Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 413 Marcus' POV Madeline's kiss caught me completely off guard, but it felt like a dam breaking inside me. Every ounce of restraint, every effort to keep a respectful distance, every attempt to fight the attraction that had been growing between us since the Maldives vanished in an instant. I pulled her closer, deepening the kiss with a hunger I hadn't known was there. Her hands slid up to my neck, fingers tangling in my hair, and a shiver ran through my entire body. It felt like we could finally stop pretending, stop circling around what had been undeniable for a long time.

My hands found her waist, drawing her against me until there was no space left between our bodies. She sighed against my lips, a low, intimate sound that shattered what little self-control I had left. I kissed her neck, feeling her pulse racing beneath my mouth, and she tilted her head back, giving me more access. "Marcus," she whispered my name, her hands now exploring my shoulders, sliding down my back over my shirt. I was completely lost in her. In the way she gave herself over to the moment. In how her lips answered mine with a passion that matched my own.

My hands moved up her back, tracing the delicate curve of her spine, and she arched into me. That was when my phone started buzzinginsistently in my pocket. I ignored it, far too busy exploring the soft skin of her neck, but Madeline pulled back slightly, just enough to break the contact between our mouths. "Do you need to check that?" she asked, her voice husky and breathless. "No," I answered immediately, pulling her back to me and capturing her lips again with urgency. Nothing could be more important than this. Than finally having Madeline in my arms.

The phone kept buzzing, but I didn't care. Then it started ringing, the sharp sound slicing through the Castorian morning air and completely breaking the spell between us. Madeline stepped back again, placing a hand on my chest to keep some distance. "You should look," she said softly, even though I could see in her eyes that she was just as reluctant as I was to interrupt the moment. "It seems important." I let out a heavy sigh and pulled my phone from my pocket. The missed calls and messages were all from Christian. My stomach tightened instantly.

the screen. There was creenshot after screenshot of newspaper headlines, gossip blogs, and social media posts. All of them

From Playboy to International Fugitive +25 Bonus There were dozens of them, each headline more sensational than the last. Some included old photos

saw the-" "Congratulations," my cousin's voice came through the line, and there was an almost amused tone to it that caught me completely off guard. "You are officially an international fugitive." I couldn't stop myself from laughing, despite the seriousness of the situation. "Well, I had to contribute my share to

have more than enough resources to make it nearly impossible." A wave of relief washed over me. I knew Christian wouldn't give me false reassurance. "But, ," he continued, and I caught the note of

he finds out exactly where Madeline is, if he manages to coordinate something with corrupt Valentian authorities..." Christian paused deliberately. "It's better not to take any risks while things are this heated." "We weren't planning on leaving anyway," I said, glancing at