Page 140 of Sinful Pleasure

“I organized the perfect party for your birthday.”

Perfect? For who?

It looked more like she’d organized the perfect party for herself.

My eyes followed hers, tracing the path of her hungry gaze locked onto the naked woman on the pole. The dancer wore a matching sheer lace set in white that left very little to the imagination.

Hardly a surprise.All the women here were barely dressed, either swaying on poles or grinding against guests in the dim, crowded room of one of our clubs.

This was Lydia’s kind of celebration.

If it were up to me, I wouldn’t even be here.

Everyone else seemed to be having a great time on my birthday— except me.Jamming a knife into my throat felt like a more appealing way to celebrate.

My gaze drifted to Angelo, seated to my right. A dancer straddled his lap, grinding against his pants as her lips grazed his neck. His hands grippedher ass, and his head tilted back in pleasure, his expression almost serene.

Disgusted, I forced my eyes away, shaking my head.

This room was full of people I would rather kill than celebrate anything with.I let my dark thoughts consume me, sinking deeper into the void they offered. Then, my attention was drawn to the pole directly in front of our table—or rather, the woman.

With no top, her pierced nipples glinting in the flashing club lights.

Her long blonde hair was pulled into a high ponytail that swung with her movements. She wore nothing but black bikini bottoms and high heels. And for a fleeting second, despite the suffocating disdain that filled my chest, I couldn’t look away.

I guess she took my stare as an invitation.

The next thing I knew, she was approaching me, hips swaying with practiced intent.I leaned back against the couch, my arms draped casually over the backrest, waiting to see her next move. Her attempts at seduction were laughable, almost painfully so. Whatever allure she thought she had, it didn’t work on me—not from her.

But I played along.

She fluttered her lashes and bit her lip as she closed the distance, a not-so-innocent smile tugging at her glossed lips.Slowly, she straddled my lap, careful not to touch me, her hands planted on the couch behind my shoulders for balance.

Smart move. Most of the women here knew I didn’t like being touched.

Her body moved rhythmically on top of me, her almost bare center pressing against me and her breasts grazing my chest as she shifted.

Soft moans escaped her lips, so close to my ear that they should’ve made my bloodburn.

But they didn’t.Nothing.

The old Maddox would have taken her right here, in front of everyone, without a second thought. No hesitation, no restraint.

But now?

I clenched my jaw, frustrated at the hollow ache where fucking desire should’ve been.This was exactly what I needed— a quick, detached fuck.

Something to drown out the chaos in my head, to silence the demons clawing at me.Yet my body refused to cooperate.Every part of me rejected her, just as it had rejected every other woman since Allyn.

Fucking pathetic.

I leaned my head back, closing my eyes in defeat—and immediately, there she was.A pair of deep, chocolate-brown eyes stared back at me. Long brown hair spilled messily over her flushed, innocent face as she pressed herself against me.

Her lips, full and swollen, trembling as if begging to be claimed.I heard her moaning my name. The sound hit me like a drug, intoxicating and devastating in equal measure.

Allyn.

The woman who had ruined me for anyone else.

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