Chapter 189: Deny Someone Once You’ve Pulled Up Your Pants

Madison knew exactly what he was asking. She frowned slightly and turned him down without hesitation. "No. That's not the kind of relationship we have."

"Okay." Alexander lowered his eyes and let go of her. "Then go."

Madison hadn't expected him to actually release her. She quickly climbed out of the bathtub.

She glanced back and saw Alexander curled up in the tub, his large frame hunched over, his face flushed red from the drug — yet he was still holding himself together through sheer willpower, looking like a pitiful wet dog.

A flash of irritation shot through her.

What an idiot. He actually let Savannah set him up like this, and now he'd dumped this whole mess in her lap. What was she supposed to do with it?

The more she thought about it, the more annoyed she got. She grabbed a nearby towel, wrapped it around herself, and said coldly, "Figure it out yourself."

Then she turned and walked out.

The door slammed shut. Alexander's body gave a small shudder.

He pressed his lips together and bit down on his wrist, but the heat burning through him refused to let up.

Was he really going to be the first person to die from being dosed with this filthy drug?

The thought drifted through his foggy mind.

Then, somewhere in the haze, he thought he heard the door open.

Must be imagining things. There was no way Madison would come back.

He was still lost in his thoughts when someone suddenly grabbed his wrist. A cool, flat voice cut through the air. "Get up. Are you seriously going to drown yourself in there?"

Alexander's eyes lit up instantly. He stared at her, his blue eyes bright and intense. "Madison..."

The way he looked at her made her heart skip. Those eyes — like a wolf that hadn't eaten in days.

She glanced away slightly, but she didn't say no again.

Alexander pushed himself up against the edge of the tub, his voice low and rough. "You don't actually dislike me. Do you?"

Madison was about to argue, but the moment she turned her head, she walked right into his trap.

He kissed her — urgent and overwhelming — along her cheek and down her neck.

Madison's brow furrowed hard. She raised her hand and slapped him. "Snap out of it. Look at me. Do you even know who I am?"

Alexander pulled back slightly, breathing hard. "You're my wife. You're the woman I love most in this world."

Madison hadn't expected him to say something that shameless with a straight face. She stiffened slightly. "I'm helping you tonight because I have to, not because I have feelings for you. And it doesn't mean anything for us going forward."

Blah blah blah. None of it was what he wanted to hear.

Alexander didn't bother listening. He leaned down and kissed her.

His kiss was fierce and relentless. Madison couldn't hold her ground. She reached up and hooked her arms around his neck just to keep from being pulled off her feet.

"Slow down..."

The sounds that followed filled the bathroom.

When Alexander woke up, the room was dark.

He rubbed his temples, unsure of where he was.

He reached out absently and felt someone lying beside him. He froze.

Then the memories from before he blacked out came rushing back.

He'd met with Savannah to talk business, had one drink, and then nothing. So that meant...

Alexander went pale. He turned to look at the person beside him.

The room was dim, only a faint sliver of light slipping through the curtains, just enough to make out a figure lying there.

He turned on the bedside lamp and saw half a face buried in the blanket. The tension in his chest loosened at once.

Thank God it was Madison. If it had been Savannah, he didn't even want to think about what that would have meant.

She looked peaceful in her sleep, her cheeks flushed a soft pink.

Something in him softened. He reached out and gently touched her face.

"Stop... no more..." Madison's voice came out low and hoarse. Her brow pinched tight. Her eyes flew open.

When she saw Alexander looking back at her, she flinched, shoved his hand away, and said, "Stay back."

Her back was absolutely wrecked.

Calling him a wolf was too generous. Last night, he'd been a complete animal.

Her face was bare, no makeup, brows still knitted together — and somehow she still looked stunning.

Alexander's expression shifted slightly. A quiet regret settled over him. He couldn't remember a single thing from last night.

Still, he felt good about it. At least Madison hadn't just left him there.

"I'll take responsibility." His voice was rough, but completely serious.

Madison woke up fast. She sat up, pulling the blanket around her. "You didn't forget what I told you last night, did you?"

"I don't remember anything from last night."

She caught the trace of regret in his voice and pressed a hand to her forehead. "Helping you last night didn't mean anything. I just didn't want the kids to grow up without a father. So let's pretend it never happened."

Alexander's expression darkened. He pinned her down suddenly, leaning in close. "Say that again?"

Madison bit her lip. "I said, let's pretend last night never happened."

Alexander held her gaze. "But it did happen. Are you trying to act like it didn't?"

Madison felt like she was the one being accused of something.

"What do you mean, act like it didn't? Last night you were the one who—"

He was talking like he was the one who got taken advantage of.

Madison glared at him, fuming.

He leaned down and kissed her quickly on the lips. "That's why I said I'd take responsibility."

Madison let out a cold laugh. "Keep dreaming."

Right — she'd forgotten. This man had no shame. Pulling this move the second he woke up was exactly his style. But she wasn't going to play along.

Madison pushed Alexander away and got out of bed.

She stood up too fast. Her legs gave out for a second, but she caught herself before he could see.

"You should go. The kids will be back soon." She walked to the wardrobe to get dressed.

Alexander watched her turn away without a second glance. Something tight settled in his chest.

She really couldn't wait to get rid of him.

Madison finished dressing and turned around to find Alexander still sitting on the bed, his expression dark, fingers pressed to his temple. "What now?"

Alexander looked down. His voice came out a little stiff. "My clothes are dirty."

Madison blinked and looked at the clothes on the floor.

They'd only been there one night. How dirty could they possibly be?

"Deal with it," she said flatly.

"I can't. I don't wear dirty clothes."

She rolled her eyes internally, went to the guest room wardrobe, pulled out a set of men's clothes, and handed them over. "Put these on and go."

Alexander saw where she'd gotten them. His face went dark.

"Whose clothes are these?"

Please don't let it be Nathan's.

She had Nathan's clothes just sitting in her house?

"Are you going to wear them or not?" Madison didn't feel like explaining.

"I'm not wearing another man's clothes." His voice had an edge to it.

Madison pressed her lips together and decided to let it go. "They're your cousin's. They're clean."

Claire had left them behind when she was watching the kids. They were Marcus's.

Alexander relaxed immediately and took them, pulling them on.

Madison shot him an annoyed look. She'd spoiled him rotten.

They'd barely finished getting dressed when Nora's voice rang out from the hallway. "Mom! We're home!"