115. Hannah

ONE HUNDRED FIFTEEN

Guilt swamps me as I see the distress on Maddox's face as he practically runs toward me.

I hurry to unbuckle and get out of the car before Maddox can reach me, but by the time I have my door open, he's already there, tugging me up and out of the seat.

He slides his hands up my arms until he's palming the front of my throat in that way I love, tangling his other hand in my hair.

"I'm not letting you go, Little Bunny." His words crash into me. "Not now. Not fucking ever."

Emotions swirl my vision, and I reach up to grip his forearms. "Maddox—"

He shakes his head. "Let me say this."

I swallow and nod, the movement small with his hold on me.

"I love you, Hannah Utley. And I don't believe in curses." I grip his arms tighter. "But I'd still do it. I'd still love you, even if it kills me because I don't know any other way to live."

Tears fall freely from my eyes.

He leans down, kissing my cheek. "Don't cry, Babe." He kisses the other cheek, catching another tear on his lips. "I'll fix it."

I shake my head.

"I promise I'll fix it," he tells me again, his tone full of conviction.

"Maddox." My voice breaks.

His hand leaves my hair so he can brush his thumb under my eye. "You're not fired, Hannah Bunny. I won't let them."

God, this man.

I shake my head, but he shakes his own.

"It's my company. I can change the rules."

I release one of his arms so I can press my palm against his chest, over his heart. "Maddox, I can't work for you. I'm not coming back."

"I—" he starts, then I watch him fight through a swallow. "I know you're talking about work, but I can't hear you say that. I can't hear you say you're not coming back."

"Oh, Maddox." I press my palm against him harder. "I'm not leaving you. Not ever. Not like that. I just can't work for you. I love you too much." His chest hitches under my touch. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you when it all happened on Friday. I should have. I just… I didn't want you to feel like you'd need to fix it."

He flexes his fingers around my neck. "Say it again."

"I'm sorry —"

Maddox shakes his head as he leans in closer. "The other part, Hannah. Say the other part again."

My lips form a soft smile. "I love you, Maddox Lovelace. Have for a long time."

He lowers his mouth to mine.

It's not frantic. Not rough. But it's still a claiming.

His lips press against mine. Warm and coaxing. Asking me again to tell him that I love him.

So I do.

I open for him.

I let him taste me as I taste him back.

He wraps his arms around me, and I do the same, reaching my arms up around his neck.

Maddox tightens his grip and lifts me off the ground, my toes dangling inches above the blacktop.

"Tell me again," I whisper between kisses.

"I love you, Hannah. Have for a long time."