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22
LILA“It’s strange to celebrate Christmas withoutMaddox,” Gran said. She handed me a cup of hotchocolate, and I reluctantly took it. The momentshe started speaking of Maddox, I wanted to run upstairsand hide. They didn’t know that we had broken up… yet.They knew about Maddox’s father. And so, I let thembelieve that Maddox was with his parents… hence why hehasn’t visited us… and I haven’t gone to him. Yet.I only came back to my grandparents’ yesterday. Tonightwas Christmas Eve. Maddox used to always spend the nightwith my family. He’d sleep on the couch (sometimes he’dsneak into my room) and we’d wake up, early in themorning, to open our presents. We’d have breakfasttogether.Spending Christmas without him was another reminderof how quickly our relationship went from one hundred tozero.This would have been our first Christmas as a couple. Igrinded my teeth, feeling so hopeless… so helpless…I remained silent, giving the TV all my attention. Themovie ended. My grandparents said their goodnights andwent upstairs to their room. The digital clock read 8PM,
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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
Page 552 and 553:
barely breathe.As the car came to a
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“Well, he has a shitty way of sho
Page 556 and 557:
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
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mouth. Maddox grunted against my li
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He didn’t stop. “Remember what
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14
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I had needed someone to blame for t
Page 588 and 589:
The last time I had seen Bianca, sh
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“You said you didn’t sleep with
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My heart wept, and a lone tear slid
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Lies, no matter how big or small, w
Page 596 and 597:
15
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talk to me. But Riley was loyal to
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She squeezed my shoulders, and I kn
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my calls.”Oh God. No! “Did you
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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 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
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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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