Page 51 of Second Sin

Every inch.

He walks me out into the chill of the night without a word.

The air bites at my skin, cold and sharp and exactly what I need. It sobers me faster than anything else could. Clears the spin from my head. Not the ache in my chest, though. That stays.

He steps out to the curb and lifts a hand. A cab rolls up like it was waiting for the signal.He opens the back door for me, and I slide in.

“Where to?” the driver asks.

"7701 North Oak Road."

Sebastian stands with a hand on the door.

Our eyes meet—One long, heavy second.

And I feel it. That temptation. That stupid, reckless ache to say,Come with me.

His gaze drops to my mouth—lingers there—then drags back up to meet mine.

“Goodnight, Olivia."

Then he shuts the door.

The cab pulls away.

And I let it.

But the absence of him is its own kind of weight.

My fingers fist in my coat, knuckles white, like maybe I can hold the unraveling at bay if I just grip hard enough.

Something has to give. Something has to change.

This pull between us—it’s not sustainable. Not professional. Not safe.

And still, every part of me aches for him.

For the feel of his hands. His mouth. The sound of my name on his tongue like a fucking vow.

I tell myself I’ll shut it down. Bury it. Find the line again and stay on the right side of it this time.

But even as I think it, I know.

I’m lying.

Because whatever this is?—

It’s already under my skin.

And I don’t know how to cut it out without bleeding.

CHAPTER 19

SEBASTIAN

The crowd’s loud—hostile loud. Not the kind that roots for you. The kind that wants to see you bleed.

I tune it out.

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