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I was stronger than the magic of love.I wrapped my arms around my knees and brought mylegs closer to my chest. I laid my head over my knees andturned to look at Maddox. He was staring at my parents'headstones, looking thoughtful.“Do you believe in love?” I asked him back. My cheeksfelt tight from the cold and my dried tears. My face wasprobably blotchy and red, but I couldn’t find myself to carein the moment.This was Maddox, my best friend.He blinked, as if he wasn't expecting the question. “Idon't know.”Curious, I pushed for more. “What do you mean?”“I used to think love was fake. It didn't exist. Love is toocomplicated and shit. No one belonged to me before. I wasnever close enough to love someone or to even understandthe meaning of it.”Wild emotions clogged my throat, and my heart flippedlike a caged bird, beating its wings, looking for an escape.“And what do you think now?” I whispered the question.Maddox faced me, his blue eyes staring into mine,looking right through my cold exterior, pushing rightthrough my walls and knocking at my caged heart.When he spoke again, his voice was deep and rough. Hiswords were a silent confession.“Now, I have someone to lose, and I know it will breakme. I know what it means to fear losing the person whomeans the most to you. That person has the power todestroy me.”Silence fell upon us, and I couldn't find the words toconvey what I was feeling. I turned my head away from hisprobing gaze and went back to staring at the headstones.Seconds turned into long minutes, but we sat there incomfortable silence.“Maddox?”“Yeah?”
I took a deep breath and made my first promise toMaddox. “You won't lose me. Ever.”He was quiet for a moment, and I thought I messed up,until his hand came into the line of my vision, and heshowed me his pinky.“Promise?” he asked softly.I hooked my finger around his. Maddox was warm andfamiliar. He felt solid and safe. I wanted to cling to him andnever, ever let go. “Promise.”He flexed his pinky around me and then he smiled.For the first time today, I smiled, too.Pinky swear, me and you... forever.
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DARE TO LOVETHE TRUTH AND DARE DUET
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CONTENTSDare To LoveDedicationBlurb
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22. Lila23. MaddoxLila24. Lila25. L
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AN ENEMIES-TO-FRIENDS-TO-LOVERS ROM
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To Catherine~My suse, thank you for
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DO YOU DARE
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PROLOGUE
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I chewed on my bottom lip as we wal
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His hand tightened around mine. “
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“I dare you to sleep with him.”
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I thought maybe… he wanted more.
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going to be mega-late. The next bus
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The urge to roll my eyes was strong
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too late. The world spun and tilted
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Huh?His buddies snickered and chort
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between the legs. “You were in my
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demise.” Mrs. Levi’s voice snap
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deepest sigh of relief.“Maddox, I
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My heart thudded in my chest, so ha
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3LILAThe next morning, I found Madd
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I noticed him following me around.
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“You know what you remind me of?
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very beautiful woman - one who was
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Maddox Coulter, with his pretty smi
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painfully, into my chest… no, not
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I grabbed my bag and strode out of
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reached forward to pull my earphone
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No, in a tank full of sharks - I wo
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Since Maddox had made me his prey,
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“He’s a nerd, but did you see h
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“Yeah?”Riley looked into her bi
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miserably. My curious eyes found hi
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6MADDOXThe girl on my lap grinded a
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Dropping the now useless blunt onto
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“Brad.” My mother’s soft voic
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bring Colton to the ground, quite u
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7LILA“You’re late, Mr. Coulter.
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“You’re dumb,” I muttered to
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sardonic smile. “What is it? Fina
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his face - he was too tall compared
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Mr. Asshole here glued, oh wait, my
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to press my back against the wall.
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My fingers trembled as I typed back
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The moment we stepped inside, we we
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“Are you happy now?” I demanded
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I inched back, still on my ass. My
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new,” he whispered, his voice ras
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“You’re the most frustrating pe
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“Oh. You might want to take a col
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10
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said he’s from Berkshire. You won
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I didn’t think that was the corre
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I hissed under my breath. He insult
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“It’s not about hate. I’m sim
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Cocky much? I bristled at his words
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11
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equations and solving extra math pr
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“No! We didn’t have sex,” she
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I didn’t know what to say. Colton
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He finally stared down at me, his l
Page 122 and 123:
Something pulsed between us, electr
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12
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details, he lost his shit. Since th
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THE NEXT MORNING, I walked down the
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He lifted his chin in silent acknow
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LILA“Ididn’t know you were a st
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such a heartbreaking expression. An
Page 136 and 137:
my feet and wishing I was in my bed
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My lips curled in revulsion. “I d
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fact, he looked pleased.“You keep
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My lips parted, but I didn’t know
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But…I didn’t hate him.Realizati
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MADDOXHate is a strong word.It’s
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To myself? I was just the boy trapp
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were dating now due to the kiss and
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“Are you asking me to meet you af
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would have known Maddox Coulter, wi
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screamed brokenly. “Get me away f
Page 158 and 159:
One. Two. Three. Inhale. Four. Five
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Tears slid down my cheeks, and I ch
Page 162 and 163:
LILAMaddox and I were still wrapped
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When I tried to grab his hand again
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THE SCENT of a heavy cheap perfume
Page 168 and 169:
not having you thrown out. Now, Get
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place. Our house was huge, and ther
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I couldn’t breathe…I couldn’t
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clashed together, and my head swam
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LILAGran pushed a box in my hand.
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Maddox grabbed the sandwich from my
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His eyes widened a fraction before
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The moment Lila aimed for my dick i
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LILAAfirm hand landed on my ass, sq
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He smiled and fist pumped Maddox.
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She let out a sigh and gave me a sa
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of blood filled my mouth when I tri
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“Don't. Fuck. With. Me,” I hiss
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LILAIstumbled out of school, my leg
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I scoffed at that. “I don’t nee
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“Lila.”His voice sounded so far
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We rode to Berkshire separately, al
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We both shared a smile.And that was
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MADDOXThree weeks laterLILA SLAMMED
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Ah, so she was on my case. I refrai
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she-devil.“Good luck because you
Page 210 and 211: gazed at me with burning eyes, her
Page 212 and 213: LILATwo months laterI STAYED by my
Page 214 and 215: mention he was a genius. Not Einste
Page 216 and 217: “They’re dead, Maddox.”He gav
Page 218 and 219: “What?” He let out a mock gasp,
Page 220 and 221: I cupped his cheek. “Hey, Maddox.
Page 222 and 223: “Stop being a bitch… come and s
Page 224 and 225: alcohol and tobacco, his scent stil
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Page 228 and 229: clench. A shiver racked through my
Page 230 and 231: I stalked over to where he was stan
Page 232 and 233: “That’s nice,” Mrs. Coulter j
Page 234 and 235: Today was Saturday, so the building
Page 236 and 237: The people stared, speechless and i
Page 238 and 239: 22
Page 240 and 241: his face, but I could imagine the c
Page 242 and 243: Huh? Wait… what?I was in too much
Page 244 and 245: I munched on my grilled skewers whi
Page 246 and 247: MADDOXIglanced down at my phone for
Page 248 and 249: her. She’d sock me in the face be
Page 250 and 251: She was hunched over the bench, her
Page 252 and 253: I didn’t know what to say, didn
Page 254 and 255: Lila“I THINK I’ll always carry
Page 256 and 257: His head snapped up, and I could al
Page 258 and 259: world where my parents were still a
Page 262 and 263: 24
Page 264 and 265: across as easy or trying to fuck on
Page 266 and 267: I rolled my eyes and bounced off th
Page 268 and 269: The panic began with a cluster of s
Page 270 and 271: “We’re doing this.”He grinned
Page 272 and 273: He grinned and hooked his finger ar
Page 274 and 275: MADDOX“Idon’t like him,” I gr
Page 276 and 277: “You’re acting like a jealous b
Page 278 and 279: I did… and I finally saw what she
Page 280 and 281: Lila slowly pulled away, and I let
Page 282 and 283: LILAIwatched as Pops let out a robu
Page 284 and 285: Maddox had brushed his fingers over
Page 286 and 287: alone with his dark thoughts.“Lil
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Page 290 and 291: what I think it is?”He raised his
Page 292 and 293: shining on us.Grayson had Riley in
Page 294 and 295: dreamcatchers.Sure, it was a silly
Page 296 and 297: burnt from where he had touched me,
Page 298 and 299: with teasing mischief. “The world
Page 300 and 301: LILAThree years laterI TAPPED my fo
Page 302 and 303: He glowered, and I fought back a sm
Page 304 and 305: favorite and now my favorite as wel
Page 306 and 307: I shrugged and continued with my di
Page 308 and 309: I was his best friend, but I wasn
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29
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They were jealous of Lila and my be
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“Lila?” I called out, pressing
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She called out after me as I stalke
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Lila’s face crumpled, and she pus
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30
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But he cheated on me, after I let h
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Oh. So, his father hadn’t even bo
Page 326 and 327:
You keep disappointing me over and
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soothed itself at the fact that Mad
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LILASend me a picture. Wanna see yo
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“Now,” she snapped.My eyes wide
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My therapist said it was my way of
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stomach was taunt, and her belly bu
Page 338 and 339:
32
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Sweet because I spent every waking
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There was no way Maddox and I could
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end; this was our final move.Once t
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33
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Riley huffed, her lips twisting wit
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everyone’s eyes. I suffered while
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for him to get home. It was almost
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he was still too strong for me. His
Page 356 and 357:
Maddox thrust into me, again and ag
Page 358 and 359:
Maddox buried his face in my should
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MADDOXAweek laterMY FINGERS DRUMMED
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It was lust, I told myself.But I lu
Page 364 and 365:
I was approached by businessmen lef
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35
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heart racing at the sight of him be
Page 370 and 371:
We walked closer to the waves, hand
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“You think I’ll get in just bec
Page 374 and 375:
I saw it in his eyes; Maddox was go
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there. Her hands... the way I wonde
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LILAThe unmistakable pressure betwe
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Relief coursed through my veins whe
Page 382 and 383:
37
Page 384 and 385:
back together, again and again - I
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built-up tension and sexual need be
Page 388 and 389:
LILAHis presence was a warm heat be
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perfect, but it was laced with a hu
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“Jealous?” I shot back immediat
Page 394 and 395:
“Open your eyes, Lila,” he said
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39
Page 398 and 399:
his secret was safe; he thought it
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I’d been half-naked in front of M
Page 402 and 403:
Standing on my toes, I brought our
Page 404 and 405:
He circled his hips, coating his le
Page 406 and 407:
Maddox was close, and I pulled away
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40
Page 410 and 411:
What if Maddox…?What if he didn
Page 412 and 413:
My heart stuttered.“I dare you to
Page 414 and 415:
LILAFour months laterMaddox sat on
Page 416 and 417:
I DARE YOU
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PROLOGUE
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Lies, no matter how big or small, w
Page 422 and 423:
1MADDOXFour months earlierI COULDN
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My feelings for Lila were maddening
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My gaze lowered to her pouty lips,
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2LILAWe were going to break each ot
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“I thought you’d build an appet
Page 432 and 433:
My eyes widened, and I was already
Page 434 and 435:
every inch of me, until my whimpers
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“One week…” I whispered. The
Page 438 and 439:
But I had already lost this fight.H
Page 440 and 441:
perfume surrounding me, and I downe
Page 442 and 443:
I didn’t want to remember that. T
Page 444 and 445:
From the corner of my eye, I saw Li
Page 446 and 447:
What was he doing here?Lucien stepp
Page 448 and 449:
“Because,” I echoed.She licked
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“Such a beautiful liar,” I rasp
Page 452 and 453:
She ignited a possessive need insid
Page 454 and 455:
Lila’s eyes lingered over my tors
Page 456 and 457:
snapped the strings of her panties,
Page 458 and 459:
wishing him happy birthday as the c
Page 460 and 461:
Dazed, I blinked at him. “Huh? Th
Page 462 and 463:
Not until him.My fingers grasped my
Page 464 and 465:
“Why?” My voice dropped to a wh
Page 466 and 467:
And what a beautiful day it had bee
Page 468 and 469:
Once we were back at the hotel, we
Page 470 and 471:
We had been told this hotel had the
Page 472 and 473:
but not hard enough to have it come
Page 474 and 475:
“I’m waiting.” His voice had
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gathered around my ankles. I tried
Page 478 and 479:
“Look to your left, eyes up,” M
Page 480 and 481:
5MADDOXOur time in Paris had come t
Page 482 and 483:
Really, Lila? We were back to shari
Page 484 and 485:
you called and told me about your a
Page 486 and 487:
“Lila?” Riley questioned softly
Page 488 and 489:
I had gotten a glimpse of something
Page 490 and 491:
I had never done a relationship, no
Page 492 and 493:
I let my kiss linger over her scars
Page 494 and 495:
6LILAThe moment Maddox fell asleep
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it was too late then.”I let out a
Page 498 and 499:
“Maybe Colton can help with that.
Page 500 and 501:
tongue inside his mouth. He hoisted
Page 502 and 503:
7LILATwo months laterWatching Maddo
Page 504 and 505:
They weren’t exactly friends. Not
Page 506 and 507:
gaze darted to the crowd; everyone
Page 508 and 509:
“Are we going to spend the night
Page 510 and 511:
squeezed my eyes closed. “What do
Page 512 and 513:
8LILAItook the pumpkin pie out of t
Page 514 and 515:
I felt faint and ended up nodding s
Page 516 and 517:
The worry I felt before melted away
Page 518 and 519:
I took in a shuddering breath and c
Page 520 and 521:
Now that I had left for Harvard, I
Page 522 and 523:
I grasped the bottle of whiskey in
Page 524 and 525:
9LILAMaddox had been… quiet. Whic
Page 526 and 527:
midterms.”Lies. He was lying…An
Page 528 and 529:
I cleared my throat. “You should.
Page 530 and 531:
From the corner of my eye, I saw Ma
Page 532 and 533:
hear how wet you are?” he teased
Page 534 and 535:
came to an end, I’d never forget
Page 536 and 537:
MADDOXLila Garcia was a minx, throu
Page 538 and 539:
door was slightly ajar, and the lig
Page 540 and 541:
Our lips found each other, mad with
Page 542 and 543:
“No, I should have found you soon
Page 544 and 545:
LILAThere was a sudden rapping on t
Page 546 and 547:
Savannah was shaking her head. “N
Page 548 and 549:
And me. Please bring him to the gal
Page 550 and 551:
“We’re not going to the gala, L
Page 552 and 553:
barely breathe.As the car came to a
Page 554 and 555:
“Well, he has a shitty way of sho
Page 556 and 557:
know what… but it hurt. It felt l
Page 558 and 559:
Breathe.FUCKING BREATHE!I gasped. M
Page 560 and 561:
12
Page 562 and 563:
Like she couldn’t bear my touch.A
Page 564 and 565:
Because I felt it. Right in my bone
Page 566 and 567:
My stomach churned, and I felt sick
Page 568 and 569:
If it hurt for me…I wondered how
Page 570 and 571:
I nodded.He swore under his breath.
Page 572 and 573:
13
Page 574 and 575:
A dull throb spread across and arou
Page 576 and 577:
How does a wound heal when it can
Page 578 and 579:
He needed me.He needed me.He needed
Page 580 and 581:
mouth. Maddox grunted against my li
Page 582 and 583:
He didn’t stop. “Remember what
Page 584 and 585:
14
Page 586 and 587:
I had needed someone to blame for t
Page 588 and 589:
The last time I had seen Bianca, sh
Page 590 and 591:
“You said you didn’t sleep with
Page 592 and 593:
My heart wept, and a lone tear slid
Page 594 and 595:
Lies, no matter how big or small, w
Page 596 and 597:
15
Page 598 and 599:
talk to me. But Riley was loyal to
Page 600 and 601:
She squeezed my shoulders, and I kn
Page 602 and 603:
my calls.”Oh God. No! “Did you
Page 604 and 605:
16
Page 606 and 607:
townhouse and weaving my way throug
Page 608 and 609:
I bit him back, feeling his lip swe
Page 610 and 611:
Maddox Coulter was a god amongst mo
Page 612 and 613:
He... took... my necklace. Snatched
Page 614 and 615:
MADDOXHate is a strong word. But I
Page 616 and 617:
Lila dropped the pitcher on the flo
Page 618 and 619:
“I needed you before. I don’t n
Page 620 and 621:
18
Page 622 and 623:
sickness and death. I went to the h
Page 624 and 625:
Four months. Four goddamn months an
Page 626 and 627:
My mother made a choking sound. “
Page 628 and 629:
“When we left the slums behind…
Page 630 and 631:
19
Page 632 and 633:
I squeezed my eyes shut, and I did
Page 634 and 635:
walked into the hospital.Devin Fitz
Page 636 and 637:
LILAI splashed cold water on my fac
Page 638 and 639:
The distant sound of the knob turni
Page 640 and 641:
20
Page 642 and 643:
“Exactly,” I grumbled, so pitif
Page 644 and 645:
caller ID and let the call go to vo
Page 646 and 647:
Bianca put the last nail in the cof
Page 648 and 649:
MADDOXTwo weeks laterI FED him anot
Page 650 and 651:
neck pulsed. My heartbeat echoed in
Page 652 and 653:
Shit. Fixing our relationship wasn
Page 654 and 655:
We’re both shaking, sweating… a
Page 656 and 657:
22
Page 658 and 659:
but they had a habit of going to be
Page 660 and 661:
way. They have way too much money a
Page 662 and 663:
late at night, and I knew he’d st
Page 664 and 665:
23
Page 666 and 667:
“So, have you spoken to Lila?”
Page 668 and 669:
LILAI stood in front of the Coulter
Page 670 and 671:
We were both quiet for a long momen
Page 672 and 673:
scent. The room smelled like him. A
Page 674 and 675:
24
Page 676 and 677:
Riley let out a happy squeal, and a
Page 678 and 679:
I pressed the print button and watc
Page 680 and 681:
His expression was thunderous. “Y
Page 682 and 683:
“Lila,” he said my name like a
Page 684 and 685:
My hand went to my neck, to grab on
Page 686 and 687:
LILAIsaid I’d fight for Maddox, b
Page 688 and 689:
of his house. Oh, the irony. Why we
Page 690 and 691:
Our pent-up anger, weeks of frustra
Page 692 and 693:
them. I could feel him, rubbing his
Page 694 and 695:
I smiled, stupid and sleepy, at Mad
Page 696 and 697:
26
Page 698 and 699:
My little dragon. Fierce and beauti
Page 700 and 701:
early this year, but it was still q
Page 702 and 703:
27
Page 704 and 705:
had a dollar to spare. Brad was a s
Page 706 and 707:
I let him… feel.His pain bled int
Page 708 and 709:
Even though I had been so angry wit
Page 710 and 711:
LILAOne year later“WE DID IT!”
Page 712 and 713:
He pulled away, long enough to grin
Page 714 and 715:
“I’m thinking Bali, you?” I a
Page 716 and 717:
MADDOXImade it happen.Six hours lat
Page 718 and 719:
EPILOGUE
Page 720 and 721:
with his signature Coulter grin. Fo
Page 722 and 723:
As soon as I said the words, my sto
Page 724 and 725:
His pinky tightened around mine.
Page 726 and 727:
CHRISTMAS NOVELLALYLAH JAMES
Page 728 and 729:
“I’ll get her,” I said, alrea
Page 730 and 731:
Maybe I was spoiled. Since we marri
Page 732 and 733:
Maddox held me in his arms as I los
Page 734 and 735:
hated the sight of it. The surgical
Page 736 and 737:
myself to cry like this since Iris
Page 738 and 739:
“My mouth then? Apparently, I’m
Page 740 and 741:
“No, but seriously,” Riley star
Page 742 and 743:
heard.My blood ran cold and I was f
Page 744 and 745:
Maddox grasped Noah under his arms
Page 746 and 747:
Logan must have noticed the severit
Page 748 and 749:
I settled on the couch and turned L
Page 750 and 751:
4LILAFor the first time in years, I
Page 752 and 753:
sweatpants, hanging loose around hi
Page 754 and 755:
What started out as purely a hobby
Page 756 and 757:
long deep breath and I shivered, my
Page 758 and 759:
The haze was gone and the pleasure
Page 760 and 761:
He took me at my worst, a broken me
Page 762 and 763:
“Where are we going?” she final
Page 764 and 765:
before she pulled away. Her cheeks
Page 766 and 767:
“Go shower,” she ordered, all s
Page 768 and 769:
I was never shy about my body and I
Page 770 and 771:
most tender kiss on my c-section sc
Page 772 and 773:
There it was. The conversation I wa
Page 774 and 775:
laughed. She was holding Iris in he
Page 776 and 777:
Riley rolled her eyes, showing me h
Page 778 and 779:
Grayson grabbed a beer from the tab
Page 780 and 781:
handled them… I probably fell dee
Page 782 and 783:
I looked down at my precious bundle
Page 784 and 785:
Oh damn. I slowly grinned, before s
Page 786 and 787:
Did you enjoy this duet? Come and j
Page 788 and 789:
magic!To the bloggers and to everyo
Page 790 and 791:
CONNECT WITH ME!Did you enjoy this
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