Page 99 of Sinful Pleasure

“Why not?” he asked, his lips curling into a small, teasing smile. “A drink is always a good idea.”

His confidence was disarming, but I kept my guard up, glancing over my shoulder toward the door Maddox had disappeared through.

I felt his hand graze my waist as he gently guided me toward the bar. My skin prickled under his touch, but not from pleasure.I decided not to cause a scene. Maybe he was just being polite, I reasoned. So, I played along.

At the bar, he pulled out a chair for me and took the seat beside mine. His casual confidence was almost suffocating as he ordered another round of drinks.

The bartender, who Maddox had tasked with looking after me, glanced our way nervously. Sweat gleamed on his forehead, and his hands fumbled as he poured the drinks, but he kept his mouth shut.

Meanwhile, I found it nearly impossible to focus on the man in front of me.He was talking, but I wasn’t listening. His words were white noise in the background as I kept glancing toward the door Maddox had disappeared behind.

Then, out of nowhere, I felt his hand brush against my cheek as he tucked a stray lock of hair behind my ear.

His fingers lingered for a moment, tracing the curve of my face.

The touch was gentle, even kind—but completely unwelcome.

“Is everything alright, Allyn?” he asked, his voice soft and concerned. The sound of my name on his lips felt wrong.

Before I could answer, his hand was yanked away so fast it startled me. In a blink, Maddox was there.

He didn’t just appear—he stormed in, his massive frame radiating fury. He grabbed the man and tossed him to the ground as if he weighed nothing.

Maddox stepped in front of me like a shield.

He stood tall and unyielding, his shoulders squared, his fists clenched at his sides. His body heaved with each breath, and though I couldn’t see his face, I could feel the raw, violent energy rolling off him.

The man on the floor scrambled backward, his wide eyes filled with pure terror.

“Get the fuck away from her,” Maddox growled, his voice low and dangerous, like the rumble of distant thunder.

“Maddox, stop!” I shouted, stepping between him and the man on the floor.

I pressed my hand against his chest, the heat of his body almost burning through the fabric of his shirt.His eyes—blazing and wild—met mine for the briefest moment.

“What is wrong with you?” I yelled, my voice cracking.

His eyes were pure black—wild, burning with a fury that seemed to consume him entirely. It was as if he couldn’t hear a word I was saying, his gaze locked on the man behind me.

“Get out of my way, Allyn.”

The coldness in his tone made my stomach turn, a shiver crawling up my spine—not from fear, but from the sheer force of his anger.

“Leave him alone. He didn’t do anything!”

“I’m sorry, Maddox, I swear I didn’t know she’s with you,” the man stammered, barely managing to push himself up. His eyes were wide, filled with terror, and he staggered back, keeping a safe distance behind me.

The only thing preventing Maddox from obliterating him was me standing there—like a thin, fragile barrier.

“If I had known, I would never have come close to her.” the man continued, his voice laced with desperation. But Maddox’s wrath wasn’t something to be appeased by apologies.

In a move that was faster than I could process, Maddox shoved me aside and seized the man by his collar with one powerful motion. The man gasped for air as Maddox’s massive hand tightened, pulling him close and lifting him slightly off the ground.

“You should be on your knees, thanking whatever god you believe in that I didn’t cut off your useless fingers for touching her,” Maddox growled, his voice deadly quiet.

The contrast between them was almost laughable—Maddox was a mountain, and the man was a mouse. The fight was over before it had even started.

“I’m sorry, Maddox,” the man choked out, his voice breaking. “I didn’t know she’s your girl, I swear. I’m sorry, come on… we’re friends, aren’t we?”

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