Page 121 of I am Dressed in Sin (Death by Daybreak MC 2)
“I missed you while you were gone, you know that?” she says, and my throat gets tight. I brought this on her, just as I feared. I started this. I even fell for and loved and fucked four men so thoroughly that I’ve frightened her. Maybe she should be frightened by it? Maybe I should be, too?
“I missed you, too,” I promise, bringing her hands to my mouth and pressing a chaste kiss on her fingers. It feels so good to have female companionship. Even if all she wants to talk about is the Bible, and all I want to talk about are dudes, we work together. Actually, we work better like that because we’re never in competition, we’re never bored, and we’re always learning something new. “How is …” I start, but then I look away, filled with shame at the memory of the Artefact party, the one where I passed out the cocaine. At least I now understand why. “How is everyone at school?”
It’s been weeks since Reba’s been to class. She, like me, can’t exactly go back right now. Still, any information she has would be appreciated.
“Well,” she starts, sighing but looking relieved at the change in subject. “Trevone couldn’t finish out the season, and Dena lost a modeling gig.” Reba sighs and shakes her head. Dena, like Grainger, is one of those people who just inspires that sort of thing. I decide not to mention that she was at the party the other day; Reba’s dealing with enough right now. “But they’re okay. A few emergency visits here and there, but otherwise, nothing too serious.”
“I didn’t want to do it,” I tell her, spilling the truth like rubies from a treasure chest. It glitters and sparkles, most especially because it’s surrounded by and drowning in lies. “I didn’t have good choices.”
“I know, sugar, I know,” she tells me, reminding me of Beast. Beast. My future husband. Jesus. “Don’t let your past mistakes haunt you; let them guide you instead. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” Reba quotes the Bible and then kisses my hand the same way I did hers. “I’m going to head to bed. You okay if I take the dog?” She gestures toward Fem, and I nod. Reba deserves comfort right now. That, and Feminist won’t allow me near Sin—or any of the guys—without being a total dickhead and growling. So this works out for all of us.
Reba leaves with a click of her tongue, one that snaps Fem to alertness. He glances back at me briefly before heading out the door with her.
Once I’m certain she isn’t coming back, I lock the door and head out onto the balcony to talk with Sin.
He’s leaning back in his chair, ankles crossed on the balcony railing, and staring up at the stars. His arms are crossed behind his head, and his silver eyes sparkle as he flicks them my way.
“A nun, huh?” he asks, and I frown at him. “What? You think I couldn’t hear you in there? It’s my job to hear what you say.” Sin drops his feet from the railing and lets the front two legs of the chair hit the wood of the balcony floor. “More than that, it’s like a passion project.” He exhales sharply and turns his gaze forward, looking out across the dark expanse of woods that blanket the house.
Under the shadows of those trees, there are Daybreakers prowling the night, sniffing out the blood scent of the mafia. They cannot, however, do their jobs properly when there’s a … well, I’d say wolf in the sheep’s pen, but we all know that isn’t a good metaphor.
“A passion project, huh?” I ask, eyeing his lap and watching as he gives me a warning look.
“I’m on duty, Gidge,” he says, but we both know that hasn’t stopped us before. Sin studies me as I move in front of him, leaning over the balcony and knowing that my ass is just about eye-level with him now. He curses, but he stays seated. Damn him and his self-control. It’s not as legendary as Beast’s, but it’s impressive nonetheless.
“How many men died rescuing me from that wedding?” I ask absently, eyes scanning the woods, as if I’ve got some sort of supernatural-like sense the way the guys do. I don’t see a damn thing, just the wind gently tousling pine boughs around.
“I was wondering when you were going to ask me that,” he says, and I close my eyes at the sound of the chair creaking. Sin moves up to stand beside me, leaning his elbows on the railing and looking out at the trees.
I suppress a moue of disappointment.
In his own way, Sin can be just as stubborn as Crown sometimes.
