Page 42 of Sinful Pleasure

“Leave them to me,” he cut me off, his glare sharp and unyielding. “Just go.”

But I didn’t move. I couldn’t.My body was turned completely toward Maddox, my eyes locked on his shadowy figure. I wasn’t that drunk, but it was still enough to make me feel lightheaded, given how easily I got tipsy.

“I don’t understand you, Maddox,” I whispered, breaking the silence that filled the car. “You’re so confusing.”

“You’re not supposed to understand me.” He nodded toward the gate, his voice cold. “Go. Now.”

“No.’’

Maddox snapped his head toward me, his brows shooting up in confusion.

“No?”

“I’m tired of you telling me what to do all the time. I want to do what I want.”

His serious dark face cracked, the corner of his lip curling into what resembled a grin.

‘‘Oh really?” I nodded.“And what is it that you want to do?” he asked, his voice dipping, mocking as iflaughingat me. “Drink all night in some shitty bar, I assume?”

My eyes drifted to his lips, completely unbidden. I didn’t mean to—really, I didn’t.It just… happened.

“You want to know what I want to do?” my throat throbbed as I swallowed. He nodded.

“Right now, I want to kiss you.”I blurred out the words before I even had a chance to think them through.

It’s wrong and messed up and the last thing on my mind should be kissing my future husband’s brother but screw it.

I’m drunk and hot and pissed and the thought of kissing this prick is bothering my mind for longer than I would ever admit.

I can’t stand him— that’s a fact.

But it’s a fact that has nothing to do with my desire to kiss him.

Maddox stayed unreadable, as if my words didn’t surprised him, but something was different. The spark in his eyes it’s more visible, stronger as if he has the same thoughts as mine.

After some time, I spoke again.

‘‘Forget it. It was stupid I-’’

‘‘Do it.’’

“What?”

“You were so vocal about what you want, yeah?”

Maddox leaned back, spreading his legs slightly.

“So, do it.”

It sounded like a challenge. A game he was certain I would back out of.His eyes sparked with anticipation, like he was ready to laugh the moment I turned and ran.

He thinks I won’t do it. He thinks I’m a coward.

A sudden rush of adrenaline hit me, every nerve in my body tingling with over-stimulation. Maddox looked too relaxed, too confident—too infuriatingly handsome for his own good.

His gaze dropped to my lips, and it burned, setting my skin alight. Instinctively, I wet them.

Do it, Allyn. Prove him wrong.

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