Page 51 of Sinful Pleasure

“Yep,” I replied, managing a small smile. “The one and only.”

“Well, this should be fun,” Lydia said with a grin, sitting up slightly. “I hope she likes me.”

“She will,” I said, my tone softer. “She likes everyone.”

Even if Tamara didn’t, Lydia had a way of winning people over. At least for tonight, I could try to enjoy something normal— something that reminded me of who I was before all of this.

‘‘A girl’s night in?’’ I suggested.

“Girl, no fucking chance.” She got up from my bed, a playful smile on her lips. “Let’s go out and have some real fun.”

I considered it for a second. Tamara would be up for it. I could already hear her enthusiastic “yes” in my head.

“Do you want to go to a club? I can arrange that.”

Lydia’s grin grew bigger, and she clapped her hands.

“That’s what I’m talking about.”

But then the reality hit me, and my smile faltered.

“What about Maddox?” I asked, watching as Lydia’s excitement remained undeterred.

“What about him?

“Angelo ordered him to keep an eye on me. I doubt he’d let us go out without him.”

She just laughed.

“Leave my brother to me, babe,” she winked at me. “Get dressed, and we’ll meet downstairs in thirty minutes.”

Before I could protest further, she blew me a kiss and left my room.I stood there for a moment, uncertain of what was going on in my head.

Why did the idea of Maddox not being with us feel off? Shouldn’t I be relieved that he wouldn’t be there?There was that nagging feeling deep in my gut— like I wanted him to be there.

And that realization was maddening.

I shouldn’t care. I shouldn’t even be thinking about him.

That kiss we shared had meant nothing to him.

He’d made that clear with every cold, calculated move since then, avoiding me like I didn’t exist.

But for some reason, I couldn’t shake the feeling that maybe it meant something to me. A small part of me was still reeling from it.

I sighed, pulling myself together.

I should be thankful for the chance to go out, have fun, and let go. I should be putting on a short dress and enjoying the night with Lydia and Tamara.

But instead, I stood there like a fool, still thinking about a kiss that I had no business thinking about.

I might hate his guts, but I’m not a liar.

Maddox King is one devastatingly attractive asshole. The key word here is asshole.God must have taken his sweet time crafting this man, but beyond that, he was nothing more than an arrogant dick.

That much we’d already established.

I was convinced this man had no emotions, no depth. He carried himself like a robot, cold and calculated, programmed to intimidate and destroy.

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