Chapter 22
Maddie
“Nate.” My breath is ragged, while panic claws at my ribs. The weight of what we’ve just done begins to settle, while my forehead drops against his shoulder. “Get me out of here right now. Or I’m going to have a panic attack.”
“What?” he asks, confused.
“I mean it. I can’t even look to see who’s watching.” My voice breaks, and that has him snapping into action. He throws his arm around my midsection and quickly steers us far away from the guests.
When we’re alone, my knees buckle, but Nate’s there to catch me.
Deep breaths, in and out, I remind myself.
“You’re okay, babe.” He rubs my back. “I’m sorry.”
I stand slowly so I don’t get dizzy. “Why are you sorry?”
“I should have known better. I didn’t even think, and I know you better than that.”
I roll my eyes. “Don’t take the blame because I’m an idiot. I had an out-of-body experience and attacked you on the dance floor.”
His smirk is immediate, loving the thought. “It was pretty fucking hot.”
“Nate,” I drawl.
He prowls closer, backing me into the wall, pinning my arms above my head. He leans down and presses his lips against every little goose bump peppered over my skin.
“Madeline,” he mocks.
“Don’t try to distract me.” My breath picks up as his tongue peeks out. “I need to go home.”
“Not a chance. Not when you’re wearing this sexy-as-sin outfit.
” His lips are by my ear, his breath hot against my skin.
“Selene.” My mouth opens, but he cuts me off.
“Selene, the Greek moon goddess. I thought for a moment you were Luna, the Roman moon goddess, but no, she had a wilder edge. Selene was romantic and hauntingly beautiful. She’s a classic. Like you.”
I bit my bottom lip, hiding a smile. “Maybe I’m Hera. Queen of the gods.”
“You’d fit the role perfectly. Regal and commanding. But the crescent moon mask gave it away.”
I snicker. He’s right, I’m a dead giveaway.
“And how about you? It’s a pretty sleek outfit, however, you’re rather plain for the host.”
His lips twitch. “You always had a thing for Selene, so I took a chance.”
“What does this…” He drops my arms, and I tug on his lapels. “Have to do with Selene?”
He leans in, pressing our bodies closer, and bites my earlobe. A shot of pleasure radiates right through my core.
“I’m the Night Sky, of course. The goddess of the moon can only shine bright because of me.” I narrow my eyes, and he barks out a laugh. “You’re still the star of the show. But I needed to prove to you that you need me, Mads. That your light is undeniable when I’m there…when we’re together.”
My heart begins to race quickly. “Why are you so dang romantic?”
“I am. Aren’t I?”
We both laugh when I impishly swat at his chest, then he checks his watch.
“Go ahead back in, Nate. I’ll try to disappear into this corner or escape out the back.”
He cups my chin and brings my face to his. “Fuck everyone else, Mads.”
“You know that’s not easy for me,” I sigh.
“I’ve seen you command a boardroom. This is no different. Walk out there with your head tall.”
I hesitate, I want to, but… “My coworkers are out there. I just mauled the CEO. And how about photographers?”
He shakes his head. “We need to approve anything shot inside. And trust me, no one from the office is here yet. You’d be shocked, but most people in the city like to be fashionably late.”
“Don’t tease me. Being late is not in my DNA.”
He softens his voice, one of understanding. “I know.” He runs the pad of his thumb along my bottom lip. “Please.”
“We need to talk, Nate,” I say earnestly.
Nodding, he leans in and kisses one of my dimples. “For now, there’s only one thing I need to hear.” He kisses the other. “Tell me it’s over. I need to hear it come out of your mouth.”
There is no hesitation on my part. “It’s over.”
His bright-blue eyes sparkle with triumph against the contrast of his mask. He steps back, extending his hand out to me. “Maddie Grace Cunningham, will you do the honors of being my date tonight?”
I don’t know why this makes me giggle, but I do and nod. “Yes. Only I have stipulations.”
He crosses his arms, amused. “Go on.”
“No being too touchy-touchy, especially in front of people from work.”
He looks at me deadpan. “No deal.”
“Nateeee.”
“It’s been ten long years waiting to win you back. You expect me to keep my hands to myself?”
I take a deep breath. “You need to slow down.”
Being back in Nate’s arms might seem like the most natural place to be, but it doesn’t diminish the fact that only days ago, I was engaged to another man.
Can I forget it all and throw caution to the wind, pretending we have no baggage?
The nerves in my voice are clear as day, so he concedes. “I’ll try my best. But then I want one more kiss.” I’m back against the wall, and his lips are on mine before I have a chance to blink.
The kiss is wild. All suction and force, and it doesn’t matter that I can’t breathe; the passion is enough to give me life.
Every inch of his hard body is pressed against mine; he hasn’t lost one percent of his muscles. If anything, he seems bigger and bulkier than ever.
My hands fist his hair, tugging, causing a low, guttural groan to escape him, vibrating my whole body with excitement.
His palms are on my waist, and then I’m airborne like I weigh nothing.
The second I wrap my legs around him, his hard length grinds right over my center, exactly where I need him most. Now I’m the one who can’t control the moan that tears from me, raw and needy.
God, he feels too good.
On instinct, I roll my hips, throw my head back, and then he drops me. I’m back on the ground as quickly as he picked me up.
“Shit.” Nate takes a dramatic step back. He runs his hands down his face and lets out a ragged breath. “Maybe the no-touching rule is best. I was about to blow in my pants like in my high school days.”
“I’m pretty sure that happened a few times in college, too,” I tease.
“Are you complaining?” He lifts his brows. “It’s hard to control when you’re so fucking hot.”
He’s right, neither of us can control ourselves tonight, but it’s always been like this with Nate. It shouldn’t be a shock to either of us.
He holds out his palm, and I don’t hesitate to slide my hand in his. “Come on, comedian.”
Back with the group, I spot Seb and can’t resist heading straight for him. His arms open when he spots me, ready for a hug.
“Hi, stranger.” He pulls me into his chest and kisses my forehead.
Leo might be one of my best friends, but Seb’s broken, tortured heart has always spoken to me on a whole other level.
I get him in ways others don’t.
“I missed you,” I whisper. “Why haven’t you come to visit?”
His face drops, and his dark eyes fill with regret. “I’m sorry.”
I rub his arm. “Forget about it. You weren’t ready.”
A twitch, barely a smile, is how Seb shows his gratitude for not pushing it. He’s struggled more than anyone with Camila’s death, and from what I’ve heard, he is still as bad off as he was the day she died.
“How are you? How’s work?”
“Good.” He nods.
“Still a man of few words, I see,” I tease. “Take me to lunch next week?”
“If I must.”
I nod. “Yes. If you want a buffer so I don’t interrogate you, we can take Claud.”
He doesn’t answer, he just smirks and shakes his head.
My phone buzzes in my bag.
Mase.
Mason: Wish I could be there tonight. Send me pictures. I’m sure you look beautiful.
I don’t answer, I send him a picture of Addie and me that we took in the penthouse before I left.
Mason: Knew it. Y’all look amazing.
I tap Nate on the shoulder, hold out my phone, take a selfie, and send that.
The bubbles appear, then disappear.
Mason: Does this mean you’ve forgiven me? You know how sorry I am, right?
I guess I have no choice if I’ve forgiven Nate.
Mason: I only ever wanted to protect you.
I know.
Honestly, I don’t want to talk about it anymore. I want to move forward from here.
But if you decide something for me ever again, I’ll cut off your balls.
Mason: You’re crazy…but I love you.
With a butter knife.
Mason: That means you’ll see your brother’s junk.
Ew.
Addie is a good accomplice.
Mason: Okay, okay. I don’t want the visuals.
Mason: Does this mean I can stop sending you apology gifts?
Definitely not. Love you too.
Good luck against Tampa this weekend.
Nate’s reading our interaction, grinning as I put my phone away. He leans down, kisses my cheek, then continues his conversation with Harrison.
An hour or more later, and far too many glasses of champagne, I’m warm with laughter, leaning into the familiarity of old stories.
The guys take turns embarrassing Leo with tales of his former flings, and my cheeks ache from smiling.
Now and then, I catch Nate watching me instead of listening, his gaze heavy, causing heat to coil low in my stomach until I’m forced to look away before everyone else notices.
Leo passes me another flute of champagne and a mocktail to Juliette.
“Don’t fire me if I’m dancing naked on the tables later.”
Nate’s arm tightens around my waist, and his voice drops to a low growl. “I’d be arrested for breaking someone’s jaw if they so much as looked at your naked body. So yeah, let’s not test me tonight.”
“Ooooh.” Juliette’s big brown eyes light up, and her dark hair that sits above her shoulders sways as she bounces in excitement. “I love possessive Nate.”
Harrison appears behind her, wrapping his arms firmly around her shoulders. He leans in, murmuring something in her ear. Whatever it is makes her eyes blaze with desire, while his satisfied chuckle rumbles low in his chest.
“I want to know a secret too!” Claudina singsongs as she skips over, tugging along a raven-haired beauty in a dress that mirrors Claud’s.
I can only assume this is Becks—Juliette’s best friend.
Speaking of friends. I look around the room to find Addie, and she’s still talking to the man in all black.
I leave her be; she’d text or flag me down if she needed saving.
“Yeah, Harrison,” Leo prods. “Tell her the secret you just told your wife.”