Page 142 of The Sin Binder's Vow

“I’m not five.”

“No, but youarecriminally underdressed for standing next to this masterpiece,” I say, motioning down my body with both hands. “I can’t be the only one turning heads.”

“I plan on avoiding all heads,” Elias mutters into his pillow. “And eyes. And people.”

“For team morale,” I say solemnly.

Elias groans again. “There’s not enough whiskey in this godforsaken school.”

“Then I’ll seduce you into a suit the old-fashioned way.” I pause. “With emotional manipulation and guilt.”

He sits up, glaring with bleary-eyed menace. “If you touch my leather jacket, I will murder you.”

“Ourleather jacket,” I correct. “You forget, I’ve worn it more than you.”

“That’s a crime against fabric.”

“Yourfaceis a crime against—”

“Silas,” Luna warns gently.

I straighten, innocent. “I was going to say symmetry.”

Elias glares harder, but there’s a twitch at the corner of his mouth. A crack. A tell. He’s amused. Just barely.

“Come on,” I coax, already rifling through his clothes with wild abandon. “Just try on a few options. Luna gets to rate us. Best dressed gets a kiss.”

Luna lifts an eyebrow. “That wasn’t part of the deal.”

“It is now,” I say, winking. “Besides, I’m rigging the votes. You know I’ll win.”

Elias sighs like he’s aged three hundred years in the last thirty seconds. But when I toss him a crisp white shirt—tailored, dangerous,fuckable—he catches it.

He doesn’t throw it back.

Progress.

“You’re unbearable,” he mutters.

“And irresistible,” I reply, unbuttoning my jacket, handing it to him, and flashing her a grin. “Right, Luna?”

She just shakes her head, smiling, eyes flicking between us. There’s something soft in her expression now, something warm beneath the laughter. And I feel it—threading into the bond, a pulse of affection so thick and quiet it fills the room.

He’s standing there like he doesn’t know he’s gorgeous. Like my coat—mycoat—isn’t clinging to him like it was made for the devil himself. The lapels lie just wrong on him, somehow sharper, edgier, like they’ve decided to behave better underhishands.

Unacceptable.

“You’re not allowed to look hotter than me in my own damn jacket,” I announce, arms crossed, eyes narrowed.

Elias lifts a brow, utterly unimpressed. “Didn’t know we were grading on ego bruises today.”

“Oh, we always are,” I say, stepping forward. “Now take it off.”

He blinks slowly, mouth twitching. “Wow. Not even a drink first?”

“I saidtake it off,” I repeat, reaching for the collar.

Elias sidesteps, grabbing my wrist. “Touch me again and I swear—”

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