Page 40 of Madness

Alone again, I let my mind wander for a few minutes. Let myself drown in my miserable life. The unpaid bills on my dresser felt like a shining red light. The weight of my life, my limited choices, felt heavier than the pain in my body. I thought again of the oblivion of death. Or letting myself succumb to the nothingness.

I rubbed my eyes and reached for the book I’d been reading. Depressive thoughts weren’t going to change anything. I knew it was only brain chemistry. It would pass.

A knock sounded at the door. Maybe Tessa had forgotten something.

“It’s open.” I called, not bothering to get up and feel the aches running through my body.

Instead of Tessa, a beautiful demon walked into my apartment like he owned it. Maddox wore another of his suits; black jacket, no tie, white shirt with a couple of buttons undone, showing off a tattoo I’d never fully seen. He’d touched the most intimate parts of me, and I’d never even seen his chest. That should be weirder than it was.

“You shouldn’t let anyone just walk in.” He said as he stood in the middle of the room. He made my tiny apartment feel even smaller. It was like he was sucking all the oxygen from the air.

“I thought you were Tessa.” I said as I moved to the end of the bed, planning to stand up.

“No.” His hand came to my shoulder to keep me sitting. “You need to rest.”

My brows pulled together as I looked at him. I wanted to say something sassy. Tell him I wasn’t his concern or ask why he cared, but I swallowed down my reaction. He had saved me last night. As much as that and him made no sense to me, I did owe him my life.

“What are you doing here?” A thought popped into my head. “Wait, last night, how did you know where I lived? I never told you, but your driver took us right here.”

Maddox smiled as his hand trailed down from my shoulder to my wrist. His strong fingers wrapped around my delicate bones. I knew he could feel my pulse jump at his touch. I fought the urge to rip my hand away. But I was down, fighting my body’s reaction to him. My mind was conflicted, but my body knew exactly what it wanted. No matter how bad it was for me.

“I thought I made it clear; I can find out anything I want about you, Kincaid.” His voice was like a caress, trying to draw me to his side. I managed to resist.

“Well, thank you again… for what you did last night.” The words weren’t enough. I didn’t know what else to say. What were you supposed to say when the psycho Mafia boss who liked to torture you saved you from another monster who wanted to rape you?

Oh my god, what was my life? It had taken a very sharp turn from rough into complete agony over the last year.

Maddox leaned forward, his smoky scent enveloping me as he placed a soft kiss on the top of my head. “No one hurts you, little dove.” It might have been sweet if he had stopped there. “Except for me.”

My pulse jumped again. I pulled my wrist from his hand and sat further back on the bed. I drew the sheets up to cover my body, only now realizing I was still wearing underwear and my thin tank top without a bra.

“What are you doing here, Maddox?”

“I came to offer you a job.” He stood near the edge of my bed, not exactly towering over me, but also not giving me space.

“A job?” I asked skeptically.

“Continue to keep me company. The same rate will apply. $2,000 a night.” My nails dug into the sheet I held at my chest as my blood boiled.

“I’m not a fucking whore.” My voice shook with rage. Yes, I might have taken his money before, but those were isolated incidents. This was a commitment. This was admitting I was selling my body. There was no confusion his intentions.

“I didn’t say that.” His jaw clenched like my response angered him. Fuck him. I was the one who deserved to be angry at his suggestions.

“I don’t need yourjob.”I sneered at the last word. “There are plenty of places that need waitresses. I’ll find something else.”

He stared at me for a minute before speaking again. When he did, his hand came out. His fingers lightly caressing my face. It was the softest he’d ever touched me. But again, his words ruined the gesture. “You could try. But I own this city. No one will hire you once I threaten their lives.”

My mouth parted in shock, he latched onto the opportunity, his thumb tracing my bottom lip before pressing inside. His skin was salty on my tongue, and I hated myself for wanting to suck. Wanting to taste more of him. I jerked my head away from him and looked at the dingy white walls of my disgusting apartment. An apartment I could barely afford.

“I’m not your whore.” I whispered again. He pulled my face back to look at me. I saw the sadism in his eyes.

“You are whatever I want you to be. Right now, you’re a little slut for me to do with as I please. Whether you take the money or not, it’s up to you. But you have no choice in how I use you.”

I stared into his piercing dark blue eyes while possibilities and questions whirred through my mind. I knew he was capable of what he said. If he wanted to, he could make my life impossible. Not once had I been able to avoid him or stop myself from wanting him. Even though I knew what he was. Knew what he would do to me.

I knew he’d come after me regardless of if I took his offer. Maybe if I did, I could have control of the situation. I couldn’t pretend the money wasn’t tempting. I could make more in a week than I’d make in a month. I could pay off my debt.

Another part of me knew it wasn’t only about the money. His touch lit me up more than anyone ever had. This could be my chance to explore the part of me I never wanted to let out. Maddox wouldn’t judge me. But would I be able to control it?

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