Page 27 of Maddox

“He’s into BDSM,” Tammy shared in a whisper, much to my annoyance. How did she know?

“Ooh,” Nicola drawled. “Whip me, beat me, Daddy!” she cried in a high-pitched voice, loud enough the people closest heard even above the music. She leaned forward. “Itotallyunderstand though, you poor thing. I’m not surprised you can’t stand to be around men anymore, especially a man likethat.”

Tammy flushed as I turned to her in horror. She’d told people? No one knew.No one.

I took a shaky breath, suddenly feeling overwhelmed. The noise of the club, the press of bodies, Nicola's interest in Maddox—it was all too much.

"I need some air," I mumbled, standing abruptly.

“Clare,” Tammy whispered. “I’m—” But I wasn’t interested and pushed my way through the crowd, heading for the exit. As I burst out onto the street, I gulped in the cool night air, trying to calm my racing heart. I whirled as I heard the door behind me open.

“Clare? What’s wrong?”

I recognized Maddox’s voice in time to stop the startled cry leaving my lips and I whirled around to see him standing there, concern etched on his face. For a moment, I was tempted to throw myself into his arms, to let him comfort me. But I held myself back.

"Nothing," I said quickly. "I just needed some air."

Maddox took a step closer, his eyes searching my face. "It’s not really safe out here on your own.”

I heard the disapproval in his voice. “Did you follow me?”

“Absolutely,” he agreed instantly, and I got my first glimpse of the bossy yet protective side of his Daddy coming out. “I can tell something's upset you. Was it something I did? If so, I'm sorry—"

"No," I cut him off. "It wasn't you. It's just..." I trailed off, unsure how to explain.

Maddox waited patiently, giving me time to gather my thoughts.

"My friend, Tammy. It was her birthday the last time I was here.” I paused, because the betrayal still stung. "She told the others about...what happened to me. And her friend, Nicola, was full of fake sympathy. Understood how I would never be ready for a man like you, and pleased she could go hit on you, because I clearly wasn’t interested, and—" I broke off, embarrassed by the surge of jealousy I'd felt.

Maddox’s eyes narrowed. “And?” he prompted. “Is there a doubt in there, princess? I thought, despite how much I desperately want to spend time with you, you weren’t interested.”

His words sent a confusing mix of relief and panic through me. "But I pushed you away," I whispered. "I keep pushing you away."

Maddox stepped closer, close enough that I could feel the warmth radiating from his body. "In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m a stubborn ass," he said softly, and caught my hands in his. "Plus, it would take a lot to physically push me way, and these delicate hands, princess, just aren’t meant for hard labor."

I gazed up at him. I so wanted to let go. To be his. To have my Little come back and be cared for.

I shivered even though standing next to him was like being next to a space heater.

“We should go back inside.”

I nodded, but I felt my shoulders drop. Going back to see Tammy or Nicola was the last thing I wanted. “I’m going to go home.”

“I will take you,” he decreed, leaving no room for argument, and a little shiver of something trickled down my spine at his commanding words and headed for somewhere lower.

“Maybe we can share a hot chocolate at yours before I leave?”

“I don’t have any,” I whispered.

He met my gaze, as if trying to work out what I meant. Hell, good luck with that, because I didn’t know myself.

“We could go back to mine if you want. You know I have some. I even have cream and sprinkles,” he tempted.

“Creamandsprinkles?” I asked, my voice breathy. My lips pouted before I could stop them. “Chocolate sprinkles or rainbow sprinkles?”

He tucked my arm in his. “Both. A Little girl needs options, doesn't she?"

I felt a flutter in my chest at his words. Part of me wanted to protest that I wasn't a Little girl, that I didn't need sprinkles or hot chocolate. But a larger part—the part I'd been trying so hard to suppress—longed for exactly that.

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