Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce inspired romance. Can you find all the Easter eggs? |
Trace Kelton, a charismatic NFL star, is on the brink of losing it all after attempting to save an intoxicated woman that ended with him hospitalizing three men. To p...
Trace waited for Madds to show up in her dressing room. Leaving Syler on stage without keeping an eye on her while she's ill felt like a crime, but there was nothing he could do for her while she was performing. So instead, he tightened his fist, took several deep breaths and waited for his Madds to show up.
The door opened, and his lanky figure barged in. "Syl–" His dark gaze latched onto Trace's.
They both stood in a stalemate, letting the silence take over. Trace refrained from letting his fist fly into the man's jaw. He was working on his temper for Syler, but, man, it was difficult.
"Trace Kelton." A sly smile tugged on one side of his mouth, filling the dressing room with a smoke of darkness.
To keep his fury at bay, he sat himself on her vanity table, the bulbs running the perimeter of the mirror heating his back. He crossed his arms over his chest and narrowed his eyes.
Madds took a measured step closer, as if the angry aura Trace was exuding didn't bother him. "I'm surprised Syler is up on stage after the night we just had."
In a low gruff voice, Trace said, "I'm surprised you stepped closer to me knowing I have no problem with violence."
He laughed and took another daring step closer, the curls in his hair bouncing. "I'm counting on it actually."
"What do you want from Syler?"
"That's none of your business."
"She is my business." According to the contract. "And apparently blackmail is yours."
He took another step closer and Trace impulsively stood, towering over him. "Yeah, well, you gotta do what you gotta do for love."
"Sounds pretty toxic to me," Trace challenged.
Another step forward, and Madds was almost chest to chest with Trace. "That's my favorite kind." He lifted his finger and poked Trace's chest. "And it's hers too."
The poke was to provoke him, and it was working.
His head was spinning with what he knew of Syler so far. Was toxic love what she liked? Hell, she wanted a contract to force a relationship with him. She took off without a word to see her ex. She kissed him then thought it okay to have Trace take care of her in the aftermath. The smoke and mirrors of their relationship was being reinforced with Madds's comment, and it seemed to choke something in his throat.
The more silence that stretched between them the more he hated that the idea of her was shifting in his mind. And it propelled him into remembering how she had kissed him, how she had trusted him to take care of her, how she had voiced the hope that the contract could be void. He couldn't deny the fierce protectiveness he already felt for her, the craving he got to witness her smile whenever she was around. There was an invisible golden thread that strung both of them together, and no matter how delicate it was, Trace knew he wanted to keep it safe.
That seemed to settle in his chest until he looked down Madds's long face that had a new twinge of confidence.
Up came Trace's hand, fingers coiling around Madd's throat and squeezing. Trace spun, taking Madds with him, throwing him against the vanity table, and pinning his throat to the mirror.
Madds's eyes bulged in surprise and fright as he choked out a noise that satisfied Trace.
"I'll say this once. Leave Syler alone, or I'll turn your little daydream about ever being with her again into a nightmare."
Trace held him there with fire boiling in his veins. He had physically hurt Syler. He had blackmailed her. Kissed her. Forced her to drink. Madds didn't deserve to walk out of this dressing room the way he came in.
And in a single breath, he impulsively chose what he deemed was the wrong decision.
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Did you find any Easter eggs?
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😘 THANK YOU so much for your continued interest in "Delicate Us".
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While you wait for the next chapter, please check out my Rapunzel-inspired dark fantasy romance, "Body of Chaos"!
