Page 60 of Sugar

My outrage at the perceived chauvinism died in an instant. Torched in a blaze of fire that had nothing to do with alcohol or anger.

I bought you.

The lava in my veins from those three words heated me from the inside out, sending a surge of intense lust to my instantly drenched sex. It fed into those dark desires that’d drawn me to the auction in the first place.

I snuck a peek up at Easton to see if he was as affected by his statement, but he wasn’t. He wasn’t even looking at me. The oddness in his voice was because he was distracted. His blank gaze was aimed over my head as he scanned the room.

In another blip of a moment, a dozen possibilities went through my head.

Who was he looking for?

Had he been attending for someone else before his misguided attempt to protect me had thrown a wrench in it?

Would I have to listen to him explain to them that buying me was nothing?

And if he tried that, how fast would security grab me when I inevitably kicked him in the junk?

It seemed like I was about to find out because his gaze landed on someone, and Easton jerked his head to summon them.

Oh hell.

Easton

As Atlas approached,I nudged Maddie’s untouched water closer before telling her, “Drink this.”

“I’d rather have another Cosmo,” she muttered.

“The one you choked down while grimacing? Yeah, guppy, it seemed you loved that.”

Her full lips parted as she glared up at me. It made me want to kiss her. The voice in my head—and my dick—that reminded me that I could wasn’t helping the situation.

It screamed I could do whatever I wanted. That I’d bought her.

That she wasmine.

“Hey,” Atlas greeted, his curious gaze dropping briefly to Maddie before returning to me. He didn’t introduce himself to her. He wouldn’t. Not until I gave the okay.

It wasn’t how I usually operated with subs. Nothing was ever that serious outside of a bedroom. But Maddie was different, and Atlas was smart enough to know that.

I dipped my head toward her. “This is Maddie. Keep an eye on her for a minute.”

“That’s unnecessary,” she huffed.

His expression and body language both softened as he finally acknowledged her with a small smile. “Hey, Maddie. You need another drink?”

“More than I need a babysitter,” she said.

At the same time, I bit out, “No.”

He went with my answer. “Water it is.”

I caught sight of Cohen and quickly lifted Maddie’s chin so she was looking at me. “I’ll be right back. Be good.”

“Never,” she said with a pout that I didn’t want to kiss off her face.

I wanted to fuck it off.

And remembering why I shouldn’t do that was going to be increasingly difficult thanks to the target of my ire.