Page 29 of Sugar (Gilded #1)

Never Leave Evidence Behind

MADDIE

A s it turned out, there was a next time.

And a next, next time.

And a next, next, next time.

I’d been shocked when Easton hadn’t immediately called things off. Or ghosted me. I wouldn’t have blamed him for either. But he must’ve been fine with how we’d left it because he’d easily moved on.

In the week and a half since the infamous birthday dinner, there’d been no official events that required my attendance.

There’d still been multiple dinners, though.

A couple times, I’d had a pile of homework that couldn’t wait, and Easton had me do it in his office over takeout.

He’d even helped me talk through my plan for my advanced reporting capstone course.

Not that I’d chosen a topic, but we’d crossed a bunch of possibilities off the list.

Small victories.

He also texted me surprisingly often. Even on days when he was busy, I knew I would wake to a morning message and get one at night. Usually, that one was to scold me for being awake late—something I didn’t mind as much as I should’ve.

Usually.

The one he’d just sent, however, didn’t make me smile or laugh or melt.

It made me tense and anxious and wet.

It was a weird combination, but so were we.

Easton: My office. One. Do not be late, or I will come get you.

Me: May I ask what this is regarding?

Easton: You may not.

I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth and twisted my phone in my hold as I thought about what to do. The mystery of why he was summoning me would drive me insane. But the clipped tone he’d managed to convey over text made apprehension twist in my gut.

I reverted to my tried and true…

Procrastination.

Me: I can’t make it until later. Class.

His response was immediate.

Easton: I know your schedule. Wednesday is your short day. Be here at one.

Easton: Or should I come get you now?

Me: Nope. No. One is good. See you then.

Oh hell.

Easton

The light knock on my open office door was unnecessary.

I knew Maddie was there.

My entire body was aware.

Keeping my back to her, I gave a quick glance over my shoulder to confirm no one else was around. June had the tendency to appear whenever Maddie was around and lure her out to the lobby to visit the fish they both seemed inordinately attached to.

There was only one guppy I cared about.

And I didn’t feel like sharing her.

Since she was alone, I let my displeasure seep into my voice. “Come in and close the door.”

She did as I ordered.

Technically .

She barely shuffled two steps in before only partially closing the door.

“Madeline.”

The heavy wood rattled as she hurriedly slammed it, but she still didn’t come further in.

Smart .

I gave her that distance.

For then.

Walking from behind my desk, I stopped at the side of it. I kept my eyes on her as I tossed the heavy pad I held down to land with a clatter on my keyboard. She jolted at the sound, but her wide eyes stayed locked on me.

Again…

Smart.

I waited for her to start fidgeting under my stare before taking pity on her. “I made an interesting discovery today.”

“Oh?” she prompted when I didn’t continue.

That kind of opening and heavy silence was often enough to make the guilty spew excuses, confessions, or counterattacks.

Maddie offered up none.

Too bad I already had the evidence of her wrongdoings on my desk.

I grabbed the offending object and held it up between my index and middle finger. “Would you care to explain why I found this tucked in my desk with your favorite pens you keep stealing from me?”

Not that I cared. I’d already ordered more.

She gave me a vapid blink when we both knew she was anything but. She took her clueless act a step further. “Oh, is that where that went? I must’ve misplaced it.”

“That defense might’ve been more believable if you hadn’t left it under your sticky notes.”

That time, her surprise was genuine, and it was a safe bet leaving the papers had been an accident. She rallied. “Maybe those are yours.”

“Hot pink ones covered in doodles?”

She grimaced, and her word came out as a question. “Yes?”

Fuck, she’s cute.

Always, but especially right then. Her dark hair was piled on her head with little pieces escaping to get in her face.

Her loose jeans were low on her hips, and the strategic holes gave peeks of her tanned thighs.

The damn cropped tee was the same one she’d been wearing the first time I saw her.

And just like that night, I itched to touch her skin.

She looked every bit the pretty college student, and I was a sick bastard for wanting her so badly anyway.

“Come here.”

She must’ve known she’d pushed it far enough because she immediately closed the distance between us.

“When did you hide this?”

“Last week,” she admitted.

I looked down at her as I held out the black card. “I’m not going to tell you again, Madeline. This is yours. Use. It.”

She took it and slipped it into her faded purse that’d seen better days.

I made a mental note to send June on another shopping trip that would undoubtedly include more items for her, but it could wait.

Maddie couldn’t.

Despite her silent compliance, she kept her gaze averted. I didn’t like that.

Gripping her chin, I tilted it back so she had no choice but to look at me. “Whatever the voice is that’s filling your head with bullshit, ignore it. I want you to use it, and that’s all that matters.”

“Got it,” she whispered.

“Do you have schoolwork?” At her headshake, I narrowed my eyes. “Actually no or your version of no that means not until the last second?”

That finally got her to smile. “Actually no.”

“You’re still spending the rest of the day here.”

“I figured,” she said. She started to head for her favored chair, and I let her get a couple steps away before gripping her wrist. Like every time I did it, her wide eyes shot to me.

And like every time I did it, her response shot to my dick.

“I want you next to me while I work today.”

Her lips curved down and her brows lowered.

She didn’t voice her clear confusion, though.

She reached for the chair opposite my desk with the intention of dragging it around to my side like she’d done when she’d used her big fucking eyes to get me to show her my system—minus any of the confidential stuff, much to her chagrin.

“I didn’t say anything about the chair,” I said, using my hold to tug her back.

Releasing her, I moved across the room to grab one of the decorative pillows from the couch. It wasn’t as large as the cushions at Gilded, but it would work. I held her gaze as I dropped it on the floor next to my chair.

It was a stupid fucking demand—particularly when I was so busy. If she laughed in my face and left, I would get nothing done. But if she sat? I would spend the day painfully hard.

And still get nothing done.

If I was smart, I would forced a laugh I sure as hell didn’t feel before telling her I was kidding.

I didn’t.

I sat like her obedience was a foregone conclusion when it rarely was. At least not without a thousand questions first. I waited for her to launch in with them.

Or the laughter.

Or maybe for her to use my sharp letter opener to stab me in the dick for suggesting it.

Instead, she pulled her cell from her back pocket and gracefully dropped to her knees.

I didn’t say anything. I did, however, reach behind one of the decorative bullshits in my office to pull out the iced coffee I’d hidden out of view.

She gave a happy gasp. “Thanks.”

I finally allowed myself to look at her.

On her knees.

Smiling up at me.

Fucking hell.

Maybe I can install a set of cuffs like Gilded, too.