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19
MADDOXIwalked out, closing the door behind me. My gazeimmediately went to Lila. She was slumped in a chair,her head in her hands. She must have heard meapproaching, because her head snapped up, and shestraightened.“Are you okay?” she whispered; her eyes wide.Frightened. Worried.“He’s… sick. Cancer.” The moment I said those words,my knees weakened, and I sunk into the chair beside her. Itsuddenly felt… real.This wasn’t a nightmare.This was real.My father had cancer… has cancer. Shit. Shit. SHIT! Ifelt a tick in my eyelid, my vein pulsed in my throat,throbbing. I felt… sick. The bitter taste of bile made its wayto my mouth. God, I was going to throw up.“Maddox.”Her voice.My name.Her sweet, sweet voice.“Breathe through your nose, Baby,” she whispered,running her hand over my arm.
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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
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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
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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
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One. Two. Three. Inhale. Four. Five
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Tears slid down my cheeks, and I ch
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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
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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
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gazed at me with burning eyes, her
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LILATwo months laterI STAYED by my
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mention he was a genius. Not Einste
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“They’re dead, Maddox.”He gav
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“What?” He let out a mock gasp,
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I cupped his cheek. “Hey, Maddox.
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“Stop being a bitch… come and s
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alcohol and tobacco, his scent stil
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21
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clench. A shiver racked through my
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I stalked over to where he was stan
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“That’s nice,” Mrs. Coulter j
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Today was Saturday, so the building
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The people stared, speechless and i
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22
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his face, but I could imagine the c
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Huh? Wait… what?I was in too much
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I munched on my grilled skewers whi
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MADDOXIglanced down at my phone for
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her. She’d sock me in the face be
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She was hunched over the bench, her
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I didn’t know what to say, didn
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Lila“I THINK I’ll always carry
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His head snapped up, and I could al
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world where my parents were still a
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I was stronger than the magic of lo
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24
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across as easy or trying to fuck on
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I rolled my eyes and bounced off th
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The panic began with a cluster of s
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“We’re doing this.”He grinned
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He grinned and hooked his finger ar
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MADDOX“Idon’t like him,” I gr
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“You’re acting like a jealous b
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I did… and I finally saw what she
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Lila slowly pulled away, and I let
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LILAIwatched as Pops let out a robu
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Maddox had brushed his fingers over
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alone with his dark thoughts.“Lil
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27
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what I think it is?”He raised his
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shining on us.Grayson had Riley in
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dreamcatchers.Sure, it was a silly
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burnt from where he had touched me,
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with teasing mischief. “The world
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LILAThree years laterI TAPPED my fo
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He glowered, and I fought back a sm
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favorite and now my favorite as wel
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I shrugged and continued with my di
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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
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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
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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
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Maddox thrust into me, again and ag
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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
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I was approached by businessmen lef
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35
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heart racing at the sight of him be
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We walked closer to the waves, hand
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“You think I’ll get in just bec
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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
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37
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back together, again and again - I
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built-up tension and sexual need be
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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
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“Open your eyes, Lila,” he said
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39
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his secret was safe; he thought it
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I’d been half-naked in front of M
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Standing on my toes, I brought our
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He circled his hips, coating his le
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Maddox was close, and I pulled away
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40
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What if Maddox…?What if he didn
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My heart stuttered.“I dare you to
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LILAFour months laterMaddox sat on
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I DARE YOU
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PROLOGUE
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Lies, no matter how big or small, w
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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
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My eyes widened, and I was already
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every inch of me, until my whimpers
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“One week…” I whispered. The
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But I had already lost this fight.H
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perfume surrounding me, and I downe
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I didn’t want to remember that. T
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From the corner of my eye, I saw Li
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What was he doing here?Lucien stepp
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“Because,” I echoed.She licked
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“Such a beautiful liar,” I rasp
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She ignited a possessive need insid
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Lila’s eyes lingered over my tors
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snapped the strings of her panties,
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wishing him happy birthday as the c
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Dazed, I blinked at him. “Huh? Th
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Not until him.My fingers grasped my
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“Why?” My voice dropped to a wh
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And what a beautiful day it had bee
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Once we were back at the hotel, we
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We had been told this hotel had the
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but not hard enough to have it come
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“I’m waiting.” His voice had
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gathered around my ankles. I tried
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“Look to your left, eyes up,” M
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5MADDOXOur time in Paris had come t
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Really, Lila? We were back to shari
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you called and told me about your a
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“Lila?” Riley questioned softly
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I had gotten a glimpse of something
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I had never done a relationship, no
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I let my kiss linger over her scars
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6LILAThe moment Maddox fell asleep
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it was too late then.”I let out a
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“Maybe Colton can help with that.
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tongue inside his mouth. He hoisted
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7LILATwo months laterWatching Maddo
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They weren’t exactly friends. Not
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gaze darted to the crowd; everyone
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“Are we going to spend the night
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squeezed my eyes closed. “What do
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8LILAItook the pumpkin pie out of t
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I felt faint and ended up nodding s
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The worry I felt before melted away
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I took in a shuddering breath and c
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Now that I had left for Harvard, I
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I grasped the bottle of whiskey in
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9LILAMaddox had been… quiet. Whic
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midterms.”Lies. He was lying…An
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I cleared my throat. “You should.
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From the corner of my eye, I saw Ma
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hear how wet you are?” he teased
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came to an end, I’d never forget
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MADDOXLila Garcia was a minx, throu
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door was slightly ajar, and the lig
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Our lips found each other, mad with
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“No, I should have found you soon
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LILAThere was a sudden rapping on t
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Savannah was shaking her head. “N
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And me. Please bring him to the gal
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“We’re not going to the gala, L
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barely breathe.As the car came to a
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“Well, he has a shitty way of sho
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know what… but it hurt. It felt l
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Breathe.FUCKING BREATHE!I gasped. M
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12
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Like she couldn’t bear my touch.A
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Because I felt it. Right in my bone
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My stomach churned, and I felt sick
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If it hurt for me…I wondered how
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I nodded.He swore under his breath.
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13
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A dull throb spread across and arou
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How does a wound heal when it can
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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 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
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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
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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
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LILAIsaid I’d fight for Maddox, b
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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
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My little dragon. Fierce and beauti
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early this year, but it was still q
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27
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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!”
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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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