Page 108 of Pink Ink

“Let me explain—”

He doesn’t get the chance to before I throat-punch him. He rears back, sputtering a cough. I’ve bought myself thirty seconds at most since my limbs lacked the power.

I don’t wait for him to recover to bolt for my satchel on the counter. I’m a fucking coward for being too mortified to look her in the eye, thinking a whispered “I’m so sorry” is enough to say to her after the damage I caused.

I’m back in Maddox’s arms before I get the chance to make it to the door.

“Out.Now,” Maddox snarls at his brother and hisfiancéewhile he easily clamps both my arms to my sides. They scramble out, leaving me alone with Maddox. Bile lurches up my throat. My head is screaming from trying so hard to fight him off. “Reyna, calm down.”

Calm down?This motherfucker.

“Letgo of me,” I hiss. Dots form in my vision.

“Jesus Christ, woman. Stay still for two minutes so I can exp—”

“No,” I growl, elbowing him weakly in the stomach. “You don’t get to call the shots, asshole. There is nothing you can say because I’m not going to listen to a word that comes out of your lying fucking mouth. I hate—”

“Don’t you dare finish that sentence, or—”

“Or what?”I suck in a sharp breath, and flinch back. “Never mind, don’t answer that one.”

“Bloody hell.” He spins me around, and I just about pass out from the sloshing of my brain. Steady hands gripping the back of my neck to force me to look at him. “I’m going to say this once, and only once: I am willing to hurt everyone around you, but I will never hurt you.”

“Andher.” I sound so disgustingly bitter, I don’t recognize myself. Doessheknow about what he does? Shit, shouldn’t she be here yelling her head off at me—or him—for the things we’ve done?

“It’s an arranged marriage,” he blurts.

That stops me. Only for a second.

“Bullshit,”I seethe.

“It’s the truth. She means nothing to me.”

I scowl, relishing in the pain along my cheek. Maddox doesn’t strike me as the type of man who would sneak around with other women. He especially doesn’t strike me as the type who’d say things without meaning it.

Maybe he’s telling the truth. She didn’t seem to care much that I walked down the steps wearing nothing but his shirt. And she left without saying a word to me.

It still doesn’t change that he lied.

I start struggling in his grip again. “I don’t care if she’s your pretend fiancée. I’m not going to be anyone’s mistress. Least of allyours.”

“I’ve never cared about her—never have and never will.”

“I don’t give a shit! You lied to me. You made me believe that I was the only one and you—”

He slams his lips against mine. It halts my traitorous body from its attack. Warmth curls all the way down to my toes because the kiss is filled with more intimacy than any other time our lips have met.

Maddox pulls away before I can come to my senses. His hoarse breath heats my lips as he presses our foreheads together. “I’ve never had the chance to choose before, and I’m sick of being complacent with the cards I’ve been dealt. It’s you. I’m pickingyou.”

Lie. Lie. Lie.

“Stop lying,” I croak.

“Only you.”

I wish that were true.

“Always,” he whispers against my lips.