Page 38 of Ravaged For You

“I’ll have Lucas call you back to arrange the details.”

It sounds like he’s about to hang up, but I get in there quicker.

“I’m not finished yet.”

“Yeah?”

“I am going to do it, but on conditions.”

“Just talk it over with Lucas. I ain’t got time to comb through some contract. I’m not that kind of guy, sweetheart.”

He’s already irritating my socks off.

“I want you to hear these conditions. In person. I want to talk things through with my not-real boyfriend. I’m not entering into something without laying down some ground rules.”

There’s another momentary pause. I can practically hear Axel mulling things over.

“We better meet up,” he eventually says.

“Yeah,” I reply. “We better meet up.”

19

AXEL

Maddie is already at Lucas’ condo when I arrive. I mean, I am late as per my reputation, so I shouldn’t be surprised when I see her in Lucas’ living room. She’s got a very serious expression on her pretty little face, more so than usual, and she briskly stands up when I enter the condo.

“You’re late,” she tells me. Like it’s some complicated riddle she’s figured out all on her own.

“And you’re on time like a goody-two-shoes loser,” I reply.

She sighs, clearly trying her best to hide her frustration, but then offers to shake my hand, obviously ready to get down immediately to business.

Yeah, as if I’m going to allow her to do that.

“Why are you trying to shake my hand?” I ask her, smirking. “A little bit stiff and formal, don’t you think?”

Maddie pulls her hand back, flustered.

“I don’t know,” she replies.

She’s very cute, being so uptight. She is such a geek. I wonder what her last boyfriend was like. Probably some socially awkward nerd as well. What a change from someone like that to me, hey.

“You look nervous,” I remark, my eyes skimming down from her pale, attractive face with her mid-length brown hair tied in a cute ponytail to her shaking hands.

I can’t help but notice what she’s wearing. A cute little red dress with dark long boots. I can even glimpse a teasing passing sight of her cleavage. This is not something I’m guessing Maddie usually wears.

Is she trying to impress me?

Or is she trying to make my blood boil? Because it’s certainly working. Dressed like this, she’s very alluring.

“I’ve never really negotiated a fake relationship before,” she replies. I like her honesty.

“Oh, well I’ve done it plenty of times,” I say, trying not to stare at the hint of her breasts.

“Really?”

I snort. “I’m joking.”