CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
DAMON
Apparently when Maddox is sorry, he really fucking means it. We’re both exhausted and covered in cum and sweat by the time we’re done. We checked into a hotel overlooking the falls two days ago and didn’t waste any time. We haven’t seen the light of day since. With room service and a spa bath in our hotel bathroom, it’s been totally worth calling into work and pretending to be sick.
“I can’t move,” he says.
“Then don’t.”
He’s on his stomach, his head buried in his pillow, and I’m panting next to him.
“My phone,” he grumbles.
“Is that your way of asking me to get it?”
“Yes.”
With an exaggerated sigh, I climb out of bed and smack his naked ass. “You’re lucky you’re good-looking.”
“Or what, you wouldn’t fuck me?”
“Oh, I’d fuck you, but I wouldn’t fetch your phone.” I locate it on the floor near his discarded pants and throw it at him.
While I stand here admiring him, he types out a text. Even though I’m spent, I want to tackle him and wrap myself around him.
I find my jeans and get dressed instead, using my shirt to clean up as much as possible. We should probably take a break. I pull back the curtain to stare at the falls, but my own phone goes off with an alert, letting me know a new apartment listing was just added that matches my search.
“Your sister’s texting, wondering why I’m not at work and if we sorted our shit,” Maddox says.
“Did you tell her we’re in Canada?”
“Yup. She yelled at me for leaving her out. I told her we haven’t left the hotel room in two days, and now she’s thanking me.”
I laugh. “You’re only with me to freak out my sister, aren’t you?”
“Nah, that’s just a bonus.” He holds out his hand and beckons me back to bed, but I don’t move.
“Shouldn’t we go see the falls at some point? Isn’t that why we’re here?”
“Says the guy on his phone.”
I lift my chin in his direction, gesturing to the fact he’s doing the exact same thing.
“What are you looking at?” he asks.
“Apartment listings,” I say absently.
Maddox frowns and opens his mouth to say something but changes his mind.
“What?” I ask.
“Come back to bed. We’ll do the falls tomorrow. We can spend all day in Canada and drive back to New York in the afternoon.”
“Isn’t the point of traveling to see things and do touristy shit?”
“Nope. It’s to make memories. And you know what I’m going to think about when someone talks about Niagara Falls? I’ll remember my awesome boyfriend fucking me until I’m legless.”
“Well when you put it like that …” With a flick of my wrist, I pop the button on my jeans and am naked again within seconds.
“I have a confession to make,” Maddox says as soon as I climb into bed next to him.
My arms snake around him and bring him close to me so his head is on my chest. “You’re actually married and have three kids.”
“You know about Stella and the triplets?”
“Stella? Really?”
He shrugs. “First name I could think of. What I was going to say is I think I knew I loved you weeks ago.”
“You didn’t say anything.”
“Uh, you were fucking me with a dildo when it happened. Didn’t think it was the best time to bring it up.”
I burst into laughter.
“But really, I don’t think I understood that’s what it was at the time. I remember thinking you were everything to me, but given the circumstances, that might’ve been my dick talking. Only now I realize it was the first time I knew you were my future, and that doesn’t scare me.”
“Fuck, I love you.”
Maddox grins. “I know.”
“Nice Star Wars reference.”
“I told you the originals were better. They’re quotable.”
“But the effects are shit.”
“I don’t think I can live with you anymore.”
“You don’t live with me,” I point out.
Maddox swallows hard. “I want to do it. I want you to move in with me.”
“Okay, how did we go from almost breaking up over the idea of moving in together to you asking me to move in?”
“It wasn’t the moving in part that freaked me out. I assumed it was, but when I thought about why I came home, it wasn’t because you wanted to live with me. It was because I thought you were manipulating the situation to get what you want.”
“I—”
He cuts me off before I can interrupt. “I know that’s not what you did, but at the time, that’s what drove me away.”
“I’m worried it’s too soon and you’ll freak out again, but I do need a place to live. If you’re unsure, I can get a six-month lease somewhere and we’ll reassess then.”
“I have a cheap apartment, and even though it’s small, it’s enough for us. Might need to buy a wardrobe to fit somewhere because my closet barely holds all my shit. But with your promotion, and me paying half my rent, if we saved for a few years, we could buy a place in Brooklyn or somewhere cheaper. Or go on a really expensive round-the-world trip.”
“Look at you, planning a future,” I joke, but inside I’m doing a frickin’ happy dance—an embarrassing one with awkward white guy clicking and finger pointing.
“I don’t like fighting with you.”
That sobers my internal dancing a little. “I agree, fighting sucks, but there’ll only be more fighting if you’re truly not ready for this.”
“I am ready. I promise. And if I become uncomfortable again, I’ll let you know before I blow up.”
“You know what one good thing is about you blowing up? The makeup sex.” Sex with Maddox in general is awesome. I can’t get enough of him.
“Well then, maybe you’re a dickhead.” He smirks.
“Are you picking a fight right now so I can fuck you again?”
“Is it working? Assface?”
“Honestly? I don’t know if I can get it up again. You’ve fucked me dry.”
Maddox sighs. “Fine. I’ll order us some refueling food, and then I’ll call you names until you can’t take it anymore.”
“You’re the perfect man.”
“Thanks, Dik.”
“Wait, are you using my initials or calling me another name?”
Maddox winks. “Figure it out yourself.”