Page 43 of Sin

I scooped it up and took a few steps closer as he exited the water fully, all six-foot-two of him. His fingers brushed mine as he took the scrap of fabric from me, and I couldn’t help but stare into his eyes, the sun setting behind him casting his form in a golden glow. Mesmerizing. Beautiful. Captivating. Angelic. Any of the above fit him to a T.

“Cat got your tongue?” he teased when I still hadn’t said anything.

“H-hi,” I stuttered, having been rendered absolutely stupid by his presence.

“Ah, so she’s a shy beauty. Noted. I’ll have my work cut out for me if I’m going to get you to come out of your shell.”

“I hear treats work.”

I could have kicked myself for my blurted words. But any embarrassment was soon forgotten as he took me under his spell once more.

“And what is your favorite treat, pet?”

The way he smirked at me sent a very different kind of hunger through me.

“Right now, you.”

I couldn’t believe that escaped my mouth, but then I remembered this guy wasn’t real. He was my fantasy. It didn’t matter what I said or did, he was going to eat it up.

And then, hopefully, he’d eatmeup.

His eyes narrowed, his smile quizzical as he studied me. “You’re thinking something naughty.”

“Am not.”

“Are too. And I should warn you, it’s rude not to share your secrets with your friends.”

“Well, you’re certainly feeling sure of yourself. Stranger to friend in mere seconds.”

He winked, and my insides went molten. “I’m not a stranger. Not anymore.”

I fucking tittered when he took my hand in his and brought his lips to my knuckles. “I don’t even know your name.”

“Luc.” He said it with a slight French affectation, but his accent was British.

Interesting shit my brain came up with.

“Nice to meet you, Luc. I’m Merri.”

“Like the virgin, how appropriate.”

I blushed to the tips of my toes. He couldn’t have been more wrong.

“I’m not that innocent, I’m afraid.”

“By all accounts, neither was she,” he said with a chuckle.

He threaded our fingers and tugged me gently down the beach, the two of us strolling in the perpetually setting sunlight. Fantasies were fun. I’d spend all my time here if I could.

“What has your brow furrowing like that, my sweet, not so innocent Merri?”

I sighed. “I was just thinking I’d like nothing more than to never leave this beach.”

“You don’t like the rest of your life?”

“Not currently. This is beautiful, warm, peaceful. When I leave, I have to go back to dreary, cold, oppressive, and then there’s... them.”

It felt good to unburden myself to another person. Even if he was a fictional dream man.

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