“Sleep,” I said and turned toward her, my arm looping around her waist. After a moment’s pause, I leaned my forehead against hers. “Don’t think. Just sleep. I know those orgasms took a lot out of you. You don’t have the energy to try and put this together.”

She let out a scoff as redness spread across her cheeks. She turned around but didn’t stop me from pulling her closer.

Her back to my front. Her small body curled so perfectly against mine. Her arms touching mine where I held her.

Addi’s touch was soothing. I craved it.

For a moment, I let myself forget everything that had led her to my bed and just enjoy the warmth of us.

I had planned to mess with her a bit. Let my hands wander. But she was too warm. Too comfortable. Her presence, oddly soothing.

I couldn’t even pinpoint the moment I drifted off.

23

ADDISON

“It’s true, unfortunately,” Maxwell said, his hand coming to lazily bring the coffee cup up to his lips as he looked at the vast backyard on Warren’s property.

My eyes followed his to the fountain where two birds sat, chirping at each other. One jumped into the water, splashing the other, who let out a squawk and flew away.

I pressed my lips into a thin line and gripped my own mug. It was filled with a green tea I’d found in one of Warren’s vast shelves, but it had long since gone cold.

I hadn’t expected Warren to accept my request to talk to Maxwell, even though he was the one to suggest it in the first place. I felt like there were things that we just shouldn’t talk about. This being one of them.

But I had been so taken aback by his admission of what my father was truly doing at those charity events that I couldn’t wait any longer. I needed answers.

I was supposed to be here to avenge him, but it seemed like I was opening the door to something I wasn’t sure I wanted to know instead.

“I thought you said my dad smelled bullshit?” I said, turning back to him.

“He did, but that didn’t stop my dad. He heard your father talking about marrying you off, so he offered me up.”

I gritted my teeth, unsure what to say.

“I’m sorry,” I muttered.

“I’m the one who’s sorry, Addi,” he said. “There was so much around your father, his reputation, his company. It wasn’t fair that it all fell on you. You didn’t deserve all this.”

My eyes stung with unshed tears.

“You talk like you know me.” I couldn’t keep the venom out of my voice.

He finally turned to me, giving me a sad smile.