Page 73 of Glutton for Punishment

He leans into me before I can move away, both hands coming up to frame my face. It feels warm and grounding.

His brow furrows as he studies me. “I’m sorry you had to see that,” he mumbles.

I swallow.

“But I guess it was going to happen eventually,” he continues. “This is Gluttony. Each sibling rules their territory how they see fit. And most of the time… that means cruelty.”.

“Punishments happen,” he adds. “Regularly.”

“Do you punish people?” I ask, barely above a whisper.

“Not if I can help it.” He exhales through his nose, but his gaze never leaves mine.

Not a no…

“But sometimes,” he continues, voice low, “power requires sacrifice. For the greater good.”

I flinch at that.

“Like I told you at the academy,” he says. “I can’t let Gluttony fall into their hands. I can make this world better, but it might not be pretty getting there. You know who I am underneath it all. You’re one of the few people I let in. But this is how I have to be if I’m going to get enough influence to change things.”

“I don’t like it, but I can understand it,” I say, looking away, thinking of that man’s desperate plea to save his family and where it got him. A tear slips out before I can stop it.

Maddox leans in without hesitation, pressing a soft kiss to my cheek—right where the tear tracks down. The contact was gentle and so completely at odds with everything we had just left behind.

My eyes close for a second, wanting to slow down and relish this sweet moment. This contact.

I feel it again—soft lips brushing my other wet cheek.

Finally, I will myself to open my eyes.

He pulls back slightly.

“Please don’t cry,” he murmurs. I’ve never heard this tone before.

“You clearly find my tears delicious,” I say, my voice rough but steadier.

The corner of his mouth lifts. I draw a breath, forcing myself to hold on to that version of me—the one who doesn’t break.

“I know tonight didn’t go the way we planned,” he says, his thumb brushing under my eye, wiping away what’s left of it. “But I have a surprise for you.”

I narrow my eyes. “I don’t know if I’m in the mood for surprises.”

“Yeah,” he says cryptically, already taking my hand again, pulling me down the hallway. “I think you might be for this one.”

We pass door after door until he stops in front of one near the end. He pulls out a keycard, glancing at me once before sliding it in.

My stomach does a small, traitorous flip as the door clicks open and he pushes it inward.

“You better not tell me you’ve just been fucking your bonded this entire time.”

I freeze.

Then scream so loud Maddox flinches behind me.

“Tabby—”

I’m already moving, already across the room, wrapping my arms around her.