Page 96 of Rising Star

The girls cheered.

I stared at him with a frown.

“And you’re crashing our family breakfast because—?”

“Oh, yeah. We gotta meet. And it couldn’t wait.” His gaze traveled between Madison and me and then the girls. “Justine, Mika, do you want to go to the park with Devon? Hope and she are kinda lonely right now. I think they miss the company.”

Justine jumped to her feet. “I’ll be Debon’s friend.”

Riley ruffled her hair.

“Good, that’s the spirit. Let’s meet her. She’s waiting for you. I gotta talk to your daddy, then I’ll come too.” Riley lifted Justine in his arms and spun on his feet to face us. “Hey Mika, you coming?”

Mikaella rose and entwined herself within Madison’s arms, who held my daughter in a caring embrace. “I wanna stay with Mama.”

Riley’s mouth popped open.

His eyebrows bunched together.

He blinked.

“Wow, I never thought I’d see this day coming. Wow, my heart is racing right now. This is huge. Are you guys okay?”

I nodded as Madison dried fresh tears with her fingertips.

“It’s new. From this morning. It came from her.”

My heart bounced in my chest.

“Can we go now?” Justine asked, cupping Riley’s face with both hands. “Debon misses me.”

“Sure. Mika, come. I’m sure your—Mama will join you later too. We could all go for a picnic or something.”

Madison leaned forward and pushed the hair away from Mikaella’s forehead. “We’ll be real quick, sweetie. I love you. Now go and save Devon from her loneliness. I’ll be right behind you.”

My daughter bobbed her head and circled Madison’s neck with her arms. “I love you, Mama.”

“Love you too. Now go.”

Riley left with both my daughters, and I pulled Madison against me.

My lips found hers, and when she parted them to let my tongue in, I dissolved under the strength of her love. My hand grabbed her ass, the other one wound around her neck, keeping her as close to me as possible.

If I could spend my days buried in her warmth, I’d be the happiest man out there.

With her love, Madison not only salvaged my heart, but my soul too.

“I want you naked. Now.”

She raised her glistening eyes to me, overflowing with lust and love. “Can you at least wait until Riley is gone? He’ll be here in a minute. Ohmygod, I’m so wet I could drench the floor right now.”

“Glad I’m having so much effect on you, babe.”

Me: Don’t come over just now. Wait.

My palms glided under her shirt, and I lifted it up over her head, exposing her black lace bra. “One day, I want a child who looks just like you, Maddie. Someone with your beauty, your intelligence, your heart,” I said, kissing my way down her chest. “You’re too good for me. I’ll never understand how you can love all of me.”

She pulled me up, her lips searching for mine.