Page 87 of Slow Burn
Because I was.
I wanted more. More of her kisses. More of the way she was holding on to me like she couldn't stand to let me go. More of the life I'd gotten a glimpse of since Maddie showed up.
I wanted it all.
When we finally broke apart—with great reluctance—Maddie's cheeks were flushed and her lips my favorite shade of thoroughly-kissed. Her gaze flicked to the side before settling back on mine. "I think we've attracted an audience."
Curling my fingers into her waist, I brushed my nose along hers. "I don't care." I pulled back and pinned her with a stare. "Do you?"
Her answering smile was big, bright, and wonderful. "I still can't believe you came here…for me."
"Believe it, baby. I'd walk to the ends of the earth for you." I laced our fingers together and turned my head to scan the crowd. "Now, we better go find your parents. I don't want them thinking I only came here to devour their daughter."
Maddie dropped my hand and threw her arms around my neck. "I love you, Adam."
My arms banded tight around her. Angling my head, I spoke low against the shell of her ear. "I feel everythingfor you, Maddie,everything."
And then just because I could, I pulled her in for another kiss. My tongue had barely slipped into her mouth when we were interrupted by a woman, an unmistakable hint of amusement in every word she spoke.
"I'm all for public displays of affection, but the two of you seriously need to cut it out."
Drawing back, I groaned. Maddie laughed. Because I couldn't stand to let her go, I slipped my arm around her shoulders and tugged her close to me as we turned. The moment my eyes landed on the raven-haired woman, I immediately recognized her from the pictures hanging on Maddie's wall.
"Frankie, I presume."
One corner of her red-stained mouth curved upward. "And you must be Adam." Her eyes narrowed into thin slits as she looked me up and down and then flicked her gaze to Maddie. Whatever Frankie saw on my girl's face had her features softening in an instant.
Then her attention was back on me. Smile wide, she took a step forward and held out her hand. "It's great to finally meet you." Before I could take her offered hand, I noticed her eyes on my scars. In a blink, my heart found a new gear. The collar of my dress shirt wrapping around my neck like a noose.
Who the hell was I kidding? I couldn't do this.
My nerves were hanging on by a thin thread, and just when I thought I was going to crack, I felt Maddie's armtighten around my waist. My eyes found hers. So much love and understanding shining in those whiskey irises. And that was all it took to calm the restless beast.
Grinning, I took Frankie's hand. "Likewise. I'm looking forward to—"
"Mister Adam!"
I barely had time to look to my right when a little person skidded to a stop in front of me. I remembered him. He'd been at Maddie's place a while ago, talking a mile a minute about airplanes.
"Hey, buddy."
His face lit up, lips parting like he was about to speak. Before he could utter a single word, our little gathering grew. Maddie's sister—I recognized her from the other night—came to a stop behind her son.
With her hands perched on his shoulders, she bent forward and whisper-shouted next to his ear, "When I tell you to stop running, you stop running, mister."
She was still hunched over when Frankie elbow-jabbed her in the side. "This isAdam."
I heard Maddie's soft laugh as her sister's eyes shot to me.
Even though I didn't feel remotely comfortable, I smiled and held out my hand. "Nice to meet you."
"Jennah." Shaking my hand furiously, she turned her attention to her sister. "This is him, huh?"
Leaning in closer, Maddie's hold on me tightened even more. "Yes, this is Adam. My Adam. And he was about to kiss me stupid before all of you rudely interrupted."
It was a bit comical how quickly Jennah slapped her hands over her son's ears and muttered, "Little ears."
Even more funny than that was the boy's dramatic eye roll and his whiny, "Mooooom."
