Page 140 of Sinners Reunion

Because it’s about to be taken from me.

I’ve held on to it for so long, and he’s about to steal it.

All because I still haven’t given this piece of myself to the only man who deserves it. I’ve been a fucking fool. It doesn’t matter if King is set to die. He’s the only man I ever want to share this part of myself with.

He’s the only man I want to kiss. Ever.

Blayne’s head dips toward mine, and I turn my face away. Each time he renews his advances, I fight harder. I can’t scream for fear of him making good on his promise to tell everyone everything, but he must realize we’re in a stalemate. He only has me in check until Aven and Bennett know everything, and then it’s up to them to decide his fate, but for now, we’re deadlocked in a battle of wills.

He bends one more time, and his lips nearly brush mine. In an anxiety-induced stupor, I fight with the only weapon I have left. My arms and legs haven’t worked, so I open my mouth and aim for that dimple in his chin. I bite down until blood runs onto my tongue, and it seems he’s just as nervous to have secrets out as I am, because he lets out a very silent scream.

Leaning back, I spit blood into his face, and he finally releases me. He grips his wounded chin and glares.

“How the fuck do I explain this?” he snarls.

I shrug. “Tell them you tried to kiss a wolverine. I don’t fucking care. But I am not yours until after tomorrow, and I will not hurt King.”

“We’ll see about that,” he whispers as I push past him.

I’m feigning the hell out of this confidence. My legs are made of waterbeds, and my insides are tangled wires. He knows that the big event is tomorrow, so whatever he’s planned, he’ll still have a chance to act it out.

If anything, he’ll be more desperate now.

There’s no time left. If I want to keep King safe, I’ll need to tell him about my deal with Blayne so that he has a chance to protect himself from whatever is coming next. He just has to promise he won’t act before Blayne does, which would blow everything else out of the water.

Before I tell him, though, there’s just one other thing I have to do.

Chapter Forty-Five

King

Another batch of fireworks explode overhead, and I glance around for Josie. She’s missing the spectacle. Crackling bursts of gold light spread across the stars and brighten the faces staring upward.

Aven stands beside me. We have plans to go fishing tomorrow, after the event. We won’t get that far, but it was a nice thought.

Bennett isn’t far away, either. We made plans that will never come to pass too. He asked if Josie and I would like to take a cooking class with him and Cat, and while culinary skills aren’t entirely in my wheelhouse, I said yes.

Ezra wants me to give Kindra away at their wedding. The wedding I’ll likely miss, despite wanting nothing more than to be there.

Frankie wants me to fly to England with her and Maverick so that I can show them where I grew up. She wants to know more about her heritage. It’s something they all deserve.

Something I can give none of them.

I’ve made plans with someone else after all this, too, and there she is, moving on the edge of the pond and coming toward me.

Her hair flows like silk in the light breeze, looking dark in the evening shadows. I long to twist those strands around my hand. My desire for her aches between my legs, and I yearn for her to let me in again. One last time before the curtain falls.

She stops in front of me and looks up as a burst of red light explodes above. “I’m not trying to monopolize your time, but I need to speak with you. Alone.”

“Should we go to the RV?”

With a shake of her head, she glances around and takes my hand, leading me away from the group and toward the house. There’s only one reason she’d do that, and it’s that she needs something the RV doesn’t have. That’s either a functional bathroom or a larger bed, and she wouldn’t drag me along for the former.

My feet move a little faster.

We make it up the stairs and onto the porch before she slows her pace. She doesn’t let go of my hand until we’re in the house, however. She glances around again, unsure.

“Where’s your room?”