Bowles, Jan - In Debt to the Dom [Guilty Pleasures 1] (Siren Publishing Classic) by Jan Bowles Page A

need a fix, Maddie. I hurt all over. Please, please help me.”
    “You’ll have to wait a bit longer. I need to know I can trust you.”
    “You bitch, I’ve kept my part of the bargain, now just give me my fucking gear.”
    “We’ll see.” Maddie knew that very soon someone from the Swiss rehab clinic would be coming to pick her up. This time she hoped the therapy would work, because, like Keaton, she’d used up her entire supply of patience. Only in her case, it wasn’t a year’s supply. It was a lifetime’s worth.

Chapter Thirteen

    “Is that the last of it, Keaton?” Maddie asked as she placed the final bundle of money she’d counted, on the bed.
    Keaton made a quick calculation. “Four hundred and sixty-five thousand dollars, give or take a few bucks. It’s a good thing we came when we did. Your sister spends money like water.”
    “Yes, well, let’s hope she takes rehab seriously this time. There’ll be no more second chances from now on.” Maddie reflected on how anxious her sister had been. She really didn’t like pain and hardship. The clinic had reassured her that they do most of the cold turkey while heavily sedated. In four of five days, they would bring her out of the induced sedation, when most of the pain and tremors would have passed. So much for paying for one’s sins, but if it helped her sister back to a normal purposeful existence, then who was she to judge?
    Keaton lay back on the bed and placed his arms behind his head. “As soon as I’ve rested, I need to take a shower and then get this money to a bank. It’s not safe having so much cash lying around.”
    With the pile of money between them, she glanced at him. Just wearing a pair of jeans, he looked so sexy and masculine. When he closed his eyes, she let her gaze drift across the hard contours of his chest. The slight smattering of hair caught the light every so often as he breathed.
    In a flash, he pulled her down next to him.
    “Are you admiring me or the money?” His eyes flew wide open, and she felt her stomach coil in anticipation as his gaze connected with hers.
    “I’ve never been this close to half a million dollars before,” she teased. There was no way she would admit that she’d been staring at him.
    They rolled on top of the money as he pinned her underneath him. He brushed the hair from her eyes. “Mmm. I think otherwise. You look so fucking sexy laid out on a blanket of money.”
    He stared at her for a moment, focusing on her lips, and then her eyes, and back again. He let out a long slow breath and then rolled away.
    “Christ, what a fucking mess. I can’t take advantage of you anymore, Maddie. I don’t even want the rest of the money back. In fact, I insist on it.”
    “Why, Keaton?”
    “Call it compensation. Whatever you want. I saw the tremendous courage you showed with your sister. I know it couldn’t have been easy for you. I’m just sorry that we started out on the wrong foot, but hindsight is a great leveler.”
    “I want to pay everything back, Keaton. Otherwise it will make me feel like a—well, you know.” No need to mention the word “whore.” Keaton knew exactly what she meant.
    “Maddie, believe me when I say I don’t think that of you.” She heard the sincerity in his voice and saw it in his eyes. When she nodded, he continued, “Then how are we going to resolve this?”
    “I honestly don’t know.”
    He smiled and patted her hand. “I’ll let you think about it. I’m going to have a shower now, preferably cold.”
    As she watched him walk toward the bathroom, Maddie realized they’d come to a fork in their relationship. Two paths existed. One included Keaton. The other didn’t. Did she want the safe route? Or did she want the path filled with sexual excitement and fulfillment? Only she could choose. Now that the money had been returned, she knew Keaton would never take their relationship for granted. Yet if she chose with her heart, would it be over too quickly?