Page 81 of Rising Star

Once I climaxed, he tried to move out, but I held him in place.

“Come with me,” I said.

“Are you sure?”

I nodded. “Let go. I want you to.”

Grinding against him until he came, I rolled my hips in sync with his.

My teeth left indents in the bare skin of his shoulder when he collapsed over me at the same time he blew his load in my depths.

Tremors shook my being. Heat spread through me. Followed by a calming sensation I could easily get addicted to. I had found my other half. The missing part of my soul.

“Maddie,” Sam spoke between harsh breaths. His full lips seduced mine in a lazy kiss.

“Whatever we just did, you’ve branded yourself to me, Sam Stevens, and now I’ll never be the same. Only you can fill me the way you do. You’re stuck with me now.”

“Maddie. I don’t have any intention of ever letting you go. Never again. I was miserable. Cranky and a whole lot fucking sad.”

For a long time, neither of us dared to break the spell, lost in our love bubble.

“We’ll have to tell the girls,” I murmured against his chest once we climbed down from the rush and cuddled after cleaning up. He held me against him, his heart rate reverberating through me.

“Yes. But for now, you’re mine. Only mine, and I’m not sharing you with anybody else. Because once we return to the real world, I’ll have to share you with them, and I’m not ready. Let’s be selfish for a few more hours.”

I felt his smile against the skin of my nape.

“Sam, I love being yours.”

With a finger under my chin, he tilted my head in his direction. “I love being yours too. You belong with the three of us. Never doubt it, okay? Even if Mika—or even Justine—says something or they act out, you’re mine. Even if I sometimes act like a grumpy old man, promise me you’ll stick with me. With us. No matter what. I need you in my corner, Maddie. I won’t survive another heartbreak. The girls may require some time to adjust, but they’ll come on board. They’ll see how happier I am now that you’re back in my life.”

My fingertips traced the contour of his face.

“We’re in this together. I’m up for the challenge.”

Sam shifted his position, and an expression I’d never seen before painted his face. “Maddie, we’ll be a family. The four of us. Don’t you think playing mommy to my girls will make you run for your life someday? I know it’s not fair, but I come in a package of three. I’ll have to split my time between all of you guys. You’re the only woman who’s been in their lives since Lisa left. Sometimes, it won’t be easy. Aren’t you scared it’s gonna be too much at some point?”

I placed a finger over his lips.

“Sam, I’ve been around you guys for months. I know exactly what I’m getting into. I’m not only in love with you. I’m in love with them too. With all of you. The only thing I fear is that Justine and Mika think I’m overstepping into their lives and stealing their daddy from them. I don’t want them to resent me. Ever. For the rest, I’ve never been so sure about anything else in my entire life.”

“We’ll talk to them today. Together. Okay?”

I nodded, and he brushed away the hair from my forehead.

“And I’ll ask Riley to add babysitting hours into my contract. He’s the one who pushed us together—not once, but twice—so it’s only fair he volunteers some of his time to make sure our relationship starts on strong foundations.”

My chuckle reverberated in the room. “I agree. We can’t let your daughters walk on us when I give you head in the shower or late at night. And they can’t be there when you fuck me on the couch or against the wall…” I paused as I registered what I just said. “Not now…one day. When it’s possible.”

“You dirty girl. I love you. Let’s get some sleep because soon we’ll have a lot of questions to answer and a lot of explanations to give.”

* * *

I woke up to muscle spasms in my left thigh. Shedding tears in my pillow and gritting my teeth, I rode the waves of pain for a few minutes, praying the entire time it wouldn’t wake Sam up. After how perfect our reunion had been, I wasn’t ready for him to see me like this. Broken. And hurting. I anticipated the look of helplessness in his eyes and could do without it for a bit longer. When the pain released its death grip on me, I sat on the side of the mattress, stretched my legs, and checked my phone. Almost ten o’clock. Our love session in the early morning felt like a lifetime ago. My gaze lingered on the man snoring next to me, and I fought with myself to not touch his skin or kiss his lips.

Hopping on my good leg and fetching my crutches, I made my way to our small kitchen just outside the bedroom after I put on the T-shirt Sam lent me earlier.

My stomach grumbled, and I decided to surprise Sam with breakfast in bed. Maneuvering the crutches and the eggs tray didn’t go as planned when I lost my footing and dropped half of it on the floor. A new zing of pain traversed my left side. Silencing the curses teasing the edge of my lips, I pivoted to grab paper towels, only to spill my glass of water. My crutches ended in the mess of water and egg yolks at my feet, and I clamped the countertop with both hands to prevent my own fall.