Page 20 of Sinful Pleasure

“It is for me.”

If anyone could see us now, it would look… strange.

In the middle of a dark alley, bodies close but not touching, and we maintained eye contact like our very breaths depended on it.

“Do I need to remind you that you’re Angelo’s future wife?” he spatthrough gritted teeth. “Start acting like one.”

“Future wife,” I repeated, pointing my finger at his chest. “You said it yourself. Right now, I’m nobody’s wife. And I have every right to do whatever I want.”

He laughed, as though my words weren’t even worth a response.

“Is that why you broke that guy’s nose?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “You protecting The Kings’ honor?”

He shot me a glare. “Why else would I do it?”

I dug my finger into his chest. I felt his muscles tense under the fabric of his shirt.

“I think you’re full of shit, Maddox. I don’t think that’s the real reason you did it.”

He laughed, his face twisting into something dark and sadistic.

“Please, princess, humor me.”

His expression showed no trace ofamusement.

His gaze dropped to where my finger touched his chest— just the lightest contact—but he didn’t push me away. It was as if he were waiting to see what I’d do next.

“I think you did it because you’re a sadistic prick who gets off on other people’s misery.”

He raised an eyebrow but didn’t deny it.

“If you wanted me to kiss you instead, you could’ve just asked nicely.” I curled my lips into a smile.

Something flickered in his eyes—something as deep as the color of them, something I couldn’t quite place. He was too good at masking his emotions like it was second nature.

My face flushed, my mind a mess.I tried to rile him up, but instead, I only ended up pulling at my nerves.

He pulled away, and I staggered forward, not realizing how much I had been leaning against him until his proximity disappeared.

“You’re drunk,” he said, his voice as cold as ice. Without a second glance, he opened the passenger door.

“Get in the fucking car, Allyn.”

And I did.

Humiliated and flushed, I suddenly sober enough to want the ground to open up and swallow me whole.

Also, note to self: Avoid Maddox at all costs from now on.

CHAPTER6

ALLYN

“Miss Delgado, your mother asks for your presence.”

Clarissa’s voice is soft and warm, yet it feels like a sentence sending me to the gallows.

I force a smile, though it feels like I’m dying inside.

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