First Rapture (The Rapture #1)(23)

Luc felt a stab of surprise. Madison had never attended the private parties where there was alcohol. No doubt the example of her mother had taught her the emptiness of trying to find pleasure in a bottle. And in truth, he’d admired her for resisting the peer pressure.

Her respect for her body was far sexier than any amount of trying to impress him.

“You never used to drink in high school,” he said, breathing deep of her vanilla scent.

“Which only made it worse,” she admitted, shivering as he traced the neckline of her top. “After a couple of shots I decided I had to have some tangible proof of my love for you.”

He abruptly straightened, smiling with wicked amusement. “Hmm. I like the sound of that.”

She rolled her eyes. “You would.”

“What was this tangible proof?”

“A tattoo of your name in a heart.”

A tattoo? He was momentarily stunned, then he suddenly recalled the strange smear of makeup he’d noticed last night.

“On your lower back,” he said.

“Yes.”

His hand skimmed down to the spot just above her firm ass. The knowledge that she had his name forever imprinted on her skin was hot as hell.

Of course, as far as he was concerned, there was nothing about this woman that wasn’t hot as hell.

“That explains the makeup.” His hand drifted lower, cupping the firm curve of hip. “I thought you were trying to hide a birthmark.”

She grimaced. “Needless to say, it was the last time I ever drank tequila.”

“That still doesn’t explain why you’re here.” He nodded his head toward the building.

“Wicked Ink is the best tattoo shop in the world at turning mistakes into works of art,” she explained.

It took a minute to realize she meant to have her tattoo turned into some design that disguised his name.

Once he did, he felt a surprising anger at the thought that she’d planned to erase him so thoroughly from her life.

First with her revenge sex, and then with some magical tattoo artist.

“You consider me a mistake,” he said, his voice flat.

She gave a slow nod, reaching up to lightly touch his face. “I did.”

“And now?”

Her finger stroked his lower lip, the gold in her hazel eyes shimmering in the morning sunlight.

“Now I think maybe I’ll keep it.”

He lowered his head to brush her lips with the light promise of a kiss. It was all he dared allow himself when they were in full daylight in the middle of a public parking lot.

“And perhaps I’ll get one that matches yours,” he murmured against her lips.

“A heart on your lower back?” she teased, her hands exploring the rigid muscles of his chest. “Won’t you get beat up at the gym?”

“I don’t care if they put a petunia on my ass just as long as it proves how much I want a second chance,” he assured her.

“You don’t need a petunia,” she assured him, a small smile curving her lips. “Although I’m not opposed to having my name permanently etched onto your body. I want all those women to know you’re mine.”

“I am yours,” he said, his voice rough with sincerity as he buried his face in the curve of her throat. “I’ve always been yours.”

Her arms circled his shoulders, her fingers tangling in his hair. “It’s true, you know.”

He was having a difficult time thinking as he relished the joy that was surging through him.

“What is?”

She whispered directly in his ear. “A woman never forgets her first.”

EPILOGUE

One year later

Madison stood in front of the newly renovated brick building on the outskirts of Vegas.

Once an abandoned business center, it had been transformed into an afterschool program where kids in need could come for tutoring, a hot meal, clothing, medical care…or just a safe place to be.

Madison smiled. She’d mentioned her dream of helping children whose parents couldn’t, or wouldn’t, properly care for them shortly after her quiet wedding to Luc, and within days he had a building purchased and the first plans drawn up.

At first his driving force had made her head spin, but she’d quickly adjusted, and now they were a true power couple, dividing their time between Vegas and New York. A journey made easy by Luc’s private jet.

Sensing his intense scrutiny, Madison turned her head to meet his dark gaze, her heart giving a familiar leap of joy.

It didn’t seem to matter how many days they spent together, or how many nights they devoted to making love. She never got over the thrill of simply being with this man.

“Well, Ms. Angeli, is it everything you dreamed it would be?” he asked.

“And more.” She turned, wrapping her arms around his neck. “So much more.”

He grasped her waist, tugging her intimately against his body. For today, the Maddy Center was closed for a last inspection. Tomorrow the doors would be opened to the public.

“You’re happy?” he asked softly.

She smiled. “Mr. Angeli, are you fishing for compliments?”

He chuckled, appearing indecently gorgeous in his black chinos and white silk shirt that was left open to offer a glimpse of his bronzed chest.