Corruption - Leigh Lennon Page 0,36

the window of my beat-up truck, he’s looking up at me. There’s no way I want him in my vehicle, so I pop out, making my way around his car to the passenger seat.

I slide in before he has a chance to get out of his car. “Your Camaro rocks.” It’s the first thing I can say before his eyes are on me, and they are angry, and I have no idea why. “Are you upset?” I look at my watch. I’m not late, and my stomach coils, thinking he’s changed his mind.

“Oh, you bet your bottom dollar I am.” He points at my truck without taking his gaze off me. “Is that seriously what you’re driving around in?”

I cock my head to the side. “Yeah, I told you last night that the car I had was my best friend’s.” His words and demeanor cause me a lot of confusion.

“That truck is older than you, precious. Hell, it’s older than me, if I were to guess.”

I narrow my eyes on him, pursing my lips together. “Yeah, most possibly. Why do you ask?”

“I don’t like you in that death trap.” I let out a long deep breath. He’s not mad, well, not at me. His anger is out of concern and worry. Be still my heart.

“It’s not that bad, Maddox. And I’m saving for a new car.”

He reaches out for my hand. “Precious, I don’t have to be happy about this, and won’t be, not until I can get you into a safer vehicle.”

“Maddox, you’re making plans and…”

“And I don’t know if you’ll give me another chance.”

Who am I kidding? This is Maddox. “No, it’s not that.”

“What are you saying, gem?”

I look away from him for a brief second. Am I seriously considering this?

My eyes search for his, and in a broad smile, I can only say four words. “It’s only been you.”

Chapter Thirteen

Maddox

Did I just hear her right? “Say those words again?”

“It’s always been you, Maddox. Denying you is like denying the oxygen I need for breathing.”

I’ve only been willing to admit to myself I need her, yet these words undo me, and all I want is to take her into my arms.

“I’ll take care of you, I promise. No matter what, I’ll be sure you are number one in my life.” My mind immediately runs on planning mode, though I want to relish this moment, too. “Fuck, precious, you’ve made me the happiest of men.” I turn to her, pulling her face to mine and cupping it. “Since that moment in the club, I knew it was going to be hell to let you go, but, fuck, it wasn’t just hell. It was impossible. I don’t know how you embedded yourself into my soul so quickly, but I was one stupid motherfucker.”

I drop a chaste kiss, but I pull away immediately. “And the fact that I was the only one to ever have you…” I pause, afraid maybe I haven’t been the only one. “Am I still the only one?” Of course she doesn’t owe me this because I tossed her away. It would hurt like hell, and it would have all been my fault, but I wouldn’t hold it against her. She may have been with Drake, and again, I’d be the one to blame.

“Maddox,” she begins, her hands covering mine, “I told you, you’re the only one, you’ve been the only one. Sure, I’m not going to lie, I was going to give Drake a chance, but it never compared to the pull you have on me.”

“Thank fuck, gem, for that. Thanks for not giving up on my stubborn as fuck ass.” A broad grin covers her face, and it makes my heart beat even harder.

“I need you with me. I’ve never had a committed girl since well…” I don’t want to say her name.

“It’s okay, I’m not jealous. I know you’ve been with others. However, I feel there’s a but in there.”

Without any thought, as if this is out of an instinct or a need to touch her, my fingers caress her cheek. “There’s no but. I want you. I won’t lie, but I don’t know how to do this, have a sub and a girlfriend, and as sure as the mountain tops are east of us, I sure as hell want you as everything in my life. But I’m demanding, commanding, and an asshole.” I stop to put this into better terms she’ll understand. “What I mean, gem, is I’ll stretch you. It’s giving me