It’s the sort of sassy thing she’d often say in the game when she was able to hide behind her princess avatar. I’ve never heard her sound like that in real life though.
“What?” she says. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I was thinking how much like Genevieve you seemed just now.”
“Is that a good thing?”
“You said that you were always able to be the person you wished you could be in the game. But right then, I saw that she is you, Maddie. You are Genevieve. What I’m trying to say is… it’s good to see you comfortable enough to let loose a little.”
She walks past me, brushing her hand along my stomach.
It’s like she finds it as difficult not to touch me as I do with her. Her fingers trail tempting lines across my abs.
“I guess you bring it out in me.”
After closing the door behind her, I walk around to the driver’s side and climb in. I can’t stop myself from looking around the street, even if it’s quiet, my gaze scans for signs of Steve. Guilt stabs at me. Here I am with the woman of my dreams, but I still feel the need to keep up surveillance.
“Are you okay?” Maddie asks when I’ve climbed behind the wheel of the car.
“Yeah. I was just thinking…”
“I know,” she murmurs when I trail off. “It’s hard not to…and I guess that’s what we need to figure out tonight.”
I start the engine, nodding. “I might have changed the plan a little bit.”
As I pull away and guide the car away from her block, she asks, “What do you mean?”
“Before I said I wanted to take us someplace we can’t go crazy on each other. So we could talk. But the more I thought about it, the clearer it became. We can’t go somewhere public.”
“Why not? You don’t want to be seen with me?”
She tries to make her tone sound playful, but I’m sure there’s a sliver of anxiety beneath it, as though she truly believes I’m ashamed of her.
“Maddie,” I snarl. “All I want is to be seen with you, for the whole world to know how lucky I am. I’ve found the woman of my dreams. I can’t wait to start our lives together. So no, I’m not ashamed, embarrassed, or anything like that.”
She places her hand on my forearm, sending a buzzing sensation up my arm and through my whole body. Her every touch ignites me.
“Thank you for saying that. Really. I guess I need to stop being so depressing, huh?”
“I just wish you could see yourself the way I see you. You’re a woman any man would be proud of being with… not that any other man would ever get the chance. No, that’s not why I changed the plan.”
“But if dad saw us, or somebody who knows dad, or our photograph was taken and he found out…”
“Exactly.” I sigh heavily. “I hate that we’re sneaking around. But I want our first date to be special, without any drama if we can avoid it.”
“Special like a double-thruster slingshot jump around a dying star?”
I chuckle at the memory, remembering when she and I performed the escape maneuver to get away from raiders. She was so exhilarated afterward, yelling in joy, and I’d never ached to learn who she really was more.
“My sweet Genevieve, I think this might be even more special.”
Chapter Fifteen
Madelyn
“Is it cheesy?” Maxton asks, his hand on the small of my back.
It’s difficult to answer as I look around the planetarium. All the seats have been removed and white petals are scattered everywhere, catching the light of the stars which surround us, looking like miniature stars themselves. A glittering table and chairs sit in the middle, with a candle burning a white flame.
I lean against him, my skin tingling as he applies more pressure.
“Cheesy?”
I turn to him, my man with his silver hair catching the light. He’s wearing a shirt that hugs his muscled torso, his eyes wolfish and intense. But his lips are twisted into something between a frown and a smirk.
“I’ve never seen you nervous before,” I whisper, with a soft smile. “I guess I should be flattered.”
He grins, leans down, and kisses my forehead. “That’s not an answer.”
“I love it. It’s amazing. I didn’t even know they made food here.”
Maxton chuckles. “They don’t usually, but there’s a restaurant down the street and I’ve commandeered their services for the evening. We have menus, and we just have to text them and they’ll bring whatever we want.”
My cheeks glow, making me feel like I’m going to burst into tears for a crazy moment. “This is easily the loveliest thing anyone has ever done for me. Thank you.”
“You don’t need to thank me,” he growls. “Just you being here is thanks enough…”
Quickly his lips are suddenly on mine and I melt against him.