Caged (Defiant Kings, #1)

by Bella Matthews

“Thinking of you keeps me awake. Dreaming of you keeps me asleep. Being with you keeps me alive.”

“I’ve wanted you every single day since you walked into Crucible three years ago, Madison.”

“I’m not a Lannister, Mads. Incest doesn’t do it for me. And if some guy said he was saving you for spank-bank material, I’d have to kill him.”

“Are you sure about this, Madison? Because once we cross this line, there’s no going back. You’ll be mine, and I won’t let you go.”

“I’m already yours, Hudson. I think I have been for a while now.” And that’s it. That’s all I need to hear.

I’m not sure how much time passes in the silence of the night, while I’m lost in my thoughts, before I gently press my lips to Hudson’s neck and quietly whisper, “I think I was waiting for you to fix me.” His heavy arms tighten around me. “You were never broken, Maddie. And I would have waited forever for you.”

“You gonna win tonight for me, King?” I tease and scrape my nails lightly against his scalp. “I can be your prize.” “You’re gonna be my everything, Madison.”

“Why a dragonfly, sunshine?” “Why do you call me sunshine?” I counter. “Because you are, baby. You’re sunshine and warmth. Your smile, your eyes, your entire fucking being lights up every room you walk into, and you don’t even realize it. I’ve always wanted to be near you. Been drawn to you. Always wanted just a piece of your attention, so I could feel your warmth.”

My breath is caught in my throat at his admission. “Hudson . . .” I run my nails over the sleeve tattooed on his arm. “The dragonfly is a symbol. I read about them my freshman year of high school, and it always stuck with me. They’re a symbol of change and transformation. Adaptability. All the things that were so important to surviving while I was growing up. But they’re also delicate and beautiful. Their strength is hidden. I guess I just always felt connected to that. As soon as I saved the money, a friend and I snuck out and got tattoos. I liked that I could hide it and that it was just for me.”

Then it dawns on me. I don’t love that she’s here for this. I love her. The thought hits me like a sucker punch to the jaw. Holy shit. She really is it for me. It’s like my world tilts on its axis for a moment before righting itself again. She’s it. She’s the center. She’s the sun.

“I love you so damn much, it scares me, baby. Because I don’t know if I’m a good enough man to keep you.”

“Marriage is a piece of paper to me, Hudson. But you . . . you’re everything, and it matters to you. So, win the damn fight, and let’s get married.”