His expression tightens, but then he lets out a breath. He knows I’m hiding something from him, but he doesn’t push me to talk about it, and honestly, I’m so grateful for that.
“So you’re scared to dye your hair?” he asks with a smirk.
“Obviously.”
He reaches out and rubs a strand of my hair between his fingers. “I can’t wait to see it,” he says, knowing I’m going to have to dye it at some point. “You’re going to look so hot.”
“You think so?” Not that I think I’d look bad, but it’s a big change, especially for me.
He shakes his head, letting out a scoff. “Are you serious? Mads, you could wear a paper bag, and I’d still think you were the most beautiful girl I have ever laid my eyes on.” He wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me so I’m lying beside him on the bed. “If there were a contest, you’d win hands down.”
He leans down to kiss me, his hand trailing down my body. “Lucas,” I breathe out.
“Mmm,” he moans. “I love those noises.” He pulls back and stares into my eyes. “Last time I was here, I wanted to kiss you so bad,” he admits.
“I was sick,” I remind him.
He smirks, rubbing his thumb over my cheek. “I would have taken the risk.”
I wanted to kiss him so bad that day, too, but I never thought he’d be thinking the same thing. I wonder what would have happened if Gabi hadn’t come in. “I thought you hated me back then,” I admit.
He shakes his head. “I told you I didn’t hate you, Mads. We made a bad first impression on each other when we met. I was having a hard time with James, and my mom and…” he sighs. “He had fallen over that day, trying to take a shower.” My eyes widen. “He was supposed to have a nurse taking care of him, but he fired her and attempted to do it himself. I was so fucking scared when I got the call, and then we got stuck together in that elevator.” He squeezes his eyes closed. “It had nothing to do with you. If anything, you were what kept me sane during that time. You still do.”
My body breaks out into shivers like it always does when he looks at me. “You’re it for me, Madeline,” he says, his thumb brushing over my bottom lip. “You’re fucking it for me.”
He leans down and presses his lips to mine, and I get lost in him, the world around me dissolving whenever he’s near. He hums against my lips, pulling back. “As much I’d love to just make out with you, I actually came here for a reason,” he says.
I raise an eyebrow, smirking at him. “Because you can’t live without me?” I joke.
He lets out a laugh, smoothing his thumb over my cheek. “That’s an understatement,” he says, grinning down at me. “But no. I came over because… You got it,” he says, breaking out into a grin.
My brows furrow. “Got what?”
“The audition,” he clarifies, making my eyes widen, almost jumping out of my eye sockets. “You’ll get an email soon, but I couldn’t fucking wait to tell you.”
“Oh my god.” I break out into a grin, sitting up on the bed. “You’re joking.”
He shakes his head. “Ana called me an hour ago, and I came here as fast as I could,” he says, holding my face in his hands. “I wanted to see the look on your face when you found out.”
“Lucas.” I wrap my arms around him, unable to say anything else. My head shakes as the words process through me, the earlier exhaustion coming right back. Fuck, it’s late. I should be asleep. But all I can think of is I have an audition. With Monica Harrington. “Thank you.” I pull back, pressing my lips to his over and over again.
He laughs against my lips, pushing my body to lie down on the bed. “You don’t have to thank me,princesa,” he says, kissing me. I open up for him, my eyes closing, and I let out a whimper. God, I’m so tired. Lucas pulls back, kissing my forehead. “You’re amazing, Mads, and I’m glad other people are starting to realize that, even if I wish I could keep you all to myself,” he murmurs against my skin.
I let out a small laugh, my eyes heavy, and the feeling of his lips on my neck and my jaw soothing. But it’s not until his hand slides down my body, playing with the hem of my shirt, that I realize where this is heading, and I freeze when he lifts the material to my waist.
I swallow harshly, trying to make myself get in the mood. I love feeling his body on mine, and I’m sure it will be the same. I squeeze my eyes closed.Just do it. Just go along with it. He’s happy, don’t make him upset.
But Lucas’s hand stops and he pulls back. I open my eyes to see him look at me with furrowed brows. “Are you okay?” he asks.
I nod, pressing my lips together. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Madeline.”
The hard tone of his voice makes me sigh. “I’m just a little tired,” I admit, gulping when he frowns. God, why can’t I just be normal and get myself in the mood? He’s going to yell and leave, and he won’t want to be with me anymore.
But he doesn’t leave. Instead, he leans down and presses a chaste kiss to my lips. “Come on,” he says, pulling me up until we’re under the covers. “Let’s go to sleep.”
I glance up at him, my heart thudding against my chest. “You don’t want to…”
