence falls. The only thing I hear is my own mental counting. Four. Three. Two One. I get rid of the metal bar. It hits the rack with a tter, and I exhale while blinking up at the ceiling. Iy motionless, wishing the room¡¯s fan was stronger. I stink. ¡°Good job,¡± Jason tells me and drinks water. ¡°I¡¯m going to start my sets, but before that¡± he hands me my phone. ¡°It¡¯s been pinging non-stop for thest few minutes.¡± I lift myself up from the bench, crack my shoulders and take my phone from Jason¡¯s hands. ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°Anytime.¡± I slide into my text messages. There are plenty of those from Michelle, which is odd. She usually isn¡¯t brave enough to start a conversation with me unless it¡¯s important. Michelle: This might be weird. Michelle: No, it is weird. Michelle: Can I ask a favor of you? Michelle: I will just ask it anyway. Michelle: Can I stay at your ce tonight? I swear I¡¯m not trying to take advantage of you! I don¡¯t even expect to sleep in your bed or anything! My friends are just having this party, and someone I don¡¯t like ising here since they invited them. Michelle: Maddox? Michelle: Forget I asked! Everything is taken care of. I narrow my eyes at thest message. Michelle is trying to cover up for something, and I don¡¯t think she has found another ce to stay. And while I don¡¯t know what is going on, something is wrong. I call her, and she answers in the first tone. ¡°Hi¡­¡± ¡°Where are you?¡± I bark. I¡¯m not going to y any games, and herst message worried me. ¡°Maddox, it¡¯s fine,¡± ¡°Where. Are. You.¡± She audibly gulps. ¡°At the library¡­¡± ¡°They close in an hour. Where are you going after that?¡± Silence falls, and I think I hear her sobbing. ¡°Stay there. I wille and pick you up from the library. But just so you know, I don¡¯t live alone; I have a mutt named Jason. He likes to butt into other people¡¯s business.¡± ¡°... Are you talking about the linebacker on your team?¡± ¡°That would be the guy¡­¡± I pick up my bag and signal Jason that I¡¯m leaving the gym. He nods, and I stroll away. Michelle giggles, but I can hear that she is crying too. ¡°Jason is not a dog.¡± ¡°In my eyes, he is,¡± I tell her. ¡°Anyway, wait inside the library. Don¡¯t go out into the parking lot alone.¡± ¡°Thank you¡­ This means a lot to me, Maddox.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± Silence. ¡°Wait, do you live with everyone on the football team?¡± Why is this important? ¡°No, just a few of them¡­ Why?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± ¡°Out with it.¡± ¡°D-do you live with the quarterback named Thomas?¡± Now I¡¯m even more inquisitive. Thomas and I are both quarterbacks on the same team. He is the loud, irritating type. Sleeps around and brags about it openly too. Yeah, we don¡¯t hang out. I despise the guy. It might even have evolved into hatred since Michelle is asking about the damn bloke. ¡°Nope¡­ Thomas doesn¡¯t live with us.¡± ¡°Does hee over often?¡± Why is she asking so many questions about Thomas? Does Michelle like him or something? Not that I care. It ain¡¯t my business if she likes him. I¡¯m not even one bit jealous, nope. Not at all. Michelle is my fake girlfriend. I don¡¯t like her. ¡°No, Thomas neveres over and doesn¡¯t live with us.¡± ¡°Oh, okay¡­ Anyway, see you soon!¡± Michelle¡¯s little ¡°Oh, okay,¡± hits a nerve. It pisses me off how I can¡¯t tell if she sounds relieved or disappointed that Thomas doesn¡¯t live with us. ¡°Yeah, see you soon.¡± The phone call ends, and I think I have about a million questions to ask Michelle when I see her. Why the fuck does she want to know if Thomas lives with me?! Chapter 13 Chapter 13 Chapter 13 Michelle My stomach is tied in a tight bundle of nerves. Maddox is walking ahead of me, holding up the door to the fraternity house. A carpet is rolled out on the cobblestones outside. It¡¯s yellow-just like the color of Maddox football pants. It somehow adds to my nerves. I feel like I¡¯m visiting the royal family, but the members are all insanely big, muscr men. Maddox peers down at me. ¡°Ladies first.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± I step inside and immediately freeze when I catch a dude as tall as Maddox raking me up and down. They are both walking mountains, but this guy¡¯s arms and hands are tattooed. Dark eyebrows lift guiltily when I catch him staring at me, and a slow-spreading smile takes over his lush lips. ¡°Ah! You must be Michelle,¡± the tattooed guy reaches out his hand for me to take. His expression is actually friendly and there is a lowkey, husky Spanish ent. ¡°I¡¯m Jason, the mutt.¡± Oh, he is referring to the phone call¡­ My heart hammers as I look Jason up and down to search for any sign of hostility or resentment. I find none, and it calms me. Usually, I¡¯m afraid of men, but Jason gives off that ¡°I will take care of you¡± vibe. Like the type of person you call when you get yourself into trouble, which helps me rx. He is also attractive, yet I wouldn¡¯t call him beautiful like Maddox. His features are rougher, but he definitely looks more approachable. I force out my voice. ¡°Michelle.¡± Jason¡¯s smile turns into a grin. ¡°Oh. I already know who you are. I¡¯ve heard so much about you, Michelle.¡± He has? Stunned, I let him take my hand, blushing upon noticing our height difference is downrightical. With Maddox, I feel safe enough not to care, but with a total stranger, I see these things. Jason is huge and talks while shaking my hand up and down. ¡°Maddox usually mentions your name late at night when he-¡± ¡°Seriously?¡± Maddox growls behind me. ¡°Do you have a death wish? Don¡¯t tell Michelle any weird fucking shit!¡± ¡°But-¡± ¡°Shut up, Jason!¡± The death re given by Maddox pushes Jason to visibly grimace and shudder. I bite back augh. Jason doesn¡¯t seem that bad, and after meeting him, I¡¯m less reluctant to stay the night. I let out a breath I didn¡¯t know I had been holding. I fled here because my roommates thought having a party tonight would be a great idea. They invited Thomas Hennington, and that made me panic and text Maddox. So now I¡¯m here, following Maddox like a shadow into a kitchen filled with beefy guys that grow silent upon seeing me. There are cards and alcohol on the kitchen table, and I repeatedly blink when I realize it¡¯s UNO that they are ying. Not Poker-UNO. ¡°Are you thirsty?¡± Maddox asks me. N?velDrama.Org owns this. 1 silently nod, and he steps away from me. I watch Maddox take a cup from a shelf, and he raises an eyebrow when no one says anything. Everyone is too busy staring at me, prompting Maddox to sigh. ¡°The girl¡¯s name is Michelle. She is staying the night; anyone got a problem with that?¡± All the guys shake their heads, and Maddox calmly continues pouring bubble water into a cup. 1 ¡°Good,¡± Maddox hands me the cup, then looks at his roommates with a bored expression. ¡± Because she ain¡¯t leaving.¡± I¡¯m not sure what the guys are thinking. I expect them tough at me or call me a nerd, so imagine my surprise when they whistle and p their hands as if celebrating. ¡°Maddox finally took home a girl!¡± ¡°Are you guys dating?¡± ¡°Have you given her the choctes yet?¡± ¡°Choctes? Oh! This is her ¨C Michelle is the girl our team captain made those chocte hearts for! Holy shit, she is real!¡± Why are they all acting like teenage girls all of a sudden? It must be the alcohol¡­ There is plenty on the table, and some of these guys are entirely red in the face. Yeah, they must be drunk Yet even with that knowledge, I¡¯m freaking out. I¡¯m not used to being around this many men at once. And these are BIG men. Like they have muscles on top of muscles, and why are they all so tall?! Holy cow. I¡¯m nervous. Close to suffering a panic attack. But there is nowhere to go, so what do I do? I freeze onto my spot and catch Maddox calmly sitting by the table. He pulls a chair and releases it next to him. He then lifts an eyebrow as if daring me toe and sit with him. Even without Maddox saying it. I can read his face: ¡°So, Michelle You¡¯re afraid of men, right? Soe and sit here. Let¡¯s practice on that sell confidence of yours.¡± It makes my lips (witch, and then I do the impossible push my fears aside and stride towards Maddox My heart is pounding the entire way, and I¡¯m close to barfing when I plump down in the chair So many men at once¡­ My head is spinning, and I¡¯m close to crying. The hyperventtion isn¡¯t far away, but everything stops when Maddox looks at me. His concerned eyes roam over my face, and before I can tell him no, he lifts me up and sets me in his lap. ¡°What are we drinking?¡± Maddox asks the other guys, crossing his arms over my stomach. It makes my heart race. ¡°Anything you want,¡± one of the guys says. ¡°Jason has a lot of good stuff in his collection.¡± ¡°?No manches!¡± Jason appears upset. He rakes his fingers through his dark hair and shakes his head. ¡°Are you seriously drinking my vintage collection of wine?! Do you know how much those bottles are?!¡± Another one of the guys picks up one of the empty bottles with a funny smile. He thenughs. ¡°No shit? That¡¯s why it¡¯s so damn good.¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s fucking delicious.¡± Jason sighs heavily. ¡°Well, since every fucking bottle is open, we better drink it,¡± he sits down on the chair I was sitting on a few seconds ago and throws a smile my way. ¡°Do you want some Michelle? This is probably the best wine you will ever have in your life.¡± I want to say yes, but I can¡¯t find my voice. I¡¯m not afraid of being around all these football yers anymore, but my heart is racing for another reason: Maddox. The close proximity is almost too much. I¡¯m hyperaware of Maddox¡¯s hot breath on my skin and the bulge in his pants. It¡¯s close to my ass, and I¡¯m leaning my back against his insanely ripped chest. My pulse kicks into overdrive as I peer down at Maddox¡¯s veiny, muscr arms tightening around me. An unwanted whizz of electricity snakes down my spine. I¡¯m not used to this. ¡°She will have some,¡± Maddox says behind me, and I shudder at hearing his deep voice up close. His blue eyes catch mine. ¡°Are you good at ying UNO cards?¡± I lift an eyebrow and answer shyly. ¡°Isn¡¯t it about luck?¡± Maddox shrugs. ¡°I don¡¯t know, but the losers of each round have to drink. So are you in or not? There is a warning bell at the back of my head. Something about how it¡¯s a bad idea to get drunk in a house filled with men. A scene of Thomas taking advantage of me ys inside my mind But I hate being afraid. I don¡¯t want to be a prisoner anymore because that¡¯s what I am. My past experiences keep me from having fun and living life to the fullest. But I¡¯m feeling courageous tonight. I want to change. And with Maddox, I think I can. I force a smile. ¡°Game on.¡± Chapter 14 Chapter 14 Chapter 14 Michelle I¡¯ve had too many drinks and shots. I¡¯m dizzy, but like, not nauseous. It¡¯s more like I won¡¯t stop smiling. I feel funny. I think I¡¯m giggling; I¡¯m not a hundred percent sure. Maddox is drunk too and leads me into his bedroom. His friends have all passed out inside the frat house. There is afortable silence, and I happily walk over to his bed. I smile at his skull covers while shedding my clothes on the floor. ¡°Woah, Woah, woah!¡± Maddox holds up his hands. ¡°I might be drunk, but¡­¡± he does a long blink. ¡°You can¡¯t get naked¡­ Not in here¡­¡± ¡°Why not?¡± I ask and give him a drunken smile. ¡°Because there is only one bed?¡± ¡°I see that.¡± He sighs heavily. ¡°I might be unable to control myself if you¡¯re sleeping naked next to me.¡± I shrug. ¡°I don¡¯t mind.¡± His eyes swell into saucers. ¡°You¡¯re not thinking straight.¡± ¡°I am thinking straight,¡± I hup and giggle. ¡°And I want you, okay? Yes, I¡¯m fucking drunk, but it works to my advantage.¡± Maddox continues to stare at me before slurring his words. ¡°Okay, I think I might¡­ Go and sleep on the couch.¡± No! Determinedly, I waltz over to him, entirely naked, and press my palm against his chest. It¡¯s so firm that instant arousal shoots up to my brain. Damn. Michelle wants some of this tonight. And I¡¯m Michelle. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare walk out of this room!¡± I re into Maddox¡¯s face, and he visibly gulps at my naked form. My smile grows, and I prod my finger into his sternum. ¡°I. Want. Your. Cock.¡± N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. ¡°You¡¯re drunk.¡± ¡°My mind hasn¡¯t been this clear in years.¡± ¡°We shouldn¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°But we both fucking want to do it.¡± ¡°Do you really?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Maddox searches my eyes carefully. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Even though I¡¯m drunk, I realize I wouldn¡¯t dare to do this if I was sober. My fear of men and sex would come in the way. But the bubbles in my brain are giving me courage. I want Maddox Daniels and snarl at him, ¡°What part about ¡®I want your cock¡¯ don¡¯t you understand?¡± Maddox growls back and picks me up from the floor. I¡¯m thrown on his bed instantly, and my eyes flicker to his towering body. ¡°If you want this¡­ If you want me¡­ I will give it to you.¡± Hisrge hands grip the hems of his t-shirt, and time seems to slow down and screech to a halt as I take in the glorious view. Holy shit. Maddox is ripped. His abs are the first thing to be revealed, chiseled and perfect. I can¡¯t imagine the hours he must spend at the gym to look like this. He is male perfection in the flesh. And I haven¡¯t even seen the best part yet. Thoserge hands rip at his boxers, and his cock springs free. A few days ago, I heard some girls around campus talk about how big Maddox is down there, but their words don¡¯t do him justice. That thing is massive! I gape at his cock. It¡¯s almost scarily huge, engorged, and pping against his chiseled abs. Watching it has me clenching in anticipation. I want it inside me. I¡¯m dripping wet. Throbbing for it. Maddox must feel my reaction because he makes a hungry sound and pushes a knee on the bed. He climbs over me, and my breathse out in short, little pants. I peer up at him, and his eyes fasten on mine. ¡°Are you sure about this?¡± 1 Instead of answering him, my fingers slip to the nape of his neck, drawing him closer until I can feel the heat of his breath on my skin. That is enough to snap his self-control like a rope. Within seconds, his mouth crashes over mine. He kisses me and grabs my wrists. His fingers circle around them as if he wants to keep me here, but the truth is that there is nowhere else I would rather be than beneath him. I¡¯m so riled up. Those lips taste like the daiquiri he drank, and a hum travels down to my sex when he deepens our kiss. I¡¯m so ready to be taken. His cock is at my entrance, teasing me while his tongue mingles with mine. He controls the kiss, and a moan gets choked by his mouth. No one has ever kissed me so possessively. Demandingly. The way Maddox consumes me is dizzying. It turns me on even more up to the point I think I might die if he doesn¡¯t enter me. I¡¯m all but starving for his cock right now. I break from his lips, finding his lustful eyes. ¡°Fuck me already.¡± His lips curl into a dark smile, and his giant finger caresses my cheek with a light stroke.¡± Drunk Michelle is bossy.¡± ¡°And drunk Maddox is a pussy for not fucking her already.¡± He snorts in amusement, and then he gives me what I want-he kisses me harder while pushing the tip of his cock inside me. And even though it¡¯s only the tip, it feels incredible. Another moan gets eaten by his greedy mouth, and my hands run over his smooth skin, stiff muscles flexing at my touch. Christ. These pecs are massive and too big to fit in my palms. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever been this horny in my entire life¡­ Maddox¡¯s pecs are turning me on so much. I run my thumbs over his hardened nipples, loving how his nostrils re in response. ¡°It¡¯s taking every ounce of self-control not to just plow into you, fuck the ever- loving hell out of you.¡± Izily smile up at him. ¡°Why don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Because I don¡¯t want to hurt you¡­¡± he groans when I lift my ass off the bed to force him deeper inside me. Even his eyes close. ¡°Fuck¡­ You¡¯re so tight¡­ It feels so good¡­¡± And he is right-his cock feels incredible. Our breaths hitch in unison. Maddox isn¡¯t all the way in, yet the pain and pleasure are alreadying over me in waves. But I want more. It kills me how Maddox isn¡¯t fucking me yet. It¡¯s excruciating, especially since I want him so badly. ¡°I¡¯m not made of ss¡­.¡± I tell him breathlessly. ¡°You¡¯re killing me right now by not going faster¡­ I want more..¡± My words make Maddox growl and slowly rock his hips, sliding his dick back and forth into my wetness. He is so enormous that my sex parts around him until he is all the way in. Filling me to the hilt. Oh, God. The first breach is incredible. I hold there as Maddox pants, his fingers pressing into the pillow underneath my head as if he is struggling to keep himself from fucking me harder. His self- control is impressive, but I don¡¯t want to go safe and slow. My blood is boiling in my veins, and I¡¯m tingling all over. ¡°Harder,¡± I urge him and sink my fingers into his shoulders. He is so hard and muscr that I moan. ¡°Faster.¡± Maddox thrusts deeper into me, and my breath hitches. Another sound leaves my lips, and it seems to drive him wild. He bucks and thrusts until my inner walls are stretching and grasping ¡°Holy hell,¡± I gasp. ¡°Keep going¡­ Keep going! Don¡¯t stop!¡± ¡°Babe¡­ You feel so amazing¡­¡± Maddox groans before kissing me, gently working his hips, easing his way farther into me. And while doing so, his lips stay glued to mine like I¡¯m his choice of drug. That mouth. I¡¯m overwhelmed by him, drunk. My senses swim in pleasure, and small fireworks are building in my core. Before I know it, I¡¯m trashing and writhing against the pillow. Maddox¡¯s rhythm is perfect. I feel him in the tense pull of my hips, deep inside my pussy, where the head of his cock pushes against some incredible spot that lights me up. Oh-my-god. Unable to keep still, I move with Maddox, meeting his thrusts. Our lips are barely brushing. I¡¯m taking his air, and he is taking mine. We are both breathless, panting into each other¡¯s faces. ¡°Damn¡­¡± Maddox shivers and a light sweat covers his body. His skin has turned into fire.¡± You feel so damn good. Tight. Perfect. So goddamn wet only for me. More. Give me more.¡± I tighten my grip on his steely shoulders and feel his strength. Lord, the way my body lifts with his turns me on even more. The pleasure is making me feral, and I moan loudly. It¡¯s all too much. I¡¯m clenching around Maddox¡¯s cock, throbbing and turning tense on the mattress. I¡¯m imed. Owned. He has me. My orgasm crashes into me and picks up speed. I can¡¯t relish it. It rushes over me with such force that I can only cling to Maddox and move against him in a messy, desperate way. I can¡¯t barely find oxygen. The scenery disappears, and everything bes a blur when this incredible feeling plows through me. I¡¯m in heaven, but Maddox isn¡¯t done. He groans and screams my name, thrusting into me hard. I love the sounds of his hoarse cries, how his eyes have rolled into the back of his head like he is dying and somehow awakening at the same time. He is gorgeous. Especially when he finally buckles and releases his load. There is ast groan, and despite reaching his edge, Maddox stands over me for a long moment, still deep within me. He is so hot. I¡¯m tingling all over but squeeze around Maddox¡¯s cock as if already ready for round two. But my head is too fried and tired for that. I¡¯m wrecked, and so is Maddox, who slumps down next to me. His eyes find mine, and he wordlessly inches closer to kiss me again. It lights me up inside. And I know, without a doubt, that Maddox isn¡¯t just a simple crush. He is bing something else. I¡¯m falling for him, and that is both exhrating and terrifying. I just hope my drunken sex with Maddox wasn¡¯t a mistake. I want it to mean something, but there is a warning bell in the back of my head. Most jocks on campus treat women like trash. They bring a different one to bed every night, and I can only hope Maddox doesn¡¯t see me as yet another conquest that will soon be forgotten now that he has had me. My stomach gurgles at that, yet I somehow fall asleep despite the stress inside me. Probably because it feels so good being tucked and pressed into Maddox¡¯s chest. Chapter 15 Chapter 15 Chapter 15 Michelle I wake up wrapped in Maddox¡¯s strong arms. His snoring fills the room, and his erection is pressing against my naked butt. Heat spreads between my cheeks at the same time my pussy clenches. Oh boy My body is ready for round two. I¡¯m hot and bothered, and holy shit ¨C I can¡¯t believe I had sex with Maddox Daniels yesterday! The hot guy I first hated. The big bastard who seemed to hate me. WE HAD SEX! I HAVE SEEN HIN BANANA! My head is spinning. I sit in the bed, staring at the sleeping behemoth of a man next to me. I¡¯m trying to piece two and two together. Does Maddox like me, or was he just horny? What will happen now? His mouth closes, and he grumbles, smacking his tongue against the pte of his mouth. Blue ocean eyes open, blinking a few times before settling on me and appearing confused. His voicees out deep and gravelly. ¡°Michelle?¡± I shyly wave. ¡°Hi¡­¡± Maddox blinks again and clears his throat. My eyes suction to his fat pecs when he rises. The light smattering of hair on his chest is super sexy, a greatbination with his slightly tanned skin. My heart mers. My hands are already sweaty. Maddox sits beside me and angles his head to look at me, naked and seemingly dizzy from the all the alcohol from the day before. ¡°Why are you in my bed?¡±. ¡°Oh¡­¡± I bite my lower lip and feel my heart kick up a notch. It¡¯s pounding faster and harder than before. ¡°Was I not supposed to stay? I thought you said I could stay over.¡± Maddox stares at me for an excruciating moment before he sighs and rubs his eyelids. ¡°Right! I forgot¡­ I picked you up yesterday, and we¡­¡± Maddox¡¯s eyes widen when he trails off, and I notice his face turning redder. What is going on? Maddox stares at me again. There is something cryptic in his expression. His eyes rake me up and down, but he quickly averts his gaze. He is acting so weird. ¡°A Are you alright?¡± I shyly ask, hoping he won¡¯t take offense. Thest thing I need is Maddox barking at me again. ¡°Of course! Why wouldn¡¯t I be?¡± His tone is back to being unfriendly, but his expression turns apologetic when I shrink back One of his mammoth hands lifts from his thick thigh. For a moment, I think he will stroke my skin, comfort me, and apologize for having raised his voice. But the handnds in the same spot, and Maddox taps the area. Did I misread his apologetic expression? I gawk at him. Maddox forces a smile, but it¡¯s super creepy. What in the world is he doing? He is freaking me out Maddox¡¯s nostrils re. ¡°Uh¡­ Ehem¡­ You want breakfast?¡± I try not to stare at his pecs and abs as he breathes. I settle on his lips but blush upon seeing. them too. After sex, that mouth was on me, down between my legs. Hot. Wet Hungry. My heart races, and I swallow thickly. I shouldn¡¯t think about yesterday and the sex. Maddox is acting weird, and it¡¯s clear that he is embarrassed about the whole thing. He probably regrets sleeping with me and eating me outter, which is why he is acting odd. It really hurts, but meh. I should let it pass since I don¡¯t want to lose him as my friend. Or whatever the heck we are to each other. ¡°Breakfast sounds nice!¡± I chirp and try to smile. ¡°What do you usually have for breakfast?¡± Light returns to his face, and Maddox chuckles. ¡°A lot of eggs and other proteins. I usually spend every morning at the gym, but¡­ It seems my rm didn¡¯t go off in time.¡± ¡°You can head there after breakfast?¡± I helpfully suggest. ¡°I don¡¯t want my stay to like in the way of your daily routine.¡± 1 ¡°Yeah, I should head thereter, but first we should eat something because I¡¯m starving. After that, I will drive you home. You didn¡¯t need to stay another day, did you?¡± ¡°No, but thank you for the offering.¡± He smiles at me, and I try to bat away each one of the butterflies swarming my chest. Maddox has a great smile, even if the grumpy guy hardly ever shows it. We stare at each other like idiots. Seconds pass. Minutes. Maddox inhales. ¡°I should¡­ Probably get dressed.¡± I blush. ¡°Yeah¡­¡± He stands up from the bed, rising to his full height. I try not to ogle his butt and stare into the wall. My pulse is ring, drumming against my neck while Maddox whistles. ¡°Do you eat eggs?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m not picky with food,¡± I point out. ¡°I will eat whatever is free and on the house.¡± He turns around, guilt-stricken. ¡°Right. I keep forgetting that you¡¯re low on cash. Do you want us to head to the store after we have eaten? Fill up your fridge with food?¡± N?velDrama.Org owns this. Bees and butterflies buzz around in my chest. The way Maddox asked those questions? His voice was sweeter. Deep and gravelly, but nice enough to fill me with warmth. ¡°Um¡­¡± I smile and take a deep breath to collect myself. My heart is pounding way too fast. ¡°I¡­ I probably shouldn¡¯t ept it¡­ But I¡­ But I really don¡¯t have much food, and ¡± ¡°We are buying you food, Michelle. It¡¯s decided,¡± Maddox nods to get thest word in. Finalizing what he just said. ¡°And in the future, don¡¯t be afraid of telling me when you need something.¡± Oh? I¡¯m not sure what his words are supposed to mean. Maddox is ring into the wall with an expression I can¡¯t read. He seems to be blushing, and at the same time, he looks angry? Weird. Regardless, I smile. ¡°T-Thank you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee,¡± Maddox nods at the door, fully clothed-thank god because his body makes me weak in the knees. ¡°Should we go and eat some breakfast?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± I climb over the covers and step on the floor-only for my legs to give under my weight. I¡¯m still pretty hungover, but Maddox is there for me. He grabs me while my hands curl around his brawny bicep, unable to cuff halfway around his thick muscle. ¡°Easy there,¡± Maddox snorts in amusement. ¡°Seriously, you¡¯re like a walking fucking disaster sometimes.¡± Usually, I would get offended by him saying something like that, but his tone is different today. Dare I say it¡¯s almost affectionate? Warm and low enough to make shivers run up my spine ¡°Thank you¡­ Again.¡± He breathes augh, humor actually filling his voice and dancing in his amused eyes. ¡°You¡¯re wee. Again.¡± My cheeks burn in response to his tone. Maddox helps me stand straight, and I let go of his arm. Jesus Christ, My heart won¡¯t stop pounding. ¡°I¡¯m very clumsy,¡± I admit, even though Maddox already knows. This is the second time he has saved me from a facent. ¡°And I¡¯m not good with alcohol. I will probably be hungover all day.¡± A ghost of a smile touches Maddox¡¯s lips as he nces down at me from his towering height.¡± You probably just need a great meal to shake off the dizziness. Come on, I will make you some pancakes. The best in town.¡± Thoughtful I hand him another smile. ¡°Thank-¡± He presses a finger to my lips. ¡°No need to thank me again. Just follow me to the kitchen. Okay?¡± My heart thumps faster. ¡°Okay.¡± Who knew this brute could be sweet? Chapter 16 Chapter 16 Chapter 16 Maddox All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Usually, I can always keep my head cool. During a game that I know, we are losing? No problem. After being tackled by a dude my fellow teammates couldn¡¯t take down on the field? No problem. But when Jason and the other guys are talking to Michelle? I¡¯m having trouble whisking eggs in peace. Here I am, trying to impress Michelle, and these assholes are flirting with her to keep her attention on them. I know what you¡¯re thinking: young jocks don¡¯t want rtionships at this point in their lives. But there is where you are wrong. Michelle is excellent at baking and cooking, and all guys here are enormous- mentioning food is how you speak to our souls. My nostrils re when Jason, the idiot, wags his eyebrows my way with a smirk on his lips. He leans closer to Michelle, where she sits on her chair, and my skin boils. I obviously can¡¯t be in love with her: she isn¡¯t my type, but WHY ARE THEY ALL SO CLOSE TO HER?! I pour pancake batter into the pan, ring at Jason. Lionel and Robin are sitting with Michelle too. Fuck. Their goofy smiles and blushes annoy the hell out of me. Who do they think they are?! I tell you what they are: bastards for thinking Michelle would date either one of them. She is intelligent, brilliant, and sweet. Adorable. Cute and caring-if these people think I would let them close to her, they are wrong. Michelle is¡­ She is¡­ My cheeks re for whatever reason, and my heart pounds inside my chest. I¡¯m super confused but luckily manage to flip my pancakes in time not to burn them. I slept with Michelle, and I liked it. Does that mean anything? I¡¯ve had sex before-I¡¯m not a virgin, but it felt different. It wasn¡¯t just about me; it was about her. I wanted to please her, and the way she handled my body? Fuck. Thinking about it makes me rock-hard, and suddenly I have to fight an erection while flipping pancakes. Jesus Christ. What the hell is wrong with me? Nothing turns me on more than Michelle¡¯s tiny hands worshipping my muscles. She might look innocent, but she hissed at me when I tried to make her stop twisting my nipples. Michelle is a tiny Dominatrix. ¡°Hey, Maddox? Are those pancakes going to be done today?¡± Jason pats his abs with a pout. The guy is always hungry, which is pretty much all of us. ¡°Shut up, Jason. These are not for you.¡± ¡°Oooooh,¡± Lionel whistles before jabbing Robin with his arm and sending me a big wink. He is another idiot. Big and romantic. ¡°Are they for your little girlfriend?¡± Girlfriend?! Michelle and I aren¡¯t dating, and she sure as hell isn¡¯t my girlfriend! My face burns. I¡¯ve never had a girlfriend. Never once have I wanted to get serious with any girl I¡¯ve slept with. I¡¯m not sure how I feel about Michelle, but it¡¯s a waste of time thinking about it. Michelle wouldn¡¯t date me. She is pretending we are a couple to get food on her te, but I bet her type isn¡¯t dumb jocks. Not saying I¡¯m useless, but possibly not what Michelle Henriksson is looking for in a man. I¡¯m good in bed. Hell, I¡¯m an excellent quarterback, and my pancakes are tasty. But I¡¯m not¡­ I¡¯m not deep, okay? Neither am I super intelligent. And I bet Michelle¡¯s dream type of guy is someone getting straight A¡¯s without even trying. I¡¯m not that smart¡­ ¡°She isn¡¯t my girlfriend, you dumbass,¡± I re at Jason and wave my spat in the air threateningly. ¡°We are friends. Isn¡¯t that right, Michelle?¡± For some reason, Michelle looks up at me with confused eyes and a wavering smile. ¡°F friends?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± I blink at her. Didn¡¯t she hear me correctly or something? I think I said the sentence loud enough. ¡°That¡¯s what we are, right?¡± For a brief second, she simply stares at me. ¡°Yeah¡­ We are¡­ Friends¡­ Just friends¡­¡± Why is she acting so weird? Her eyes look shiny. Robin snorts. ¡°Okay, that¡¯s embarrassing because I thought you guys were a couple.¡± Lionel lets out a littleugh. ¡°Yeah, I thought so too because I totally know you were having sex yesterday. You were louder than Robin and his dates.¡± Yes, plural because Robin is the yer on the team. A Casanova. ¡°So, friends with benefits?¡± Robin offers, whistling lowly. ¡°That sounds interesting¡­ Perhaps I should find myself a friends with benefits type of woman? Someone who knows what I want¡­ Yeah, that sounds like heaven. Tell me, Maddox, was it hard finding someone like Michelle?¡± ¡°Yeah, I would like to know that too!¡± Lionel is beaming at me. ¡°How did you guys meet each and shit? Tell me all the romantic stuff. I will take notes!¡± I roll my eyes. I swear these loons are making things even harder. I¡¯m close to beating up their asses. I didn¡¯t invite Michelle for breakfast to have them make fun of our rtionship orck thereof. ¡°Romantic stuff?¡± Robin questions. ¡°Do you do that with a friend with benefits woman? I didn¡¯t think you needed to flirt them up¡­¡± Robin¡¯s stupid conversation is thest straw. ¡°WE ARE NORMAL FUCKING FRIENDS!¡± I roar, narrowing my eyes at but jumping idiots. ¡°Is that so hard to understand?¡± ¡°Oh, but I thought¡­¡± Lionel squints at me and points between Michelle and me with blinking eyes. ¡°Are you really not fucking each other?¡± ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Robin hums to himself as he inspects Michelle closer. He is leaning forward in his chair and everything. ¡°I¡¯m asking the same question because Michelle has plenty of hickeys on her neck that weren¡¯t there yesterday.¡± ¡°Did someone else give them to you?¡± Lionel wonders, smiling at Michelle when she looks ufortable. Michelle squirms. ¡°Uhh¡­.¡± ¡°Okay, leave her the fuck alone, will you?!¡± I exim. ¡°Michelle isn¡¯tfortable answering those type of questions.¡± ¡°Hey, take it easy!¡± Robin smiles. ¡°We are just messing around: we already know she is your girlfriend, Maddox.¡± Something about his tone snaps myst bit of little patience, and anger rises to my chest. I turn around, ready to throw myself at Lionel and Robin¡¯s fucking throats. ¡°FOR THE LAST TIME, MICHELLE IS NOT MY GIRLFRIEND, AND SHE WILL NEVER BE MY GIRLFRIEND. DO YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE I DON¡¯T DATE HER TYPE, OKAY? I LIKE BIG BOOBIED WOMEN, NOT THE ONES WITHOUT ANYTHING THERE! MICHELLE IS TOO SHORT, TOO QUIET, AND TOO MUCH OF A NERD AND SCAREDY-CAT TO BE GIRLFRIEND MATERIAL!¡± ; As soon as I yell those words, Michelle winces. Robin, Jason, and Lionel look surprised by my tone too. They slowly lift from their seats to give us some space, only it doesn¡¯t look like Michelle wants to stick around either. I doubt I hurt Michelle, though. I mean¡­ I¡¯ve messed around with her plenty before, and she has stuck around like glue. This time won¡¯t fucking matter either. Michelle will smile again, and I can mess around with her some more. Yes, I¡¯m about to head to the table with the pancakes, but Michelle stands up with teary eyes. She forces a smile but looks quite ufortable as I step forward. Why? ¡°Uh¡­ I¡¯m going to¡­ Leave¡­ I have somewhere to be¡­¡± I arch my eyebrow, peering down at her. ¡°But you haven¡¯t even eaten anything yet. Weren¡¯t you starving? The pancakes are ready¡­¡± Her eyes travel to the te of pancakes, and she sinks her teeth into her bottom lip. The look she gives me looks crushed like I somehow destroyed her trust or something. Or like she expected more of me, and that option hurts my heart even more since I have no clue what I¡¯m doing wrong. Neither do I know how to fix this situation. ¡°I was, but uh¡­¡± Michelle takes a deep breath. I don¡¯t understand her expression at all. She looks sad even though I said nothing that could possibly hurt her. ¡°I have something to take care of, okay?¡± As she says those words, I notice big tears in the corner of her eyes, but before I can ask her about them, Michelle heads for the doors. With super speed, She kicks her shoes on and leaves as if she can¡¯t get away from me fast enough. It¡¯s then I know that I¡¯ve fucked up. I don¡¯t know what I did, but I must fix whatever mistake I made. I can¡¯t hurt Michelle. She is the person that I like hanging out with the most. Thoughts of football and Michelle Henriksson are the only things that spin around in my head. I swallow thickly. ¡°Michelle, listen¡­ If this is about me raising my voice and being ¡ª¡± She doesn¡¯t even listen. Without looking at me, she smashes the door to interrupt me before disappearing into the street. And there I stand, alone like an idiot with my pancake batter. What did I do wrong?! Chapter 17 Chapter 17 Chapter 17 Michelle I¡¯m so confused. What does Maddox want from me? First, he makes me agree to pretend to be his girlfriend, and then he tells his friends that I¡¯m not his type. What is that guy doing? Did he change his mind? Or¡­ Was the sex with me so terrible that he doesn¡¯t even want to continue being in a fake rtionship with me? My head is spinning. Why are guys so confusing? I drink another ss of water. I¡¯m trying to study inside the kitchen, but it¡¯s pretty impossible with Ciara and Zendra watching TV with the guys they are dating. The volume is too high, and I jump every time the girls scream at whatever lousy horror movie is ying. I bet they are faking it to hug their boyfriends. I would do the same with Maddox¡­ Then again, maybe I wouldn¡¯t dare? The guy wants nothing to do with me; he has made that clear by how he acted. He would push me aside if I even tried that with him. And then, with his stern face, he would most likely point out why I¡¯m not his type and hurt me without realizing it. Maddox is a big idiot. An iing text message captures my attention. I pick up my phone, and to my surprise, there are text messages from Maddox but also from an unknown number. Maddox: Why are you ignoring me? I¡¯ve called like a billion times. Are you mad at me? Mad? No, I¡¯m hurt! Frowning, I check the other message. Unknown number: Hey, this is Jason, Maddox¡¯s friend. The guys had a lot of fun when you visitedst time, and you¡¯re now invited to the party we will have next weekend. The alcohol is free. Come as you are. Shit starts at six at our ce. See you there! I blink multiple times. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m invited to a party?¡± I whisper to myself, wide-eyed and dazed, as I clutch my phone with shaking hands. I¡¯ve never been invited to one of these things, and I¡¯m thrilled. A smile curls my lips. The invitation is healing some of the significant heart damage Maddox caused me. Speaking of him, there is another text message¡­ Maddox: What have I done wrong??? Well, at least he realizes he has done something wrong. The little dots sh across my screen as he types another message. I like him, so it takes a lot of effort not to answer him. I¡¯m trying to put myself first and maintain my pride. But¡­ All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. I really want to reply. Maddox: Michelle¡­ Talk to me. Please. I sigh. Me: We agreed on bing a fake couple, Maddox. Why don¡¯t you figure out why I¡¯m confused and hurt? It takes less than a minute for him to respond. It must be a record for someone with so stupidly thick fingers. He is thick-headed too¡­ Yet I still like him. He can be sweet when he wants to Sadly, I¡¯m not as important to him as I initially thought since he seems to believe he can freely hurt me whenever he likes. He said Icked breasts and called me a nerd in front of his friends. The worst part? He never said sorry, so that¡¯s why I was ignoring him. I had hoped Maddox would figure that part out on his own. Because in my world, an apology isn¡¯t worth as much when you must tell the person to say sorry. I want it toe from the heart. Sighing for the millionth time, I look back at my phone. Maddox: We don¡¯t have to fake anything in front of my friends. Only the girls on campus and my parents must think we are in love. The guys I trust. They would keep our secret. Maddox: Not that I¡¯ve told them of our arrangement or anything. A phone calles in, and my heart shatters when I see Maddox¡¯s name because¡­ Because I want to pick up, but I¡¯m just so scared he will hurt me more. Is it wrong that I just want one day of not talking to him? Because I like him, but Maddox is so thick- headed that he doesn¡¯t even realize when he stomps on a person¡¯s feelings. My phone stops shing and vibrating; instead, it chimes with yet another text message. Maddox: Could you pick up your phone? Me: Can we talk tomorrow? I¡¯m tired and will be heading to bed after I¡¯ve finished studying for an uing test. Have a good night, Maddox. Sleep tight. Maddox replies, but I don¡¯t check his message. My heart has sunk low, and I¡¯m feeling mncholy. Why did I fall for the guy that would never be mine in the first ce? Because I¡¯m stupid, that¡¯s why. I finish studying andter head to my room. I brush my teeth, and before I close my eyes, there is a new text message from another unknown number. Silently, I tap on it. Unknown number: So you are hanging with the rest of my team these days, huh? Didn¡¯t have enough sleeping with me, and now you want more football cock? You should have said something, Michelle. Because guess what? I would LOVE to fuck your tight pussy again. My heart stops, and I cover my mouth with both hands not to scream out loud inside my room. There is no doubt that my new message is from Thomas. Only that guy is disgusting enough to contact me after he forced himself upon me. I screamed and fought him tooth and nail, but the fucker didn¡¯t give up. He kept me against the wall, hushed me, and groaned when I cried. Thomas is a monster. The phone vibrates again. Unknown number: I heard you¡¯re invited to the party this weekend. Sadly I¡¯m not going. The other yers don¡¯t like me, but¡­ If you want jock cock, I can always find you on campus, Michelle. The whole crying act kind of turns me on. I swallow thickly. What do I do? These text messages don¡¯t have enough evidence against Thomas, and no one would believe me if I went to the police with this. But there is no fighting the panic swelling inside me. Perhaps I should call in sick tomorrow? Yeah, that sounds like a great n! I will lock my doors, possibly find a cheap car, and get out of the country. I know I can¡¯t afford that, but the thought of Thomasing to find me on campus? It scares me shitless. I never want to see that man again. He is a monster and the reason for my nightmares. And I¡¯m ashamed to admit this, but sometimes I wish something terrible would happen to Thomas so he would never show up on campus again. Does that make me a horrible person? Chapter 18 Chapter 18 Chapter 18 Maddox No matter how hard I try, I can¡¯t shake the feeling of uneasiness. It gnaws at me, eating me alive. One part of me knows I messed things up with Michelle, but the other part keeps denying it. What the fuck is wrong with me? Sometimes I wonder if I am not as smart as I think I am. I kept thinking about how Michelle looked when I told the guys we were just friends. For a moment, I thought I saw something other than contempt in her eyes. Her big doe eyes were dark, and I thought I saw tears fall down her cheeks. No, no, that can¡¯t be right. Why would Michelle cry about this? She doesn¡¯t expect anything from me! She probably looks at me like I¡¯m some jerk wanting to have fun, right? ¡°Bro, you really fucked up this time, huh?¡± I snap back into reality as Jason ps me on the back and then walks past me to get a bottle of water from the fridge. Right now, my best friend won¡¯t even look at me. I don¡¯t get it. After Michelle left, Jason gave me a dirty look and walked back into his room without saying anything, while Robin mumbled ufortably and did the same. It was as if they were ashamed of me. ¡°Huh? Me?¡± I mumble. ¡°Yes, you, you big dumbass. God, what is wrong with you? I can¡¯t believe you treat that sweet little Michelle that way. She didn¡¯t deserve that at all!¡± Jason barks. ¡°I¡­well¡­treat her like what?¡± I stammer. My head is in the clouds, and I could use some hard liquor. Jason looks like he is buckling down to give me a lecture. I entertain the idea of walking out of the house because thest thing I need is to get scolded by my best friend, but I decide to stick around. Maybe I need to hear what he has to say? ¡°Are you seriously that dense? Yo, Robin! Get over here!!¡± Jason yells toward one of the rooms. ¡°WHAT? I AM IN THE MIDDLE OF SOMETHING!¡± Robin yells back. It sounds like there is a girl with him. ¡°Stop jerking off and talk to this idiot over here. This is important,¡± Jason says. ¡°DUDE, I¡¯M NOT JERKING OFF!!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure Stacey can wait five minutes!¡± I roll my eyes. They are making a big deal out of nothing. Robin comes back with nothing but a towel wrapped around his slim waist. Water is still dripping off his hair. Fucking hell. Robin must have ditched the shower and Stacey in the middle. He is the biggest yer in the house. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Robin looks between us. ¡°Are we doing an intervention?¡± ¡°Yes, because Maddox is an idiot.¡± Robin shrugs. ¡°What else is new?¡± ¡°Can you guys quit it already? I know I upset Michelle a little, but¡­¡± ¡°You upset her a little? Did you not see her running out crying!?¡± Jason exims, looking like he might be ready to snap my head off. His eyes are mad, real mad. ¡°Michelle wasn¡¯t crying!¡± Was she? I don¡¯t know. She probably wasn¡¯t. Like, why would she? I clear my throat. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°Oh, so he is blind too,¡± Robinments, shaking his head. Wow, these guys are really after my ass today. ¡°Could you pleasey off the insults and tell me exactly what you saw? What makes you think Michelle was crying?¡± ¡°Her cheeks were wet, so I would say they were tears unless her eyes were leaking sweat. You made her cry, dude. I hope it was worth it. And seriously, do you honestly believe you two are just friends? Because I will go ahead and disagree with that.¡± I look at Jason¡¯s eyes full of disappointment, and it finally dawns on me what he is saying but not REALLY saying I screwed up. Royally this time. ¡°So you think 1¡­like her?¡± My voice shakes, and my knees feel weak. I didn¡¯t mention the arrangement between Michelle and me, so I thought it would be okay to tell them we were just friends. I never once thought Jason or Robin would notice that I liked her more than I let on. ¡°More like in love with her,¡± Robinughs, but I don¡¯t find him funny. ¡°Don¡¯t joke about that,¡± I snap at him. Robin¡¯s face turns serious. ¡°Okay, sorry Iughed, but this isn¡¯t a joke. I think there¡¯s more to your rtionship than your so-called friendship. It¡¯s kind of obvious, actually.¡± Seriously? And I thought Robin was the meathead of the group¡­ ¡°Why? Why do you think that? I introduced plenty of girls to you before. What makes this so different?¡± I demand to know. ¡°You act differently around her when you think we aren¡¯t watching, and you turn into some weird version of prince charming,¡± Jason smirks. ¡°I mean, what is the deal with the pancakes? You never do that for any girl. In fact, I¡¯ve seen you kick girls out of bed and send them home right after¡­ You know.¡± ¡°I just¡­¡± I scratch my head, hoping Jason is wrong about everything, but it all sounds true. Fuck, I¡¯m screwed. ¡°Just apologize to her before she gets too pissed. I don¡¯t buy the whole, ¡®she is not my type bullshit either. Tell her you didn¡¯t mean it,¡± Jason orders. ¡°Oh, and invite her to the party,¡± he adds. Party! That¡¯s right, it would cheer her up, and she will forgive me! I grab my phone and text her frantically. I am not ready to tell her I like her. No way. I¡¯ve got my pride, and what if everyone is wrong and Michelle has no feelings for me? What then? Maybe if I act like I have no idea why Michelle is mad, she will just let this go or something? N?velDrama.Org owns this. It would be okay if Michelle just got angry and insulted me but agreed to meet with me. I could make herugh then. Apologize to her and then have the chance to make it up to her. We can go back to being friends and pretend that none of this happened until I¡¯m ready to let her know how I feel. I text her. But as expected, there are no replies¡­ ¡°She is not answering me,¡± I look at Jason. ¡°Why don¡¯t you invite her instead?¡± ¡°So now you want me to do your dirty work?¡± Jason raises his eyebrows. ¡°Please, Jason. Do me this solid. You want me to make it up to Michelle, don¡¯t you?¡± I plead with him. ¡°Fine, I will invite her to the party, but only because I like her,¡± Jason says, so I give him her number. I keep sending her texts after texts and even try to call her but still no answer. She really hates me! I send her onest text and sigh in relief when she texts back, but her reply is cold. But I won¡¯t give up, not yet. Chapter 19 Chapter 19 Chapter 19 Michelle I skipped school this week. The fear of Thomas trying to find me kept me locked in my room, but tonight I¡¯m at a ce where that guy isn¡¯t invited: the party at the frathouse. I¡¯m standing in a long line with countless pretty women. They are all wearing dresses, high heels, and earrings. Beautiful people. It makes me anxious about my own outfit watching them. Should I have worn something different than a cardigan? Is it weird that I came withfortable, snug clothing? Even my sweatpants are pretty loose. Not that I have many clothes to choose from. I¡¯m not rich, and I¡¯m sure I can have fun even if I¡¯m not looking all bling-bling. I washed my hair beforeing here, though, and now a brown braid hangs over the right side of my corbone. I feel pretty. Will Maddox think that too? I blink up at the house. Music is ying, and people are already loud on the balcony. Everyone seems to have fun, but I can¡¯t rx. I still haven¡¯t made up with Maddox, and he has been blowing up my phone these past few days. Then, when I finally agreed to answer my phone because I couldn¡¯t take the vibrations anymore, he said we needed to talk in person. His stressed, almost desperate tone confused me. I¡¯m not sure what Maddox wants. Apologize to me? It doesn¡¯t seem like something that he would ever do. ¡°Hey, Michelle?¡± I turn around and notice Jason waving at me from his car. He jumps out with a big smile, and I wave back at him until seeing Maddox jumping out from the passenger side. My heart kicks up speed, and I stand rooted to the spot. I glue my eyes to the gargantuan football yer. Maddox seems to havee home straight from the gym and shoves his big hands into the pocket of his grey sweatpants. ¡°You came.¡± Maddox approaches me, and I have to crane my neck up and up until he is towering over me. My pulse is skyrocketing. Facing Maddox after our fight makes difort crawl underneath my skin. I don¡¯t want to be his enemy, but I¡¯m terrified of being hurt and let down again. ¡°Y yeah..¡± I find it hard to speak. My lips are parched, and there is a lump in my throat. Maddox¡¯s intense eyes are kept on mine, yet I find the courage to continue talking. ¡°You said¡­ You said you needed to talk with me in person¡­ So I came here¡­¡± ¡°I do.¡± Maddox¡¯s lips twitch, and then he lifts his attention, eyeing the line leading up the house. Jason is already by the door, and Maddox sighs before grabbing my hand. ¡°Come. There is no need for you to stand in line when you personally know us. Lionel will let you pass.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ Okay?¡± Maddox drags me past the line, and I peer up at him. He is sweaty and kind of stinks, but his expression makes me blush. I¡¯ve never seen him look so determined. ¡°I¡¯m going to shower,¡± Maddox informs me as he nods to Lionel and manages to get us inside without any questions. He takes me into the living room. ¡°Do you need anything, or will you be fine waiting for me? It will only take like twenty minutes, and then we can talk. I could leave you on the couch. Does that sound okay?¡± Music is thundering around us, but most people are outside in the little garden by the pool. There are bowls of chips inside the living room, and a smile curls my lips. I haven¡¯t eaten today. I¡¯m already nning on taking one of the chips bowls into myp. A mischievous n forms inside my head. ¡°Y-yeah, I think I can manage to wait for you here¡­ Maddox seems surprised I¡¯m not putting up more of a fight. The truth is that under normal circumstances, I would demand Maddox to talk to me now, but I¡¯m hungry, and the solution is right there. Grill chips in a lime green stic bowl; I can hardly wait. ¡°Okay,¡± Maddox attempts a smile. Ites out reluctant as if he doesn¡¯t fully trust I¡¯m okay with waiting for him. ¡°I will head upstairs. Don¡¯t go anywhere. Give me twenty minutes, okay? ¡°Okay.¡± Maddox gives me a nod, and then he spins on his heels. The floor thuds underneath his feet as he walks up the stairs. I watch his broad, muscr back. He really is big. Pumped, swollen and sweaty from having pushed his muscles to the limits at the gym. Heat shoots between my legs. Lord, his cock felt incredible inside me. Maddox is so big, and his big, sweaty muscles underneath my palms felt so strong. It would be heaven being dominated by thatrge man. My eyes widen when I realize my head is waltzing down slutne already. I swallow thickly and give myself a mental p. Focus, Michelle! I¡¯m not here to getid! I pick up the bowl of chips and m down my butt on the couch. It doesn¡¯t take long until the room is crowded. The music is louder, and most hot girls are already drunk as I pop chips into my mouth. I watch them with half-interest, eating chips with one hand down in the bowl until my heart stops. Thomas Hennington walks in through the door. Tall and muscr, stupidly pretty with ck hair and ice-blue eyes, but I can¡¯t find a soul in their depth when he looks at me. No, please Not him Anyone but him! Shudders crawl up my spine, and fear grips a vise grip on my throat when a smile curls his lips. He steps past Lionel and hangs up his leather jacket without looking away from me. N?velDrama.Org owns this. I¡¯m rooted to the spot, too frightened to run. Who am I even kidding? Thomas would catch up with me. I can¡¯t outrun a jock and find it harder to breathe the longer he stares at me. One step. Two steps. Three steps. Thomas is standing on the other side of the coffee table. I think I¡¯m going to be sick. I fear this man. I hate him. Loathe him and can¡¯t help the difort spreading like liquid ice underneath my skin. ¡°So it¡¯s true then?¡± Thomas is stepping closer, raking me up and down with vivid curiosity. He looks like a viin. ¡°Michelle Henriksson have a thing for football yers?¡± he whistles. ¡°Who would have known?¡± It¡¯s a miracle that I find my voice, even though it¡¯s low. ¡°W-what do you want, Thomas?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious?¡± Thomas grins. ¡°I want you.¡± When I stare at him, he lets out augh. He shakes his head as if there is a private joke between us that I have yet to understand. ¡°I can¡¯t stop thinking about you, Michelle. Your tiny screams and the way your body shook when I had you? Priceless. Irreceable. There aren¡¯t many girls who are as helpless and pathetic as you.¡± I sink further into the mattress when Thomas walks up to me. I¡¯m terrified of what he might do. He is a sick man who gets off on screaming and tears. How can a person be that wrong in the head?! My heart is pounding and knocking on my chest like a caged animal wanting out. I can¡¯t breathe, and it gets worse when Thomas suddenly stands before me. ¡°There is no running away from me anymore, Michelle. It started with me, and it will end with me. You¡¯re my girl.¡± Ice-blue eyes meet mine, and then Thomas grabs my arm. He pulls me up from the couch, and within seconds, his lips are forced against mine by force while people are whistling and cheering him on Seriously?! Why are people pping their hands and shit?! Thate this! I seems it doesn¡¯t matter how sick you are in the head ¨C if you¡¯re a popr football yer, people will still root for you. Whatever you choose to do, they will be there to whistle. Even if you just forced yourself on a girl against her will. Now, how do I get out of this situation? Chapter 20 Chapter 20 Chapter 20 Maddox It seems I know very little about Michelle Henriksson. I pegged her for a withdrawn girl without much experience, and forgive me for saying this, but I didn¡¯t think she was very popr with guys. She wears cardigans like it¡¯s her religion and can barely talk without stammering. Michelle is shy, intelligent, and kind, and although those are great qualities, college men only seem to care about sex. And that is the dilemma because Michelle is pure girlfriend material. That¡¯s why the guys aren¡¯t looking at her twice-you can already tell by a first nce what this girl is about. Michelle is cute and delicate, and I stamped her as innocent. I also took for granted that I wouldn¡¯t have muchpetition in the romantic field, but it seems I was mistaken. Another quarterback, Thomas Hennington, shoves his tongue down Michelle¡¯s throat as if his life depends on it. They are by the couch, Thomas¡¯s humongous body leaning down to eat at Michelle¡¯s face. People are cheering them on too. What the actual hell? Did I miss something?! Jealousy bubbles within my veins. I had no idea Thomas had his eyes on Michelle. I¡¯ve never liked the swine. He treats women like they are disposable and disrespects them. Robin on our team might be a yer, but at least that guy has a soul and heart. Thomas? He is cold and wrong in the head. The way he talked about thest girl he hated? The man said some nasty shit and called her a whore for not letting him lock her up in his basement. I shudder. Thomas is heavy into BDSM but doesn¡¯t understand when the partner isn¡¯t into the same thing ¡°What the fuck?!¡± Thomas suddenly erupts. His hand goes to his lips as he steps back from Michelle ¡°Why did you bite me, you fucking whore?! LOOK AT ME! I¡¯M BLEEDING!¡± Anger rises in my chest. Did Thomas force himself upon Michelle? I blink slowly and clench my fists. My jaw is ticking with rage. I never liked Thomas before, and I sure as hell don¡¯t like him now. Michelle appears horrified as she lifts her chin to meet Thomas¡¯s eyes. How did I not catch onto her fear earlier? And why the fuck am I still standing here?! ¡°Because¡­¡± Michelle sobs loudly, her voice cracking and shit. It breaks something within me to hear her voice. ¡°Because I didn¡¯t want you to kiss me, you freak! I just want you to leave me alone!¡± ¡°Leave you alone?!¡± Thomas questions. ¡°But you¡¯re mine!¡± Michelle is crying now. Red in the face with her shoulders shaking out of frustration and fear.¡± I¡¯m not yours, you psychopath!¡± ¡°Psychopath?!¡± Thomas hisses and lifts his hand. ¡°How dare you call me that, you little slut?!¡± I¡¯m one second away from interrupting the fight. Sadly, Thomas manages to p Michelle¡¯s face before I get there. He fists her t-shirt, ready to lift her off the ground, but that¡¯s when I finally make it there. My fist connects with Thomas¡¯s cheek, and the sucker is down on the ground a secondter. It really didn¡¯t take more than that. Everyone at the party goes quiet and stares down at Thomas. He is wailing on the ground like a baby. I kick him once for effect and then let my eyes roam around the room. ¡°If anyone fucking asks what happened, Thomas fell down the stairs and hurt himself, okay?! He touched my girls, so he had iting and honestly deserves another punch.¡± 1 People exchange nces with each other and shrug, seeming to agree with my statement. The party resumes, and I crack my shoulders before noticing that Thomas isughing. What the actual fuck?! ¡°So Michelle is sleeping with you now, huh?¡± Thomas¡¯s face is bloodied. I hit the fucker hard, and his jaw hit the floor at incredible speed. He even spits out a tooth. I nce behind me, noticing that Michelle is shaking. She is staring at Thomas, entirely white in the face. I¡¯ve never seen her this scared before. Do these two have a history together? My eyes focus on Thomas. ¡°Are you going to stopughing, or should I hit you again? A ckout might do your head some good.¡± He wets his lips. ¡°I had Michelle first, you know¡­¡± His words are beyond confusing. I have no clue what the idiot is talking about and lift my eyebrows. ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Thomas grins wickedly. ¡°I took her virginity- I was her first, so she will never forget me, Maddox. It doesn¡¯t matter if she is your girlfriend. I¡¯ve marked her mind forever. The memory of me will always haunt her. Never will it let her rest.¡± What a sick fucking psychopath. I¡¯ve slept with plenty of virgins and never been as obsessed about them as this man. Thomas is sick. How could Michelle ever sleep with him? Was she desperate? Thomas is good-looking, but nothing is happening inside his thick head. I turn around to face Michelle. ¡°Is Thomas an old ex-boyfriend of yours?¡± To my surprise, she shakes her head. No words leave her lips, but the tears streaming down her cheeks don¡¯t need words. Her doe-eyes are all sad, broken, torn. I know without asking what happened between them. Thomas is the reason for Michelle¡¯s fear of men. Inner darkness enters my heart, and I peer down at Michelle. My voicees out surprisingly calm. ¡°Turn around.¡± Michelle¡¯s lips quiver. ¡°W-what are you going to do?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t kill him,¡± I turn around to face Thomas. He is still on the ground as I nkly stare at him. ¡°But Thomas is going to wish he was after I¡¯m done with him.¡± Michelle gasps but doesn¡¯t say anything to stop me as I hunker down. I grab Thomas by his shirt and punch his face. There is no regret or other emotion inside me as the fucker cries and begs me to stop. Eventually, he is crying and shaking. A wet patch has formed between his legs, and my voice goes low and threatening. ¡°If you ever touch or talk to Michelle again, I will murder you. And I really don¡¯t give a fuck about the cops. My family is wealthy and knows people that will make it look like your death was an ident.¡± Thomas sobs. ¡°I-I don¡¯t want to die! Your sick man¡­¡± Without another word, I rise up from his body. My eyes are kept on his, only to make a point. Thomas touching Michelle again will result in him dying. And I¡¯m bigger than him too-he will be my punching bag at practice from now on. If he is smart, he quits the team or transfers. I don¡¯t care. I just never want to look at the swine again. N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. ¡°Maddox!¡± I turn around to find Jason staring at me. Most other people ignored what happened. Some stopped to watch, but honestly, any person with a lick of sense wouldn¡¯t feel bad for Thomas. He is a terrible person. ¡°Yes, Jason?¡± I ask while calmly picking up a wet wipe from the coffee table. Michelle is staring at me with widened eyes, possibly afraid of me now, but I had to beat Thomas to a pulp. ¡°Why did you beat up Thomas?!¡± I open my mouth, but to my surprise, Michelle chooses that moment to get in between Jason and me. ¡°Thomas he..¡± Michelle¡¯s lips are quivering. She is in tears, yet she stands there brave and whispers, ¡°Thomas kissed me against my will¡­ He also¡­ He¡­¡± She can¡¯t say it Tears streain down Michelle¡¯s face, and Jason lifts his eyes to mine. He blinks questioningly at me, waiting for a further exnation, but I won¡¯t give him one today. I step forward, bringing, Michelle over to my chest. I hurt for her. I care about her and feel my heart crack to pieces when she buries her face in my t shirt. My hand strokes down her back, feeling her shake with every sob that leaves her lips. Jason is still standing there, ring at me. ¡°Coach won¡¯t be happy about this¡­.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t tell him I did it.¡± 1 pick up Michelle from the ground, thankful that she lets me and seems to want it. She slumps against my shoulder, and I head for my room. Well, I would if Jason didn¡¯t block my fucking path, ¡°Maddox¡­¡± Jason shakes his head. ¡°This isn¡¯t you¡­ Violence isn¡¯t the answer¡­ Whatever Thomas did¡± ¡°He raped me,¡± Michelle interrupts. She has turned around and is now ring at Jason with puffy eyes. ¡°Thomas forced himself upon me, stalked me, sent me sickening messages, and then kissed me. He is a monster, so don¡¯t you dare put the me all on Maddox.¡± Jason freezes. He looks beyond shocked by the fierceness in Michelle¡¯s tone and readiness to defend me, and I bite back augh. I¡¯m so screwed because I like her. I like her a lot. ¡°Shit¡­¡± Jason scratches the back of his head. ¡°I didn¡¯t know that part of the story, man¡­ Should I go over there and kick him too?¡± I snort as I walk past him and p him on the shoulder. ¡°I think Thomas has had enough for tonight, but we can take turns making his life hell during practice?¡± Jason actually looks excited. ¡°I can¡¯t wait.¡± Smiling briefly, I head for the stairs. Michelle isn¡¯tining, and I hug her to me. ¡°You okay?¡± Her response is to tighten her hold of me. ¡°No, I¡¯m not okay¡­¡± ¡°Anything I can do?¡± Michelle sighs. ¡°Let¡¯s head up to your room¡­ I just¡­ I need¡­¡± She seems to be hesitating. It breaks me. Doesn¡¯t Michelle know she can trust me? Fuck. She probably doesn¡¯t. Not with the way I¡¯ve been actingtely¡­ I take a deep breath. ¡°Do you want to talk?¡± Michelle breathes augh. ¡°I kind of just want to take a warm bath, breathe and forget today happened, but I don¡¯t have a tub at home¡­¡± I stop in my tracks, and a smile ys on my lips. ¡°I can make that happen¡­¡± ¡°How?¡± Michelle asks. ¡°You don¡¯t have a tub either¡­¡± ¡°Not here, but¡­ My parents have one. Let¡¯s head over to their summerhouse. They don¡¯t use it, and I got the keys. It¡¯s not very far from here and quite luxurious.¡± ¡°Seriously?¡± ¡°Yup¡± Michelle doesn¡¯t thank me, but she hugs me, and it feels like the same damn thing, but better. Dain. I want to tell her how I feel, but tonight doesn¡¯t seem to be the night. Tonight should be about Michelle¡¯s past and healing and shit And if she needs someone to talk with, I will be there for her. Chapter 21 Chapter 21 Chapter 21 Michelle Despite the hurting in my heart and the images of Thomas Hennington haunting my brain, I can¡¯t help but let my gaze slide over to Maddox. He is calmly driving his ck BMW, eyes on the road. He beat up Thomas so easily. I know violence isn¡¯t the answer to most of the earth¡¯s questions, yet my blood pumps faster seeing his flexing biceps as he turns the steering wheel. Holy shit. I try not to stare at Maddox even though he is focusing on driving, afraid that when he does nce down, he will find my eyes molesting his front side. I can¡¯t believe there is an outline of his pecs. I also can¡¯t believe how incredible this guy¡¯s body is. His tanned arms have a light smattering of hair, and the color of his skin is a beautiful contrast to his white t-shirt. The sandy hair is fixed tonight, though a bit on the wild side after he got physical. ¡°You¡¯re staring.¡± I almost choke at the tone of his voice. Maddox is still looking out the window, not even ncing my way. Still, I¡¯m grateful the dark light hides the maddening blush on my face. ¡°Sorry¡­¡± I lift my chin, and my eyes are fixed straight ahead. I pretend to be interested in the houses and the signs, carefully avoiding admiring Maddox. It¡¯s hard, though. My eyes keep wanting to lock onto the behemoth in the driver¡¯s seat, but I¡¯m fighting the temptation. It¡¯s terrible to be looking at him. He saved me from Thomas tonight, and I admit he won more of my heart, but I shouldn¡¯t get my hopes up. Maddox would never date someone like me. I¡¯m not his type, that¡¯s what he said. We are only good friends, and we will never be anything more. Even though I must admit the way that he hugged me earlier kind of blurred the lines¡­ ¡°I didn¡¯t¡­¡± Maddox swallows and palms his neck. He sounds calm, but his expression is caught in concern. ¡°Fuck, why is this so hard to ask out loud?¡± I blink in surprise. ¡°You didn¡¯t what?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just going to say it,¡± Maddox¡¯s eyes meet mine in the rearview mirror. He looks worried. Concerned. It¡¯s a face I haven¡¯t seen him make before. A clear contrast to his usual anger. ¡°I didn¡¯t frighten you, did I? The way I punched Thomas¡­¡± I What? No! ¡°Not at all,¡± I assure him and heavily exhale. ¡°I mean¡­ You did it for my sake, right?¡± ¡°Yes, but to be fair, I¡¯ve always wanted to beat up Thomas. The guy annoyed the crap out of me even before it was revealed what a sad prick that idiot is.¡± A tiny smile tugs on my lips. ¡°Will tonight get you into trouble?¡± ¡°Maybe if Thomas opens his mouth to cry to coach, but I don¡¯t even care at this point. What he did to you deserves a death sentence. I honestly don¡¯t know how to even look at him anymore¡­¡± My heart warms. Maddox sounds annoyed and irritated. Furious. And it¡¯s endearing to know that anger is for my sake. He is mad because I was hurt. Because I was mistreated. He really cares. ¡°I saved all the messages that Thomas sent me,¡± I peer up at Maddox tentatively. ¡°I¡¯m too afraid to go to the police alone, but do you think you would mind- ¡­¡± I shrug. ¡°Going there with me?¡± ¡°Of course not,¡± Maddox briefly meets my eyes. ¡°Do you¡­ Do you want to talk more about it?¡± I breathe augh. ¡°Not really¡­ You know what happened, and that¡¯s enough. I just want to rx and get this bath you promised me. After that, I¡¯m heading home to sleep.¡± ¡°Michelle, it¡¯s alreadyte.¡± Disappointment fills my chest. ¡°Oh, is it toote for a bath?¡± ¡°Your bath? No, of course, it¡¯s not toote. I¡¯m just saying you should stay the night.¡± I pause. ¡°S-stay the night?¡± There is a pause. ¡°Would you want to?¡± My heart pounds faster. I know Maddox probably wants us to sleep in different rooms. Yet my head is already spinning, reminding me of that night I slept beside him, trapped in his arms. He was so warm. Cuddly. My face burns. ¡°No! I mean¡­ No, it¡¯s fine, really. Just let me take a bath, and then I can walk home alone!¡± ¡°Alone? No chance. This summer house is far away from the city and walking isn¡¯t an option. You can crash with me. I really don¡¯t mind if you stay over.¡± ¡°C-crash with you?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Maddox blinks at me in confusion and parks the car outside a fancy mansion. ¡°Would it really be that bad? There are plenty of rooms, and all we will do is sleep.¡± Oh. We won¡¯t be sharing a room, and while I know I should feel relieved, I¡¯m also disappointed. But I understand that¡¯s silly. Like, duh, of course, we won¡¯t be sleeping together. We aren¡¯t like that. ¡°I guess staying the night isn¡¯t bad,¡± I saymely and try to show my gratitude with a smile.¡± It¡¯s very nice of you to take me here. Thank you again, Maddox. For everything.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. Anyone in my position would have done the same thing, Michelle,¡± Maddox opens the car door, nodding ahead. ¡°Also, we are already here. This is my family¡¯s summerhouse.¡± I look at the mansion and freeze. It looks like something taken out of the pages of a romance novel. One of those houses the wealthy CEO lives in, or the kind of picture you get when you g* ***e ¡°white mansion¡± or something simr. ¡°Uhhhh¡­¡± I drawl because I just can¡¯t help myself. ¡°This is your summerhouse?¡± What is their actual house like then? This ce is enormous and luxurious. ¡°Yup.¡± He pulls the keys from the ignition and hits the button to open our doors. ¡°When I want nice and quiet, Ie out here. It¡¯s too far from school and the gym to live here permanently, though.¡± ¡°It is¡­ Like the nicest house, I¡¯ve ever seen.¡± Maddox chuckles. ¡°Come on, let me show you the inside.¡± ¡°Sure!¡± I get out of the car and follow him to the door. It feels so unrealistic being here. Maddoxes from money; that much is clear. It makes the difference between us more apparent. I grew up in the slums, and Maddox has a summerhouse with an actualundry room. Light is streaming from a small room at the side of the garage, so I¡¯m just assuming. We enter the hallway, and my eyes almost bulge out of their sockets at how nice and clean this ce is. Everything is in order, and the furniture looks expensive. ¡°I¡¯m going to be filling up your bath upstairs,¡± Maddox announces while I¡¯m taking off my jacket. He then peers down at me with something looking a lot like a smirk. ¡°Feel free to check out the ce.¡± I hand him a smile while fidgeting, unable to keep still. This whole situation is so bizarre. Somehow, I find words. ¡°Will I be sleeping upstairs or downstairs?¡± Maddox¡¯s voice goes low and yful. ¡°You can sleep wherever you want to, that includes my room. In my bed. With me.¡± I stare at him. I think his words were meant as a joke, but when I don¡¯tugh and end up blushing, we end up sharing this weird moment. My mouth is wide open, and Maddox blinks down at me before awkwardly clearing his throat. ¡°Obviously, that was a joke¡­¡± ¡°Yeah, o-of course!¡± I smile, yet I can¡¯t stop the racing inside my chest. I already imagine him naked. ¡°I will¡­ Sleep downstairs after my bath.¡± ¡°Great.¡± ¡°Perfect!¡± We both smile like idiots, and the situation gets even weirder. Since when does Maddox smile?! He looks like a hyena before finally, he clears his throat again. ¡°I will go and fill up that bath¡­¡± ¡°Thank you very much.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. I watch him disappear up the stairs and release a breath I didn¡¯t know I had been holding after he is gone. Now then¡­ How do I survive this sleepover without fantasizing about sleeping with thendlord?! Chapter 22 Chapter 22 Chapter 22 Maddox My head is in the gutter. I prepared a bubble bath for Michelle. Went all out on the soap and rosepetals and shit. I felt silly for doing it, but it was worth it once I saw her smile. Michelle looked close to hugging me but instead just thanked me for setting up the room. She then went inside, and the bathroom door clicked closed. I took Michelle¡¯s caution as a clear message: I want nothing physicaling from you. So maybe I should just apologize to her tomorrow and say nothing about feelings and shit? My head spins. I¡¯m standing in the shower on the bottom floor, and hot water sluices off my body. I¡¯m overthinking things, but soon my mind wanders to Michelle naked in that tub. Naturally, my hand strays south of the border, and I grab my cock, and lightly squeeze it with my right hand. Before I know it, I picture Michelle naked. Smooth skin, innocent eyes, and those pink lips around my cock. I imagine her trying to take it all but ending up choking on it, down on her knees. Fuck. I¡¯m so hard. I haven¡¯t had sex since I did it with Michelle. It wouldn¡¯t feel right, not when I like her. Want her. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. My hand does quicker up and down, pressing down on my big balls. It feels great. I groan under the water, lost in the sensation and my vivid imagination. I want to dominate that girl. Would she let me? 1 It should be impossible, but my boner seems to grow harder between my legs when I stroke it slowly, water working as my lubricant. I¡¯m wet and warm, and my eyes slide close as my fingers grip the base of my shaft harder. Squeezing it. I go fast, then slow, fast, then painfully slow until another groan gets dragged out from my lips. ¡°Feels so good¡­¡± Even for a tall guy, I would call my cock impressive. It¡¯s long and thick, and I would love to shove it into Michelle¡¯s tight pussy. She felt so nice on the inside. So goddamn wet for me. I brace myself against the tile wall, closing my eyes while my other hand works hard to bring me other the edge. Glides up and down, up and down in a rhythmic manner. 1 moan, picturing Michelle in that tub. Her small but sexy ares and how much I want to suck them. Would she enjoy having my mouth on them? Doesn¡¯t matter. I would do it anyway. Another moan slices up my throat. I feel like a pervert, but it¡¯s not my fault. I¡¯m a warm-blooded male, and the girl I like is currently naked in my home-of course, I will be horny. My reaction is natural. I arch my back before dipping forward, shoulders slumping, and my legs nearly giving up when the pleasure hits me. My teeth mp down on my bottom lip, eyes squeezed shut. It¡¯s still not enough. I stroke harder. Rougher. The grunts from my throat are low yet bounce between the tiles in the shower. I¡¯m so close to saying Michelle¡¯s name. So close. I shouldn¡¯t say it. But I have to. Fuck Her name leaves my lips, and when Ie over my carved abs, it¡¯s hotter than the water washing it away. ¡°Jesus Christ¡­¡± I whisper, releasing my cock and dragging my fingers through my wet hair. I wash myself off and grab a towel, wrapping it around my torso before deciding on finding something to drink. I bet Michelle is already sleeping by now. She found herself a room. Tiredly, I wander into the kitchen, only to find Michelle sitting by the table with a bowl of cereals. I lift an eyebrow in surprise, and her eyes go huge when they meet mine. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I was so hungry that I couldn¡¯t help myself!¡± Michelle exims in a wild panic. ¡°I will pay you back,¡± The words die in her throat. Her eyes are now locked onto my pecs and the water dripping down on the floor. Interesting. So she isn¡¯t entirely immune to me? I open the fridge. ¡°You can eat whatever you want. I¡¯m just surprised there was any food to begin with, and that you actually dared to even open the fridge.¡± Michelle snorts and lifts her pert nose into the air. ¡°I don¡¯t have time to be shy when I¡¯m starving. Besides, I¡¯m not entirely handicapped. Opening someone¡¯s fridge is no problem.¡± Amused by her taking offense to my words, I grab a beer and flip it open, leaning my back against the counter. It¡¯s a better position to observe her in. ¡°Is that so?¡± Michelle eyes me up, but not in a calcting way. It¡¯s more like she is admiring my chest. Damn it. It takes all of me not to flex in front of Michelle and gain more of her attention. It would be stupid, but there is already an erection hiding behind the towel. Seriously. I just had a go in the shower, and my traitor of a cock is already ready, wanting the real thing ¡°Yeah¡­ Umm¡­¡± Michelle is all read in the face. Adorable. ? ¡°Sorry, is something distracting you?¡± I want tough at her widening eyes, and at the same time, I want to tell her looking is fine. More than fine ¨C I fucking love the way that she looks at me. But admitting that wouldn¡¯t be as fun as to see the redness spread to her ears. ¡°No, I¡¯m just¡­¡± Michelle¡¯s tongue darts out to wet her lips. ¡°I¡¯m just tired and will head upstairs after finishing my bowl of cereal. You¡¯re fine with me taking therge room upstairs, right?¡± I don¡¯t tell her the room is mine and instead smile. ¡°Sure.¡± I lean away from the counter. ¡°I will take the room downstairs.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Her smile is adorable. ¡°Good night, Michelle.¡± ¡°You going to sleep?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to finish another beer and watch a few videos on my phone for a while, but then I¡¯m sleeping.¡± ¡°Oh, I see.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Humming to myself, I open the fridge. I try to grab another beer, but as I¡¯m trying to fill the space underneath my arms, the towel drops to the floor. Shit. Michelle audibly gasps in this dramatic way ady would in a movie. She even says, ¡°Oh-my god, it¡¯s bigger than I remember!¡± She is so earnest. I lose my shit while I squat on the floor. I grab the towel, but Michelle still isn¡¯t looking away. I bite back a smirk, trying not to keepughing. ¡°A bit of privacy would be nice.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Michelle abruptly stares into her bowl. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but first cock, and then ass¡­ And what am I saying?!¡± I breathe augh. ¡°You even gasped.¡± She groans, hiding her face in her palm. ¡°Ugh, you heard that?¡± ¡°I mean, yes? It was pretty audible.¡± And it was hrious. Also, kinky since it¡¯s obviously not the kind of sound you make when you hate what you see. ¡°I hate when I do that.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re a gasper?¡± ¡°Did you just make that up?¡± ¡°Yup.¡± ¡°Well, could you not call it that?¡± ¡°Gasper? Do you have a better name for it?¡± ¡°Not naming it would be a better option. And not bringing it up again would be perfect.¡± I breathe augh. ¡°But it was kind of cute.¡± Her face is burning up, and she facepalms. ¡°Stop.¡± I gasp like he did, hand to my face and everything. I sound extremely dramatic and should honestly get nominated for an Oscar. Sadly, Michelle doesn¡¯t seem to think the same. ¡°Oh-my-god.¡± I gasp a second time. ¡°Stop doing that!¡± ¡°Make me.¡± ¡°Daniels.¡± She warns. ¡°Henriksson.¡± I wink ¡°Gah, you¡¯re impossible!¡± Michelle is so flustered. It¡¯s adorable. I bet her heart is racing too.¡± Stop making fun of me!¡± ¡°Then stop being so funny.¡± I¡¯m tempted to gasp again for effect, but I have a feeling Michelle would murder me. ¡°My gasp wasn¡¯t as loud as yours!¡± 1 ¡°You¡¯re right-it was louder!¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Michelle exims, but she is giggling. ¡°Fine, I won¡¯t make fun of you anymore.¡± ¡°Good, because I hate it.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t.¡± Her smile is adorable. ¡°Maybe.¡± I hand her another smile, and then I turn around. ¡°You have a good night.¡± ¡°You too.¡± ¡°Sweet dreams.¡± ¡°Sleep tight.¡± I stop in the doorway and turn around, smiling. Michelle is smiling too. God, we are disgusting. I force my way forward. I have no clue what is happening to me. No other girl has made me feel this warm. I¡¯m so in love that it¡¯s embarrassing. And it¡¯s all Michelle¡¯s fault. If she could just stop being so sweet and perfect, then there wouldn¡¯t be any issues. I wouldn¡¯t touch myself in the freaking shower. Seriously, fuck Michelle for making me fall in love. My heart won¡¯t stop pounding. I¡¯m so dumb and lost in this girl. Which needs to stop. I mean, she locked the door earlier to the bathroom. It means she doesn¡¯t want anything from me, right? RIGHT?! Someone better tell me what is going on and what to do because I¡¯m freaking losing it¡­ Next thing you know, I won¡¯t need my fucking car to get to school ¨CI will be flying on pink clouds. Chapter 23 Chapter 23 Chapter 23 Michelle Maddox¡¯s legs arezily thrown over the table in the library. He is paying the girls checking him out no attention. My eyes casually travel to the hyenas staring at him out from across the library, and I grimace when they get up from their chairs. They are probably about to head for another stroll. The two girls have passed our table five times, giggling to each other whenever Maddox would nce up at them. Too bad for them that the football yer probably doesn¡¯t even remember their faces. Because let¡¯s face it; Maddox can¡¯t even memorize that it¡¯s Norway and not Sweden we are going to hold a presentation about. ¡°Let me get this straight: you want me to hold most of the presentation and do the talking?¡± Maddox¡¯s voice brings my attention to him. Less than a month ago, I was terrified of him, and although his blue eyes are still harsh, I don¡¯t shudder out of fear. It¡¯s my nerves and the fact that I like him. Having all of his attention, I¡¯m sure, would have the same effect on any girl on campus. He is way too gorgeous to ignore. ¡°Would you mind?¡± Maddox studies my face and then sighs. ¡°I hate presentations, but fine¡­ I do the talking, for your sake,¡± his intense eyes narrow on mine. ¡°Just so you know, I would never do this for anyone else. In fact, I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m helping you with this stupid Sweden presentation after school hours.¡± ¡°Norway.¡± I correct him. Nonchntly, like he doesn¡¯t care, Maddox leans back in his chair and crosses his arms behind his head. ¡°To-may-to, to-mah-to¡­¡± His bulging biceps make me dumb. I stare at them until Maddox arches an eyebrow at me. ¡°T-They are not the same!¡± I point out, stumbling on my stupid words and hating myself for Ignoring my question, Maddox tilts his head. ¡°Michelle¡­ Were you just checking me out a second ago?¡± Oh, he saw that? ¡°Of course not!¡± 1 ¡°Good, because¡­ I wouldn¡¯t want my project partner to take advantage of me. Calling me here thiste and pretending there is work to be done when in reality, all she wanted was to check me out. It would be highly unprofessional. There are boundaries, Michelle.¡± I stare at him, drenched in a nervous sweat, and Maddox blinks back without breaking into any emotion Shit. Has he figured out that I like him?! My lips quiver, but before I can say anything, Maddox cracks up andughs at me. There is a quick sh of white before his eyes turn warmer and less predatory. ¡°I¡¯m fucking with you, Michelle.¡± Thank god. I immediately rx and slump back down in my chair. All my muscles were tense a second ago. I thought Maddox would call me out on the little crush I¡¯ve developed on him. We continue to study for like an hour. The sun has gone down, and when I reach for the coffee Maddox got me, I nce up to find him silently watching me. A shudder goes through me. Maddox¡¯s piercing blue eyes are set on my lip gloss, and butterflies swarm my chest. He is staring at my mouth, making it harder to breathe. But as having caught himself staring, he looks away. ¡°Can I ask you something?¡± I flip down myptop to give him all of my focus. ¡°Ask away.¡± ¡°What are you hoping to do after college?¡± My heart kicks up a notch, and I exhale. ¡°Under normal circumstances, I wouldn¡¯t answer that question to anyone who asked, but¡­¡± ¡°But?¡± ¡°You already know so much about me, so I don¡¯t see the harm in giving you the honest answer: after college, I hope to get a good enough job to let me move far away from here¡­¡± ¡°Here? You mean this city or the state, or the country?¡± ¡°At least the city.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± his mammoth hand is scratching at his stubble. He hasn¡¯t shaved, but it kind of suits him. ¡°I¡¯m guessing it¡¯s because a lot has happened here?¡± I breathe augh. There is a jarring feeling in my heart. ¡°You really are intense, you know that, right? You just ask these personal questions, expecting people to answer them.¡± ¡°But you and I are close friends, aren¡¯t we?¡± His sentence baffles me. I haven¡¯t known Maddox for very long, but he already knows a lot about me. I just didn¡¯t think that mattered to him. That I mattered to him. My eyes travel to his dreamy blue. I study them and measure their sincerity. Maddox tilts his head in response, seemingly curious. His smile is uncertain like he doesn¡¯t know why I¡¯m staring at him but is happy to have my attention. ¡°Uh, I guess you know more about me than others¡­¡± Silence, ¡°Michelle, you see me as your friend, right?¡± The question makes my heart pound. Maddox hurt me when he said I¡¯m not his type and called me a nerd. He did, but I more or less chose to forgive him since he saved me from the Thomas N?velDrama.Org owns this. situation, Maddox also let me spend the night at his parent¡¯s summer house, a building Iter learned Chapter 23 solely belongs to Maddox. Jason told me Maddox is the sole child to Chapter 24 Chapter 24 Chapter 24 Michelle I open the door with my elbow and carry the pizzas Maddox bought inside the kitchen. Maddox is still by the car, probably picking up all the bags of food he got me. He is sweet, and I waltz into the kitchen wearing a smile. I put down the boxes on the table and begin searching for a knife. I hear footsteps and expect to find Maddox behind me, but its Zendra and hertest conquer, Henrik. ¡°Oh, you got me a pizza?¡± Zendra opens the first box and sends me an evil smile. She is definitely nning on stealing one of the boxes. I straighten my shoulders, and for once in my life, I speak up. ¡°Uh, that pizza isn¡¯t for you.¡± ¡°But you got two of them?¡± Zendra shrugs. ¡°I also don¡¯t think you need to eat two of them, and I¡¯m hungry. So thank you for the¡ª¡± ¡°That pizza is mine.¡± Zendra falls silent, and her eyes almost pop up from their sockets when Maddox strolls into the kitchen. He walks toward the pizza boxes and res at both Zendra and Henrik. Immediately, Henrik steps out of the way with a little yelp. The smaller male knows better than to challenge the pissed-off football yer, and Maddox growls while closing the box. ¡°If the pizza is cold, I will put you to me.¡± Maddox¡¯s intense eyes are set on Zendra¡¯s face. She takes a step back. ¡°Maddox, hi¡­ I didn¡¯t know you wereing over. I thought you and Michelle broke up?¡± ¡°Nope,¡± Maddox says. ¡°I¡¯ve just been blessed not to see your ugly mug around heretely¡­ Also, you and that other roommate owe me money for eating from my stuff.¡± Zendra¡¯s jaw drops to the floor. ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°Yeah, I bought food for Michelle, and I have a hard time believing she ate all of it, but it¡¯s okay¡­ Leave twenty dors on the counter, and I will consider us even. The food cost more than that, but I¡¯m feeling nice today. Just don¡¯t do it again.¡± Henrik holds up a finger as if he has a question, and Maddox narrows his eyes. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Henrik scratches the back of his head. ¡°What happens if we identally take from Michelle¡¯s food?¡± ¡°Oh, let¡¯s see,¡± Maddox pokes his scruffy chin with one finger and dramatically hums. ¡°If you do it, I will beat you up since you¡¯re a man, and if the girls do it, I will just spread to every jock on campus that you have an STD,¡± he winks at Zendra. ¡°It will make it harder for you to continue living your life as a cleat chaser then.¡± I almost choke. Maddox is hardcore, and his evil promise might have been too harsh. Zendra stares at Maddox, who is paying her no attention. He looks at me and nods toward my room. ¡°Youing?¡± ¡°Yeah, I just¡­¡± I clear my throat. ¡°I just had to get the knife.¡± ¡°Good idea.¡± Maddox gives Zendra the ¡°I¡¯m watching you¡± re before walking forward with a hot guy swagger. I rush after him, aware of Zendra¡¯s eyes following us the entire way down the corridor. Once inside my room, Maddox flops down on my bed. He holds the pizza boxes, waiting for me to sit next to him before taking the knife from my hands. He cuts my pizza for me. ¡°I really don¡¯t like your roommates¡­¡± Laughter bubbles up my throat. ¡°I¡¯ve noticed.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you search for another ce to live?¡± I¡¯m handed my pizza box, and Maddox opens his own. ¡°There must be better roommates than Zendra and Ciara.¡± My mouth is filled with smi pizza. ¡°Probably not thiste into the semester¡­¡± I dry my lips on the back of my hand. ¡°But I can try looking for another ce, I guess¡­¡± ¡°You should,¡± Maddox looks around my room, eyes seeming to grow sad at myck of furniture. ¡°If you want, you could stay over at the frat house more often¡­¡± His words baffle me. Wouldn¡¯t take mean we would be forced to share a bed? Is that normal? I blink in confusion. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yeah¡­¡± ¡°But isn¡¯t that weird?¡± ¡°Well, no¡­ Or yes¡­¡± Maddox seems ufortable. I almost notice his face is redder than usual. ¡°I mean¡­¡± he sucks in a deep breath. ¡°There really isn¡¯t an easy way to say this.¡± By now, I¡¯m more bewildered than before. ¡°Is something the matter?¡± Maddox looks at me. His blue eyes roam over my face until my heart thuds from their intensity. He is taking up most space on the bed-and the air inside my room. ¡°I like you, Michelle,¡± Maddox says without breaking eye contact. He seems to have a more challenging time than usual finding words. His face is all red, and he actually looks insecure.¡± And while I know dating shoulde first, you can¡­ You can stay at my ce whenever you want if you decide to¡­ If you want to¡­¡± I¡¯m gaping like a goldfish. My brain has not yet processed Maddox¡¯s words, yet I manage to whisper. ¡°If I want to what?¡± ¡°Go out with me.¡± That sentence makes the rest of his words finally settle into my brain. Maddox likes me. He imed I wasn¡¯t his type, but he likes me. Which means he probably said that to protect his pride. Because he likes me. All the blood rushes to my head. It doesn¡¯t matter how often I think about his words; I still don¡¯t quite believe them. My words part to whisper. ¡°You like me?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Do you mean that?¡± ¡°Michelle,¡± he begins. He seems serious. I catch my breath and stare at his moving lips, feeling my sweat nds open. ¡°Do you want to go out with me? I think¡­ I think we could be really good together. Do you believe me?¡± Holding my breath, I nod. I know Maddox is only asking me out, yet it doesn¡¯t feel like the typical situation when a guy asks you out and then sees you see them one or two times until they decide to never call you back again. This feels more serious, a moment I will be reying years from now-when I am sitting alone, old and grey, and knitting socks in a house full of tabby cats. ¡°Michelle?¡± Maddox is blinking at me. He hasn¡¯t proposed. He is only asking me out on a date, yet I¡¯m already rocking on the edge of an emotional meltdown as it is. And while I know I¡¯m supposed to give some sort of response, I can¡¯t manage words. My mind is as empty as my mouth. Luckily, my body chooses that moment to speak for me. I lean closer to Maddox and stand up a little from the bed to kiss him. Because he is there, and there is no better response. 1 It¡¯s just a soft brush of lips, warm and flighty. Sitting back, my heart is performing somersaults while Maddox is frozen. His eyebrows are cocked in surprise. Eventually, he speaks. ¡°I would have asked you out days ago if I knew it would get me that.¡± I shrug at him, blushing. ¡°Betterte than never, right?¡± His smile is slow. ¡°I guess that¡¯s true.¡± We stare at each other, and that¡¯s when the reality of the situation finally sinks in: Maddox asked me out. Panic hits my brain and makes me stand up because suddenly I can¡¯t sit still. Is it just me, or is the room warmer? Maddox tilts his head at me. ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°To the bathroom.¡± Because I need to wash cold water over my face to ensure I¡¯m not dreaming this. Maddox keeps the smile on his face. ¡°Don¡¯t shit for too long, or the pizza will get cold.¡± The mouth on him! N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. My eyes narrow. ¡°I¡¯m not going to do number two!¡± He teasingly grins at me. ¡°Whatever you say¡­¡± I re at him, and my skin burns as I head out the door. I hear Maddox breathing augh behind me. It makes a thousand shivers run up my spine. I can¡¯t believe he asked me out! What now? How am I supposed to act around him now?! And how do I prevent myself from messing this up? Shit, I¡¯ve probably already messed it up by going to the toilet when I should be inside my room-cajoling and flirting with him! I¡¯m hyperventting by the time I reach the shared bathroom. My skin is burning, and I can¡¯t stop my brain from spinning out of control. Maddox asked me out. He likes me. I like him. I¡¯m about to date the star quarterback on campus! It doesn¡¯t take a few sshes of water to calm down. I suspect I would need to dive straight into an ice- filled pool. Gosh, am I dying? How the heck do I stop my heart from racing?! Suddenly reality is better than my dreams, and ¡¤ I¡¯m terrified because I know I will somehow mess this up. Chapter 25 Chapter 25 Chapter 25 Michelle I have the strongest urge to pee when I wake up the following day. I had straight to the bathroom, groaning at this sudden nausea taking over my senses. Did I stand up too fast? Whatever. I¡¯m not in a good mood. My breasts are sensitive too, which can only mean my period is on its way. But I¡¯m not precisely bleeding. I find it peculiar since I could have sworn my period should have been here three days ago There are knocks on the bathroom door, and soon, Ciara¡¯s voicees from the other side of the door. ¡°Michelle-¡± ¡°The bathroom is upied!¡± I yell, interrupting Ciara, which is unlike me, but I¡¯m trying to focus. I¡¯m unsure why, but peeing seems a bit harder this morning. ¡°Chill out!¡± Ciara snorts at me. It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve heard herugh at something I¡¯ve said.¡± I¡¯m just knocking to let you know that your boyfriend is waiting outside with his car.¡± Maddox is here to pick me up? Embarrassed beyond belief, I blush. To think I yell at Ciara the moment she actually tries to do something nice. ¡°Uhh¡­ Thank you for telling me that¡­¡± I mumble. ¡°You¡¯re wee, and¡­ I¡¯m happy for you.¡± I slowly blink to process her words. Did Ciara really just offer Maddox and me her blessing? Wow. This morning is so weird. I tumble out of the bathroom, only to reel back when I hear an amused chuckle from behind me. Maddox is leaning against the wall, arms parked underneath his chest. ¡°Tough morning?¡± So cocky, always so cocky¡­ ¡°You could say that,¡± I admit, wetting my parched lips. ¡°Um, could you give me a moment?¡± There is a snort. ¡°Well, seeing you don¡¯t have any clothes, I don¡¯t think I have any other choice.¡± No clothes? I look down at myself, blushing when I realize I¡¯m only wearing a t-shirt and that Maddox¡¯s eyes are lingering on my legs. My cheeks turn molten when his eyes rake me up and down. It doesn¡¯t matter that there is approval on his face it makes the situation even more nerve wracking Maddox¡¯s eyes are enormous, hungry, and sinful, and my blood is rushing to my ears. I want to walk up to him and stand on my tiptoes in an attempt to kiss him, but I tell myself this isn¡¯t the time. No, I have to calm down. My heart is thumping, and I let out a nervousugh to defuse the atmosphere. A minute longer of Maddox giving me those fuck-me eyes, and we won¡¯t be heading to school¡­ I avert my eyes from his. ¡°Yeah¡­ So I¡­ So I should¡­ Go and change my¡­ Change my outfit.¡± Darn. I¡¯m so repetitive in my words, but at least I¡¯m not stammering. ¡°I will wait right here.¡± Smiling, I run into my room and rummage each and every corner to find something-anything ¡ª to wear. I settle with a pair of jeans and an oversized hoodie that doesn¡¯t stink. It will do. I find my hairbrush, but don¡¯t stick around to brush my hair. I take it with me and instead rush back into the corridor. I¡¯m super nervous and acting weird. There is no calming down the buzzing bees in my stomach, and it gets worse when I see Maddox. ¡°You ready to go?¡± He asks. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Cool,¡± he turns around but nces down at me as we head for the door. His smile is slow and unexpected. ¡°Since I came here so early, we could get coffee.¡± ¡°Right, you are early¡­¡± I mumble. ¡°Are you a morning person?¡± ¡°I go to the gym every morning,¡± he shrugs. ¡°If the rm isn¡¯t on, I wake up either way, so I guess?¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Unless I¡¯m hungover. Then I¡¯m just dead to the world.¡± I peer up at him. Maddox¡¯s willingness to chat is unusual, but it¡¯s more than wee. He seems to be putting in an effort to this dating thing, so I should also do the same. I gather courage. ¡°D-Do you¡­¡± Maddox holds up the door for me with raised eyebrows, and I force out the rest of the sentence. ¡°Do you have any football practice today?¡± ¡°I do¡­ Do you want toe and watch us?¡± A smile curls my lips. ¡°Sure.¡± We get into his car, and I quickly learn that Maddox likes to listen to old songs. The music isn¡¯t loud, but it¡¯s present during our conversation about what coffee to get. N?velDrama.Org owns this. Then, in the Starbucks line, I¡¯m sitting in the car andughing at how Maddox looks like a sore thumb in the line of high school girls. He is towering over the girls and res over his shoulder as if knowing I¡¯m dying inside the car. Then, minutester, hees back with two cups, and I snort at how his cup says, ¡°Mad Dog.¡± By the time we park outside campus, I¡¯m in a good mood. I¡¯m smiling, and Maddox turns to me before opening the car door. 2/3 His eyebrows are furrowed. ¡°I know we haven¡¯t gone out on our official date yet, but could you do me a favor?¡± My smile stays. ¡°I think picking me up from home and getting me a vanitte and this bun counts. But yes, I¡¯m more than willing to pay you back in any way I can. What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°I¡¯m d you like the coffee,¡± he tiredly meets my eyes. ¡°My mom has invited us over for dinner this weekend. I know it¡¯s early, but¡­ I would appreciate it if you went with me. This dinner is her attempt to talk about Vanya and my arranged marriage again.¡± ¡°She is still trying to make you marry her?¡± ¡°Yup,¡± Maddox grimaces. ¡°My mom isn¡¯t convinced you and I are that serious, and I guess I can¡¯t me her. We weren¡¯t dating when she saw us kissing at that one football game, so it makes sense she wants to see it for herself. Us dating, that is.¡± The thought of meeting Maddox¡¯s mom so early gives rise to difort, but I know I need to meet her. Or she will keep pushing Maddox toward marrying a woman he doesn¡¯t love. ¡°I wille to the dinner,¡± I exhale after speaking and give him a trembling smile. I¡¯m already sweating. ¡°The thought of meeting your mom is nerve-wracking, though¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t me you. It¡¯s never easy meeting someone¡¯s parents, but my mom is worse than anyone else I know. She will interrogate you but try not to let her frighten you. My momcks a filter, but you can handle it.¡± I snort in amusement. ¡°Now I know where that part of your personalityes from. The no filter part.¡± Maddox res at me. ¡°I¡¯m nothing like my mom¡­¡± Iugh. ¡°Sure, sure¡­ Whatever you say.¡± He rolls his eyes at me. ¡°I¡¯m being serious, but¡­ I¡¯m d you¡¯re going with me because her attention might be on you.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t want her attention?¡± ¡°No, but I realize my mom will be on me like a hawk after I¡¯m done talking to her,¡± Maddox¡¯s eyes meet mine. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what you know about football, but my stats are legendary. I¡¯m pretty darn good at what I do.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± His grin is blinding. ¡°I¡¯m heading to the NFLbine to do a draft test. It takes three days toplete, and after all the tests, I hope I get picked by a great team¡­ But to be honest, I know I will.¡± ¡°Ah,¡±I¡¯m still a bit confused. ¡°And then you will y in the NFL?¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Maddox seems happy. ¡°But depending on the team, it might mean moving away far from this city. I still can¡¯t believe it¡­ I might be the youngest yer heading to the draft this year¡­¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± I¡¯m unsure what to say. Maddox moving away would suck, but it¡¯s not like we are serious. We are just casually dating, so I can¡¯t exactlyin or cry. I keep my smile regardless of the jarring feeling in my heart. ¡°Well, I¡¯m happy for you.¡± Maddox beams at me. ¡°Me too.¡± Chapter 26 Chapter 26 Maddox Being in love and admitting it is life-changing. I¡¯m happier, and it feels like a rock has been lifted off my chest. Breathing is easier. I¡¯m sweaty from running around on the field all day. Exhausted. Limbs shaking. Legs begging for a rest. It¡¯s like every other day, but there is a difference-food isn¡¯t on my mind. Michelle is. She is standing up. I¡¯m happy to see her, thrilled she stayed here for the entire duration of the practice. Michelle is amazing. She saw Jason tackle me, and the idiot took it too far. I ended up eating the dirt on the ground. And I can see the concern in Michelle¡¯s eyebrows as I approach. ¡°Bet you¡¯re going to cry to your girlfriend now,¡± Jason says from behind me when I take off my helmet. ¡°Are you going to shed a couple of crocodile tears to get what you want?¡± Michelle is by my side instantly, ignoring Jason and instead focusing on me. A crease has formed between her eyebrows. ¡°Did you hurt yourself? Any area that you want me to look at?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m totally fine¡­¡± I mutter, throwing down my helmet on the ground. All I want is a hug, but Michelle seems more interested in scanning my body for injuries. Jason snorts when Michelle ces her hands on me. I turn around to bark at him, but I fall silent when I notice Jason doesn¡¯t smirk. He is pouting, and it looks like it¡¯s from jealousy. Ha-ha, could it be the damn sucker is wishing to find a girlfriend to call his own? Sure looks like it. I bend down and pretend to be more injured than I actually am to spite him. Michelle is stroking her hand over a bruise on my arm, and I meet Jason¡¯s eyes when she doesn¡¯t see me doing it. I¡¯m a child, but Jason deserves it. I stick out my tongue to spite him. ¡°Oh-my-god, Maddox!¡± Michelle exims. ¡°You have like the biggest bruise on your arm! How did you get that?¡± Jason¡¯s eyes narrow, and my chest swells when I see his bubbling jealousy. I¡¯m gloating. Yes, Michelle, feel sorry for me and touch me with your sweet, delicate hands. Help me make Jason realize being alone sucks. ¡°I will continue looking at you once we get to your ce,¡± Michelle informs me and shudders at the wind. She rubs her arms up and down with her hands. ¡°Is it just me, or is it cold today?¡± ¡°It¡¯s cold today,¡± I grab my backpack and take out a clean, ck hoodie before handing it to Michelle. ¡°Wear this.¡± ¡°Oh, wow, thank you,¡± Michelle beams up at me while bringing it up and over her head. ¡°You prepared yourself for everything. Thank you again. It¡¯s superfortable.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± I don¡¯t tell her I bought it with me for her sake. It would be embarrassing. I¡¯m turning sappy, goddamn it. I¡¯m a giant marshmallow, and it¡¯s Michelle¡¯s fault. ¡°So, what do you think of my new outfit?¡± Michelle spins around in a circle. My hoodie reaches past her knees, and I try not tough. With her brown hair out, and her doe-eyes, she looks adorable. ¡°It looks good.¡± She blinks up at me. Filled with expectations. ¡°Just good?¡± ¡°Yes, it suits you.¡± Laughter sips out through her lips. She is blushing yetfortable enough to speak her mind, ¡°It suits me? Wow, you¡¯re such a liar, Maddox. It¡¯s too big for me! I thought you would tell me if something looked bad on me! Not be the kind of guy to lie me straight up into my face¡­ . Well, down, but whatever!¡± ¡°That¡¯s probably the problem then. I can barely see you down there, shorty. It¡¯s hard to tell if it looks good or not. Is it a dress or a hoodie? My eyes can¡¯t see the bottom of it¡­¡± ¡°Oh-my-god¡­¡± Michelle is bobbing up and down, entirely red in the face yet giving in to augh. ¡°You¡¯re so mean!¡± ¡°Honest.¡± I correct her. She shoves at my chest whileughing. ¡°S-Shut up, you asshole! Don¡¯t bring my height into this!¡± ¡°Why?¡± I show her a glimpse of my teeth. ¡°Can¡¯t you handle it?¡± By now, her face is redder than a tomato. ¡°It¡¯s a touchy subject¡­¡± ¡°Ah,¡± I relent and tap her teasingly on the head. ¡°You look adorable, Michelle. Really stinking cute. But then again, I shouldn¡¯t speak. I¡¯m an asshole, and you told me to shut up.¡± ¡°Yes, you are kind of an asshole.¡± I lift an eyebrow. ¡°I must say you¡¯re brave for insulting me.¡± ¡°Please,¡± Michelle smiles up at me. ¡°You¡¯re harmless.¡± I lean in closer, hunkering to meet her eyes. ¡°Am I?¡± She rolls her eyes at me. ¡°Your scaring techniques aren¡¯t working today. Just pick me up already. Quit stalling. I¡¯m expecting a hug here.¡± ¡°Okay, okay. So bossy.¡± Michelle yelps andughs delightfully when I pull her feet off the ground. I wrap my arms around her, hugging her to my chest with a content exhale. She is lighter than a feather, but in my mind, she isrger-than-life. Her arms sling around my neck, and her brilliant eyes meet mine. We haven¡¯t really done anything remotely affectionate, so this is new. Her proximity is burning my skin. Goddamn. This sure gotplicated fast. How the fuck am I supposed to get to first base with Michelle when hugging her is all it takes for my heart to race? It¡¯s different now that I¡¯ve admitted I like her, and we are dating, not fake dating. Everything feels a hundred times more intense. ¡°Umm¡­¡± Michelle sinks her teeth into her lower lip, trying to hold back a smile that then just sort of explodes. Her cheeks are all rosy and sweet. Adorable. ¡°Hi.¡± I swear to god, her awkwardness is infectious. I¡¯m suddenly blushing, BLUSHING while holding her. ¡°Hi¡­¡± Next, her eyes scan mine while her fingers casually travel down from my shoulders to my biceps. She squeezes them lightly. Maybe it¡¯s hard for her, I don¡¯t know. Her eyes gaze into mine, and for a moment, I expect her to kiss me, but she backs out. Instead, she falls against my shoulder, her heart thumping fast in rhythm with mine. Gosh, what is happening to us? ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± Michelle says. She suddenly sounds extremely insecure and squeezes me in a hug. ¡°I just¡­ I just really like you¡­¡± I understand her because I feel the same way. ¡°Me too.¡± We stand on the field for an eternity, my chest heaving up and down with every breath like I¡¯ve just run a mile, even though I¡¯m just hugging my girlfriend. I wonder if Michelle can feel it thumping-if she knows she is the reason it¡¯s beating. Whatever. Doesn¡¯t matter. I hug Michelle tighter to me and draw in a breath to sniff her hair as discreetly as I can. Clean and fruity, the scent of that shampoo we got her from Rituals mixed with her own. I want to bury my nose in it. Michelle giggles. ¡°Did you just sniff me?¡± I smile because she can¡¯t see it. ¡°Of course not.¡± Another giggle. ¡°You totally did.¡± ¡°So what if I did?¡± If there weren¡¯t people here, I would be tempted to ce her on the ground and inhale more than her hair. Michelle tightens her hold around my neck, speaking in a soft, content voice close to my ear.¡± Should we find the car? Because¡­ I mean¡­ You said w-we were going somewhere, right?¡± I smile against her head. Even though I told her I was taking her back to my parent¡¯s summerhouse tonight to watch a movie through text, she didn¡¯t take it for granted. ¡°Yeah, we are eating dinner at my ce.¡± ¡°Sounds great,¡± she chirps. ¡°What are we eating?¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t we head to the store, and you can pick whatever we should be cooking tonight?¡± ¡°That would be great because¡­ I think I need tampons.¡± ¡°You on your period?¡± Why do I feel so disappointed? I need to stop thinking about sex. ¡°No, or¡­ I should be¡­¡± I lean away, blinking at her when I meet her eyes. ¡°Oh¡­ Should I be worried? Do you need to see someone?¡± She dismisses my concern with her hand. ¡°No, it sometimeses inte, but I would like to be prepared.¡± I rx a little. ¡°Of course, let¡¯s get you tampons.¡± She giggles. ¡°I should let you go in and buy them on your own.¡± Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. I grin. ¡°You really think I would be nervous doing it?¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°No, but¡­ I will admit I wouldn¡¯t know what to buy.¡± Her smile is identical to the Chesire Cat. ¡°That¡¯s why it would be fun. I¡¯m curious which ones youe out with. Oh, and let¡¯s not forget the other stuff that¡­ You know¡­ Girls need for their period.¡± Damn it. Is this a test? What have I gotten myself into? Chapter 27 Chapter 27 Chapter 27 Maddox ¡°It¡¯s freezing in here!¡± Michelle rubs her goosebump arms up and down with her hands. She sits on the couch, nostrils ring in irritation at the cold. I¡¯ve never seen her this angry. ¡°There is something wrong with the heating. Bleeding the radiators should be done twice a year, but I haven¡¯t done that. That might be the problem. I don¡¯t know. I¡¯m too tired to do it now, though.¡± Trust me. I didn¡¯t purposely invite Michelle to a cold house. I¡¯m the only one using the summerhouse, and since I usually sleep in the frathouse, I had no idea the temperature had gotten this bad. Michelle lifts her chin, finding my eyes. ¡°What are we going to do?¡± ¡°Well, for starters, put the hoodie back on.¡± She chews on her bottom lip, whispering. ¡°Should we head to the frathouse instead?¡± ¡°No, just rx,¡± I¡¯m tempted to call her babe. ¡°I will call someone to fix the heat in the morning.¡± Her eyes grow wide. ¡°But it¡¯s cold right now, Maddox!¡± ¡°But it won¡¯t be in the morning after I¡¯ve called someone.¡± ¡°I get that, I do, but¡­¡± Michelle¡¯s heavy sigh conveys her inner skepticism. ¡°Do you even think we will be able to sleep when it¡¯s this cold inside?¡± I shrug. ¡°I¡¯m not freezing.¡± Her eyes narrow into slits, and she crosses her arms over her chest. She is mimicking my usual threatening pose and it¡¯s hrious. I have to fight every instinct to pick her up. She even speaks in a grumpy tone. ¡°Of course, you don¡¯t¡­¡± I fight augh. ¡°Why the sudden grumpiness?¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m the only one struggling,¡± she pouts, nodding at me. ¡°While you, over there, probably have some hyper cirction since you¡¯re an athlete in your prime.¡± ¡°Probably.¡± I toss my jacket on the armchair. I¡¯m not cold at all, and Michelle res at me in response. I snort. ¡°Do you want to borrow some of my heat while we watch N*****x?¡± der, grumpier, cuter. I haven¡¯t seen Michelle pissed off very often. She is super crabby and reminds me of a hedgehog. All tiny and adorable, but with spikes to hurt you if you touch her. Vicious. Dangerous ¨C at least ording to herself. And cute. So darn cute. ¡°I¡¯m too¡­¡± Michelle wet her lips, still ring at me. ¡°I¡¯m too proud to borrow heat from the enemy.¡± ¡°The enemy?¡± I lift an eyebrow. What is she talking about now? Since when did I be the enemy? Her cheeks burn brighter, and her nose wrinkles. ¡°You¡¯re the enemy. The guy who brought me to Antarctica.¡± Snorting, I sit down on the couch next to her. It gives under my weight, but Michelle prevents herself from falling into my waitingp by leaning the other way. What a bummer. 1 tap my thigh, beaming at her when she res at me. ¡°Don¡¯t be like that. Come over here,¡± I tap myp again, grinning at Michelle. It feels like we have traded personalities. ¡°I will warm you up and cover us in a nket.¡± Michelle huffs in irritation, mumbling. ¡°Fine! But I¡¯m still going to be super dramatic about this for like an hour or something¡­¡± All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Iugh at her. ¡°That¡¯s such a woman thing to do, and it¡¯s not even that cold in here. You will survive the night.¡± Michelle doesn¡¯tment. Her hands find my shoulders as she climbs into myp. Half a secondter, she plops down on my thighs and getsfortable. I like feeling her weight in myp. Smiling, I take the nket hanging on the backrest behind us and wrap us both in it. Michelle seems grateful. Shivers make the little thing shake in myp, and she settles close to my chest, chattering her teeth. I bite back a grin. ¡°You¡¯re being ridiculous right now¡­¡± ¡°N-no, it¡¯s cold inside your house, and you don¡¯t get to speak because you¡¯re b-basically bigfoot! I bet that beard you¡¯re sporting keeps you warm at night.¡± Fuck, she is sweet. The teeth chattering worries me, but she is already getting warmer. ¡°Bigfoot, huh?¡± Michelle nods. ¡°That¡¯s you.¡± I scratch my chin. ¡°Do I need to shave that badly?¡± ¡°You do. It itches when you get affectionate.¡± ¡°It does?¡± ¡°Yup.¡± ¡°Huh. Never knew.¡± Michelle is obviously still upset about the heat but is taking it out over my scruff, even daring to sound like a brat. ¡°But it¡¯s how it is.¡± It is how it is. So grumpy. I¡¯m smiling so hard that it hurts. ¡°I guess you have to live with that for now, though. I can¡¯t go even one day without affection.¡± To prove my point, I drag my scruffy chin against Michelle¡¯s soft cheek until she tries to escape. Too bad for her, 1 easily hold her in ce, forcing giggles up her throat. 1 ¡°No! Stop! Maddox!¡± Michelle is squirming and trying to move away. All it does is tease my cock when she lifts herself up and down from myp. I desperately try to fight my urges. Think about love and affection, Maddox. Not sex. Rub your face against Michelle¡¯s cheek, not your cock against her sweet, tight pussy. ¡°Get your beard off my face, Maddox! Stop trying to kill me!¡± Laughing, I continue to stroke my face against her soft skin. ¡°It can¡¯t be that bad¡­ Just shut up and love me.¡± 1 ¡°Oh-my-god¡­¡± Michelle gives up on trying to fight me. She slumps against me, all grumpy and defeated. ¡°At least I¡¯m warm now¡­ From panicking in yourp.¡± ¡°You clearly have poor blood cirction.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m pretty sure you have hyper cirction¡­¡± I snort. ¡°Nah, man, you need a clinic. I¡¯m taking you to a doctor first thing in the morning.¡± I love hearing herugh. I love how her feet are tucked in the middle of my legs, body slumped against mine, our size difference noticeable. But nice at moments like these. I might be a goddamn giantpared to my girlfriend, but hell if I don¡¯t feel more protective because of it. We stay cuddling throughout the movie, chatting andughing at the plot until we barely can keep our eyes open. ¡°I think I¡¯m just going to-¡± she yawns and gets morefortable. She is even using my thigh as her pillow. ¡°Rest my eyes for a bit.¡± ¡°Oh no, you won¡¯t. That¡¯s the oldest trick in the book. You¡¯re just going to fall asleep.¡± ¡°I promise I won¡¯t.¡± Her eyes are already closed, and there is a tiny, content smile on her lips. Precious. I ad?nire her cute face and try not tough at her messed-up hair sticking out in every direction. She looks wild, Cute, But we can¡¯t stay on the couch all night. I gather her in my arms, but her eyes don¡¯t shoot open like they usually would if I picked her up. She lets me pick her up, and I look down into her tired eyes. ¡°Are you fine sharing the same bed?¡± Her lips form a smile. ¡°I would be furious if we didn¡¯t¡­ It¡¯s fucking cold in here, Maddox.¡± I snort in amusement. ¡°You¡¯ve spent too much time with me if you¡¯re suddenly swearing like a sailor.¡± She yawns. ¡°Or it means my period ising in.¡± Ah, I hadpletely forgotten about that. ¡°Should i be worried?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m wearing protection.¡± I lift an eyebrow,ughing, ¡°Not what I meant, but okay.¡± 1 stroll away with Michelle in my arms. Up the stairs. She slumps against my chest, so trusting and comfortable she doesn¡¯t care to keep her eyes open. I like that. I like that trust a lot. By the time I reach my bedroom, she is fast asleep. I carefully slide her down on the bed, watching her. Some stray hairs are on her face, and I pluck at them. Michelle¡¯s eyes are half- open. She is watching me with a half-smile, but for whatever reason, she doesn¡¯t ask what the hell I¡¯m doing. I think she knows as well as me that I turn sappy around her. ¡°Good night, Maddie¡­¡± Maddie?! What. The. Actual. Fuck. I re down at her. ¡°What kind of nickname is that?! I sound like a goddamn woman!¡± Michelle doesn¡¯t reply. Her eyes are closed again, eyshes fanned out over her cheeks. A tiny smile is tingling on her lips. My heart squeezes. Man, my girlfriend is pretty. Chapter 28 Chapter 28 Chapter 28 Michelle N?velDrama.Org owns this. I wake up in the middle of the night, nauseous and hungry all at the same damn time. My period is superte, but I swear these are the weirdest symptoms ever. Never once have I had such sensitive nipples, not to mention having to pee all the goddamn time. Do I have a urinary tract infection or something? I blink in the dark. Maddox¡¯s big arms are wrapped around me, and one of his heavy tree legs rests over mine. How the heck did I manage to fall asleep like this? 1 Although it¡¯s cute that Maddox is aplete teddy bear and can¡¯t sleep without holding me, it¡¯s annoying how I have to fight to break free from his arms and legs. ¡°Goddamn it, Maddox!¡± I curse in a whisper. ¡°Release me!¡± My giant lover doesn¡¯t even react to me kicking his thighs. Even in his sleep, the guy is a massive asshole. He tries to keep me locked in his arms, but somehow, I wriggle free. Not without panting, though. I¡¯m sweating once I¡¯m free and quickly get off the bed to ensure Maddox doesn¡¯t trap me again. I somehow make it to the toilet, a little bit dizzy and lost. But not without experiencing the whole world swaying briefly, though. Gosh, have I had too little water or something? I do my deeds, and then, out of nowhere, I have to stand up and grip the basin. An intense, sudden urge to vomit has hit me, and I puke without warning. Luckily, it isn¡¯t a lot, and I leave the faucet running while wondering if I ate something weird. I¡¯ve only slept with Maddox once, and this couldn¡¯t possibly mean I¡¯m pregnant, right? I think that, yet I can¡¯t help the dread from washing up over me. A pregnancy would be the worst thing ever. I¡¯m only eighteen ¨C I¡¯m not mentally ready to be a mother! And with Maddox? He would leave me and probably demand an abortion! I stare at my reflection, the rings under my eyes and the cold sweat spreading over my skin. I¡¯m hyperventting and have no clue what to do. Do they sell pregnancy tests at the supermarket? I think I saw some hanging by the condoms¡­ How long ago was it that I slept with Maddox? Some weeks? I can¡¯t remember. Will the test even work? Should I see a doctor? God, what should I tell Maddox?. Probably nothing. I don¡¯t know shit yet, and I have no clue how Maddox will react to this. ¡¤ We just started dating, goddamn it, and I¡¯m supposed to see his motherter today! We aren¡¯t ready to have a baby! Maddox is in his what? His early twenties?! I haven¡¯t even asked him for his birthday! Oh-my-god¡­ Oh-my-god¡­ I¡¯m freaking out and should probably sit on the toilet seat. Yes, good idea, Michelle. Breathe, and try not to scream. Deep breaths. You got this. A knock on the door makes me nearly jump out of my skin. ¡°Michelle, is everything okay in there? You¡¯re up early¡­¡± Please forgive me for this. ¡°Everything is fine!¡± I¡¯m so disgusting for lying, but I don¡¯t know what to do. Guilt is already eating me up alive. It feels like I¡¯m digging my own grave. ¡°Okay¡­¡± Maddox yawns. I can imagine him scratching the little hair over his abs. He sleeps with his t-shirt on, but I know they are there. The man is a work of art. ¡°I¡¯m heading out. Going to run to the gym, work out for like, two hours, ande back¡­ You sure you¡¯re okay?¡± ¡°Perfectly fine!¡± I¡¯m. A. Disgusting. Creature. ¡°Alright¡­ Just head back to sleep after you¡¯re done in there,¡± there is another long yawn.¡± My mom doesn¡¯t expect us to show up until five for this special dinner. So we will have a small lunch before we go there¡­ You had no other ns today, right?¡± He is so thoughtful. ¡°I promised I would go with you to the dinner, and I will. I have to studyter, but it can wait.¡± ¡°Studying, huh¡­ Maybe we can study together?¡± Maddox suddenly snorts in amusement. There is someughter. ¡°Shit, are we that couple already¡­¡± I bite back a smile, knowing what he means, yet feeling the urge to ask him just to make sure.¡± What couple?¡± ¡°The one that can¡¯t stay away from each other.¡± I can no longer stop myself from smiling. ¡°Is that a bad thing?¡± 1 ¡°Honestly? I used to roll my eyes at the guys on the team who had rtionships¡­¡± Maddox falls silent then, seeming to hesitate before continuing to speak. ¡°But with you¡­ I don¡¯t think I mind being one of those¡­ Disgusting couples¡­¡± My cheeks flush. ¡°You¡¯re sweet.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sweet-you¡¯re sweet.¡± ¡°No, you are.¡± ¡°No, you are-fuck, we are doing it already!¡± I burst out laughing. ¡°Head to the gym, ande back soon.¡± ¡°I will. I¡¯m just searching for my balls¡­ I could have sworn they were hanging here a second ago¡­¡± ¡°Hey!¡± Maddox snorts. ¡°I will be back in about two or three hours. Go back to sleep once you¡¯re done in there.¡± ¡°Okay, have fun at the gym, and don¡¯t mess with Jason too much.¡± ¡°Pfft, you know it¡¯s Robin that¡¯s the latest victim. The guy is crushing on his goddamn English professor. It¡¯s so bizarre.¡± I blink in surprise. ¡°Robin, the Casanova on campus, likes his professor?¡± Robin is hands down the pretty-boy on the football team. More lean than swollen. High cheekbones. Winning smile. I have a hard time seeing him be with an older woman when he is probably swimming in pussy. ¡°Yes, he is acting like he is five. You know, the age when kids randomly confess to their mom and want to marry them. But in this case, it¡¯s his fucking teacher¡­ Shit, I mean professor.¡± ¡°I thought Robin had his own harem of girls.¡± ¡°He used to¡­ The fucker had a trio, Charlie¡¯s Angels, strolling after him on campus and even more cleat chasers breathing down his neck. I thought Robin would pick one of those girls. Jason and I bet money on who he would end up with¡­ But now the weirdo is acting like a lovesick puppy and trying to win the heart of his professor.¡± I snort. ¡°How interesting.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s just in weird¡­¡± Maddox sighs. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m heading out!¡± ¡°Bye!¡± I hear Maddox stomping down the chairs and let out a breath I didn¡¯t know I had been holding. I¡¯m back to my problem and wonder if I could make it to the pharmacy I should buy a test and then pray that I¡¯m not pregnant. It would mess up my lifepletely to get pregnant in college, and then with a guy I¡¯ve just started dating? It would be a catastrophe. Maddox will, most likely, be ying in the NFL soon. He is an up-anding yer, promising, and I haven¡¯t graduated! I would have to drop out with a baby, and then what? Maddox would hate me, and I would raise it on my own. Don¡¯t get me wrong. I do want children in the future. Having one right now is just¡­ I don¡¯t think I¡¯m mentally ready, and I don¡¯t have a stable rtionship either. Shit. What am I supposed to do?! Chapter 29 Chapter 29 Chapter 29 Michelle I have peed on every stick inside the RFSU pregnancy test package, and they all show the same thing: two red lines. ¡°No, this must be wrong¡­¡± I stare down at the stick while sitting on the toilet seat. ¡°I can¡¯t be pregnant- I¡¯m not ready for that!¡± I¡¯m shaking, close to crying my heart out. What am I supposed to do? Shit-shit-shit! Someone, please tell me because my entire world has turned upside down! Hot tears are burning behind my eyes. I¡¯m not against people getting abortions. I understand they are needed in some situations, but I don¡¯t want to go through with one. Am I selfish for thinking that? This baby belongs to Maddox too, but no matter what, I just can¡¯t¡­ I can¡¯t make an abortion- I want that less than I want to be a mom! Jesus Christ. My head is spinning. I want children, but not right now. I think I will be a terrible mother at this age, and holy shit, how do I make my heart stop performing somersaults?! ¡°Michelle?¡± Maddox is outside the bathroom door. ¡°Are you alright in there? Do you need more time?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m¡­¡± I look at all the sticks on the floor and take a deep breath. I have to talk to Maddoxter, but not right before this dinner. ¡°I¡¯m ready to go right now. Are you ready?¡± ¡°Yeah, but I hate wearing a tuxedo¡­ It¡¯s tight over my shoulders.¡± I snort at the image I¡¯m visualizing of Maddox trying to fit into a snug tuxedo and sweep the floor. I have to see him. ¡°I kind of like men in costume.¡± Maddox growls. ¡°You better not be into rich CEO books because I swear I will never be an office man. At least not while I¡¯m still in my prime.¡± ¡°I know, I know! And you don¡¯t have to worry,I like muscr football yers more.¡± ¡°That¡¯s more like it¡­. ¡°Maddox grows tired then. A few seconds pass before he sounds irritated again. ¡°Wait, is that in plural?¡± Whileughing, I get rid of the pregnancy tests. Shove the used sticks right into the package and down into the bin. I even dispose of napkins over them so they are hidden. I then think better of it. I can¡¯t risk Maddox finding them, so I dig up the empty package and shove it into my bag. It¡¯s not dirty or anything. I changed the bag in the bin earlier. ¡°You¡¯re not interested in Jason, Lionel, or Robin, are you?¡± Moreughse up my throat. ¡°You¡¯re the only man for me-¡± I fall silent once I open the door and see Maddox cleaned up. Oh-my-god. Is this guy seriously dating me? He is a walking daydream. Maddox is mostly shaven. There is still a hint of a mustache over his full lips that goes hai -hand with his sandy-colored hair. And damn, he even had it styled! Maddox tilts his head. ¡°Is something the matter?¡± Yes, I think I dropped my jaw on the ground. The suit is making me stupid. I want to rip it off. I¡¯m proud of myself for not having thi myself over Maddox¡¯s pecs and abs yet, but I¡¯m close to ravaging him now. Desire pulsates between my legs. I haven¡¯t had sex with Maddox since we first did it. Hes with a t-shirt on, and so do I, but I would kill to see him strip naked. Those shoulders are so broad¡­ Somehow I find words. ¡°You¡¯re so sexy in that suit.¡± His lips curl into a teasing smile. ¡°When shy Michelle Henriksson calls someone sexy-t when pigs fly in the sky. Maybe we should buy lottery tickets today?¡± I snort and tap his arm. ¡°S-Shut up! And it¡¯s not like you need money-you should leave t lottery tickets to someone else.¡± He gazes down at me, taking my hand and squeezing it as if he can¡¯t keep himself from touching me. I wonder when we moved to this, showing affection all the time, even in s moments. I love it. It makes me feel warm. N?velDrama.Org owns this. I look up at Maddox, and his smile lights me up inside. ¡°Good idea,¡± his voice is soft. ¡°And you look gorgeous in that blue dress. Breathtaking d we got it for you.¡± ¡°Me too,¡± his facial expression and hungry eyes make it harder not to tackle him to the ground. I repress the urge to shiver. ¡°Shall we go and get this dinner over with?¡± His lips twitch. ¡°Right after you.¡± I tug his hand, and Maddox let me lead him. *** Another bite of food, and I think I might get sick But how do I prevent myself from eating? I¡¯ve been stress eating for the past hour because the atmosphere is terribly tense around kitchen table, This dinner couldn¡¯t get any weirder. I¡¯m not used to being around fancy, rich people and dinners cooked by chefs. I knew Maddox came from money, but REALLY? Servants without facial expressions have been serving us during the entire dinner, and I¡¯m having trouble not thanking them or talking to them like they are part of the dinner, When I thanked the first one for handing me my cutlery, Maddox¡¯s mother looked ready to burst, A tiny little vein popped on her forehead; if I¡¯m not mistaken, Maddox almost choked onughter My boyfriend seems to find it funny that I don¡¯t quite lit in, and he loves to get a raise out of his mother. I¡¯m the other way around. I want Catharina, Maddox¡¯s mother, to like me. But it seems she has chosen to dislike me. She keeps ring at me whenever I pass her a smile ¡°So, ying in the NFL-is this what you wish to do? What if you get injured, Maddox?¡± 1 Maddox shrugs a massive shoulder, ¡°Shit happens, but rather take a chance at football than live to regret it. I love the sport.¡± ¡°I know you do¡­¡± Catharinaments in a low voice, She lifts her winess to her lips, and her eyes keep raking me up and down I¡¯m not sure wliy, but she looks angrier each time, ¡°Umm ¡°I hold up my hand, ¡°May I be excused from the table i need to head to the bathroom.¡± Maddox sorte, shing me grim, ¡°You don¡¯t have 10.sk, Michelle, if you need to go to the bathroom, just go. No one will bile oll your locad just because you need to take dump¡± ¡°Maddox!¡± Catharina snaps, ¡°Languagel¡± He rolls his eyes, not one bil bothered, ¡°I¡¯m a grownup I will peal however the hell i want If you have a problem with it, then too bad I won¡¯t change iny ways for anyone¡± Catharina pa and Maddox turns to me with a smile. ¡°The bathroom is down that corridor, to the left. You won¡¯t miss it.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± 1 I head over to the bathroom and do my deed, one of my early signs is that I must pee all the time I wash my hands and then rummage through my bag, to find my lipgloss, Three minutester, i smack my lips and open the bathroom door only to find Catharina waiting for me Her makeup is hard, and her eyebrows are perfectly shaped She lifts one of them, sizing, me up Did I mention Catharina is an intense woman? Tall, beautiful, and the female version of Maddox, although older Cold shivers run down iny spine, and without warning, the gorgeousdy snatches iny bag. with her manicured nails What is she doing?! Catharina zips up the bag, searches through it, and then she pauses. I know without asking that she has found the open RFSU package filled with my old pregnancy sticks, My sweat nds open), and I stand there, sweating, while she looks at the sticks. One after one, They all show positive. Her eyes travel to mine, her face calcting: ¡°I hope you know that getting a baby right now could potentially ruin my son¡¯s entire future football career.¡± I swallow thickly, but I won¡¯t step back. Where is your backbone, Michelle? It¡¯s time to show I answer her in a voice equally cold as hers. ¡°I thought you didn¡¯t want Maddox ying in the NFL?¡± A smile spreads over her lips. She looks as friendly as an untamed, hungry wolf. ¡°ying football professionally is better than getting pregnant with a skank without merit. I¡¯ve taken a look at your background, Michelle.¡± ¡°Y-You have?¡± I will admit I don¡¯t feel that confident anymore. It¡¯s a miracle that I found my voice. ¡°Alcoholic, abusive parents¡­¡± Catharina keeps the wicked smile while she hands me back my bag. ¡°Your grades are excellent, but youe from the absolute slum. In other words, you aren¡¯t good enough for my son, especially since you¡¯re one of those¡­ What is it called? Cleat chaser? Gold digger? Either way, you¡¯re only using Maddox for his money, aren¡¯t you?¡± What? I wouldn¡¯t do that! There is a lump in my throat at this misunderstanding. I¡¯m not with Maddox because of his money. ¡°No, that¡¯s not true-¡°. ¡°I get it, though,¡± Catharina interrupts me. ¡°With Maddox, you wouldn¡¯t have to work a single day of your life. You¡¯re all set for a future of living off of his money. So let me make it easy for you: take the cleat chaser baby and leave him. Break up with my son, and I will send you a paycheck every month.¡± I stare at her. ¡°Are you serious?¡± ¡°Very,¡± her eyes re with ill intentions. ¡°Since you¡¯re not in love with my son, I rather not have anything to do with the baby. It¡¯s a filthy creature, just like you. Nothing good can come from keeping it under the same roof as my son.¡± I swallow thickly. ¡°What happens if I refuse to break it off with your son?¡± She lifts her eyebrows. ¡°Please, you¡¯ve dated my son for a few weeks? Do you really think he would stick around if he found out you were pregnant? Better break up with him now, Michelle. That way, you can still save yourself some sort of ie. Think about the baby. You want to be able to buy your little one diapers, yes?¡± Chapter 30 Chapter 30 Chapter 30 Michelle Jesus Christ. I¡¯m shocked. My lips are parched. There are no words I can think of to say in this situation. I stare at Catharina, disappointed that she isn¡¯t the mother I hoped she would be. Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. She offered money for me to break up with Maddox-what normal person does that? No one, I¡¯m telling you! And not only that! Catharina also said Maddox, her son, would leave me if he knew about the baby and my pregnancy- that doesn¡¯t sound like a mother who believes in her son. Maybe Catharina is right, but assuming Maddox will leave me without actually knowing¡­ I don¡¯t know. It doesn¡¯t sound like she thinks very much of her son. This makes me sad for Maddox because even if hecks a filter and is aplete neanderthal for putting ketchup on his pasta, he is also the sweetest man I¡¯ve ever met. I¡¯m in love with him, and¡­ Maybe I¡¯m terrible for thinking this, but Catharina isn¡¯t a very good person in my eyes. ¡°I won¡¯t take the money,¡± I blink away a couple of tears and smile despite the pain. ¡°I¡¯m going to tell Maddox tonight, and what happens next will be up to fate,¡± ¡°What are you going to tell me?¡± I whip around and find Maddox blinking at me. His eyes are curious, and he wears a hesitant smile. But his gaze immediately turns darker upon noticing his mother is holding a deodorant-something she forgot to return to my bag. ¡°What is going on?¡± His eyes rake his mother up and down, and his suspicion grows. ¡°Is that Michelle¡¯s deodorant?¡± ¡°This?¡± Catharina holds it up, and a fake smile spreads over her red-smeared lips. ¡°No, don¡¯t be silly. It¡¯s mine.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Maddox doesn¡¯t seem convinced. He crosses his arms over his mighty chest, glowering. ¡°Because I have never seen you use a brand cheaper than a hundred dors. I¡¯m also pretty sure I bought that exact deodorant for Michelle yesterday.¡± I think my jaw dropped somewhere on the ground. Does Maddox¡¯s mother steal things regrly or something? It was a bit random how she just took my bag¡­ I take a deep breath, ¡°Yes, the deodorant is mine,¡± I carefully pluck it from Catharina¡¯s fingers, smiling sheep¨ªshly. ¡°I will be taking that. Thank you very much.¡± Catharina res down at me. Yikes. I make it over to Maddox in the blink of an eye and tap him on the chest. His expression softens, and those baby blues scan me¨CI don¡¯t know for what, injuries? His mother does look ready to w my eyes out¡­ ¡°Are you alright?¡± He asks. I give him a tight-lipped smile. ¡°As fine as I could be. But¡­ You and I need to talk once we get home¡­¡± Concern washes over his features. I hate that it sounds like I wish to break up with him. There is a certain sadness on his face, and I take hisrger hand in mine, squeezing his fingers. I peer up into his face, into those beautiful, kind eyes. ¡°I would tell you more if I could, but this will be a hard conversation. I want us to be alone when we have it.¡± His eyes search mine. ¡°Do you want to go home now?¡± By home, he means the summerhouse. I smile, but it¡¯s tiny, hesitant. ¡°Please.¡± Maddox ces his hand on the small of my back and turns to face his mother onest time.¡±. Thank you for dinner.¡± Catharina gasps. ¡°You¡¯re leaving?!¡± ¡°Yes, we are¡­¡± Maddox leads me toward the corridor. He seems more relieved than sad that we are leaving. ¡°Have a good night, mother. Maybe pick up a book about kleptomania? It might help you.¡± Did he just really say that? To his mother?! Maddox leads me over the threshold, and I stifle augh by biting the inside of my mouth. But even then,ughter is bubbling up within me, but luckily, it¡¯s not until we are out through the doors that I lose it. I belt outughter, and Maddox arches an eyebrow. ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± ¡°Pick up a book about kleptomania¡­¡± I sink my teeth into my lower lip, yet the slight pain doesn¡¯t prevent me fromughing. ¡°You¡¯re a legend¡­¡± ¡°A legend?¡± ¡°Yeah, I can¡¯t believe you said that in there¡­¡± Smiling, he unlocks the car with a click. ¡°Well¡­ I don¡¯t really get along with my parents. I wanted them to ept what I wish to do in the future¡­ But I don¡¯t care that much anymore.¡± I open the passenger door, shocked. ¡°You don¡¯t?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± We both get inside the car, and as I tuck my seatbelt on, I nce up at him from my seat. ¡°But your family is the reason you wanted to fake a rtionship, right? I thought they mattered.¡± ¡°They do matter,¡± he turns to face me with another smile curving his lips. His hands are on the steering wheel. ¡°I will always love my parents no matter what. But they can shut it when ites to who I¡®m dating or what I want to do in the future.¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly how it should be,¡± I smile at him. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t let anyone get in the way of your dreams.¡± ¡°True¡­ Did my mother say anything strange to you?¡± Oh boy Isn¡¯t that the question of the year? What should I even answer? ¡°Well¡­¡± I nervously pull at my sleeve. ¡°Your mother has a lot of opinions, and she shared them.¡± ¡°Did she hurt you?¡± ¡°Mentally or physically?¡± He snorts, shing me his teeth in the rearview mirror. ¡°I meant mentally, but knowing my mother, she probably did.¡± ¡°She did.¡± I won¡¯t lie about that. Catharina is a cold woman I rather not meet again. She frightens me ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not your fault.¡± ¡°It feels like it since I brought you there¡­ Are you okay?¡± The concern in his voice is making me want to cry. Maddox sounds so sweet. Worried. He has such a big heart 11 I hup. ¡°Not really¡­¡± ¡°Fuck, I¡¯m sorry, Michelle¡­ Inviting and taking you to this dinner was probably a bad idea. I thought my mother would behave, but I guess I let my guard down.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not your fault.¡± ¡°It feels like it,¡± Maddox shoots me a pained look. ¡°My mother left the table, and I should have followed her from the start. I knew she was up to something, and then I found her with your deodorant in her hand. Obviously, she stole your bag.¡± ¡°She did¡­ But it¡¯s not your job to be her babysitter. You shouldn¡¯t have to follow her around to ensure she behaves.¡± He sighs. ¡°I guess, but it¡¯s easy to overthink. I never thought I would have a girlfriend, Michelle. I mean it. It has never interested me before, and I¡¯m terrified of messing things up¡­ I just want to do everything right and be honest with you.¡± Guilt pierces me, and I shut my eyes. There is probably a better way of saying this, but I need it out of the system. ¡°Maddox¡­¡± I catch his attention and give him a tentative smile, hoping he won¡¯t hate me after this announcement. ¡°I¡¯m pregnant.¡± Chapter 31 Chapter 31 Chapter 31 Maddox Michelle and I are sitting on the couch. I couldn¡¯t speak for the entire car ride home due to the heart attack I almost suffered in traffic. Not a literal one, albeit it still felt like one. Michelle is pregnant. Pregnant. There is a baby on the way. I stare into the wall while Michelle talks fast. ¡°I-I know this muste as a shock to you, but¡­ I-I want to keep the baby, and you don¡¯t have to stay with me if you don¡¯t want to! I¡¯m not f-forcing you into anything. Though, I really think we can do this. You and I could be good parents, Maddox¡­ Even if I realize it¡¯s early.¡± She whispers thest part, shutting her eyes to prevent tears from running down her face. I stare at her, opening and closing my mouth like a goldfish, and Michelleughs in misery. ¡°Y-You don¡¯t have to say anything now. I¡¯m just¡­ I¡¯m just grateful you haven¡¯t gotten angry at me. Shit¡­ My heart won¡¯t stop racing,¡± she nervouslyughs. ¡°You¡¯re a beautiful person for not having yelled at me, Maddox¡­ I expected a fight¡­¡± My eyes travel to hers, and my heart squeezes. When Michelle calls me beautiful, she doesn¡¯t just mean my outer appearance. No. Her eyes are bottomless, seeming to see underneath my bones and into my soul. She is different. Plenty of girls have called me hot. My teammates have nicknamed me the pretty heartbreaker, and the random women who have texted me after our victory games usually call me sexy. But calling me beautiful while looking at me? That¡¯s a first. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. It sounds deeper. Jesus What am I even on about? Michelle has turned me into some sort of poet. I used to be an I-don¡¯t-give-a-shit hard ass, but in the few weeks I¡¯ve known Michelle, she has turned me into a softie. The weird part is that I don¡¯t mind. In fact, I want it. I like the change in me. Things are moving scarily quick¡­ NOW Michelle will put a tiny baby into my arms, and I will be a dad out of nowhere, but I don¡¯t fucking mind because I love her. There, I said it. I love her. I know nothing about being a good dad because I never had one. Mine is never at home. On rare asions, h¨¦ shows up during the holidays, but he neveres to my games. Michelle? She is there, even if it¡¯s just practice. This woman sees me, and she lets me be myself. There are mes when her small, delicate body is next to mine. She lights me on fire with every touch of her hand, and I don¡¯t think these feelings will disappear because I¡¯ve never felt like this before. It¡¯s not a crush. It¡¯s more. Michelle makes me wish for more. A person who just gets and understands me. Someone real. Someone who doesn¡¯t let me down like my parents have. ¡°Michelle,¡± I say, almost breathlessly. Her eyes, frightened and a bit puffy from tears, meet mine. She looks like she is ready for rejection. ¡°Yes?¡± I swallow thickly, whispering. ¡°What if I will be a shitty dad?¡± She stares at me without saying anything at first. Seconds pass, and then her voice breaks, and tears spill out. ¡°A¨CAre you¡­¡± Her voice breaks, and she gives me a smile that looks heartbreakingly insecure, whispering. ¡°Are you staying with me?¡± I let my right arm stretch out, sliding over her shoulder and down her delicate arm until I got her hooked. I then pull her to me, dragging her to my chest. Hugging her. ¡°What else would I be doing?¡± I murmur into her hair. Fuck she smells good. Like fruits and something else. ¡°I¡¯m terrified¡­ But¡­ We are in this together, right?¡± Hot tears are running down her face. She can¡¯t seem to grasp enough air and hugs me back. Her face is pressed to my chest, brown hair messy on the top of her head. I¡¯m breaking apart myself. Did she think I would leave her? I tighten my hold. My heart is violently pounding, and no matter what, I can¡¯t hug Michelle enough to calm her down. I can¡¯t even calm myself down. The only reason I¡¯m not passing out from the sheer shock and panic is that I¡¯m holding Michelle, She is my anchor. She makes it possible for me to stop and realize that some stuff needs to be done. ¡°A¨C Are you okay?¡± Michelle asks me. ¡°Your heart¡­ It¡¯s racing¡­¡± I breathe augh. ¡°Yours is racing too¡­¡± She smiles against my chest. I can feel her lips move, and her palms tten against my pecs, cheek leaning into it. ¡°My head won¡¯t shut up, and just like you, I¡¯m terrified¡­¡± I softly kiss her head, whispering. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t make sense if you weren¡¯t scared¡­¡± Now it¡¯s her turn tough. ¡°I can¡¯t believe that¡­ That you¡¯re the calm one in all of this¡­¡± Calm? Is she kidding me?! I¡¯m freaking out, and it¡¯s a miracle that I¡¯m breathing! There are so many things that need to be done! I have to set up a room for Michelle and ask her to move in with me permanently. We can live in the summerhouse. Yes, this sounds like a n! I will hire people to care for what needs to be fixed, like the heat. Shit! Michelle also needs more stuff! I can take her shopping, give her whatever she points at, and then we get baby things. Fuck-fuck-fuck, my head is spinning! There are so many things that I have to do just this week. We have to buy parenting books, find sses on how to give birth, and sign up for yoga lessons! 1 Thest one is so that we both can calm down, take it easy and focus on our breathing-we are both hyperventting! Not sure what else to do, I peer down at Michelle. She blinks up at me, and my head lowers, hesitant at first. It feels like forever since we were intimate. Too fucking long. My lips press against hers, and she kisses me back. Our tongues tangle as I move my hands to her face, cradling her cheeks. She is molding to my every touch. Following. Waiting. Letting me lead. It¡¯s like she was made for me, and I was made for her. Kissing her lips removes some of my insecurities and makes me believe we can tackle parenthood together. I add more pressure and Michelle inhales before melting and giving in to the pleasure. Her hands slide over my pecs, thumbs touching my nipples through the fabric. It feels like our first kiss all over again, and passion roars. I want her. I need her. I¡¯m hard as a rock. I can¡¯t hold back and sweep Michelle off her feet. Staying on the couch is a bad idea. My . erection is already painful and having sex on the couch isn¡¯t my idea of romantic. Her legs wrap around my waist by instinct as I stand. Michelle smiles against my lips as I carry her, leaning back to allow me to see her cute, shining eyes. Her voice is soft. ¡°Where are we going?¡± ¡°Upstairs.¡± I dive in for another kiss, this one short. When I dip back, Michelle¡¯s hands are squeezing my shoulders. Her eyes are gazing into mine, and she is as breathless as me. Those fingers over her trail up my muscr neck, and her hands cup my cheeks while she keeps eye contact. I stop breathing, letting her search for whatever she is trying to find. The only problem is that I¡¯m tingling all over. It makes it hard not to smile, especially when Michelle drags a finger along my bottom lip. Fuck. It tickles. Is she trying to kill me?! 1 ¡°Michelle¡­¡± I peer into her eyes. ¡°Are you trying to kill me?¡± A smile tugs on her lips, but she shakes her head. ¡°No, I¡¯m just taking you in, all of you¡­¡± a blush creeps into her face, and she inhales as if nervous. ¡°You¡¯re beautiful¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re beautiful too.¡± As I take us up the stairs, we look at each other, slowly bringing our mouths together for another kiss. I swear this woman will be the end of me. By the time I kick up the door to the bedroom, I¡¯m barely able to walk. Michelle doesn¡¯t do anything half-heartedly. She kisses me like she means it, and every time her tongue meets mine, I¡¯m left a little weaker and a little more desperate for her. Iy her on the bed, quick to pull off her clothes and make sure she will be ready for me. My fingers tug down her underwear and suck on her bottom lip before diving down. She shudders and curls her toes when I kiss her pelvic bone. A long exhale leaves her lips. ¡°I want to touch you¡­¡± I lift my lips from her body. ¡°Hmm?¡± Michelle sits up, flushed and naked. She is gorgeous, especially with her wild hair framing her pink cheeks. ¡°I-I want to be the one touching you, Maddox,¡± she says in a breathless voice, lashes fluttering. She appears insecure for some reason I don¡¯t understand. ¡°Will you let me?¡± I tilt my head, and my cock stirs. ¡°Are you saying you wish to give me a blowjob?¡± She nods. Fucking hell. Why would I ever say no? Chapter 32 Chapter 32 Chapter 32 Michelle I¡¯m nervous, shaking as I carefully reach forward to grip the fabric of Maddox¡¯s white t-shirt. He is kneeling, wordlessly watching me with his intense, beautiful eyes. My heartbeats are quick, matching my fast breathing as I slowly try to help him remove his t shirt. My fingers are on the hem, and Maddox keeps his eyes on mine as I pull it up over his abs Since he is taller than me, I can¡¯t reach to remove it all the way. I feel silly then like I don¡¯t know what I¡¯m doing, but Maddox removes the t-shirt for me withoutughing. Not a secondter, my hands skate us his chest, trailing over his chiseled muscles, mapping out the hills and valleys. He is a work of art, carved to perfection from years of running on the field. Sparks fly in the air, and I tten my hand against his abs, meeting his eyes, willing him toy down. He does it without questioning it, and heat spreads over my face. He is beautiful, and I mean more than his face and body-his whole soul is bared to me. Soft under his sharp edges. Big and strong, yet softhearted underneath it all. Maddox came in like the northern wind, sudden and cold. I wasn¡¯t ready for it, but now that he is here, I never want him to leave. Courage finds me, and I dip my head, kissing his lower abs. When Ie up to breathe, he is watching me. His gaze is searing and searching, and I smile while blushing. ¡°I like this part right here the most,¡± I say softly, stroking my hands right over his heart, but I feel naked saying it, vulnerable. I move back to his abs and trail kisses down to his v-lines.¡± And these too.¡± Maddox isn¡¯t speaking, but I can feel his breathsing in faster, and there is a low groan as I grab his shaft. He trembles underneath me, and a shudder sweeps through me too. 1 Maddox is breathtaking. With his eyshes cast over his cheekbones and his whole body naked and on full disy, I¡¯m not sure what other man couldpare. Desire pools in my core, and I take the tip of his cock into my mouth while one hand is on his thick thigh. There are immediate shudders as I take him deeper into my throat. I¡¯ve never done this before. I¡¯m inexperienced, but I¡¯m so turned on that my mouth is watering. Maddox seems to like that, and I¡¯m not afraid to get wet and give him a sloppy blowjob. My hand strokes down his shaft and my fingers squeeze the bottom of it as I lick his head. Maddox seems to hold his breath, and my other hand skims over his abs while I suck him. ¡°Fuck¡­¡± Maddox groans and his muscles turn tense. It¡¯s so sexy watching him quiver, convulse. ¡°That feels so good, baby¡­ Don¡¯t stop¡­ Take it deeper¡­ That¡¯s it¡­ Fuck¡­¡± His words excite me. This man is so gorgeous; even his belly button is sexy. My hands are smoothing over his muscles, squeezing every part of him I can find. I¡¯m growing wetter between my legs, throbbing with need. He is so sexy. So hot, Gorgeous. Beautiful. And his cock is so big, and he is groaning, probably close to trashing against the pillows. I want Maddox to lose himself and cum for me, but I also desperately need to feel him inside me. Maddox¡¯s mammoth upper body is a wall of steel. Intimidating. Strong. Unyielding. I want to ride him, straddle his cock, and get lost feeling his rippling muscles underneath me. Pecs. Abs. Everything He is ridiculously attractive. Maddox¡¯s bulging biceps flex when he parks his arms underneath his head for support. My eyes go on a joyride. His nipples are hard, muscles corded. Tan skin from running under the sun. Tight six-pack and the perfect v-lines pointing at the dick I currently have in my mouth. ¡°Michelle¡­¡± Maddox¡¯s eyes are closed, and his voice is half a groan when he says my name. ¡°If you want to ride me, you will have to do it now¡­ I¡¯m not sure how long I willst¡­¡± I don¡¯t need to be told twice. My lust is at its peak, and I position myself over Maddox, straddling that immense body. My handsnd on his round pecs, bracing themselves as Maddox grabs his cock before he pushes in effortlessly. Slowly. He is bigger than I remember him being. Thick and long-I¡¯m moaning and sinking my nails into his skin before he is even all the way inside me. The pleasure is almost too much for me to handle. I thrust back and forth, breathing hard. It feels amazing We moan in tandem, me falling limp against him, but Maddox lifts his ass to help me with the rhythm. I kiss his lips and let my hands wind up in his sandy hair as I spread my legs farther. We begin a slow and steady rhythm. It¡¯s fantastic from the beginning. Pleasurable. Maddox grunts with each thrust, and his calloused hands are on my love handles, pressing me down. Hard. ¡°Uhh¡­¡± I see stars already. My eyes roll toward the ceiling, and I arch my back. Vision blurry. I can¡¯t think. Can¡¯t focus. The only sounds I make are those of pleasure. ¡°Uhh¡­.¡± Tingles start in my core, and I furrow my eyebrows when Maddox¡¯s lips make it back to my mouth. He kisses me and muffles my moans, but I have to break from his lips to speak. ¡°Oh god¡­¡± I exim, panting. ¡°Oh, Maddox¡­ Yes¡­ I love you¡­ So much¡­¡± ¡°I love you too, Michelle¡­ I fucking love you¡­¡± The kisses we share are desperate. Frenzied. Filled with passion as we continue to make love. The room is a million degrees. I¡¯m panting Moaning I suck in a deep breath. ¡°You feel so good¡­ Oh-my-god¡­ Yes¡­ Deeper¡­ Don¡¯t stop¡­¡± Maddox lifts his ass and thrusts into me deeply, pushing as far as he can possibly go. It makes me shudder. Violently. So thick. So hard. I¡¯m moaning in pleasure. ¡°Oh, godddd¡­.¡± There aren¡¯t words to describe the pleasure. I want to cry. So good. Painfully good. Excruciating. It feels like I might have a seizure. I¡¯m dying Melting. Convulsing My toes curl, and I can¡¯t hold back The pumping bes harder. We are both so close. Maddox whispers my name again and again. So sexy. I like hearing it on his tongue. He sounds sensual, and thest needed push is when he sucks my nipple. I can¡¯t take it anymore. This is too much. ¡°Oh-my-god¡­ That¡¯s going to make me cum¡­ Keep doing that¡­ Yessss¡­ So close¡­ Yes¡­ Yes¡­. Yes!¡± My orgasm crashes over me, but no soundes out. I¡¯m in pure bliss, and Maddox is shaking underneath me, groaning. He has reached the edge and grips my hips, releasing inside of me with sexy spasms. I can feel everyst drop, warm and hot. Maddox doesn¡¯t pull out, and it feels strangely affectionate. Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. I slump against him. Smiling. I¡¯m tingling all over, and when Maddox sinks into the mattress, exhausted, I¡¯m in a happy ce. ¡°What is my name again?¡± I whisper. ¡°Michelle¡­¡± Maddox breathes, reminding me. His hand is running over my back lovingly.¡± Michelle,¡± he repeats. ¡°My Michelle¡­¡± My smile grows. ¡°I like the sound of that.¡± He continues to caress my skin. It feels amazing, resting on top of him and using his pecs as a pillow We stay like that for a long time. Me on top of Maddox, filled with bliss while resting over his powerful chest and both of us breathing hard. It bes harder to keep my eyes open. But Maddox pulls me higher up his chest when my eyelids get too heavy, His hands slide behind my neck, and he adjusts himself to kiss me. Slow Passionate. I kiss him back, letting my hands find their way back to the soft bleached curls in his hair. I¡¯m gripping them with care and meet his wet, warm tongue, Oh my god, the boy knows how to kiss. My heart is racing Maddox is kissing me much, much slower than before. I would have melted if we were standing up. This kiss is everything, more intense than any kiss we have shared in the past. It¡¯s also romantic and passionate, filled with unsaid words and promises. Emotional. Delicious. Maddox breaks back and whispers to me. ¡°I love you.¡± I smile at him, whispering back. ¡°I love you too.¡± His teeth briefly show in his own smile. ¡°We got this, right? We will be amazing parents.¡± I breathe augh. ¡°I will have a reason to call you daddy.¡± He snorts in amusement. ¡°I¡¯ve ruined you. Tarnished your sweet baby wings-where did the innocent Michelle do?¡± ¡°Oh, shut up,¡± I whisper back. ¡°I know you love it.¡± Maddox responds by smiling again and then bringing me in for another one of his dangerous kisses. Tongue dips inside, controlling mine. It¡¯s wet and delicious, and my heart is thumping erratically. I think we got this. At least I hope we do because I love this man more than anything. I want us tost. Chapter 33 Chapter 33 Chapter 33 Michelle A couple of weeks have passed, and I live with Maddox at what used to be his parent¡¯s old summerhouse. His dad, who isn¡¯t entirely terrible, let us have it for free. Sadly, Maddox¡¯s dad couldn¡¯t make it back to congratte us on the pregnancy. Maddox tells me his dad values his job over everything else, and that¡¯s why his parents didn¡¯tst. I didn¡¯tment on thatst part, but I feel sad that Maddox¡¯s dad isn¡¯t in the picture that much. ¡°Babe, I think you¡¯re supposed to walk this way¡­¡± Maddox grips my shoulders, carefully steering me toward another room where people sit on blue mats. Immediately, I notice all thedies looking at the tall man behind me, and my newest friend bubbles up within me: jealousy. I experience it all the time. When I notice the girl working the cash register batting her eyshes at Maddox. Or when random girls ask him out even though I¡¯m with him. I hate it. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Maddox wouldn¡¯t cheat on me; I try telling myself that, but it¡¯s hard when I have a baby bump. I¡¯m getting fatter while my boyfriend is in the best shape of his life. ¡°This is a good spot,¡± Maddox tells me, rolling out a mat for me. We are here to do some yoga. Madam Faux has special poses for me that avoid putting any kind of pressure on the belly. ¡°Thank you,¡± I sh Maddox a smile. ¡°Foring with me too.¡± ¡°Anytime.¡± While Maddox is rolling out his mat, I catch Stephanie checking out the bulging biceps in his big arms. She is a single woman in her prime, maybe two years older than me, but very beautiful. Her face turns all shades of dreamy when Maddox cracks his shoulders, and I re at her. Stephanie gets a wide look in her eyes-caught staring at my boyfriend¨Cand flushes red. My nostrils re. If I¡¯m having trouble battling awaydies now, how will it be when I¡¯m close to giving birth? I¡¯m pregnant with twins, for fucks¡¯s sake! A few minutester, Maddox is sweating. I¡¯m keeping to the rituals, well, poses Madam Faux gave me, but he is doing the same weird shit the others in the room are. ¡°I thought this was yoga?¡± Maddox is out of breath, his head facing down while his ass is in the air. It¡¯s a pleasant view. ¡°What the fuck is this position?¡± ¡°Yoga for women, honey. Madam Faux is all about using yoga in bed and finding the right position for the perfect climax.¡± ¡°The what?!¡± ¡°Hush!¡± Madam Faux gets up from her mat, strolling to the back of the room where we are. 1/5 She is in herter fifties, a total cougar, and her ws are out and ready for Maddox. Great. Has a woman in her sixties also turned into a rival in love? She stops behind Maddox, checking out his rear end with appreciation in her gaze. ¡°Hmm, excellent form, Daniels.¡± This time, I don¡¯t feel jealousy. Especially since Maddox turns to me after she is gone. Mortified. ¡°Thatdy is like over sixty and checked me out!¡± He sounds scared, and his face is actually looking pale. He whisper-yells. ¡°This is thest time I follow you to do yoga, Michelle!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t use that using tone with me, mister. It was your idea toe with me! In fact, you wouldn¡¯t let me walk out the door on my own and insisted that I couldn¡¯t even walk to the car alone!¡± ¡°You¡¯re pregnant!¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m handicapped!¡± ¡°Whatever. I¡¯m sweating my balls off. Yoga is harder than football, and I can¡¯t rake my brain for a reason why women do this. My body is hurting, and that¡­ Thatdy¡­ God, I got eye fucked by the instructor! This is a freaking nightmare, Michelle!¡± I snort, and Maddox res at me. ¡°Oh no, don¡¯t you dareugh at me! This shit isn¡¯t funny, Michelle!¡± ¡°I¡¯m notughing¡­¡± I¡¯m trying but failing not to twitch my lips. Theughter is there, threatening to bubble up. ¡°Notughing my ass! You¡¯re fucking vibrating!¡± I almost crack up but manage just to snort. ¡°Stop¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m wearing leggings, Michelle. LEGGINGS! You can see everything, and I¡¯m pretty sure your instructor did-look, she ising back! And she just licked her lips!¡± ¡°You have to stop¡­¡± My abs are clenching. Or they would if I had any. It¡¯s all just a blob right now. I¡¯m big. ¡°You¡¯re a fucking psycho, Michelle. You made me wear these things. Told me everyone does. You assured me multiple times, but thatdy over there? I don¡¯t see her wearing leggings! Those are sweatpants!¡± That¡¯s it. Maddox calling me psycho sends me tippling over the edge, and then I¡¯mughing like a maniac. All the other people turn around to stare at me. Even Madam Faux is blinking. ¡°Focus, Michelle,¡± Madam Faux calls over to me. ¡°Easy breaths.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± I dry a tear on my finger and bite back anotherugh when I see Maddox yfully mouthing the word ¡°psycho¡± at me. He makes meugh. I love him so damn much it hurts, I want to marry him. Have more of his babies. I¡¯m just so in l Chapter 34 Chapter 34 Chapter 34 Michelle ¡°TOUCHDOWN!¡± I jump up and scream with the crowd. My heart is pumping with excitement. This is Maddox¡¯s third touchdown! A few more points and they will win for sure! Not that I am surprised. He is good at this. Really good at this. I never understood football all that much, but after watching Maddox y anding to all of his practices, I am finally starting to get into the groove. Maddox waves at me from the field, and my heart flip-flops. We have been going out for a while now, but I still can¡¯t control the butterflies in my belly. Love is a strange thing, isn¡¯t it? ¡°Gosh, we have the best view!¡± Addison gushes next to me. My smile remains. Maddox made sure our seats would be excellent. Addison¡¯s eyes turned wide earlier when I led her to the chairs with VIP signs. I don¡¯t me her; I¡¯m not used to the VIP treatment either! ¡°So d you invited me,¡± Addison says dreamily with her eyes glued to Jason¡¯s ass. It¡¯s as if she wants to devour him. ¡°Actually-¡­¡± I trail off. I want to tell Addison that it was Maddox¡¯s idea to invite her, but she is distracted again. ¡°He is so hot.¡± Addison means Jason. ¡°I-I don¡¯t know if Jason appreciates you staring at him like that. You¡¯re not even being secretive.¡± I laugh, blushing at the way she is behaving. It¡¯s a little much. Wait. Is that how I look when I watch Maddox y? ¡°Of course Jason likes it. They can¡¯t wear those tight uniform and expects us not to look!¡± Addison shakes her head with a ¡°Pfft¡± sound, making meugh again. ¡°You sound like a total pervert.¡± ¡°And you sound like my granny. Watch the game, or you will miss something important,¡± Addison scolds me, so I turn my attention back to Maddox and the game. Jason runs through the field, then pauses to look at the crowd. He frowns as he sees us. My eyebrows shoot into my hairline. Why is Jason frowning? I thought he liked me!? Oh wait, it isn¡¯t me he is looking at. He has his eyes on Addison, and boy, does he look pissed! ¡°Eeek! He is looking at me!¡± Addison squeals. I lift an eyebrow at her. ¡°Why are you so acting nervous? Aren¡¯t you guys friends?¡± ¡°Are you kidding? Jason still hates me,¡± Addison says without looking at me. She hasn¡¯t taken her eyes off Jason this entire time. Original content from N?velDrama.Org. Jason isn¡¯t innocent either. He should be ying but keeps turning his head to look at us every once in a while. Why do his eyes keep traveling back to her if he hates Addison? He must like her¡­ ¡°Hey, Addison?¡± I poke her shoulder, but she is too busy gawking. I raise my voice. ¡°ADDISON! ¡°Huh? What is it?!¡± Addison looks so startled I almost feel bad for bothering her. ¡°So you and Jason¡­ You like him a lot, right? Why don¡¯t you just ask him out?¡± ¡°Ask him out? You can¡¯t be serious!¡± Addison looks at me as if I¡¯ve grown two heads. ¡°Yes?¡± I blink. ¡°Last time I checked, Jason was single.¡± ¡°Oh, but that¡¯s not the problem! Jason can¡¯t stand me. He saw me at hisst game and called me a stalker¡­¡± There is a pout on Addison¡¯s face, and I study her face. I don¡¯t know much about her. Addison is only sitting here because I ran into her at the supermarket. And then, Maddox pestered me until I invited her to the game. I need friends, and Maddox is aware of that. Addison seems like a lovely girl, albeit a bit of a stalker. At least when ites to Jason Deluca. A small smile teases my lips. ¡°How many games have you been to with Jason in them?¡± ¡°All of them¡­ I even show up for their practices, but I hide¡­¡± Her face turns redder, guilty. ¡°Oh¡­¡± I try to keep my smile. ¡°Then I get why Jason thinks you¡¯re a stalker because that¡¯s kind of what you¡¯re doing. Stalking him.¡± ¡°Not you too! I thought you were a friend!¡± ¡°But you are a stalker! Friends tell the truth to each other. If you show up to all of Jason¡¯s games, you¡¯re either a stalker or¡­ Wait, are you in love with him?¡± ¡°Stop it! I don¡¯t love him!¡± Addison barks, but her cheeks are redder than tomatoes. ¡°Whatever you say,¡± I smirk and turn to look at Maddox. It takes my breath away, his form when he moves. ¡°He is so sexy¡­¡± ¡°Thirsty much?¡± Startled, I turn around to look at who is talking to me, and it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Stephanie¡­ She wears a red midriff top with a pair of low-rise jeans that fit her body to a tee. My bitterness is bubbling to life. Is the woman at a football game or a dance club? ¡°Hey, Stephanie,¡± I say quietly. I don¡¯t want to engage her, but at the same time, I can¡¯t escape her when she is sitting right behind me! ¡°You are so right about Maddox being sexy. I¡¯ve been massaging him, and it has been so much fun. And the way he moans when I put pressure on his sore muscles¡­¡± Stephanie stops talking and smiles mysteriously. What the actual fuck? ¡°I¡¯m d Chapter 35 Chapter 35 Chapter 35 Michelle The afterparty is at the frathouse. Maddox has moved out from here, but we came here to drink (soda) and have fun. My boyfriend isn¡¯t drinking alcohol, but there is cake and chips. No, I¡¯m not kidding These jocks are drawn to sugar, especially Robin, who is worse than a girl on her period when ites to sweets. I crack my shoulders aftering out of the bathroom and hear the conversation from the kitchen. ¡°Wait. Are you serious? You fought our English professor for thest strawberry cheesecake ice cream package?¡± Lionel asks, blinking at Robin in disbelief. ¡°Yup,¡± he grins. ¡°We share the same taste in ice cream and sweets, and I see her at the supermarket almost every night. It¡¯s our thing, but she has been trying to avoid metely¡­ Last night, she was running with her cart filled with Oreo packages.¡± ¡°From you?¡± ¡°Yeah, but she is living in denial,¡± Robin leans back in his chair. He rests his head against his arms, making his muscles pop. ¡°One of these days, I will make her go out with me.¡± Lionel shakes his head. ¡°Dude, you better keep it a secret that you got the hots for you freaking teacher¡­ Do you realize she will lose her job if you sleep with her?¡± ¡°Professor. You keep calling her a teacher,¡± Robin points out. ¡°And oh, I do, but I trust you guys with my secret,¡± his smile is wolfish. ¡°And I haven¡¯t slept with her¡­ Yet.¡± Lionel and Jason both snort, drinking at Robin¡¯s arrogance. Maddox picks up his ss of soda but pauses and smiles at me when I waltz into the kitchen. ¡°Hey, babe.¡± ¡°Hey¡­¡± I smile back even though I don¡¯t feel that good. My head is spinning from what Stephanie told me earlier. Maddox sizes me up. ¡°Everything alright?¡± His eyes look concerned. I can¡¯t hide anything from him. Maddox usually reads me like an open book My shoulders slump in a sigh. I feel so guilty. ¡°I know we should be celebrating, but¡­ Could we talk?¡± He stands up from the table. ¡°Of course¡­ Hey, Jason? Mind if we borrow your room a little?¡± Robin and Lionel are arguing about the whole teacher situation, but Jason flicks his attention briefly to us. ¡°Sure¡­ Just don¡¯t sit down on my bed. I just changed the sheets, man, and I don¡¯t want you to spill any beer.¡± ¡°Beer?¡± Maddox shakes his head, ¡°This is soda.¡± ¡°Whatever, man. Just stay out of my bed. Don¡¯t be like Robin and invite your dates there just because my room is cleaner¡­¡± ¡°Hey!¡± Robin exims. ¡°That only happened once!¡± Lionel snorts. ¡°Please, you¡¯ve at least taken five girls into Jason¡¯s room just because he cleans, and you don¡¯t¡­¡±, Robin growls, but Maddox saves me from the quarrel by taking my hand. ¡°Come, let¡¯s head upstairs.¡± I follow Maddox while raking my brain for things I need to say. It¡¯s hard to find words. Thest thing I want is to sound incredibly insecure and whiny because let¡¯s face it: Maddox will always have women tailing after him. We enter Jason¡¯s room in silence. But to my surprise, Maddox locks the door behind us. ¡°Uhh¡­ What are you doing?¡± Instead of answering my question, he speaks in a confident, commanding voice. ¡°Sit down on the bed.¡± ¡°But Jason said,¡± ¡°Sit. Down. On. The. Bed.¡± My heart pounds. Why does Maddox look so pissed off and angry? His eyes are narrowed, and I gulp. I sit down on the bed. ¡°W-Why do you look so upset?¡± Maddox doesn¡¯t answer me. Instead, he approaches me with storm clouds building in his eyes. He gets down on his knees in front of me, and I blink in confusion. What is he doing? Without warning, Maddox rips away the bandaid from my leg. Robin gave it to me earlier when he noticed the bruise on my leg. I stumbled on my way down the stairs earlier. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. My leg is still bleeding. So I kind of need the bandaid. Why is Maddox removing it?! ¡°W-What are you doing?¡± I ask in a shaken voice. Again, Maddox doesn¡¯t answer me. His nostrils re, and I get my answer when his hand enters his pocket. He takes out a bandaid, removes the stic, and ces it on the area where the bandaid from Robin had been a second ago. I stare at him, gaping, ¡°You can¡¯t be serious!¡± ¡°This has been bothering me for an hour now¡­¡± ¡°Robin is your friend!¡± ¡°Robin is a yer, and you never know what he is thinking. First, he gave you his number. Then he gave you a bandaid for your injury. What¡¯s next? Dinner and flowers?!¡± Ick words. ¡°Are you... Are you jealous?¡± His eyes meet mine, dark from envy. ¡°Oh, you really have no idea, Michelle¡­ I was ready to punch him after he marked you.¡± ¡°Marked me?¡± I narrow my eyes and wonder what was in that soda we bought at the store.¡± What are you talking about?!¡± ¡°The bandaid, Michelle!¡± Maddox growls. Is tare at him, and then I can¡¯t help myself. I burst out laughing because Maddox is acting insane. He res at me in response, but then his face changes. A telltale smirk spreads ove Chapter 36 Chapter 36 Chapter 36 Michelle ¡°Man, it¡¯s hot in here!¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. I grumpily roll my eyes and focus on cutting vegetables when jerkface returns from the gym. Maddox is intent on making my life hell. For days, he has been parading around wearing close to nothing. He also hits it harder at the gym, pumping iron daily. I¡¯m so bitter. His choice to drink no alcohol and never go out because I¡¯m pregnant is showing on his body too. His goal? To make me sexually desperate and admit that I¡¯m a jellybean. ¡°Babe?¡± I turn around and gasp. ¡°What the hell are you wearing?!¡± Maddox¡¯s smile is slow, teasing. ¡°Nothing.¡± My face is a thousand degrees. ¡°I can see that, and that¡¯s the problem! And stop flexing your muscles!¡± ¡°But-¡± ¡°No, buts!¡± I storm forward, cing my hands on his upper abs, and try to push him out of the kitchen. Gosh, he is sweaty, delicious, and pumped from working out, and oh-my-god-don¡¯t look at his cock Michelle! Or at that round, shapely man butt! Part of me just wants to sink to my knees and bite it like a ripe peach, but I have to be strong! Maddox takes one step forward, but suddenly, he stops. He isn¡¯t moving an inch. He is smiling at me instead. ¡°Why are you trying to get rid of me? Michelle, it¡¯s been ages since we had sexst.¡± I stop trying to push the behemoth out of the kitchen and re up into his yful face. ¡°I¡¯m not surrendering or giving up. I won¡¯t say that I¡¯m the jealous type!¡± ¡°C¡® mon, babe¡­¡± Maddox is chuckling at the pissed-off facing I¡¯m pulling right now. Trying not to, but failing not to smile when I cross my arms over my chest like a petnt child.¡± Don¡¯t be like this¡­ Is it really that bad to just admit that you¡¯re a bit jealous?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Even if I kind of like it?¡± My answer is another re, and he sinks his teeth into his lower lip to ward off another smile. ¡°Michelle, I love you and¡± I gasp. ¡°Oh, no-no no, you don¡¯t get to pull the ¡®I love you¡¯ card when ites to war!¡± ¡°War? What war?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t y coy with me! You left me wet and horny inside Jason¡¯s room, and I still hold a grudge!¡± He snorts, ¡°oh, about that¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re not even sorry!¡± ¡°Nope.¡± ¡°Oh-my-god, you¡¯re smiling¡­ Damn you. You¡¯re making me pull out my ace, Maddox!¡± I grumble to myself, ring at him while blushing. I hope this will work¡­ ¡°You asked for this¡­¡± ¡°Your ace?¡± He blinks. ¡°Asked for what?¡± Without further ado, I remove my stretchy cardigan meant for pregnant women and toss it on the floor. Maddox¡¯s eyes grow huge, and his lips part in awe when I drop the bra to show off my breast. They are heavier now. Round and big. I ce my hands underneath them, bouncing them a bit. I feel so silly¡­ I¡¯m not a very confident person when ites to showing myself naked. It takes a lot of self restraint to not run and hide, but Maddox¡¯s expression offers me courage. He is ck-jawed, and his eyes might as well be heart-shaped. Even his breathing seems to have slowed. ¡°Now, that is just unfair¡­¡± Maddox takes a step forward with his cock pping his lower abs. He is hard as a rock. ¡°Can I touch?¡± I take a step back from Maddox. I¡¯m turned on, and yes, I want him, but this is revenge for that night at the frathouse. ¡°Ah-ah,¡± I meet his eyes and try to smirk. I bet ites out as a shy smile instead, but whatever. ¡°I won¡¯t let you touch my breasts, b-but¡­ I guess I can let you watch me fondle them?¡± I squeeze my own nipple and stroke my breasts. Maddox¡¯s eyes stay glued to my hands until he growls and decides he has enough. He strides forward, towering over me. His lips part. ¡°Sometimes, I really enjoy being bigger than you.¡± I shriek andugh when he bends down and picks me up from the ground, unbothered by my extra weight. I¡¯m lying in his arms like a bride, my cheek pressed against his stupid sexy chest. He smells divine. Strong ¡°I hate you¡­¡± I say in a grumpy voice. ¡°You can¡¯t just win the argument by taking me to bed!¡± A smirk ys over his lips. ¡°I can¨Cthat¡¯s just what I did.¡± ¡°Overly confident jock-¡± I stop talking when he leans in to kiss the anger from my system. Good lord, why was I raising my voice again? All I can think about is that Maddox is ridiculously attractive and broad. His armis are massive, and he is showing no difficulty carrying me. He shoves his tongue deeper into my mouth, stopping briefly by the threshold to kiss the living daylights out of me. I can¡¯t get enough of Maddox. I¡¯m already dripping wet when I¡¯m carefully set on the bed. The rest of my clothes fly off, and then I eye the jock, whoys down on his back We are avoiding positions that put any sort of pressure on my stomach, but truthfully, I love riding Maddox. He looks so delicious presented to me, arms crossed behind his head, pecs, and abs within eyesight. If I knew how to paint, I would throw colors over a canvas and hang the painting on the wall. As I straddle him, I look down into his eyes. ¡°You won¡¯t pull out halfway and run away this time, right?¡± ¡°Babe¡­ No offense, but¡­ Are you blind? Look at my cock. I¡¯m fucking harder than iron for you¡­ I need you, and I want you sitting on my cock. Can you do that for me?¡± The need in his eyes is hot. His abs should count as foul y. I can¡¯t believe Maddox is mine. I¡¯m already wet and throbbing between my legs. I don¡¯t even need any lube. It¡¯s on the bedside table, but I take the tip of the cock without it, breathing hard. ¡°It feels so good¡­¡± I sink inch by inch, letting him fill me to the tilt until I buckle forward, handsnding on his pecs. I haven¡¯t even gotten to thrusting or the fucking, and I¡¯m already weak. Calloused hands stroke over my stomach. ¡°I can¡¯t believe how sexy you are¡­¡± Maddox¡¯s voice is husky. ¡°The stretchmarks are beautiful. You¡¯re beautiful. Perfect.¡± I peer down at him, smiling. ¡°You¡¯re beautiful.¡± Making love while I¡¯m pregnant is¡­ Awkward. I don¡¯t feel sexy at all. I¡¯m overly self-conscious and nervous, but Maddox is just too perfect. He seems to love me in any shape, form, or size. might be a bastard at times. Hecks manners around his friends, and sometimes he has a really bad attitude. But he is a sweetheart to me. Kind. Gentle. He doesn¡¯t know this, but he is pretty goddamn amazing. I love him to the moon and back, and that¡¯s how I can enjoy sex with him even if I¡¯m somewhat self- conscious. 1 I suspect sex after my pregnancy with twins might be more challenging, though. Depending on how my body takes it, but that¡¯s a problem for another day. I just want to enjoy tonight. A few monthster, I¡¯m humming inside the bathroom. Maddox has returned home from being away for-fucking-ever on some football journey. I¡¯ve missed him. And tonight, I n on waltzing into the bedroom, naked and seducing Maddox with my breasts and big nipples. But it seems life has other ns. Out of flipping nowhere, incredible pain shoots up my spine. 1 ¡°Oh- my-god¡­¡± I whisper, shutting my eyes close. Everything goes hot and tight. I¡¯m cramping, and the world momentarily turns ck. Ugh. It feels like I¡¯m burning up. Like the water from the shower was gasoline and someone threw a matchstick to set my body on fire, especially my lower parts. The blood in my veins isva, and I¡¯m shaking. Am I dying? Miraculously enough, I make it to the toilet seat because, seriously, the best way to describe this would be that I¡¯m having terrible waves of diarrhea cramps. But worse! Did I eat something weird?! No, this couldn¡¯t be that. It must be rted to my pregnancy¡­ The pain is just¡­ Fuck. Why is this happening now?! It¡¯s as if I¡¯ve overdosed onxatives on an empty stomach. The pain is too much. Intense, and it won¡¯t stop! What the hell is happening?! Contractions? It can¡¯t be. It¡¯s way too early! Fuck-fuck-fuck! When I spoke to the obstetrician, she informed me that a pregnancy with twins is a risk factor for premature birth. Another wave of pain hits me, and I scream, and I cry, and I don¡¯t know what is happening. I hear footsteps approaching, but I¡¯m in another world of pain and misery. Shivering and breathing hard. I think I¡¯m drenched in a cold sweat too.1 ¡°Michelle?!¡± Maddox opens the door to the bathroom. His eyes go wide with worry, and I don¡¯t think I will ever forget the look of pure horror on his face. ¡°Baby, what is wrong?¡± With tears in my eyes, I look up at him. ¡°Call an ambnce.¡± Chapter 37 Chapter 37 Chapter 37 Michelle I barely know what is going on. My brain feels numb, and although things are happening, I¡¯m too heavily medicated to understand what is going on around me. I remember being rushed to the hospital There was an ambnce, and then Maddox arguing with a doctor Maddox yelled, ¡°No, I¡¯m not her husband, but I¡¯m still the father of the unborn babies. I¡¯ming with you.¡± Yes, it¡¯sing back in bits and pieces¡­ Driving Medication A doctor asked me questions¡­ Oh! My water broke, and there was something about one twin not growing normally inside me. I cried when the doctor said one of the babies had a higher survival rate than the other. That¡¯s it. The rest is blurry. I wasn¡¯t open enough and needed a c-section; now, I¡¯m on painkillers. Right at this moment, the doctors are performing an emergency c-section, I think? Gosh, I should be sleeping, but I¡¯m like half-awake. I hear monitors beeping and people talling. A smile fills my vision, the person is wearing a mask, but I see their eyes crinkling. Definitely a smile. I decide that I like this person. Her voice is soothing when she speaks to me too. ¡°Everything is going to be okay.¡± Somehow, I doubt her words, but I can¡¯t respond. Everything turns into total darkness secondster. It¡¯s like sleeping, but deeper, like I¡¯m falling into a deep, deep hole from which my body tries climbing up but repeatedly fails. I sound crazy, but I can¡¯t find a better way to describe it. I¡¯m in some sort of vacuum. Pictures areing to me¡­ I dream about Maddox We are happy and smiling, enjoying the sun until Stephanie appears. Maddox releases my hand, then skitters off into the sunset with Stephanie. Terrible drearn. When I wake up, I¡¯m dizzy and staring into a pair of blue eyes ¡ª Maddox is here with me. But where are the babies? ¡°You made it,¡± Maddox whispers at me. He is sitting on a chair right in front of my hospital bed. I try to sit up but can¡¯t move a single muscle in my body. God, I¡¯m weak. Dehydrated with a terrible migraine. Is this what dying feels like? Somehow, I manage words even though my lips are parched, ¡°Babies?¡± Did they both make it? His smile falters, and there is a sigh. ¡°They had to be taken into the NICU immediately, but don¡¯t worry,¡± he squeezes my hand. ¡°Everything will be alright. We will get through this.¡± Get through what? Did something happen?! Everything turns dark again. I¡¯m in inner turmoil, and many questions are on my mind. But I¡¯m too exhausted to stay awake. It feels like I¡¯ve been run over by a truck yet somehow miraculously survived the ident. I stay asleep for a long while, and the room is bright when I wake up the second time. Maddox is scrolling on his phone but puts it down as if he can somehow sense me. ¡°Michelle?¡± He tries. Original content from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I¡¯m awake¡­¡± I blink like into my eyes. My voice doesn¡¯t sound like my own. It¡¯s dry and hoarse. ¡°I feel terrible¡­ Like I¡¯ve been without water for days¡­. Everything hurts.¡± Maddox breathes augh. ¡°Understandable. Your body has been through hell. It will take time to recover.¡± I force a smile and humor him. ¡°Or I won¡¯t recover, and you will have to n my funeral.¡± Maddox snorts. ¡°Since your dark humor is back, I know you¡¯re going to be just fine. Hang in there.¡± I smile at him, for real this time. ¡°I will.¡± Minutester, I¡¯m speaking to a midwife. She informs me how to look after my wound. Cleaning is essential, and not lifting heavy things, she repeats that driving is forbidden. It feels like I¡¯m being lectured by a mom, but I like her strictness and the fact that she seems to give a rat¡¯s shit about her job. She also tells me we can go home in a few days. When I ask about the boys, I¡¯m told I can¡¯t hug or be with them right now. Something about their lungs not being ready. The news makes me cry because not being with my baby boys hurts me physically, but I know the NICU stay is what is best for them. ¡°We will get through this¡­¡± Maddox whispers. The tears are close. ¡°I haven¡¯t held them, and I¡¯m their mother¡­ I feel like a failure¡­¡± ¡°You¡®re not a failure.¡± Maddox¡¯s arms are resting on my bed. He is too big toy next to me but is halfway on the mattress anyway. My hands are in his sandy-colored hair. if I let go of the strands between my fingers, I would cry hysterically again. Maddox is my anchor, the only thing keeping me from hysterically crying inside this room. ¡°I just wanna go home¡­¡± I exhale, curling more sandy strands around my fingertips. Maddox¡¯s hair smells good. ¡°No more hospitals, doctors, or people talking to me from behind a chart. I just want my baby boys and permission to go home.¡± ¡°I know¡­¡± Maddox sighs heavily. Silence unfolds, and I quietly sob. It makes Maddox lifts his attention to my eyes. A smile spreads over his lips. ¡°You¡¯re not going back to studying again, are you?¡± I know Maddox is trying to make me think of something else, and it¡¯s actually working. Suddenly, I have to use my brain and rake it for an answer. But there isn¡¯t an easy one. I haven¡¯t pondered over the future much. Heck, I don¡¯t even know what I want to be. ¡°The future frightens me,¡± I say in an earnest voice. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what I want to do. My goal before the pregnancy was to get a job anywhere away from this city¡­ I didn¡¯t care what it was.¡± ¡°And now?¡± ¡°And now I have no goal in mind,¡± Iugh in a pained voice as I gaze down into his beautiful eyes. ¡°Is that a bad thing? Am I being a burden for saying that? Gosh, I feel so guilty for not bringing anything to the table. I should be out there, working to help you with our ie.¡± ¡°Babe.¡± Maddox breathes an amused laugh. ¡°Money is the least of our problems, and I don¡¯t expect you to pay for anything. My money is your money, and that won¡¯t change.¡± I smile. ¡°You¡¯re sweet¡­¡± His eyes crinkle with his smile. ¡°Also, I didn¡¯t ask about the future because I want you to work -you don¡¯t have to if you don¡¯t want to. But I¡¯m genuinely curious about what you want to do¡­ If there is any dream or something like that.¡± ¡°Well I do like writing, but¡­ I don¡¯t think there is much money in that, but it¡¯s a hobby of mine Hence all the literature sses¡­¡± ¡°I see. Then maybe once the boys are older, you could focus on that?¡± ¡°Writing, you mean?¡± He shrugs a massive shoulder. ¡°If you want to¡­ Not like there is any rush to decide now. You have all the time in the world.¡± My chest warms. ¡°Thank you¡­ I will give it some thought after we have gotten home from here¡­ I hope our boys will make it.¡± ¡°They will,¡± Maddox squeezes my hand. ¡°Trust me. I have a good feeling about this. I¡¯m hopeful.¡± Chapter 38 Chapter 38 Chapter 38 Maddox Thest few days have been insanely hard, tiring, and traumatic for Michelle and me. We found out one of our baby boys had stopped growing normally in the womb. Then the water also broke, and a c- section was needed. But the troubles didn¡¯t end there. Our twins were delivered at thirty-four weeks old, considered moderate tote preterm. Their lungs were not fully ready, and both were sent to the NICU immediately to be watched around the clock. It broke Michelle¡¯s heart to not have the sweet skin-to-skin time, but we did what was best for the boys. Yet the worst part was yet toe. The doctor said one had a more substantial chance than the other to survive. It meant we were still on our toes. We barely slept. Michelle was crying, and then, after five days in NICU, we were allowed to bring our boys home. We are at home now, day two, and I¡¯m exhausted. I want Michelle to sleep, but I also want to sleep. Which is impossible. Preterm babies don¡¯t always ask for milk. Our little wonders must be woken up and fed AT LEAST every three hours. If we let them sleep, they get too tired to eat, and it starts a vicious cycle of sleeping too much¡­ Sighing to myself, I smile when looking down at the twin babies in their bed. They are sharing the same one. Cute and innocent, but damn, I wish I could just sleep for one day. Other people can probably call their parents to help with twins, but Michelle¡¯s parents are both alcoholists. They are deep in it, and their apartment stinks. And my mother? I¡¯m not letting her back into my life since she won¡¯t stop trying to kick Michelle out of it. Suddenly, there is a knock on the door. Fear grips me, and I look down at the babies, relieved to see they are still sleeping. Phew. No crying and no screaming. I head to the door, opening it to see Robin and Jason standing there with huge backpacks. I blink in surprise. ¡°What are you guys doing here?¡± Immediately, Jason presses the ugliest stitched nket I¡¯ve ever seen to my chest. It looks ancient. I lift a questioning eyebrow, and Jason sighs in irritation as if just assuming I should understand why he gave it to me. ¡°My nana gave me that nket. It¡¯s been passed down for generations, and you only get to borrow it. The scent is supposedly soothing. Do not wash it, or I will beat your ass.¡± 1 Ick words. ¡°Uhhh¡­ Thank you?¡± ¡°Also this,¡± Jason hands me a sandal. ¡°Very important.¡± My eves narrow. Is Jason messing with me? He must be. It can¡¯t be normal to give a person a goddamn sandal ¡°What the fuck is this for?¡± I ask, Jasonps me on the shoulder. ¡°My nana¡¯s sandal chan. It taught me a lot of lessons.¡± Anger rises in my chest, and I roar at him. ¡°Are you mad?! I¡¯m not hitting my fucking kids!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t hit them with the sandal,¡± Jason exins, smiling, ¡°You smell it to gain twenty years of luck.¡± Original content from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°What?!¡± 1 exim, beyond freaked out. ¡°I ain¡¯t smelling your nana¡¯s old fucking sandal!¡± Jason shows me his teeth in a glittering smile. ¡°Oh, so you don¡¯t want the twenty years of luck then!¡± Fuck I could use the luck. Against my better judgment, I lift the sandal a little higher to my nose and immediately regret it-fucking hell, it stinks! I almost pass out. The thing smells worse than old diapers. I¡¯m not joking. My whole system is ready to crash. My entire life shes by my eyes, but I manage to stand by some miracle. My eyes, however, are stinging with tears. ¡°Oh-my-god¡­¡± I blink repeatedly. ¡°That¡¯s disgusting.¡± 1 Jason snorts. ¡°d you like it,¡± he turns around, motioning for Robin toe forward.¡± Robin brought you some important gifts as well.¡± ¡°What are you? The three wise men?¡± ¡°We would be if Lionel hade,¡± Jason says. ¡°But he is busy with family things, so it¡¯s just us¡­ Anyway, show Maddox the gifts you brought with you.¡± I stare at the team¡¯s biggest Casanova. He smiles, and then he hands me a bottle of expensive cologne. What. The. Fuck Do I stink or something? What are my babies going to do with a bottle of cologne?! I stare at Robin. Nothinges to me no matter how long I stand there, thinking of a reaction. It gives Robin room to smile brighter at me since he now seems to believe I appreciate the gift. ¡°It¡¯s hands down my favorite one,¡± Robin informs me. ¡°The boys will thank me for handing them that. It will give them an excellent start in their love lives.¡± 1 Fucking hell. *They are less than two weeks old! They aren¡¯t about to date anyone, you idiot!¡± Robin ignores me and takes something up from his pocket. ¡°Also this, brah. My lucky cigar I re at him. ¡°What the fuck are they gonna do with this?!¡± He shrugs. ¡°Have a good time?¡± I can¡¯t believe this. I should send my friends straight back to the they came from ¡°Is that Jason and Robin¡¯s voices?¡± I turn around, and my eyesnd on Michelle. My heart warms. She is rubbing sleep from her eyes, and I take her under my arm. She fits there perfectly, right by my side. Good, at least I have a sane person around me. Someone responsible who can send these fools back to the frathouse ¡°Hello guys,¡± Michelle smiles at both Robin and Jason. ¡°To what do we owe the pleasure?¡± The pleasure? THE PLEASURE?! Jason steps forward, opening his mouth. ¡°Thought you guys might need one day of actual rest. I know you guys don¡¯t have a family to help you out, so I figured it might be appreciated if we came around to help. And don¡¯t worry. I have experience with babies. Ie from a huge Latina family-I practically helped raise most of my siblings.¡± To my surprise, Michelle looks close to crying. Her lips are quivering when she speaks. ¡°That¡¯s so nice of you two! We were actually going to make one of you guys the godfather.¡± ¡°Both of us,¡± Robin corrects her. ¡°I want it to be the both of us. I¡¯m needed in this family to ensure the football stays in the blood. I even bought them this.¡± Robin dives into one of his bags, picking up a mini football jersey. I¡¯m about to roll my eyes, but Michelle takes it from his hands. She looks as if she has been offered diamonds. ¡°Oh, Robin¡­¡± her eyes are filled with tears. I actually feel a sting of jealousy when she even hugs him. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have! This gift¡­ It means a lot to me!¡± It means a lot to her????? Excuse me? My hackles rise, and I re at Robin when Michelle stops hugging the life out of him. I¡¯m considering telling her what other gifts he bought to make sure nothing romantic is going on here. But that would be stupid¡­ Robin really sets off my jealousy radar, though. He is prettier than me and too charming to let close to Michelle. I¡¯m grumpy and moody, but Romeo ¨Csorry, genuine mistake ¨C Robin is always happy-go- lucky and the opposite of me. Michelle better not fall for him¡­ ¡°Can wee in?¡± Jason asks, but he is already holding the bags as if expecting passage. ¡°I know key people are like the only ones meant to meet the babies¡­. But if we are godfathers, I think you can let us see the lovely twins. You can count on me to bottle feed them¡­ Just for today so you can rest. It¡¯s important.¡± Michelle looks uncertain. ¡°But won¡¯t that make us terrible parents? I thought I should always be by their side.¡± Jason snorts, shing her a megawatt smile. ¡°One day of rest doesn¡¯t make you a terrible parent. When was thest time you slept since returning from the hospital?¡± Michelle sobs, and before I know it, she hugs Jason. He hugs her back, and I re at them while pouting. When is it my turn to get one of those warm hugs?! I mean¡­ I¡¯m a big man, and I don¡¯t NEED hugs, but¡­ I feel insanely jealous of my two best friends right now. ¡°I can¡¯t believe how nice you guys are!¡± Michelle says. ¡°Thank you so much foring here and offering to help us!¡± I can be nice too¡­ Why are only Robin and Jason getting thosepliments? It feels like it¡¯s been three long years since Michelle touched me. And I would never admit this to anyone, but when she uses her hands to massage my scalp, it immediately puts me to sleep. I get so rxed. I need some of that¡­ Robin beams up at me. ¡°I filled my backpack with other baby stuff I¡¯m sure you haven¡¯t had time to buy.¡± Michelle leans away from Jason, smiling. ¡°Let¡¯s go and look at it inside. I¡¯m super curious.¡± Chapter 39 Chapter 39 Chapter 39 Maddox A few weekster I¡¯ve been so lonelytely that I don¡¯t know what to do with myself or how to stop the emotion from choking me alive Michelle dropped out of college. She is at home with the twins-Isaac and Gabriel ¨Cand she is doing a hell of a job. But sometimes, when Ie home from practice or one of my games, I can¡¯t help but feel left out. Carefully, I stroll into the living room. Michelle is feeding Is right now, smiling happily. ¡°You¡¯re such a sweet little guy. All googly -eyed and cute.¡± A smile tugs on my lips. I fed the twins earlier, yet the joy of seeing them eat never stops. I love them so much. ¡°They sure are charming,¡± I say. ¡°Dangerously so.¡± Michelle smiles brighter without looking at me. ¡°Like their father¡­¡± ¡°You think I¡¯m charmin III ¡°Very.¡± Thepliment makes my chest swell. I scratch the back of my head, pulling my lips into my mouth. ¡°Hey, listen, do you want to watch a movieter when the twins are sleeping and¡± 1 ¡°No, I better fall asleep in the living room,¡± Michelle interrupts. ¡°I have to sleep when they sleep. Or else I get no rest.¡± ¡°I know, but I thought you could sleep on top of me while we watch something¡­¡± I really want to cuddle. ¡°Maybe tomorrow?¡± Disappointment fills my chest like lead. ¡°Okay.¡± I turn around with slumped shoulders, feeling left out. Am I even part of this family? It might sound silly, but it feels like Michelle spends so much time with the twins that I wonder if they love us the same. They are babies, yet I can¡¯t shake off that painful worry. And Michelle smiles, and sheughs. She is a fantastic mother, but she never even ¨C No, I shouldn¡¯t whine. A lot has happenedtely. Michelle is busy, but I must admit that this gets me; this is what cuts deep under my skin: Michelle barely touches me anymore. It hurts. I feel unwanted and lonely. I don¡¯t expect sex since Michelle is recovering from her operation, but affection is essential. I wish she would just, I don¡¯t know¡­ Hug me. Put her fingers over my skin and just caress my abs, or¡­ Fuck, do I sound dumb? Whatever, I will wait for her toe back to me¡­ *** A few monthster After winning another game, my eyes automatically travel to the VIP section while the crowd cheers. My teammates are bumping into me, patting my back, and smiling. But I can¡¯t focus, I can¡¯t be happy, but that doesn¡¯t stop me from forcing a smile onto my lips.. ¡°Good game, man.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± I say. ¡°It was tough.¡± ¡°Yeah, but you always bring your a-game.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe we won,¡± Robin, who was recruited to the same team as me, is sweatier than all of us. ¡°It¡¯s a miracle.¡± ¡°Yeah, we sure came back-you¡¯re both fucking amazing.¡± ¡°So d we recruited you.¡± I¡¯m appreciated on this team. Thepliments are plenty, and everything should be perfect. I y well, and I should smile. But the VIP seats are empty. My shoulders sag. Michelle is home with the twins, and I shouldn¡¯t expect her to bring our babies to a game. Yet I can¡¯t stop that darkness within me from growing. It¡¯s gripping me like dark vines. Every day, from when I wake up to when I go to bed, I feel like I¡¯m slipping into darkness. Does anyone even care about me? My dad hasn¡¯te to congratte us. He never shows up for any of my games. Not even now when I y in the goddamn NFL, and my mom is nowhere to be found either. Not that I miss her I follow the others into the locker room, shower, and pick up my phone while Robin whistles to himself ¡°Youing out with us tonight?¡± Robin asks, probably only to be polite since I¡¯ve said no every time. These days, I wake up to run, practice and y football, and most evenings, I head to the gym. I don¡¯t drink or eat junk food, yet I still don¡¯t have the attention of my own girlfriend¡­ ¡°No, I think I¡¯m ¨C¡± I stop talking, staring at the screen. Michelle: Addison came over to watch movies with me. There is a picture attached to the message. I click it and blink at an image of Michelle and Addison holding the twins. Another onees in, and I see Gabriel in Addison¡¯sp. I don¡¯t know how to feel. My chest feels heavy, and the distance between Michelle and I seems to have grown wider. I shouldn¡¯t feel like this. I should be happy, but I¡¯m not-I¡¯m sad, lonely, and fuck it! I just want to scream! Why does it seem like I¡¯m not needed? When was thest time Michelle said that she loved me? When was thest time she kissed, hugged, or asked me if We could watch a movie? Too long ago. And this is why I was single before I met Michelle. Everyone in my life just keeps letting me down or abandoning me. Even Michelle. N?velDrama.Org owns this. We live together, yet I¡¯m lonely. I love the twins and would do everything for them, but I also need¡­ My person. ¡°You know what?¡± I look up at Robin, close to tears, but I bite them back and hand him a smile. ¡°I think I need a drink.¡± His eyes almost bulge out of their sockets. ¡°Really?!¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± I stand up, tapping him on the shoulder. ¡°Thank you for asking me toe out.¡± ¡°I¡¯m d you wille out,¡± Robin grins at me. ¡°All you ever do is practice and workout these days-any more of that, and you will be too big to run on the field.¡± I snort. ¡°Being huge never stopped me from being fast.¡± ¡°True,¡± his smile then falters. ¡°But you asked Michelle, right?¡± ¡°Asked her what?¡± ¡°If it¡¯s okay toe out tonight?¡± A frown works itself to my lips. ¡°I really don¡¯t think Michelle would mind. In fact, she probably won¡¯t even notice that I¡¯m gone.¡± The sad thing is that I¡¯m not only bitter and hurt. The sad thing is that I¡¯m probably speaking the truth. Michelle won¡¯t notice that I¡¯m gone. Instead, she might be relieved since all I do is interrupt her when she is doing something important. Yesterday sheined that I was showering too loud, and she loves hushing me. I love Michelle, I do, but I honestly feel useless. But not tonight. I will enjoy a few beers and good food and spend time with the guys. At least they appreciate me. Chapter 40 Chapter 40 Chapter 40 Michelle I¡¯m furious. I heard the door open in the middle of the night. The father of my children is finally home from clubbing, and now I¡¯m storming into the kitchen, angrier than a thundercloud. I press on the lights. ¡°MADDOX!¡± The behemoth of a man jumps in startlement. He is facing the kitchen cab, hand deep down into a bag of chips. When he turns around to meet my eyes, he looks like a hamster caught in headlights. His eyes are immense, cheeks even more gigantic and filled with chips, and he stares at me in stupefaction. I nt my hands on my sides, daring to re and challenge my boyfriend, who is like twice my size. ¡°Where have you been?!¡± I roar at him and try to look as imposing as I can from my almost five feet of height. ¡°At the city bar and some clubs¡­¡± ¡°Ah, partying¡­ Why haven¡¯t you answered any of my calls?!¡± Maddox¡¯s lips tip up by the corners. I re harder, and he walks over to me with unsteady feet, looming over me. I swallow thickly. I¡¯m not sure what to expect from Maddox when he is drunk. I thought I was over my fear of men, but alcohol can mess with a people¡¯s brain. Therefore, I remain guarded, waiting for his next move. It could be anything. Maddox holds out the chips bag expectantly. ¡°You want some chips?¡± Is he serious? I harder my re. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°It¡¯s four in the morning.¡± ¡°The perfect time for some snacks.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not.¡± ¡°Suit yourself,¡± Maddox downs the rest of the chips, licks his lips, and then disposes of the chips bag. ¡°Are you angry with me?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Immediately, his face pales. ¡°No, don¡¯t be angry with Maddox!¡± 1/5 My eyes narrow. ¡°Are you drunk?¡± He smiles dumbly down at me. ¡°Ha, you¡¯re so short,¡± with his fingers, he massages my scalp, still smiling. ¡°Such soft hair.¡± I can¡¯t stop myself from facepalming. ¡°Oh-my-god¡­ You¡¯re drunk¡­¡± There is a hup: ¡°Maybe¡­ You¡¯re cute.¡± ¡°Maddox, you have to take this seriously-¡± A shriek leaves my lips when he picks me up, hugging me like I¡¯m his long-lost teddy bear. ¡°Release me!¡± ¡°But I don¡¯t want to¡­¡± Anger spikes up the hair on my back. ¡°Put. Me. Down.¡± Maddox ignores me, rubbing his scruffy face against me while holding me tighter. He is surprisingly gentle and sweet but won¡¯t soften up-I¡¯m a strong woman. I¡¯m going to keep being strong, and holy shit-was that a kiss on my neck? It makes me shudder. Damn. My resistance is weakening. It¡¯s been so long since we had sex, and Maddox¡¯s arms bulge as he hugs me tighter. ¡°I missed you a lot today, Michelle¡­¡± There is another smooch. Crap. My skin crawls, begging me to do something, but I¡¯m fighting my urges. Must. Resist. Kissing. Maddox. Back I channel angry mom and wife energy, not that we are married, but I know the tone. ¡°Then you should havee straight home¡­¡± ¡°I know, I¡¯m sorry,¡± Maddox kisses my cheek, then moves to my lips, nibbling the lower one. Even drunk, the man knows how to tease me, and his voice is gravelly when he speaks. ¡°I just feel like we don¡¯t spend enough time together¡­¡± ¡°We live together¡­¡± I¡¯m shuddering in his arms. His lips are full and soft, but we haven¡¯t solved our problems. ¡°I know,¡± Maddox kisses me again. ¡°But I still feel lonely.¡± I keep the facade of anger to hide that I¡¯m horny. ¡°And your solution was to go out drinking?¡± Another kiss. ¡°It was a stupid decision.¡± ¡°It really was¡­¡± ¡°I wanted you to call and text me, tell me you miss me¡­¡± ¡°I did ¨C so many fucking times, Maddox! You didn¡¯t answer your phone even once! Do you know how worried I¡®ve been?¡± ¡°I dropped my phone¡­ Broke it and had no card to pay for a cab. I walked home from the city club.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s like¡­¡± I rake my brain, trying to figure out how long he must have walked. ¡°How far away is that damn club?!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ Two hours away?¡± ¡°Jesus Christ¡­¡± ¡°Yeah¡­¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you tired?¡± ¡°Very.¡± Maddox is walking away with me now. He takes me to the couch in the living room and sits down with me on hisp. His arms are wrapped around me, lips on my ear. When he speaks, his voice is all broken and deep, gravelly. ¡°Do you love me, Michelle?¡± 1 Every hair stands on edge on my body. Maddox¡¯s voice is sexy. ¡°How is that even a question? Of course, I do.¡± He kisses the nape of my neck. ¡°You spend a lot of time with our sons, and that¡¯s okay, but¡­ It feels like you don¡¯t include me.¡± I¡¯m taken aback. ¡°W-What do you mean? You¡¯re always with us when you come home from work.¡± ¡°But not always.¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± I¡¯m thoroughly surprised. A sigh leaves my lips. ¡°Maddox, you work all day-football is your profession. You earn a living, and then youe home and¡­¡± ¡°And?¡± ¡°This won¡¯t sound good no matter how I word myself, but being with the twins is lovely. They are my everything, but sometimes they also drain me of energy.¡± ¡°Well, of course, they do. Every parent is tired. What point are you trying to make?¡± 1 ¡°Maddox, I get tired even though I don¡¯t have a job!¡± I say in a frustrated voice, sighing. ¡°I thought it would be nice if I let you¡­ You know, if I let you rest and be away from this life once in a while.¡± Realization seems to dawn on him as he stays silent for a while. I can almost hear the gears in his head turning. Eventually, he speaks. ¡°You thought it would be a burden and that you would put too much on me if you included me¡­ So you tried to shoulder the entire parenthood and do everything yourself?¡± It sounds so stupid, but it¡¯s the truth. ¡°Yes.¡± He snorts. ¡°That¡¯s dumb.¡± My shoulders slump in defeat. ¡°I know¡­ But because you¡¯re a football star, I thought maybe¡­ Maybe family life was boring for you?¡± ¡°Boring for me?¡± ¡°Fuck, the wrong choice of words,¡± i groan. ¡°I don¡¯t know why I did it, Maddox. I didn¡¯t want to exhaust you with your football AND the twins, and then¡­ I don¡¯t know. I thought it would make you leave me if there was too much work.¡± 1 He is silent for a while. I dangle my legs from the height of hisp until he sighs and leans forward, resting his chin on my shoulder. His big, arms are tight around me again, fingerspping my stomach. ¡°I want to be included.¡± My guilt eats at me. ¡°I get that¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry too¡­¡± ¡°For what?¡± ¡°Being drunk¡­¡± ¡°You seem to be sobering up.¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m really trying, but fuck-it¡¯s hard. Like¡­ It takes all of my focus to not just strip you naked instead of talking.¡± I pause, shocked by his words. ¡°You¡¯re¡­ You¡¯re horny?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± A slow exhale leaves my body. ¡°But¡­ We can¡¯t have sex.¡± His nose is running along the sensitive skin on my neck. He breathes me in, a long, deep breath. ¡°Why not?¡± N?velDrama.Org owns this. I swallow thickly. This will not be an easy conversation to have. I can already feel the difort in my bones. I¡¯m scared and ashamed, but I know this topic can¡¯t be avoided much longer. There is a reason why I avoid touching my boyfriend. And the exact reason is also why I shove away his hand when he tries to make sexual advances. It¡¯s gnawing at me because I crave his touch. I do. I¡¯m just scared. ¡°H-Have you seen my post-pregnancy belly?¡± ¡°Not really,¡± Maddox replies. ¡°You barely show yourself naked anymore. You run around in clothes and tap my hands away if I try to remove them. Michelle, you even sleep in baggy t shirts¡­¡± I take a deep breath. My heart is pounding, and tears threaten to escape from my eyes. 1 ¡°I do it because I¡¯m scared you will leave me.¡± ¡°Why would I leave you?¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m ugly!¡± He freezes but then sighs and kisses my ear, whispering ¡°Babe, there is nothing wrong with what you look like And no matter what, you will always be beautiful to me.¡± My heart won¡¯t slow down, and the difort is still churning in the pit of my stomach. 1 Maddox doesn¡¯t understand! I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m hideous, and there are stretch marks. More than normal. I had twins, for fuck¡¯s sake! ¡°You only say that because you haven¡¯t seen me, Maddox. You wouldn¡¯t find me beautiful if you saw my body¡­¡± ¡°Show me then,¡± Maddox whispers as he strokes my stomach from the other side of my t shirt. His calloused hands feel so good, and he dives closer to my ear, whispering. ¡°Let me see. ¡°No¡­¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°It¡¯s embarrassing.¡± He chuckles. ¡°Baby, you can¡¯t run around hiding your body forever.¡± ¡°Yes, I can.¡± ff 11 ¡°No,¡± there is another chuckle and a kiss. I shudder, and Maddox smiles against my skin, amused. ¡°Just show me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that easy when your boyfriend is a super hunk, and you¡¯re this trashbag mom with rings under her eyes.¡± ¡°Stop being so mean to yourself, and just take this off,¡± he tugs at the hem of my t-shirt. ¡°I will love and worship you no matter what. Just trust me. Take this off.¡± I close my eyes, taking a deep breath. ¡°Promise me that you won¡¯tugh at me.¡± He chuckles and vibrates. ¡°You¡¯re killing me right now¡­¡± I growl and speak in a slow, threatening voice. ¡°Promise me.¡± ¡°I promise you,¡± I can hear the smile in his voice. ¡°Will you now just show me your gorgeous body?¡± Chapter 41 Chapter 41 Chapter 41 Michelle I wish I was sexier. Everyone has read about steamy sex, and I¡¯m pretty sure every man yearns for it: some pretty and confident woman that can throw back her head and moan for hours. I¡¯m not it. My self-confidence is cracking as I stand in front of the couch. My shaky hands are on the hem of my pants. I¡¯m scared of taking them off as Maddox watches me in the dim light. N?velDrama.Org owns this. But I have to do it. I nt my feet on the carpet and let my pants fall. Maddox is removing his clothes, and suddenly he is sitting there, entirely naked. He is waiting for me, but thest piece of cloth isn¡¯t coming off. I¡¯m so scared and self-conscious. My t-shirt is my armor, and my heart is wrenching behind it. I know I¡¯m acting silly, but I can¡¯t help the difort running loose within my veins. ¡°I¡¯m scared,¡± I admit in a low voice. ¡°Terrified, actually.¡± ¡°That I will judge you?¡± I speak in a broken voice. ¡°Yes¡­¡± My biggest fear is that Maddox will avert his eyes and hesitate before kissing me. It would kill me if I saw that he wasn¡¯t as attracted to me as before the pregnancy. I have so much loose skin and stretchmarks everywhere¡­ ¡°You¡¯re being silly,¡± Maddox whispers. ¡°Come here. Let¡¯s remove it together.¡± Even though my heart is pounding, I walk up to him. I stand between his spread legs and feel a bolt to my heart-I¡¯m so nervous. I ce my hands on his muscr shoulders, closing my eyes when he tugs at the bottom of my t-shirt. But he doesn¡¯t just remove it. He slowly lifts it, letting his calloused hand run up the length of my back as more and more of my t-shirt disappears. Soon, the fabric is up over my head, and I¡¯m naked. Vulnerable. I shut my eyes harder, barely daring to breathe. Maddox isn¡¯t saying anything, and I¡¯m scared of his reaction. I stand frozen for what feels like hours until he moves. His soft hair brushes against my naked breasts as he leans forward, taking me into hisp with his warm hands on my butt. ¡°There is nothing wrong with your body. I know you don¡¯t see it yourself, but you¡¯re so sexy.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not¡­¡± ¡°You are. Your body tells the story of a strong woman. You¡®re captivating, Michelle. Feminine¡­ You carried our sons. That¡¯s beautiful, and the stretchmarks are attractive too.¡± Thoro in 2 lumn in mu thront ¡°ly You really think so. ¡°Yes¡­¡± Maddox rasps and pulls my body closer to his lips. His mouth presses into my upper abs, and his voice gets huskier when he whispers against my cold skin. ¡°Can¡¯t you feel how hard I am for you? How much that I want you?¡± His erection can¡¯t be ignored. I feel his cock twitching between my legs,rge and veiny. Totally into me. I can hardly believe it. ¡°You really want me?¡± There is a low chuckle. ¡°Do you need more proof?¡± I smile. ¡°No.¡± My hands wind up in his hair while my elbows rest on his muscr shoulders. Hisrge hands are on my back, fingertips pressing into my skin until I shudder from his touch. It¡¯s been too long since hest touched me. Lust shoots between my legs when he trails kisses over my stomach up to my breast. ¡°I¡¯m so turned on right now,¡± I whisper. Maddox hums an ¡°Mhm¡± while taking a nipple into his mouth. He sucks on it while a finger rubs my clit until I copse against his shoulder. I¡¯m so sensitive for not having had any action in months. A moan stretches out from my lips. I¡¯m trying to be quiet to not wake the twins, but I can¡¯t help the sounds leaving my mouth. Two fingers slide into me and move slowly, making me clench around them. It feels too good. Another moan slices up my throat as Maddox continues to torment me. Gosh, he is so dirty. Skillful. I¡¯m embarrassingly horny, thrusting back and forth to ride his fat fingers. But the pleasure isn¡¯t enough. I want Maddox¡¯s cock inside me. I want it so much that I¡¯m embarrassingly wet. His fingers are soaked, and he has noticed it too. There is a dark chuckle. ¡°Do you want me inside you, Michelle?¡± Swallowing, I breathe my answer. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Beg for it.¡± I¡¯m not underneath begging. I meet Maddox¡¯s eyes, so sexy and confident. He looks dominant and turned on. I can see it on his face, how badly he wants to sink into me. It¡¯s so unrealistic. This daddy of a man,rge and powerful, wants me-I feel a throbbing between my legs simply thinking about it. ¡°Please,¡± I breathe in a whisper. ¡°I need you.¡± He kisses my Adam¡¯s apple and then the underside of my jaw while pulling out his fingers from me. It makes me shudder once, twice when his deep chuckle makes his entire body vibrate. ¡°Ask me again, and I will think about it.¡± Frustration makes me groan. ¡°Maddox¡­ Please¡­¡± ¡°Please, what?¡± ¡°Please let me ride you.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± My lust is bing too much to handle, and I lean forward, kissing his soft lips with abandon. It takes him by surprise, and he leans back on the couch, guiding me to his cock. I¡¯m not used to having anything inside me. I had an emergency c-section, and I never y with myself ¡ªI¡¯m tight. There is a bit of pain when the tip of his cock enters me, but also insane pleasure. I break our kiss to moan, but Maddox silences me with a kiss and thrusts his tongue into my. mouth. It shuts me up while he works hisrge, sexy manhood deeper inside me. It feels so good, too good. I¡¯m wing at Maddox¡¯s big shoulders before I know it but barely causing any damage. The only thing Maddox cares about is fucking me, and his handsnd on my sides, pulling me up and down his rod in a steady rhythm. He is so strong Sexy. Powerful. I¡¯m already falling apart, and we have barely started. I can¡¯t help it. Maddox¡¯s scent and muscles, and the fact he is turned on by me¡ªit¡¯s too hot for my brain to handle. The first orgasm crashes over me and makes my entire body weak. I buckle forward, powerless. It feels like I¡¯m experiencing a seizure when Maddox keeps going. He lifts his ass off the mattress, up and down, up and down. He is totally unbothered by the extra weight over his thick thighs. I find it sexy, and new lust makes me meet his thrusts. ¡°Fuck¡­ You¡¯re so sexy,¡± Maddox groans. ¡°Yes, keep riding me, baby¡­ That¡¯s it¡­ Faster¡­¡± His deep voice inspires me. I ride him faster, surrendering to my pride. All I care about is satisfaction, and I take him as deep as I can until he hits that magical spot, and then I keep him there. Back and forth. Moaning Writhing. Convulsing I keep going, turned on by the fact we are both panting and barely alive from how good this feels. Even Maddox is shaking, moaning when I dig my nails into his skin. ¡°Oh, baby¡­¡± he breathes. ¡°I don¡¯t think you know what you do to me¡­ It feels so good¡­ You feel so good¡­¡± I squeeze his pecs, feeling more arousal shoot between my legs as I continue to fuck him. He is so sexy I moan his name and keep going. ¡°I love you¡­¡± I sound breathless and desperate, but the words are spilling out anyway. ¡°I love you so much¡­¡± Maddox¡¯s hands grab my butt, shaking it. ¡°I love you too, baby¡­ You¡¯re so beautiful¡­¡± We keep going for a while until it feels like my brain is fried. Soon, I can¡¯t continue. I¡¯m tingling too much, and I¡¯m d Maddox is finally shaking and releasing inside me. ¡°Oh, baby,¡± he breathes in that deep voice. ¡°I¡¯m cumming¡­¡± He jerks multiple times, and I smile, copsing against him. I¡¯m so sweaty and shaking from having had plenty of mini fireworks going off within me. I don¡¯t know how many-I lost count. My smile grows. ¡°That was ¡­¡± ¡°Amazing.¡± He finishes. My response is to lift my chin and kiss him. He snorts and falls down on the couch on his back. I¡¯m all over him. I pull out from him and climb to rest over his naked chest, pecs, and abs. He is gorgeous. I¡¯m about to steal another kiss, but then I hear crying from the other room, and we both fall silent. A grimace hits my face. ¡°I should take that.¡± ¡°No,¡± Maddox sits up, kissing me before lifting me off hisp. His smile is sweet. ¡°I will go.¡± I blink. ¡°You sure?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Dang, I¡¯m horny all over again. I p Maddox¡¯s bubble butt, and he jumps in surprise. He sends me a confused look, and I snort at him. ¡°Sorry, it¡¯s just something so incredibly sexy when a man offers to go feed the babies and possibly change diapers.¡± He breathes augh. ¡°And I thought I was the horny one in this rtionship¡­¡± ¡°Hey! I¡¯m not that bad!¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Maddox sticks out his tongue at me and grins when I stare at him, pretending to be offended. His teeth briefly show in that grin. He is beautiful, this man. ¡°Anyway, you head to bed,¡± he says. ¡°I got this.¡± ¡°One hundred percent sure?¡± ¡°Yes, just get to bed.¡± My insides go warm, and I feel butterflies. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°No need to thank me.¡± He disappears out of the living room, and I swoon. I think I can consider myself a lucky woman. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!