Page 163 of Sinful Pleasure

I hated how I noticed everything—the small flinch of his jaw when I pressed too hard, the way his breathing slowed as the pain eased. Every detail felt magnified, seared into my memory against my will.

The room fell into silence except for the soft sound of the towel moving against his skin and the faint sighs of relief he let slip.

Maddox let me clean his wounds without much resistance. My hands trembled as I moved to clean his face, the cloth brushing against his jawline and over the cuts that marred his sharp features.

I felt his eyes on me again, burning with intensity even though he barely moved. When I dared to glance up, his gaze was locked on mine, so raw and unrelenting that it stole the air from my lungs.

My skin burned under his scrutiny, my pulse racing in a way that had nothing to do with fear.

“You’re that scared of me that you needed company to come here?” Maddox muttered, his voice loud enough for Daphne to hear.I saw her scratch her arm awkwardly, a hint of a blush creeping across her face as she shifted under his piercing gaze.

“If you don’t talk, it will hurt less,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady as I continued to wash his face. My fingers trembled against his skin, but I refused to look at him. Despite the pain, Maddox’s lips twisted into that infamous grin of his.

“I would hardly call this pain.”

“None of this would have happened if you’d just given my father the information he needs.” I said.

He was silent for a moment, his eyes narrowing as if considering my words. Then, he hummed under his breath.

“Get your puppet out of the fucking room, and maybe I’ll give you just that.”

The way he spoke, low and husky, was calculated. His eyes never left Daphne as he said it, ensuring she heard every word.Daphne shifted uncomfortably, her face flushing a deeper shade of red as Maddox’s words lingered in the air.

“That’s fucking rude,” she muttered, clearly upset. “I’m not a puppet,”

“Whatever you say, redhead,” Maddox taunted, his voice dripping with amusement.I clenched my jaw, trying not to let it get to me. He was doing this on purpose. I could feel the anger bubbling beneath the surface. This wasn’t about Daphne; it was about him. He was pushing every button he could find.

“You are such a dick,” Daphne muttered, more to herself than to anyone else, but her words didn’t go unheard. Maddox’s cold laugh filled the room.Before things could escalate further, I cut in, my voice sharper than I intended.

“Daphne, go.”

She froze, her gaze shifting between Maddox and me, with confusion written on her face.

“But—”

“Just go.”

Her eyes narrowed in frustration, but after a moment’s hesitation, she sighed and left the room without another word.

It was just us now. Alone.

I forced myself to focus on the task at hand, cleaning his wounds under his watchful, unblinking gaze. The silence between us stretched, but it wasn’t comfortable.

Not anymore.

His presence in the room was suffocating, his every movement a challenge, his stare a weight that pressed on my chest.

Then, as if to break the tension, Maddox spoke again, his voice so quiet it almost seemed like he was testing me.

“Jealousy looks good on you.”

I scoffed, gripping the towel harder, my fingers nearly white with the force.“Oh please, I’m not jealous,” I shot back, trying to keep the laugh in my voice, hoping it masked the unease gnawing at my insides.

“Whatever makes you feel better, princess.”

Maddox’s voice was a smirk, but the words stung. For a man who had so many wounds, he sure knew how to keep his sharp tongue intact.

I clenched my jaw, trying to focus on cleaning his wound instead of the taunting edge in his voice.

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