I shake out my nerves, going to my bedside drawer to pull out a red velvet jewelry box. I stand behind Stevie, running one of my hands down the lace corset as she fusses with her hair in the mirror.
“How do I look?”
“Hmm.” I place a kiss on her bare shoulder. “Like you’re missing something.”
She frowns back at me in the mirror. “Like what?”
“Like this.” I hold the jewelry box in front of her and open it. A small gasp leaves her as her hand comes up to roll the delicate pendant between her fingers. It’s a diamond dove attached to a gold chain. I remove it from the box, and she sweeps her hair to one side so I can clasp it around her neck. She shivers against me as I litter a dozen small kisses down the length of her neck until I reach her shoulder again.
“It’s beautiful. Thank you, I love it.”
She shifts to face me, her hand coming up to caress my cheek before kissing me softly. I release her lips, gazing into her eyes. She looks at me with such reverence. One look at her, and I feel powerful enough to take over the world. She is my goddess, and whether I’m a god standing beside her or a disciple at her feet, I will worship her until my dying breath—and even then, I’ll follow her into the afterlife.
“You’re my little dove,” I whisper. “I love you.”
“I love you, too. Forever and more.”
I capture her lips, drinking in her sweet taste. Our tongues twist together, a dance of devotion. Her hand comes up to grasp the silver chain around my neck and she gives it a pull, dragging me closer to her. I push her flush against the counter, and her leg slips through the slit in her dress to curl around the backs of my knees. I lean into her, running my hand across her soft skin, cock growing stiffer by the minute. My fingers hover dangerously near the top of the slit, and I feel her smile against me.
“Think we have time for a quickie?” She murmurs against my lips.
I love this girl.
“Think not.”
We twist our heads to see Sydney standing with her arms crossed over her silver gown. “Get that lip gloss off your face, grab your mask, and get into the elevator. I swear. I feel like a damn chaperone on a high school trip.” She spins out of the room and bangs on the opposite door. “Jackson, we’re leaving.”
Stevie reaches up, swiping her thumb across my lips to remove the gloss that transferred over. “You know, Beach Sex is a good color on you.”
“Maybe you can put more on me later tonight.” I wink.
She laughs, ducking out from my grip to reapply her gloss and smooth down her hair. “You promised Sydney you’d be on your best behavior.”
“True, but you didn’t.”
“Oh?” She throws me a mischievous grin.
“Plus, my best behavior is my worst behavior.”
Stevie snorts, grabbing my hand and trailing me out of the room. “Then I guess I have to keep the bad boy in check.”
***
Everyone is focused on The System.
The cameras flash as Jackson, Parker, and I stroll our way down the red carpet to the entrance of the convention center. They’re waiting, watching, wondering. Three men, three masks, three legacies.
We stop when we get to the bottom of the stairs, and I look at my boys, taking in this final moment. Two weeks ago, we made the decision to change our futures. To embark on a new journey together, to reach new levels and dominate the world as we know it.
Jackson and Parker nod at me, and I reach up to undo my mask.
As one, we take them off.
Blade becomes Aleksander Knight, and Aleksander Knight becomes Blade.
My red world turns to one of color.
I can’t understand a single word that the crowd is shouting. Everything is blinding me in pure sensory overload. Fuck. These flashing lights are twelve times brighter without the mask on.
My eyes search for Stevie, spotting her instantly. She stands to the side with Sydney and her best friend, Deanna. She looks at me with the biggest smile, and I feel her love leaking into me, holding me steady.
I reach my hand out to her, wiggling my fingers in invitation. She cocks her eyebrow, looking back at Sydney, who gives her a nod. Then, the love of my life all but runs over to me. I catch her waist with my free hand, spinning her into me. Everything else is drowned out as she looks up into my eyes.
“I’m so proud of you,” she whispers. “S’agapo.”
I kiss her, letting the world see that she is mine and I am hers. Parker and Jackson let out whoops of cheer around us as I dip her backward and deepen our kiss. She lets out a small laugh, and I stare into her shining gaze.
Every game I play, I play to win. But I’ll lose against Stevie every time if it means she wins my heart.
THE END
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Kisses,
Madison Fox
FORBIDDEN GAME
SNEAK PEEK
ONE
* * *
SYDNEY
“Why are you naked?”
The blonde Adonis before me is lounging in bed wearing nothing more than a pair of blue Burberry trunks. He is watching a video on his laptop while he simultaneously plays a video game on his ninety-inch TV.
Parker Covington’s toned body is on full display without a care in the world. Which isn’t an uncommon situation. I’ve never met a man who wears less clothing in his own apartment than Parker. And yet, he has a closet that is three times the size of my own and filled to the brim with custom designer clothing.
“I’m not technically naked.”
“That’s not the point. We have to be at your photoshoot in thirty minutes. Which means we needed to leave,” I check my watch, “five minutes ago, and you’re not dressed.”
“I have a photoshoot?” Parker runs a hand through his platinum hair.
“I texted you this morning. I even sent you a calendar invite.”
I have to fight not to grind my teeth. I just saw my dentist last week, and he told me I needed a nightguard because, apparently, I grind in my sleep. I never had an issue sleeping when I was a kid. But it turns out that working for three famous video game streamers creates a little bit of stress.
“Huh, well. I do love being fashionably late. It’s my brand.”
Make that a lot of stress.
Each of the men I work for is difficult in their own way. Aleksander is the most popular, a natural leader, but he hates going to events and likes pissing people off. Jackson is the most well-spoken and levelheaded, but people are terrified of him because he looks like a giant grump. And Parker? Parker should be my golden goose. He is charismatic, funny, and attractive. He jumps at every opportunity I give him. He also lives in his own world and is as unpredictable as the rain in Seattle.
I walk forward and shut the laptop, looking him directly in his baby blues. “Get dressed, or I will drag you to this photoshoot as you are.”