Page 30 of Sinful Pleasure

He laughed, but his laugh was dark and sarcastic, making my blood freeze in my veins. He rose from the counter, tapping his fingers on the marble surface.

“I know you’re a brat, but I never took you for naive, as well.” He insulted me, his eyes shooting daggers my way.

“Excuse me?” I screeched, crossing my arms over my chest. “Why is it that every time you see me, you have to insult me in some way?”

Maddox rested his hands on the counter, his muscles bulging under his black shirt.

“Don’t be so quick to trust people you just met.”

“Are you talking about yourself?”

He’s becoming more and more confusing. I just can’t read this man.

Was he trying to… protect me from something? Or was he just finding new ways to insult me?

He clenched his jaw, pushing away from the counter.Slowly, he approached me, stopping just in front of me. His pitch-black eyes were fixed on mine, and I could feel my heart beat faster.

I didn’t know why his proximity was affecting me this way.

Maddox studied my face, his gaze lingering on my lips for a split second. But he quickly returned his focus to my eyes, leaving my lips burning from the brief glance.

I thought I saw something flicker in his eyes when he looked at my lips, but he covered it up fast, returning to his usual cold demeanor.

“Don’t be so naive and stupid, Allyn. I won’t be able to protect you from everything.”

He walked past me, bumping his shoulder into mine as he left the kitchen, leaving me alone with the chaos of thoughts he’d just created.

What the hell did that mean?

What is there to protect me from?

Once again, Maddox King left me with more questions than answers.

CHAPTER9

ALLYN

Sleep never found me that night.

I tossed and turned in bed, my mind unable to stop replaying the conversation with Maddox.Or how… threatening his gaze had been as if he were trying to warn me.

By morning, I made my way down the stairs with messy hair, dark circles under my eyes, and my face swollen from lack of sleep.I shuffled into the kitchen, trying to ignore the way the staff stared at me as I passed by. I’m sure I looked like a wreck.

Lara had knocked on my door at nine, saying breakfast would be brought to my room soon, but I told her I’d rather eat in the kitchen.

When I walked in, I expected it to be empty, but as I looked up, I froze. Maddox was sitting at his usual spot from last night but what caught my attention was the girl sitting next to him.

They were talking when I interrupted them— both stopped and turned their heads toward me.

And there I was, standing in the doorway, looking like a mess—hair a disaster, swollen face, bags under my eyes.

I flashed an awkward smile, not knowing what else to do.

Maddox’s gaze swept over me as he leaned forward, taking me in with an unreadable expression, his eyes scanning me up and down.

Only now did I notice that Maddox’s dark hair, usually fixed and slickedback, was messy and natural. It looked so damn soft.

And the girl… she was stunning.

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