There are fleeting moments when the tender side of Maddox penetrates my armor. There’s something genuine about him beneath all his antics. It’s one of the reasons he was the person Isought help from when my world crumbled around me. And I’ll give it to him—he showed up in a way no one else ever had.
Maddox strolls inside, one hand in his pocket, like he’s simply here to hang out. Not walking into a scene from a real-life horror film. His gaze sails all over the carnage before it docks on me with a trace of panic. Still, he tries to mask it, rushing toward me, stooping down, and brushing my hair back. “You’ll be okay, Tess. I’ll take care of everything.”
“I didn’t know who else to call.” My voice is like sandpaper, rough and painful, and my heart hammers my sternum.
I glance down. There’s so much blood. It’s everywhere.
And the racket. It won’t stop. Why the hell won’t it stop? My ears are ringing.
“You did the right thing, calling me.” He lifts my chin, his fingers instantly coated in crimson, and the full moon casts a wild serenity on his eyes. “I’ve got you.”
He was amazing, until he fucked it all up.
Still, his vow to protect my family is appreciated, so I soften. “Thank you. I believe you will.” Soft isn’t really my nature, so that’s as much as I’ve got. “Tell me what this is about then because you’re either lying or a nuisance, and you’re not welcome in my space.”
In answer to that, he swings the door open wider, skirts past me, and breezes into the lobby while I scurry behind him, steaming.
As I’m contemplating reporting Maddox to the ancient security guy at the desk, he presses the button to the elevator and greets him, like they’re old buddies. “Good to see you again, Harold.”
“Always a pleasure, Mr. Noire. Got the bike out today?”
“Figured I might as well.” He throws a thumb at me, his brows cocked. “This one was grumpy, so I thought it was best not to ride with her.”
Harold grunts in what appears to be agreement, and Maddox widens his eyes with a commiserating nod. LikeI’mthe lunatic.
Admittedly, I’ve never spoken to Harold. I’ve never even looked at him. For all I know, he started today. I’m not a people person. What can I say?
The elevator dings. I growl under my breath and step inside. Maddox joins me, waving to the security guard.
And Harold croons, “Good luck, sir,” as the doors close us inside.
Irked that Maddox pushed the correct floor, I brace myself against the wall. “You’re ridiculous.”
“I’m not the one failing Etiquette 101. First, you try to deny me sweet tea.” He slants his head and grumbles a dramatic, “Rude. But I’ve got broad shoulders and a huge dick, so I can take it. Would it kill you to be nice to Harold?”
I cross my arms over my chest with a petulant huff. “Everything that comes out of your mouth is asinine. Are you suggesting that I find out if Harold has a tiny dick?”
His lips twitch, and he tips his chin, like he’s in on a secret. “That’s not the dick you’re interested in.”
That’s what he went with? Our conversation is dropping IQ points by the second.
So, of course, like any self-respecting woman, I stoop to his level. “True. The cock I’m desperate for has my name tattooed above it and instinctively knows where to hit to make me scream.” I bite my lip and sigh a dreamy, “Good times.”
That’s all fantasy. I mean, I’ve had great sex, but no one crazy enough to brand themselves for me. While I’m not a huge reader, unhinged dark-romance fodder swims in my veins, though in real life, that would be alarming. But the mereimplication worked like a charm. He’s finally speechless, and his jaw and fists are clenched, as if he were throttling that all-knowing devoted penis.
I’m internally celebrating when an uneasy hunch hits me. “How do you know Harold?”
The doors slide open with a ding, and Maddox marches toward my apartment, calling over his shoulder, “Remember when you moved out of your house downtown, how this was the only place that had an immediate vacancy?”
He arranged for this lease? What the hell? He has his hands in every damn facet of my life.
The visions I’m having now are far more violent than kneeing him in the balls.
“Your eyes are twitching, Dollface.” He smirks with his use of that detestable nickname and holds out his palm. “Key?”
Gritting my teeth and embracing my inner lunatic, I straighten my posture so I can meet him eye to neck with my heel height. “You are not coming in.”
“Fine.” He leans against the wall by my door, hovering above a plant stand that hasn’t had a plant on it since I killed the last one months ago. He’s relaxed but maybe mildly leery of how wild my eyes must be. And his smile is deranged, rage-inducing, and sadly …beguiling. “I’ll forgo my landlord privileges today, and we’ll work up to that. I’ve owned the building for two and a half years and managed to restrain myself. But I’ll be here tomorrow at ten to pick you up. No need for your car. You’re riding with me.”
