Page 135 of Sinful Pleasure

“I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”

My body trembled violently now. I hugged myself tighter, as if trying to hold onto something—anything—steady.

After a moment of silence, he turned and made his way to a leather couch across the room. He motioned toward it, his voice steady despite everything.

“I think you should sit down for this conversation.”

CHAPTER40

MADDOX

My lips crashed against hers, the taste of her sweat mingling with the raw, desperate hunger consuming me. Every ounce of my remaining strength poured into that kiss—into holding her close, like she was a secret I couldn’t share with anyone.

“Maddox…”

Her voice, so soft yet so seductive, sent a jolt of heat through my entire body. I didn’t want to let her go, didn’t want to stop. Her body pressed against mine, every curve lighting me on fire.

She moaned my name again, louder this time, and I couldn’t hold back. My fingers moved to her, making her gasp, her body trembling as I worked her, pulling her to the edge.

She didn’t last long before she came undone, screaming my name, her nails digging into my skin as her body bucked beneath me. I swallowed her cries with my lips, the sound of her pleasure mingling with my own overwhelming need.

When she finally kissed me one last time, it felt different.

There was a distance in it, a sadness that made my chest tighten.

She pulled away, resting her forehead against mine, her cheeks flushed, but her eyes—her eyes were empty.

“Why did you do this?” she whispered, her voice breaking. “You left me.”

My heart dropped, heavy in my chest, sinking into the pit of my stomach. The words cut deeper than I ever thought possible.

I kissed her again, but this time, she didn’t kiss me back.

Her lips cold, distant, and I felt that distance like a punch to the gut.

“Everything is your fault,” she hissed, her nails digging into my skin harder than before, leaving blood in their wake.

Her eyes wet, angry, burning with something I couldn’t understand.

“I’m gone because of you.”

I turned away, my fists pounding against the punching bag in front of me, over and over—until my knuckles were raw, blood dripping from them.

Bang. Bang. Bang.

The pain from my bruised hands only made me hit harder.

Every time I closed my eyes, she was there. Haunting me. Torturing me.

I’ve had the same nightmare every damn night since she’s gone.

It ate away at me from the inside—gnawing at the parts of me I didn’t even know were broken.

And now, I couldn’t escape it.Every punch I threw was a desperate attempt to drown out the memory of her, but nothing worked.

She’s right. I was supposed to protect her.

I was her fucking bodyguard—the one who was supposed to put his life on the line to keep her safe—and I fucked it all up.

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