Page 45 of Lovers' Dance: Vol. 2

Matt frowned again. Both girls wore white strapless gowns. He didn’t like it, made them look much older than they were. Matt would speak to Hannah about it at some point. It seemed Nathan’s worry about raising a daughter was rubbing off on Matt concerning his nieces.

“Aren’t you going to look at me, poppet?” Matt asked as he closed the door, shutting them in the bedroom.

“Sometimes you use that same tone on me,” she said, head still bent over the laptop. “Like I’m the child and you’re the adult.”

Matt sighed. He didn’t want to start the New Year on bad terms with his poppet. “I know, sweetheart,” He deliberately used that term of endearment, knowing how much she liked it. “And I’m sorry.”

She raised her head then, her temporarily straightened hair slid around her upper arms and bare shoulders. She wore a strapless gown also. It was a black and white affair tonight, but Madi wore a deep red dress that did magical things to her skin tone. The dress she chose was her show of defiance at being forced to come. Matt remembered the immediate southerly rush of blood he’d felt when he saw her in it for the first time. The planned request for her to change into something in line with the dress code had died on his lips. He’d been struck speechless at the sight of her, unable to do anything more than try to maintain his breathing at a healthy level. She was so beautiful, his dark beauty, and she was smiling at him. It was barely noticeable but he saw it. Matt made his way over to the bed and held a hand out to her.

“Let’s not fight, poppet,” he cajoled when she took his hand and he helped her off the bed and into his waiting arms.

She rested her head against his chest and inhaled deeply before stepping away. Matt watched as she wandered over to the desk and picked up her purse.

“I had a chat with your mom in your old room before the girls dragged me in here,” she said quietly.

“I wondered where you two had disappeared to,” Matt kept his tone quite light. “I see you survived the encounter.”

Madi opened her purse and pulled out some folded papers. She walked back to where he stood and held it out. “Here.”

“What is this?” he asked with a grin.

“A prenuptial agreement your mom wants me to sign.” she explained without any emotion.

“Pardon?” Matt unfolded the papers, eyes scanning the words quickly. He looked at her in utter disbelief. “I am going to-”

“It’s ok, Matt,” she murmured with a shrug. “I would have signed it when she gave it to me but I wanted to talk to you first. You’re a bit anal when it comes to secrets and you’ll just read my mind anyway.”

She laughed, it sounded forced, and swept her hair back. Matt sorely missed her natural curls, but she had giving him a threatening look when he joked about banning her from ever changing it. Muttering about black women and their hair under her breath.

“I think it’s a good idea, Matt. Think about it. Once I sign them, maybe your parents will come around. They’ll see that I’m not after your money.” She fiddled with her hands and Matt immediately noticed her scratching her pinkie.

“Madison,” he began in a stern voice but she held a hand up.

“Please listen to me, Matt. If I do this it will prove to them that I love you, just you.”

“Do you not see what you’re doing right now, poppet?” he asked quietly.

She was confused by his question, her brown eyes squinted in puzzlement. “What do you mean by that?”

Matt ran a hand through his hair before giving her the full weight of his eyes. “You want them to accept you, yes?”

“Of course.” she replied earnestly.

“And you’re willing to do anything to get that acceptance, aren’t you? Willing to put up with anything, just like you did with your own family. Well, I’m telling you now, I won’t allow it. You are not going to jump through hoops or play their games. Either my parents accept you or they don’t and I honestly don’t give a fuck whether or not they do!”

The level of vehemence in his voice startled her and her browneyes wandered over his harsh features for a moment before she folded her arms. Matt struggled to keep his gaze on her face and not the sudden resulting rise of her chest from that little action. That dress on her was a bloody masterpiece.

“Do you believe I’m unable to make my own decisions?” she asked coolly. “Do you think I’m incapable of assessing a situation and drawing my own conclusions from it?”

Matt fiddled with the cuffs of his shirt that peeked out from under his tuxedo jacket’s sleeves. She raised her eyebrows at him in a challenging manner while he tried to figure out how best to phrase his words. The last thing he wanted was another argument.

“Well?” she pressed. “Do you?”

“I believe due to your past childhood you’re very vulnerable when it comes to this issue, poppet.” he replied with as much calmness he could muster.

She snorted and tilted her head arrogantly. “I’m not some delicate English rose, Matt. I’m a grown woman. Yes, you’re older than me. Yes, you definitely have more experience with relationships than me; but I have my own mind and I am more than capable of using it.”

“Poppet,” Matt exhaled slowly, recognizing the signs of her growing anger and dreading the upcoming fight.

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