Excerpt #1

“What the…?” My voice trails off as I take in the dark, angry bruise on my skin. 

A hickey. 

And not just any hickey—this is the mother of all hickeys. 

It’s a masterpiece of malice, blooming in deep purples and reds, unapologetically high on my neck. No amount of foundation could hide this, and it’s far too conspicuous for even the highest collar. There was no fucking around when she decided to do this. She wanted me marked.

“Maggie!” I call, my voice bouncing off the walls as I step out of the bathroom. Her only response is the sound of sheets rustling and a half-asleep groan. I glance back at the mirror, rubbing at the bruise like it might magically fade. Who even gives hickeys anymore? 

When I step out, I find her perched on the kitchen counter, one leg dangling lazily while the other’s tucked beneath her. She’s cradling a mug of coffee—my coffee—the steam curling up around her face. And she’s wearing my Henley, the fabric hanging loose on her but clinging just enough in places to make my brain short-circuit. The soft gray color makes her blue eyes pop, and they blink at me with an innocence that’s so utterly contrived, I almost laugh. Almost. And fuck, she made me temporarily forget about the hickey.

“What is this?” I demand, pointing to the bruise on my neck as I stride closer. 

She tilts her head like she’s admiring a painting. She leans in, her lips so close I can feel the ghost of her breath. She presses a kiss to the bruise, and I swear my brain briefly loses all function. 

“That,” she says, her voice honey-sweet, “is a hickey.”

“I know what it is, baby,” I snap, though the grin threatening to break free betrays me. “I have press with Ivy today.” My tone is exasperated, but she doesn’t look the least bit sorry. 

“I know.” Her lips curve into a slow, self-satisfied smile, the kind that makes her look like a sexy as fuck brat. Lucky for her, I happen to like brats.

I grab her coffee mug, setting it down deliberately and grab her by the waist, pulling her flush against me. She lets out a surprised little gasp, her hands instinctively bracing against my chest. 

“You fucking scare me sometimes, Sass,” I murmur before claiming her lips.

 

Excerpt #2

“You’re not going to hurt him, are you?” I protest as Dusty’s hulking frame fills the doorway of the trailer.

“Oh God, are you one of them vegans?” Dusty grumbles. 

“Who even eats skunk?” I shake my head, and Maggie bursts into giggles beside me. 

Dusty raises an eyebrow, and I realize I don’t want to know the answer to that. I just want my trailer back to ride out this godawful trip in peace. I am never eating fucking brownies again. 

“Just—please don’t hurt Pepe,” I plead, staring up at Dusty with wide eyes. 

“You fucking named him?” Dusty asks, while Maggie palms her face. 

I shoot her a glare. “That’s his fucking name.” 

“Jesus, I don’t get paid enough for this shit,” Dusty grunts.

“Give him a break—he ate five too many of Dex’s special brownies,” Maggie explains, playfully nudging my shoulder. 

“Ohhh,” Dusty drawls. “Well, that’ll do it.” 

Dusty sets the trap down with a thud and begins to bait it, while Maggie flings open all the windows, letting in a rush of fresh air. 

“What do we do now?” I ask, frowning at them—my patience is wearing thin.

“We wait,” Dusty replies casually.

“We wait?” I throw my hands up. “I’m having the worst trip of my life, and you’re telling me to wait?”

I tap the cabinet. “I’m not fucking around, Pepe.”

“Well, that strategy is totally going to coax him out,” Maggie quips between giggles, biting her lip to suppress more laughter. 

“Maybe you should sweet-talk him?”

“You’re the one he’s been talking to,” she shoots back, waving a hand at me.

I slump down into the chair. “I don’t want to be a skunk whisperer,” I whine, burying my face in my hands.

Maggie comes over, rubbing my shoulders gently. “It’s gonna be fine, really. And hey, look at the bright side, I’m not even filming this—because if I was…”

I whip my head around to glare at her. That’s all I need for this to be documented. She lifts her hands up to show that she’s not holding the camera and I relax.

Suddenly, I hear a sharp snap coming from inside the trailer, followed by the clanking of metal. We peer into the trailer to see Pepe munching on the treat like it’s a gourmet meal. 

Dusty carries the cage down the steps and I lean out of the trailer, my heart racing slightly. “Where are you taking him?” 

“Do you need a moment to say your goodbyes?” Dusty quips sarcastically, arching an eyebrow. 

I shoot him an icy glare.

“Relax, I’m just gonna release him into the woods.”

“Can you at least not mention this to anyone?” I call after him anxiously, and he chuckles, shaking his head as he ambles away with the skunk.

“I don’t get paid enough for this shit,” I hear him say as he turns the corner.

I find Maggie spritzing my aftershave all over the trailer like it’s some magic potion. 

I sit on the edge of my bed. Maggie stands before me, head tilted as she surveys me. She then pulls off my shoes, and I hear them drop to the floor. I flop back onto my pillow, feeling heavy and—let’s be honest—spent.

“You’re not leaving, are you?” I ask, grabbing her arm instinctively.

She sighs. “I guess not.” Then she settles onto the bed, facing me as I scoot over to make room for her. 

I meet her gaze. Her blue eyes sparkle, and I can’t believe I’ve never noticed how the freckles dance across her nose and cheeks before. 

“You’re really pretty,” I say, my voice a lazy whisper.

Maggie giggles, her cheeks flushing as she tucks her hands under her head, smiling at me. “Okay, Felix,” she says, skepticism lacing her tone. 

“It’s true. I’ve thought about you ever since the first time we met.” I close my eyes despite wanting to stare at her, but the heavy feeling of sleep begins to steal me away.

“You mean when I called you a pampered rockstar?” she teases. 

I smile, a lazy grin creeping across my face. “No, when I let the elevator doors close in your face.”