What I find is surprising.
Maddox: Are you okay?
Me: I screwed up your call, have you hiding out from Axel and Ryker, pissed at Cash, not to mention how I humiliated you in an intimate position, and you want to know if I’m okay?
Maddox: First, of course I want to know if you’re okay. Need to know actually.
That has a fleet of butterflies swarming inside my stomach. What is he doing to me?
Maddox: Second, you just sold Cash out, which I know was an accident, and I already knew he was behind it, but you gotta watch those slipups, baby.
Shit. He’s right. I assumed since he knew I was there to mess with him and Cash was banging on the door, he connected it, but I should have waited to figure that out.
Maddox: And third, that’s not how I would have wanted that to go. I know it was a prank, but I’ve thought about that, about you, a lot. So, I’m not humiliated. I’m good. Other than worrying about you feeling bad or embarrassed.
I think I prefer him being an asshole. I know how to hold my own with that. This is … mystifying.
Me: It shouldn’t have happened. I’m sorry. I was pissed and handled it wrong. Thank you for checking on me.
Maddox: Pissed or looking for an excuse to wrap those pouty lips around me, like my prediction this morning?
A laugh flows out of me. I can work with flirty.
Me: Keep dreaming. I made a deal with another Noire devil. That’s all.
Maddox: Fine. I’ll play along. Why were you pissed enough to resort to that?
Me: Let’s not get into that, unless you’re ready to tell me what’s going on.
Maddox: Not like this.
Me: But you will?
Maddox: Yes. Soon.
Springing up in bed, I stare at the text. That means so many things that I don’t want it to. Someone knows something. He’s been protecting me, but lying about it. He didn’t want to get to know me. I dismiss that last thought. It has no place here.
Me: Am I in danger? Is that why I have guards outside my door?
Maddox: You were privy to a confidential call, but I’m handling things. You need to trust me.
Me: Not likely.
Maddox: And that’s our problem.
Me: We, as in you and me, don’t have a problem, Drac.
Maddox: Keep telling yourself that. But I saw that hungry look in your eyes when you tasted me today. Once will never be enough.
I don’t respond because he’s right. I did want more, but that is a terrible idea that would only complicate my life further. And it’s not at all what’s important here. He’s got me so off-balance between the flirting and the sweetness and the admission that there is something to fill me in on, something that has him stationing guards around my apartment. Unless the security precaution really is about me being in his office during that call.
I wipe my sweaty palms on my comforter as a follow-up text appears.
Maddox: Don’t be mad at me because you can’t stop thinking about it.
Another laugh leaks out of me. He’s hard to ignore.
Me: Is this why you checked on me? Because you’re obsessed with me and delusional enough to assume the feeling is mutual?
