45. Maddie
45
MADDIE
Ava and Carter’s wedding reception was straight out of a fairy tale. Lights strung across the garden sparkled like stars, casting a warm golden glow over the guests. Soft music floated through the air, blending with the hum of laughter and clinking glasses. It was magical, the kind of night that made even the biggest critic believe in love stories and happily-ever-afters.
I sat next to Ian at one of the round tables, my heels kicked off beneath my chair for some relief. The energy of the night buzzed around me as I took a sip of my drink and watched Ava and Carter make their rounds through the crowd, hand in hand, completely wrapped up in each other.
The ceremony earlier had been beautiful—simple, heartfelt, and full of love. Even though I didn’t know Ava and Carter all that well yet, it was obvious they were meant for each other. The way Carter looked at her, like she was his entire universe, made my heart ache in the best way.
It was the kind of love I’d always hoped for. I wanted that, too. One day.
Hopefully.
I let out a soft sigh, shaking off the wistful thought as I picked at the dessert on my plate—some decadent chocolate cake that probably cost more than my weekly grocery bill. These billionaires really knew how to throw a party. Every detail was perfect—from the food to the music to the gorgeous floral centerpieces that looked like they belonged in a magazine.
“This cake is insane,” I murmured, glancing over at Ian who sat beside me.
“Worth every calorie.” He grinned, his eyes crinkling slightly at the corners.
“No arguments here.” I set my fork down with a happy sigh, feeling the buzz of contentment in my chest.
Ian was quiet for a moment, his gaze distant as he swirled the ice in his glass. Finally, he looked at me, his expression casual but with a flicker of curiosity in his eyes. “Have you ever heard of the whole ‘right person, wrong time’ idea?”
I paused, frowning as I thought about it, the question catching me off guard. “Like, the book trope?”
“I guess it could be a book trope.” He chuckled softly. “But I meant more like…the concept. In real life.”
His words made me go still. The idea wasn’t foreign, and now that he’d brought it up, I realized it was something I might actually have a bit of experience with. “Yeah,” I said slowly, “I’ve heard of it.”
Ian nodded, his focus still on me. And while his tone stayed light, there was an undertone I couldn’t quite place. “What do you think about it?”
I tilted my head, studying him, trying to read the intention behind his question. “Is that part of Ava and Carter’s story?”
“No.” He shook his head. “They’ve been together pretty much since high school. They only had a minor blip in their timeline.”
“Then why are you asking?”
“I don’t know.” He shrugged, the movement almost too casual. “I guess I was just curious about it.”
My brow furrowed as I studied him, sensing there was more to his question than he was letting on. Was he tiptoeing around something? Trying to test an idea without actually saying it?
“I think…” I started, choosing my words carefully. “I don’t know how often it really happens. I mean, people can know each other—maybe be acquaintances or friends—before falling in love. Like the brother’s-best-friend trope, or boy-next-door romances.”
“Uh-huh.” A faint smile tugged at his lips, clearly amused by my tendency to reference life through books, but he stayed quiet, listening intently.
“But if you’re talking about something like that movie Serendipity ,” I continued, “where two people have a chance meeting, lose complete contact, and then somehow fate brings them back together…” I paused, my gaze drifting to Ian’s face, searching his eyes for any flicker of acknowledgment, any sign that he might know I wasn’t just talking about a movie. That I was talking about us—about that night on the beach so many years ago. “I don’t think that happens too often. That feels rare. Really rare.”
“Rare.” Ian licked his lips, his expression thoughtful as he nodded. “I like that word for it.”
I stared at him, waiting— hoping —for more. What was he thinking? What was he trying to say?
Was he hinting at what I hoped he was?
But before I could ask, the music changed and a hush fell over the crowd. Ava and Carter stepped into the center of the garden, all eyes turning toward them as they began their first dance.
“We should probably go watch them,” Ian said, offering me a hand.
So I placed my hand in his and let him lead me to the edge of the dance floor to watch the bride and groom enjoy their first official dance as a married couple.
Ava glowed as Carter pulled her close, the two of them moving together like they were in their own little world. And it was impossible not to feel the love radiating from them, to not be moved by the sweetness of it.
As the evening carried on, Ian pulled me onto the dance floor a few times, his hand warm against my back, his touch sending shivers through me every time he pulled me close. We swayed and spun, my dress catching the lights as I laughed in his arms, the magic of the night wrapping around us like a blanket.
Later, as the party began to wind down, Ian and I stood together at the edge of the reception, watching Ava and Carter twirl beneath the strings of lights.
“Hey, how did you two meet, anyway?” the voice of Evan’s wife, Addison, broke through the moment as she approached, arm in arm with her husband.
“Oh,” Ian said, his expression suddenly playful, like he might be considering telling them a juicy story like the ones we’d told everyone in Boston. But instead of making up a random story, he gave me a gentle look before saying, “We actually met on a beach in North Carolina. A little over nine years ago…”
And that was when the world tilted, the weight of his words hitting me like a wave. I gasped, my heart lurching as I turned to him, my voice trembling. “So you knew?”
His smile softened. “Yeah,” he said, his eyes meeting mine with steady warmth. “Of course I knew.”
My throat tightened, tears pricking at the edges of my vision. “H-how long?” I whispered, barely able to get the words out.
“Since we were in my hotel room, looking at those engagement rings together.”
The breath left my lungs in a shaky rush. “Really?”
He nodded, his gaze never wavering. “Really.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Addison exchanging a quick glance with her husband, her brows lifting slightly. Evan murmured something low, and without a word, they turned and slipped away with quiet grace, clearly sensing they’d stumbled into something private.
For a moment, the emotions surging through me were too much—shock, disbelief, and something deeper, warmer, that took root and spread through my chest. I stared at Ian, trying to process the revelation, the enormity of what he was telling me.
His fingers found mine, threading through them with a gentle certainty, and that small gesture anchored me.
He had known. This entire time, he had known who I was. And not once had he said anything—not until now.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked, my voice breaking as I searched his face.
“Because I didn’t want you to question why I fell for you,” he said, his expression full of something that made my chest ache. “I didn’t want you to think it was because of some idea of fate or because I couldn’t let go of a memory. I needed you to know that I fell for you because of you . Because I couldn’t help it.”
The weight of his words settled over me like a warm, grounding blanket, wrapping me in something steady and real. “Oh Ian…” I whispered, my voice trembling.
“I know…” he murmured, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips. He reached up, his fingers grazing my temple as he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, the gentle touch sending a shiver of warmth across my skin. “And the fact that we met on that beach all those years ago? It’s incredible, and I love that it’s part of our story. But it’s not why I fell for you, Maddie. I fell for you because of who you are now. And I needed you to see that.”
The truth of his words hit me with a force I hadn’t expected, tears slipping free as I tried to blink them away. “I wanted to say something so bad when you named your cat Satan,” I admitted, my voice cracking with emotion. “I thought maybe…maybe you remembered that girl from the beach, but you didn’t realize she was me.”
“You have no idea how hard it was to keep a straight face when Grant said you two wanted to name a cat Satan.” Ian chuckled. “I barely survived it.”
“You should’ve just told me.” A laugh bubbled out of me, wet and shaky.
“I could have,” he said, his smile turning tender, “but I kind of loved doing it this way. Seeing it all click for you in person. Getting to see how special it was to you, up close… It made it worth the wait.”
My chest ached with so many emotions I could barely breathe. Gratitude, happiness, love. I tightened my grip on his hand, giving it a squeeze. “You’re worth the wait, too, you know.”
His gaze met mine, the depth of his feelings shining in his dark eyes, and I didn’t need him to say another word. It was all right there, unspoken but so loud I could feel it.
Ian stepped closer, his free hand lifting to cup my cheek, his thumb gently brushing away the tear that had slipped free. “I love you, Maddie Stevens,” he said, his voice low and raw, thick with emotion. “I started falling for you that day. Always wondered what happened to that beautiful girl on the beach. Hoping you were okay…wishing I’d thought to get your name or number so I could check in, to see how things went with your dad.”
He’d thought about me? Worried about me?
Tears spilled over, but I didn’t care. I smiled through them, my heart so full it felt like it might burst. “I love you, too,” I whispered, the words tumbling out so easily because they were true. “Pretty sure part of me fell for you that night on the beach.”
His lips curved into a smile, the kind that reached all the way to his eyes.
And then he bent his head, his lips finding mine in a kiss that was slow and unhurried yet brimming with everything we hadn’t said until now. Every touch of his mouth spoke of love, of longing, of the connection we’d shared from the very beginning.
I gripped the front of his tuxedo jacket, pulling him closer, needing him closer. His arms wrapped around me, anchoring me to him as the kiss deepened.
His hands slid down my back, fingers pressing into the fabric of my dress as if he couldn’t get enough of me. I felt his heart pounding against mine, a frantic rhythm that matched my own.
Ian pulled back just enough to rest his forehead against mine, his breathing uneven. “Maddie,” he murmured, his voice rough with restraint, “we need to leave. Now.”
I nodded, my chest heaving as I tried to catch my breath. “Okay.”
Without another word, Ian took my hand, lacing his fingers through mine as he guided me away from the reception. The sounds of laughter and music faded into the background as we slipped out the side gate. My heart raced as we reached his car, the urgency between us palpable, electrifying.
He opened the passenger door for me, his touch lingering as he helped me inside. The moment he slid into the driver’s seat and started the engine, the world outside blurred into insignificance. My skin buzzed with anticipation, every glance he shot my way sending another wave of heat rushing through me.
Somehow, we made it back to his house, though I barely remembered the drive.
The instant we stepped inside, Ian’s hands were on me, his touch igniting a fire that burned through me, fierce and consuming. His lips found mine again, leading me into a kiss so intense, so utterly unrestrained, that it stole my breath. His kisses had always brimmed with desire, but this was different—this wasn’t just want . It was hunger, need, desperation, like he’d been holding back a dam of emotion that had finally broken free.
He backed me against the door, his body pressing into mine as his hands framed my face, his thumbs brushing along my jaw. The kiss deepened, his lips demanding, coaxing me to give him everything. And I did. My fingers tangled in his hair, tugging him closer as my body arched into his, craving every inch of contact.
Ian's name escaped me in a soft moan, and the sound seemed to ignite something deeper in him. He pulled back just enough to let me catch my breath, his forehead pressing gently against mine. His warm breath mingled with mine, uneven and ragged, matching the pounding rhythm of my heart.
“Maddie,” he murmured, his voice low, rough, and trembling with desire. “I’ve wanted this for so long.”
“Then don’t hold back,” I whispered, my voice shaky yet firm, the anticipation simmering between us too much to contain. My hands slid up his chest, pulling him closer. “Take me.”
A growl rumbled in his throat, raw and primal, sending shivers down my spine. His hands slid down to the small of my back, guiding me to turn until I faced the door.
His fingers found the zipper at the back of my dress, tugging it down with an ease that made me gasp, a mix of surprise and excitement flooding me. I stood still, letting him peel the fabric from my body. The dress pooled at my feet, leaving me in the silky black slip I’d chosen, the fabric clinging to me in a way that left little to the imagination.
Ian stepped back, just slightly so I could face him again. And when I looked at him, his gaze traveled over me like a slow, deliberate caress, the moonlight streaming in through the windows illuminating the hunger and reverence in his dark eyes.
“You’re so sexy, Maddie,” he said, his voice thick. His hands returned to my waist, sliding upward, smoothing up my sides and over my ribs, leaving a path of molten lava in their wake.
He bent down, his lips finding mine again, and this kiss was deeper, hungrier. His tongue danced with mine as his hands roamed, exploring every curve as if memorizing me, worshiping me.
My fingers trembled as I reached for the bow tie at his neck, fumbling slightly in my urgency to rid him of the layers separating us. Ian chuckled, low and rough, and with an impatient tug, he yanked the tie loose himself, the strip of fabric landing carelessly on the floor.
I wasted no time unbuttoning his shirt, my fingers grazing the smooth, warm skin beneath. As each button gave way, I pushed the fabric aside, revealing the hard lines of his torso. My hands explored him, tracing the ridges of muscle with unrestrained curiosity. And as I cupped and squeezed his chest, the heat and feel of his body beneath my palms sent sparks racing through me, making the muscles in my abdomen clench and swirl.
He felt so good. So strong. So perfect.
Ian’s breath hitched as my hands wandered over his shoulders, my fingers combing through the hair at the nape of his neck. And when his jaw clenched and his fingers tightened around my waist, as if to ground himself, I knew he was feeling everything I was in that moment.
“Maddie…” His voice was hoarse, and I could feel the tension thrumming through him, like he was teetering on the edge of control. “You have no idea what you’re doing to me.”
I swallowed, my heart racing as his words sank in. “I think I have an idea,” I breathed, my voice trembling slightly as I leaned in closer. “And I really don’t want you to stop.”
As if that was all the permission he needed, in a swift, fluid motion, he slid his hands down my thighs and lifted me effortlessly. My legs wrapped around his waist instinctively, and I held onto him as he carried me through the house, every step deliberate and steady. The door to his bedroom opened, but as he crossed the threshold, I barely noticed the beautiful decór—the soft glow of the fireplace, the lush bedding. My entire focus was on him, on the way his body moved with purpose, how he made me feel like the world had narrowed to just the two of us.
He set me down gently on the edge of his bed, his gaze locking with mine. And as he slowly took me in, the intensity in his gaze, every track of his eyes, felt like a heated caress.
I’d never had a man look at me like this before. Like I was special, beautiful— enough.
He leaned down, his lips finding mine in a kiss that was both soft and searing, stealing the breath from my lungs. Then, with an almost aching tenderness, he guided me backward, laying me down against the cool sheets before he climbed in beside me, his arm going behind my back and pulling me against him.
He slowly dipped his head, his lips brushing against my forehead—a fleeting, reverent touch. Then my cheek and my jaw, each soft kiss leaving trails of goosebumps that made me ache in ways I couldn’t name. When his lips returned to mine, the kiss was slower, deeper—an unspoken vow that left me trembling in his arms, every part of me alive and attuned to him.
His hands explored me reverently, sliding along my sides, tracing every inch and curve as if committing me to memory. My skin burned under his touch, my body arching into him as I craved more, needed more.
“I love you so much,” he whispered against my lips, the words so raw, so full of emotion that they made my heart stutter.
“I love you, too,” I breathed, my voice shaky but sure, my fingers threading through his hair as I pulled him closer.
His lips found mine again, our tongues and bodies tangling together as the world around us fell away. Time didn’t matter. Nothing mattered except this moment, this man, and the way he made me feel like I was everything he ever wanted.
Every touch, every caress felt like a crescendo, building and building until I was drifting off into the clouds. His hand slipped beneath the hem of my slip, his touch leaving a trail of fire in its wake as his fingers rose inch by inch, his gaze never leaving mine.
“Are you okay with this?” he asked, his voice a low rasp as his fingers paused on my ribs, his eyes searching mine.
“Yes,” I whispered, sliding my fingertips along his jaw, my thumb brushing against the stubble there. “I’ve never been more sure.”
He smiled then, a slow, tender smile that made my heart swell. And as his weight settled over me, pressing me into the soft mattress, I knew I was his completely—and he was mine.
As the night unfolded and we became one, every touch, every kiss, every whispered name carried us closer, binding us together in a way that felt permanent, unshakable. The passion, the connection, the love—it was all-consuming, leaving no room for doubt or hesitation.
And when the world finally stilled, and I lay in his arms, his heartbeat steady against my ear, I knew I’d found my forever. Ian Hastings wasn’t just the man I loved—he was the man I was meant to spend my life with.