Page 90 of Sinful Curses
He uncorked the bottle and waved it at her. She stared at the bottle and then at him as she realized he was taking care of her again… and doing something he probably wouldn’t do for anyone else.
Don’t let it get to your head.
But it was too late. It was already in her head and her soul. She didn’t understand this man or what was between them, and probably never would, but she couldn’t resist him either.
She wanted to tell him to save his water, but her parched throat and chapped lips kept the words trapped. Slowly, she grabbed the bottle, tipped it back, and took a sip.
He started to protest when she held it out to him, but she spoke instead. “I’m not drinking any more, so arguing over this is pointless.”
“Stubborn woman.”
“You’re far more stubborn than me.”
“I’m the one putting the water away.”
She chuckled because he had a point there. Cradling her wounded hand in her lap, she watched as he removed a blanket from his sack and spread it across the floor.
When he grabbed her bag and pulled it close to him, she started to protest as he dipped his hand inside. It was an invasion of her privacy and space, but she didn’t have any arguments left in her.
He removed her blanket and gestured for her to climb onto his. Exhausted and desperate for sleep, Sahira crawled onto it and lay down.
When he draped the blanket over her, she sighed as a feeling of contentment stole through her. She said nothing when he curled up behind her and draped his arm over her waist.
Secure in the warmth and strength he exuded, Sahira closed her eyes as a feeling of rightness spread through her. This man would most likely tear her heart out, but she couldn’t deny it already belonged to him.
CHAPTERSEVENTY-EIGHT
When Sahira stirred earlythe next morning, Orin let her slip from his arms to rise and pad toward the bathroom. He lay there, listening as the door shut and debating what to do.
After seeing her yesterday with Zeth, he knew he had to tell her there hadn’t been anyone buthersince she arrived in this realm. She deserved that much.
She probably deserved more, but he didn’t have that in him. Instead, he could give her this.
It was time.
Pushing himself up, he maneuvered around the demon, whose chest rose and fell steadily. Sound asleep on top of him, Loth snored as he rose and fell in rhythm with Zeth’s breaths.
Orin’s hands fisted as he made his way toward the alcove; he could do this. Hewoulddo this, even if he dreaded every second of opening himself in such a way.
He refused to look at the symbol when he stepped into the alcove. It would just piss him off, and he had to remain focused.
A few seconds later, the bathroom door opened and Sahira slipped her small bar of soap into her pocket as she emerged. They didn’t have water, but the soap they brought was at least something.
She came to an abrupt stop when she spotted him. Seeing her like this threw him back to another time of her emerging from a different bathroom in another town.
That encounter hadn’t gone well, but things would be different this time. He already knew the answer to the question he asked her before.
Clasping her elbow, he guided her into the other bathroom. They’d designated the one she was in as the pee room, and he wasn’t about to talk to her in there.
“I already told you that I’m not having sex in a bathroom,” Sahira said as he pushed the door open and guided her inside.
He had to stop cornering her in bathrooms, but he couldn’t do this in the main pub area, where they could wake the others.There’s always upstairs.
Orin discarded the option almost immediately. He wanted this over and done with.
He’d never considered himself a coward. He’d run into countless battles and never hesitated to face anyone trying to kill him, but he was afraid that if he waited to do this, he never would.
Why is telling this woman thisonerevelation the most difficult thing I’ve ever done?
