Page 7 of Sinful Pleasure

“As much as I’m enjoying this sweet little conversation, I’m tired. So, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to bed. Enjoy the rest of your dinner.”

I didn’t wait for a response.

I turned sharply, my heels clicking against the marble floor like a countdown, each step an urgent echo that pushed me further away from their suffocating presence.The last thing I needed right now was to spend another second in that room.

But then, just as my hand reached for the doorknob, her voice pierced through the silence.

“Maddox will accompany you tomorrow.”

I didn’t respond. I couldn’t.

I simply left, slamming the door behind me with enough force to rattle the walls, my heart racing in my chest, the sound of it drowning out everything else.

CHAPTER3

ALLYN

When I was little, I couldn’t wait to grow up.

It seemed like such a dream to be old enough to make my own decisions, to chart my own course and to be free—to choose my own path.Now, I’m at that age, the one where I’m supposed to be able to do all of those things.

Except, I can’t.

It hit me this morning just how real it all was. The weight of it.

When I walked out of my house and saw Maddox trailing behind me like some sort of shadow.

If I take one step, he takes two.

He was already waiting by the car when I showed up, looking like he hadn’t slept a wink. Seven in the morning, and there he was, looking fresh and wide-eyed, ready to follow me around like a dog.

We didn’t say a word to each other when I got in. The silence in the car was suffocating, broken only by my directions as I navigated him to the shelter. He didn’t even bother to turn on the music as if the silence itself was a tool he was using to slowly drive me mad.

He was dressed more casually today—black shirt clinging to every curve of his muscled body, his biceps straining against the fabric.

I hated that I noticed that.

Black pants, black shoes and black sunglasses hid his eyes.

It was like he was wearing a uniform that screamed “bodyguard,” which somehow, suited him.

It made me sick how much it suited him.

The black, the darkness—it was like the only color that could capture his whole vibe.

And I wasn’t the only one who couldn’t tear my eyes off of him. There was something about him that made everyone look.

I didn’t know if it was the way he moved or the way he looked at the world with such disinterest, but they couldn’t help themselves.

Tamara and the girls at the shelter were practically drooling over him.

It amazed me how Maddox didn’t even seem to notice the female attention he was getting—or maybe he just didn’t care enough. Not even a single glance in their direction. He stuck to me like a shadow, following me closely, but always leaving just enough space to make me feel his presence without actually being too close.

After we fed all the dogs, fixed the beds where they slept, and let them play in the large outdoor area of the shelter, I found a quiet corner to sit and watch them run around, carefree and happy.

This was my favorite part of the day.

After all the work was done, just watching the dogs enjoy themselves always made me feel at peace. We’ve had a lot of people showing interest in adopting lately, and that’s another reason to smile. It was always the best feeling, knowing that we were making a difference in their lives.

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