Page 163 of Dark Endures

The woman standing in for me holds out her hand.

“And Maddox, you take her hands in yours.”

The difference a touch makes. As much as I wanted to escape Filmore’s, I want to melt into Maddox’s even more.

“The ceremony will start. Then you two will read your vows and exchange rings. Getting the kiss right is absolutely essential.”

Mom arranged for us to ‘practice’ kissing. The urge to shout I told you so wars with the urge to blush and run away. Ineed to kiss Maddox in front of all these people. So that they can judge if it’s good enough.

The word ‘good’ isn’t the word I’d use for Maddox’s kisses.

But that doesn’t mean I want to kiss him in front of these strangers.

“First, let’s try a simple kiss. Maddox, you cup her cheek and place a gentle kiss on her lips.”

“Like this?” Maddox slides his fingers up my neck until he’s cupping my jaw, and then, oh so slowly, leans down until our lips touch.

It’s barely long enough to take a breath, but I lose mine.

“Yes. That’s sweet. But let’s try one with a bit more passion. Maybe lean her over your arm like you're dancing,” the coordinator might be saying the words, but my mother orchestrated them.

Passion. I can’t handle more passion. One second, I’m standing upright. The next, I’m leaning over Maddox’s arm, but somehow there’s no weight on my ribs. Or maybe it’s just that I can’t feel anything when my brain is lost in this man.

Maddox knows exactly what he’s doing to me. His smiling lips come down too slowly, so I reach up and help them.

Perfect.

The next second, I’m teetering on my feet like a drunk person. He looks completely unaffected. I should be irritated, but if one of us wasn’t with it, I would be on the ground.

“Maybe change the angle a bit so the camera can capture the special moment better.”

Not again. I can’t handle another kiss.

Maddox tips me over the other arm, and all the fight in me evaporates.

“Perfect.”

His smiling lips reach mine, and the world is perfect.

I want to rail at him when he sets me on my feet a moment later. But he’s smart enough to wrap an arm around me and pull me into his side for support. “You’re enjoying this way too much,” I whisper so that only he can hear.

“So are you.”

Evil sexy man.

“That will work. Now walk her down the aisle. Stopping at the end to kiss her again.

My mind is too lost at the thought of another kiss to even put up a pathetic protest. Mom won, but somehow it feels like I did too.

New Daddy

Maddox

“Do you think she believed us?” It’s pushing, but after all the fuss Mindy made, I can’t help teasing her a bit.

She reaches up and pulls the comb out of her hair, which takes a few of the bobby pins with it, causing her hair to come tumbling down.

It’s tempting to reach out and thread my fingers through the shimmering chocolate silk.

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