“Mmmm, I’ll have to be bad more often.”

“Don’t you dare,” he said as he pushed into her from behind, his fingers digging into her hips as he went at her hard and fast and so deep.

Maddie was already about to explode when he reached around to caress her clit, sending her screaming into an orgasm for the ages.

“Holy shit,” he muttered, driving into her again before he let himself join her. “Just when I think it can’t get any hotter…”

“It does. It’s crazy. You’re crazy.”

“You make me that way.”

“I can’t believe you spanked me.”

“I can’t believe you liked it so much.”

She grasped his hand, which was flat against her belly. “Only because it was you, and I knew you’d never really hurt me, even if it was the biggest fight ever.”

“I wasn’t really mad at you, Maddie. If I had been, I never would’ve touched you.”

“I know,” she said with a happy sigh. In her wildest dreams, she’d never imagined a love like this would happen to her. “I trust you more than anyone in this entire world.”

“And I trust you, which is why I knew you’d never let strange men touch what’s mine.”

“No, I wouldn’t, but it was fun to torture you a little.”

“It was a good prank,” he said begrudgingly.

Maddie laughed. “Best prank ever.”

“You know what this means, though, don’t you?”

“What?”

“Revenge, my sweet, is a dish best served cold.” He nibbled on her shoulder and made her squirm.

“Will I get to spank you when you prank me?”

“We’ll have to see about that.”

“Ha! I knew it. Double-standard McCarthy strikes again.”

Pushing his hips into her, he reminded her he was still embedded deep inside her, as if she needed the reminder. “You liked it.”

“I loved it.”

After a long, quiet moment, he said, “I’ve been thinking…”

“About?”

“The custody situation.”

She nudged him. “Let me up so I can see you if we’re going to talk serious stuff.”

He withdrew from her, removed the pillows and helped her turn over.

Stretched out next to him on top of the bed, she slid her leg between his and put her arm around him. “What’re you thinking?”

“They should go to Tiffany. Other than you and me and the grandparents, they spend the most time with her, and they’re most comfortable with her.”

“Are you sure?”

He nodded. “As long as we stipulate that my family gets full access, I’d be okay with them going to Tiffany and Blaine.”

“They would be my first choice, too. Thank you for understanding.”

“This isn’t about me getting my way or picking my family over yours. It’s about doing what’s best for Thomas and Hailey. And this is what’s best if the worst thing should happen.”