Magic or Madness (The Wreck Me Duet #1)

OZZY

Bambi . That’s the only word on repeat in my mind.

I haven’t been able to think of anything else since the girl with purple hair kissed me in a diner, stealing my ability to think clearly.

She was stunning, absolutely breathtaking, and I couldn’t resist the urge to taste her, to share a single moment. I was hypnotized by her full lips and wildly colorful hair. Her body was a bonus, her curves shaped in all the right places, and I remember every detail of the outfit she was wearing.

Everything about her had me in a chokehold, but there was one thing that stood out among the rest — outside her willingness to submit to the desires of a stranger, of course — it was how she smelled .

That vanilla scented perfume, mixed with the champagne on her tongue, was enough to leave me addicted, and now, I’m an addict in search of my next fix.

It’s been three agonizing days since she corrupted my mind, and I’m no closer to discovering her name. I’m brand new to this town and have no fucking idea where to start, but if it’s the last thing I do on this earth, I will learn her name.

The endearing nickname that I gave her isn’t enough, but I’m hoping the purple hair will be a clue I can use to my benefit because I have to see her again.

Nobody has ever captivated me like that before, and the second I saw her sit at the table with her loser boyfriend, I knew I had to intervene, to do something that would make her remember me. It was bold, but I’ve never been so drawn to a person before, and my need to make a big, lasting move persisted the common sense I usually possess.

In a way, I’m convinced that she might’ve needed me, too.

I never thought she’d follow me to the hallway, kiss me, or even breathe near me, but I like to think she’s been looking for something to ignite the fire that lingers below the surface.

The feeling of recklessness radiated off her body, and she loved every second we spent together.

From what I could see, she was visibly fed up with the loser boyfriend . It was written all over her face, and I had to resist the urge to walk right up to her table, throw her over my shoulder, and rescue her from that miserable jerk.

Instead, I plan to follow the rules she spelled out. If I want to see her again, I’ll need to figure out her name, but something tells me she isn’t the kind of girl that needs to be saved.

“Oz, you with us? We need to plan this job!” Max yells, breaking my train of thought.

“He’s daydreaming about the girl he met. Let him be,” Journey adds, always taking on the fatherly role of our group.

I’ll admit that Bambi has completely taken over my thoughts, but when it comes to work, I throw myself right into the mix, helping my crew finalize a solid plan.

It’s been the five of us for years, surviving off odd jobs, heists, and whatever else we’re hired to do. We’re black market assistants doing the dirty jobs rich people avoid to keep the blood off their hands.

This is our first hire in a new town, and we’re trying to learn the lay of the land. We all have our roles, and execute them well, but our last job went haywire and we were forced to flee the state. Eventually, we found ourselves agreeing to settle here in North Carolina.

It’s rural enough where we won’t be found, but civilized enough to keep operations running.

“Alright, let’s break for lunch,” Max offers, covering the whiteboard with a cloth and heading for the kitchen.

We all live in this building that used to be a car dealership, turning the old offices into our bedrooms and using the sales floor as our gathering room for planning. It works for us and keeps the crew close like we’re used to.

“He’s so fucking bossy,” Oliver whispers, tossing me a soda from the vending machine we broke open.

“He’s the boss, Olly. Relax,” I remind him, turning my focus to my phone.

I’ve searched dating apps, social media profiles, and even the college discussion boards looking for my woman, but she’s a ghost.

She may have played me like a fiddle, but I also never lose.

“What about the boyfriend?” Oliver suggests, but I shake my head, already eliminating that possibility.

“I never saw his face. It’s a dead-end,” I sigh, dropping my head in my hands.

“Maybe that was her way of turning you down gently, Oz,” he says, but I don’t want to hear it.

“You don’t know shit, alright? She would’ve said that if that's what she meant. She likes the game, and I fully intend to win,” I tell him, the anger slowly rising in my voice, and he backs off, leaving me to figure this mystery out alone.

The guys are all over me about this, but I couldn’t give a fuck less. They don’t know what’s between us, what I felt for her in that hallway. It was fucking electric, and I won’t let that go because it’s been a little tough to find her.

The thrill is in the chase, and my prize will be the greatest of them all: her .

We slink into the darkness in groups, one taking the back entrance and the other breaching the front.

I’m heading toward the front entrance, ready to crack the code to get us inside the building.

Oliver and Max trail behind me, giving me space to work on the lockbox.

After a few minutes, the door buzzes, indicating that we’re in.

The job is simple: break into some guy’s apartment, trash the place, and find a stolen flash drive. The person who hired us ensured his schedule never changes, and he wouldn’t be home for hours.

We take the stairs two at a time until we reach the third floor and locate apartment two.

Lex and Journey catch up to us, covering the door and the stairs as Oliver jimmies the lock within seconds.

We storm into the place, knocking down plants and smashing lamps as we move through the apartment.

My job is locating the flash drive, but I can’t resist breaking things I come across, adding a little fun to an otherwise serious job.

The first place I check is under the mattress with no luck, moving through the bedroom and checking every nook and cranny. Just as I'm about to give up and search in a different room, I feel a tiny brick taped underneath a drawer, and I’ve hit the jackpot.

“Got it,” I say into my Bluetooth earpiece, knocking shit around in the bedroom on my way out.

The guys did well trashing the place, and it looks like a tornado ran through this poor asshole's apartment.

In and out is the mission; we did it in record time. We follow the steps to the lobby, filing out of the building into the chilly night. Max and Oliver high-five each other as we casually walk back to the van. We parked around the corner and down the road, keeping our vehicle off street cameras and avoiding being linked to the crime scene.

There’s a small cafe across the street, dimly lit but enough to see a group of girls walking out, laughing amongst themselves.

“Oz, look.” Max points, and my jaw drops.

Bambi .

One of the girls in the group is mine . Her purple hair is up in a messy bun and she’s wearing an oversized hoodie, but those curves are undeniable – that’s my Bambi.

If we weren’t on the job, I’d dash across the street and claim her, taste her again, make her tell me her fucking name.

But I can’t.

I have to remain calm and pray she doesn’t see me, but luckily, I’ve narrowed down a neighborhood. It’s a dash of hope that I need to keep going.

“Ozzy, take five? Grab a coffee?” Oliver suggests, but I shake my head, putting the crew in front of my selfish desires.

“We can’t hang around here,” I say, but he’s so stubborn, and I know he won’t let this go.

“Get her to come back with us. If she’s everything you said, she will,” he challenges, knowing my competitive side will jump on a chance to prove him wrong.

“Fine, five minutes.” I smile, taking off toward her group.

They’ve gotten farther ahead of us than I realize, so I have to jog to catch up, but once I get within earshot, I take a deep breath and call out to her.

“Bambi!”

She stops dead in her tracks as my voice echoes in the otherwise silent night, and her friends turn around first, giving me a strange look, but my eyes are locked on her.

“You’ve got the wrong person,” the blonde says, giving me a dirty look, and ushering the group forward.

“It’s fine, Mick,” my Bambi says, slowly turning around, her face illuminated under the street lights we’re standing under. “You found me.”

She assures her friends she’s okay before walking to where I’m standing, and I can’t take my eyes off her. She’s short, barely five feet, and she has to crane her neck up to meet my gaze, but her deep-brown eyes are exactly how I remember, sucking me in all over again.

“I’m not letting you get away from me again, Bambi,” I say, pulling her close by the belt loops on her jeans.

“It’s Fallon,” she smiles, lighting up my universe with a voice made out of velvet.

“Fallon,” I whisper, repeating the most beautiful name I’ve ever heard.

“I was wondering if you gave up on me, actually.”

“Never, the only thing on my mind has been you, beautiful girl . I don’t have much time. Take a ride with us?” I ask, waving my arm toward Oliver and Max, who haven’t taken their eyes off me.

Her gaze travels to her friends, who are nervously staring, making sure she’s safe with the strange man who chased them down the street. She looks back up at me, a small smile and pure curiosity plastered on her face.

“Where to, Ozzy?” She asks, reaching for my hand, and I immediately lace my fingers through hers, feeling complete now that we’re locked together again.

“Anywhere you want, Bambi.” That hits the spot as she nods, signaling me to wait while she walks back to her friends.

After a few minutes of whispered bickering, she hugs them both and jogs back to me, and I couldn’t have the smile surgically removed from my face if I tried.

“Take me away,” she laughs as I drape my arm over her shoulder, not letting her get too far away from me.

Admittedly, I feel like I’m daydreaming.

After three long days of searching for her, fantasizing about this moment, and replaying our first encounter repeatedly in my head — she’s finally in my arms, and I have no plans to let her go.

“Journey is going to kill us. We have to go,” Max says, rushing us toward the van as we round a corner.

“Well, what’s your name? We’re all fucking dying to know.” Oliver laughs, and I shove him across the parking lot we’ve turned into.

“I’m Fallon, boys. And you are?”

Most girls would run away at the sight of us in this light, as we give off criminal vibes, are painted in various tattoos, and never usually smile, but not her.

Unbeknownst to her, we are criminals, and we’re fleeing the scene of a break-in, but if we radiate even a hint of danger, she’s gravitating towards it, fitting right in alongside the craziness.

I’ve been in her presence for a total of ten minutes in our lives, but somehow, I can feel what she’s thinking and know exactly what she wants.

“This is Oliver and Max. Our other two friends are in the van, Journey and Lex. They’re not going to be happy to see you, fair warning,” I explain, and she shrugs as I open the sliding door and help her climb up into the seats.

“I’m not here for them,” she says calmly, the slight dominance in her voice turning me on.

Oliver and Max exchange a look, seemingly shocked by her nonchalant attitude, and I’m stuck in a permanent state of adoration.

“What the fuck, guys? Since when do we pick up strays?” Journey asks, impatiently revving the engine while we all climb in.

Oliver points to Fallon, specifically at her hair, and Journey's eyes widen.

“Sorry, it was a special circumstance,” I say softly, my fingers still intertwined with hers.

Her skin is smooth, and her hand feels right in mine, like I found the piece of me that always belonged. I take note of the baby blue polish on her nails, wondering if it’s her favorite color, and Journey’s aggression rips me from my inner thoughts.

“Thank fuck, the purple-haired girl mystery has been solved. Can we go now, Cinderella?” He says sarcastically, gesturing toward my girl, and I grow increasingly protective, not liking how he looks at her or how he gave her a nickname.

That’s my job.

I pull her into my lap, wrapping my arms around her midsection and resting my chin on her shoulder.

“What do you want from me, Ozzy?” She whispers, looking around at everyone in the van.

“Everything, Bambi. I need to know everything about you,” I tell her, squeezing my arms tighter and inhaling the sweet scent of her hair products.

She doesn’t say anything, enjoying the ride in silence as we listen to these fools make jokes at our expense, but Fallon isn’t phased. She barely flinches when they explain my obsession with finding her. She knew I’d be coming for her, which is why she didn’t hesitate to follow me into the night.

She’s been waiting for me.

“You didn’t tell your friends about us?” I ask, digging into her mind a little.

“I did. They didn’t think you’d chase us down the street like a stalker, though,” she laughs, and it’s a sound I could listen to for the rest of my days.

“What about that little boyfriend? Is he going to be happy about you being here with me?” I tease, and her body tenses, a deep sigh coming from her chest.

“I broke up with him about twenty minutes after you left the diner,” she confesses, and it feels like a weight has been lifted off me.

“I should’ve stuck around, then,” I whisper, trailing my fingers up and down her arm.

We’ve been back at the dealership for a few minutes now, and the guys have given us the space to be alone. Neither of us has moved, stealing every second we can.

She spins around on my lap, turning to face me, and I can’t stop the smile that spreads across my face.

“Can I be honest with you, Fallon?” I ask, using her real name for the first time.

“Of course,” she whispers, touching my face as she drapes her arms over my shoulders, leaving little to no space between us.

I sigh, unsure if I’m ready to be so vulnerable with a girl I just met, but when I look into those big, entrancing eyes, the decision is practically made for me.

“I’ve been dreaming about you every night. You’ve consumed me, stolen my every thought, and I just learned your name fifteen minutes ago,” I say, holding onto her for dear life.

I scan her eyes for clues and attempt to read her body language, but she’s still the biggest mystery. I need to crack her code. I have the overwhelming urge to know every little thing about her because she’s my new obsession.

“I wasn’t sure if I wanted you to find me. I’m not good at things like this, taking chances, but when I heard your voice, everything clicked into place, just like in the diner,” she says slowly, as if she’s afraid to speak the words aloud.

Her words resonate with me, and I can’t keep my hands off her. I gently swipe the pad of my thumb over her pink lips, giving her a bit of affection after she opened up to me.

“Let’s make a deal, Bambi. We give each other one night, and we’ll spend it learning every possible thing about each other that we can,” I suggest, and her eyes light up.

“Anything off-limits?” She asks, and I shake my head.

“No, absolutely nothing. I’ll give you whatever you want from me.”

“Then, for tonight, I’m all yours, Ozzy. But first, you need to take me inside this car dealership.”

“The guys are going to be all over us,” I warn, but she shrugs, swiping the stray hair from her eyes.

“I didn’t come here to make friends,” she smiles, her confidence rubbing off on me a little.

“You’re a little feisty. I like that,” I say, lifting her off me and helping her out of the van.

I take her hand, feeling like the luckiest man in the world. I fell flat on my face, head over fucking heels the second I met Fallon, and now that I’m bringing her into my world, I feel even higher than I did the day I met her.

“Ozzy, stop for one second,” she pleads, and I slow our pace, spinning her to face me without letting her hand go.

I’ve never been a physical touch person, but with Fallon, I want to touch her. I want my hands on any part of her body that she’ll allow.

I’ve never understood the importance of eye contact, but ever since I looked into those doe-like eyes, I don’t want to look at anything else.

“What’s wrong, Bambi? Don’t tell me you’re getting cold feet,” I breathe, keeping her hands close to my body.

“Kiss me again. I need to know that it was real. I’ve been standing on a tightrope, dangling off the edge, wondering if any of this is real,” she pauses, her voice barely above a whisper.

I don’t fault her. I’ve been driving myself crazy, praying that I wasn’t making this all up in my head, but now that she’s here, standing in front of me, it’s the biggest reality check I’ve ever had.

“It’s real, Fallon,” I whisper, gently stroking her cheek before pulling her lips to mine.

The fireworks go off again, as if the universe is telling me that I finally found my match.

I feel her stretch on her tiptoes to get closer, and I reach down, grabbing her thighs and lifting her off the ground.

She locks her legs around my waist, and her hands tangle in my hair. We’re as close as we could be, but it’s not enough. I’m holding her up, my hands firmly grabbing her ass through her jeans, and she parts her lips, inviting my tongue into her mouth.

The familiar taste of vanilla envelopes me, and I’m weak in the knees.

Fallon lets a soft moan escape her lips, and I take it up a notch, taking her bottom lip between my teeth, and tugging lightly until she moans again.

I break the kiss, sighing as I look into her eyes.

“Wow,” she breathes, dragging her index finger across my lips.

“Come on, Bambi. Let me take you into my world,” I whisper, leaving gentle kisses on her neck.

She rests her head on my shoulder like she’s taken comfort in my arms, and I don’t even think about putting her down. I proudly carry her inside the dealership with all eyes on us.

The guys are crowded around the couch in our makeshift living room, waiting for Fallon to make her grand entrance.

She is the only thing that’s been front and center on my mind, and they all took the brunt of it as I scrambled to find her. There’s no way they’re going to let us have privacy without getting their round of questioning in.

These guys are my brothers, and I anticipate they’ll act like it.

“So, Oz, are you planning on sharing?” Journey asks, and I shoot him a look that could kill.

“Easy, J. I think Ozzy would annihilate anyone who looked at that girl wrong,” Oliver warns, and I wink at him, silently thanking him for taking the words right out of my mouth.

I gently place Fallon on the ground, immediately missing her body against mine.

She takes a seat in the middle of the long sectional, with Oliver seated to her right, and inserting herself right into the chaos. I grab us both a beer from the fridge and sit beside her, pulling her against my chest. Having her in my arms is still new, but it makes me feel complete, as if her touch is now my comfort.

I pop the top off the glass using one of the rings on my finger, passing it to Fallon.

“I’m only twenty,” she whispers, and my eyes widen, not realizing how young she is.

“You’re a baby. Jesus, Bambi, I’m six years older than you.”

“You didn’t know how old she was, man?” Lex asks, and everyone swivels their head to face him.

Lex is our quiet guy, only speaking when spoken to, often staying out of the chaos, but tonight he’s front and center. His thick-rimmed glasses and shaggy hair accentuate his whole nerdy look, but it works for him.

“Fuck off, Lex. Do you think I’d not get her name, but ask her age instead?” I roll my eyes, and Fallon laughs, smacking me on the arm.

“So, Fallon, tell us the truth. Did Ozzy serenade you with only his eyes?” Oliver asks, waiting for the gossip like a teenage girl.

All eyes are on her, everyone waiting for her side of the story. If I heard one of these fools explain what happened with Fallon I wouldn’t believe them either. They’ve been dying to call my bluff, and now that the only other witness is here, they’re ready to fire questions at her.

“Yes, that’s true. He stared at me across the diner, then, I followed him to the bathrooms, and none of you even noticed,” she quips, digging her heels in at them all with her last remark.

She’s remarkable. She takes everything in stride, never letting anything bother her, and her quick wit makes everything she does unpredictable.

In one swift motion, everyone pulls out their wallets, and I groan in response. One by one, each of my friends tosses a twenty-dollar bill on the table, nodding at me as they do.

These guys will bet on anything, and I should’ve known they had a pool to determine if I was telling the truth. I lean forward and snatch the cash off the table, shoving it in my pocket and shaking my head at them.

“Dumbasses.”

They all laugh, Fallon included, and the small talk shifts back to what they usually bicker about, taking the spotlight off us.

A big smile is painted on her face, and I watch intently as her eyes dart to each guy in the room, listening as they talk. I notice the freckles that span across the bridge of her nose, and she has a small beauty mark near her lower lip that could be easily missed unless you were studying her closely enough.

“Come on, Bambi. Let me give you the full tour,” I say, cutting through the noise with all eyes landing on us again.

I take her hand and she waves at the boys, saying goodnight as we head toward my room.

“This is insane. You guys made a car dealership into a home,” she laughs as I escort her into my office.

“We always make do with what we have,” I say, pulling her backside against my chest, keeping her close to me.

She looks around the room, taking in my less-than-stellar decor, her eyes trailing the unmade king-sized bed in the middle of the floor. Now that I see my room through her lens, I realize how terrible it looks in here.

Old car posters hang on the walls, and the desk used by some sleazy salesman is pushed against the corner, littered with my pocket change, and random trash.

Before I can speak up or apologize for the mess, she breaks the silence, and places her hand in mine.

“Ozzy … I still can’t wrap my head around this. I’m so drawn to you … it’s fucking scary. But I don’t know anything about you. It feels like I’ve known you for years, but in reality, we are strangers,” she says, leading me to the bed, our bodies bouncing against the mattress as we flop down together.

“I know, I’ve struggled with the same thoughts. I’ve never been consumed like this before. This is new to me, too. One night, right?” I ask, and she nods, her eyes fluttering shut as she releases a deep sigh.

“ One night .” She lays flat on my bed, staring at the ceiling, and I rest my head next to hers. “Twenty questions?”

It’s the most basic way to get to know someone, but it feels silly when we’ve already traded some of our most vulnerable thoughts, and now, the scary part begins — letting someone in.

I’m a closed book, never telling my origin story, but something makes me think that Fallon is about to get my full memoir, and I’d be honored to let her know an inkling of where I came from.

“Last name?” She shoots, and we both laugh.

“Micheals, you?” I counter, and she tells me hers is Mariano.

A step in the right direction.

“Did that boyfriend ever make you finish or have you screaming his name?” I bite my lip, my curiosity getting the best of me, and she smacks my arm.

“Ozzy! Of the twenty questions you have to ask me, that’s your first?” She laughs, but I cock my eyebrow, not backing down. “No, and no.”

Her cheeks flush, and she looks into my eyes, a devilish smirk on her face.

“Hmmm, very good to know. Your turn,” I say, relinquishing control.

“Well, I won’t hound you about your sex life, at least not yet. Favorite food?” I place my hand on her cheek, turning her face so we’re looking into each other's eyes.

I gently kiss her forehead, watching as she slowly closes her eyes and draws in a long breath.

“My favorite food is steak. My favorite color is red, and my absolute favorite scent is the vanilla perfume you wear, which sends my body into a spiral whenever our lips meet. I’m an only child, and my mom is dead, she overdosed. I’ve never had a real job. I lie, cheat, steal, and sometimes hurt people to get paid. I’m an open book, Bambi. You can ask me a million questions,” I confess, and her eyes are the size of saucers.

Maybe the blunt way I came across was too much for her because she swallows hard, almost as if she’s choking back tears.

“My mom is dead too,” she whispers, and the tears start falling down her cheeks.

My heart breaks into pieces instantly, knowing that she shares the same pain that I carry within me.

“I’m so sorry, Fallon. It’s not a fun club to be a part of.” I stroke her cheek gently, taking my free hand and lacing her fingers through mine.

“She was a drunk. She literally drank herself to death. I … did my best to save her, but when it came down to it, the disease won, and I lost my mom,” she cries, and I feel her body shaking.

This is raw, like a stitch being reopened, and I fear that this happened recently, something she hasn’t fully processed.

“Fallon, we don’t have to talk about this if it’s too much for you.” I wipe her tears gently, and she scoots closer to me, resting her head on my chest.

“I’ve never said that out loud. There are so many things I’ve done with you that I never have before, and it’s only been a few hours that we’ve spent together. Ozzy, something about you makes me want to smash all my walls,” she confesses, and I look right into those captivating eyes.

They’re not sparkling anymore, though, the pain she hides is on full display, and I see something in her that I’ve never seen in another person before: pure turmoil.

Whatever happened to Fallon before she met me holds significant weight, and it’s still fresh for her.

“There’s no chance in hell that one night is going to be enough with you, beautiful girl ,” I say honestly, feeling her nod against my chest.

“I know, Ozzy,” she whispers, turning over until her body is parallel to mine and her chin rests on my chest.

“What should we do about that?”

“Make the best of it, and pretend that tomorrow is promised,” she whispers, staring directly into my eyes while I trace her jawline with my finger.

“Has anyone ever told you how perfect you are?” I ask, and she shakes her head.

“I can’t accept a compliment to save my life, fair warning,” she laughs, but I grab her chin, tilting her gaze back toward mine.

“No, Bambi. Have any of the boys you’ve been with ever told you how pretty you look while they fuck you? Has anyone praised you, assuring you that you’re a good girl while you scream their name?” I bite my lip, rubbing my hands over her curves, waiting for an ounce of consent to touch her more.

“Do you want to be the first to do so?” She fires back, challenging me with her eyes, and shocking me with her words.

“Like I said, I’d wreck you, beautiful girl . I’d hate to be the guy who comes after me,” I tease, watching as she climbs closer to my lips, her face inches from mine.

“There won’t be anyone after you,” she says matter-of-factly, like she has a crystal ball in her pocket.

“You’re sure of that?” I ask, but she just shrugs, sitting up and putting distance between us.

“Stop fucking talking, and show me how sure I should be,” she challenges, and I’m dangerously obsessed with her smart mouth.

“Come here and kiss me.” I crook my finger, watching as she leans forward, rubbing her body against mine, inching closer until our lips are mere millimeters apart.

This isn’t how I pictured our night together, but our desire for one another is so fucking strong, it could be deadly.

Her eyes are locked into mine, the confidence strong in her voice, but the shaking tension in her body signals that she’s just as nervous as I am to make that first move.

I had days to imagine what would happen between us if I ever found her, reunited with her, and now that she’s here – in my bed – it’s beyond my wildest dreams.

It’s more than a few glances in a diner, or a forbidden kiss in a hallway.

It’s more than our mutual desire to see each other again, even if we tried to promise ourselves one night would be enough.

I have a gut feeling that I could spend the rest of my days with Fallon, and I would still beg for more time.