Page 71 of Untamed Sinner

And I stare into its emptiness.

“Goddamn motherfucking cocksucker.” I close the pantry door—not gently—and turn to see Hendricks watching me with a half-concerned, half-amused expression on his face.

“Problem?” he asks mildly.

“Did you eat the last donut?” I accuse, knowing full well he hasn’t touched them.

“And risk being gutted in my own house?” He arches his brow as he pulls out two mugs. “You have a serious sweet tooth.”

“I have a serious appreciation for fried dough.” I slump against the counter. No donut, bad day.

“You’ve eaten a box of donuts in three days,” he points out as he starts to make coffee.

“That sounds suspiciously like judgment coming from a man who wants to see me naked again.”

“It’s not judgment. It’s data collection.” Hendricks leans against the counter, watching me.

I frown at him. “What?”

“Nothing.”

“You’re doing the thing.” I gesture to his face.

“What thing?”

“The analyzing-Mandy-like-she’s-a-nuclear-weapon-with-a-hair-trigger thing.”

The corner of his mouth kicks up. “I was wondering why donuts.”

For a second, I consider making a joke. Then I don’t. “When I was taken, I used to think about food.”

His expression changes. He doesn’t move, but he suddenly feels like he’s ready to pounce.

I clear my throat. “Not fancy food. Stupid things. Cheeseburgers. French fries. Donuts. Mostly donuts. There was this place I used to take Lily. They made these ridiculous chocolate ones with enough frosting to put you into a diabetic coma.”

Hendricks doesn’t say anything, which is one of the things I’m starting to understand about him. He knows when silence is better.

Exhaling, I continue. “I used to lie there and think, if I ever get out, I’m going to eat every fucking donut I want. Two donuts a day if I want.” I shrug. “So I do.”

Something moves across his face. Gone before I can name it.

Then he drops a kiss on my lips. “Be right back.”

I blink. “Where are you going?”

“To get you donuts.”

Jesus.

I look at his naked torso, his sweats riding low on his hips. Exhaling emotions I’ve never felt before, I yank his T-shirt off and hand it to him. “You can’t go out like that. You’ll give the old lady at the bakery ideas she doesn’t need and a heart attack she doesn’t deserve.”

He pulls the shirt over his head. “You’re jealous.”

Shaking my head, I wag my finger at him. “I’m territorial. There’s a difference.”

“Then we understand each other.” He does do a thorough once-over of my nakedness. “I’ll be back in forty with your treat, and then I’ll expect mine.”

Oh boy.