Contracted To The Beast novel Chapter 25

Chapter 25

龍

i stormed out of Maddox’s apartment with my heart hammering so hard against my ribs I was sure he could hear it through the closed door. My palms felt clammy. My legs moved on their own, carrying me down the hallway toward the elevator like I was running from something I could not name.

He had almost kissed me. I knew it in my bones. The way his thumb brushed my lip. The way his eyes dropped to my mouth like he was starving. And the worst part? I knew I would not have stopped him. Not right away. His touch still burned on my skin even now.

I hated how much power he had over me. Maddox Kane could ruin my mood with one sentence and unravel me with one touch.

That was the dangerous part.

How easily he could make my body forget every reason I had to despise him.

The elevator doors closed with a soft ding. My reflection stared back at me from the mirrored walls. Flushed cheeks. Wide eyes. Lips still swollen from where his thumb touched them.

God.

What the hell was wrong with me?

I leaned against the cool metal wall and closed my eyes. Anger and disgust twisted together in my stomach. Disgust at him for playing these games. Disgust at myself for still feeling anything at all.

I stepped into my apartment and shut the door behind me. The file he had given me landed with a slap on the coffee table. I slid down the wall until I sat on the floor, knees drawn up to my chest. Silence filled the apartment, but my pulse still thundered in my ears.

I could still feel him standing too close.

I still smell his cologne.

Cedarwood. Whiskey. Masculine. Sinful.

My phone. Where was my phone? I patted my pockets. Nothing.

“Shit.”

I must have left it in his apartment. There was no way Maddox would bring it to me. I took a deep breath, pushed myself up. and stepped back into the hallway. My bare feet felt cold against the floor. My hands shook as I pressed his doorbell again.

“The door is open,” his gruff voice called from inside.

I pushed the door open. Maddox sat shirtless on the couch, a glass of whiskey in one hand. His dark hair looked slightly damp like he had just showered. Tattoos curled over his arm and disappeared beneath the waistband of his gray sweatpants.

Dangerous.

That was the only word my traitorous brain could come up with.

He looked like trouble wrapped in muscle and bad decisions.

My phone rested in his other hand. His eyes dragged slowly over my body before settling back on my face.

Heat crawled up my neck instantly.

14:36 Tue, Jul 7 M

Chapter 25

“What did I say to you about Beck?” he demanded before I could speak.

“Who I text is none of your business,” I shot back. “Just like who you decide to stick your cock in is none of mine”

His jaw tightened.

For a second he just stared at me like he wanted to say something cruel back.

But surprisingly, no words came out.

I stepped forward and snatched my phone from his hand.

“You are always giving orders,” I snapped. “Do this. Stay there. Smile for the cameras. Move into the condo.”

I pointed at him angrily.

“You do not care how any of this affects me as long as your image stays clean.”

I turned on my heel and walked out, slamming the door behind me. My chest heaved as I marched back to my apartment. I was tired of being told what to do. Tired of playing whatever role they needed me to play. Tired of smiling when I wanted to

scream.

I locked my door, stripped off my clothes, and stepped into the shower. Hot water poured over my skin, I scrubbed at my skin harder than necessary like I could somehow wash him off me.

It did not work.

I stood there for a long time, letting it beat against my shoulders. Steam filled the small space. My muscles slowly loosened. but my mind refused to quiet.

When I finally got out, I did my night routine on autopilot. Face mask. Moisturizer I slipped into a loose maxi night dress that brushed softly against my legs. I sent a quick text to Mom to check on her and Zara. They were both fine. That small piece of good news settled something in my chest.

I really missed my baby.

Some nights the guilt nearly ate me alive.

But I had to keep my distance for now. The paparazzi could not find out aboju Zara. If anyone looked too closely, they would see it immediately.

Those gray eyes.

Maddox’s eyes.

I would never forgive myself if my choices dragged my daughter into this mess.

I climbed into bed and stared at the ceiling. My life has changed so fast. A few weeks ago my biggest worry was overdue bills and making it home in time to tuck Zara into bed.

Now my entire life felt like a carefully balanced lie waiting to collapse.

Maddox’s words from earlier echoed in my head. “I scheduled an appointment with a therapist for you.” He said it like it was the simplest thing in the world. Like fixing anxiety was as easy as changing a tire. No empathy. No understanding. Just another order.

I turned onto my side and pulled the blanket higher. Sleep took a long time to come.

When I finally drifted off, I dreamed of stormy gray eyes and hands that touched me too gently for a man who claimed to

C

Chapter 25

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