Page 65 of Give In

“I have to get to class,” she said, not glancing at me as she stiffly packed her bag. When I leaned back, her progress halted, as did her breathing.

I didn’t speak. Didn’t move.

Silent seconds ticked by before her shoulders lowered infinitesimally, and she resumed packing. She finished and stood, meeting my eyes with her guarded ones.

Giving her a short nod, I reached for a stack of papers I didn’t need. “See you in class on Monday, Miss Wilder.”

“Thanks,” she muttered on her way out.

I put my hands behind my head and stared unseeing at the open doorway.

Eden was so fucking beautiful, it hurt. It hurt to see the brilliance of her smile, and it killed to be deprived of it. Listening to her talk, hearing her passion and intellect, was a slow foreplay more powerful than the dances she performed. It was tormenting.

Switching her studies to Ceaders would be the best thing for both of us. She’d thrive in whatever field she focused on, and Ceaders was an ass, but she was strong enough to put him in his place if he got out of line.

My eyes moved from the empty doorway to my computer. It’d take one email to separate myself from the forbidden fruit that was Eden. Frommydepraved angel who tempted me with a glimpse of heaven on the trip to hell.

But a sinner had to want to be a saint.

And I sure as hell didn’t. I wanted to take the apple. Devour it. Let the juices cover me before going back for more.

I wanted to break my angel’s halo and use the pieces to make her horns.

*******

Eden

I was supposed to be heading to work.

I’d been lucky enough to keep my job after my tiff with Hank. He’d been written up, but I’d skated by with a warning because I’d been right—the bouncers should’ve stepped in.

People didn’t come to Sinners because of the stellar security team. They were replaceable, an expense not a moneymaker. If someone was making the dancers uncomfortable, we didn’t need to thicken our skin. We needed security to do their damn jobs—to have our backs and keep us feeling safe enough to continue working there.

And at Hank’s order, the bouncers had all dropped the ball.

I hadn’t been sure what to expect when I went back after the blowout, but Hank had been silent. That didn’t mean I thought everything was okay, though. Not wanting to be there longer than necessary, I’d done my makeup and hair at home.

Then I’d gotten into my car and started driving.

Except I wasn’t heading to work.

Instead, I found myself going to Damien.

He’d finally given me what I wanted. All week, he’d treated me like he did everyone else. There’d been no mention of the ultimatum. No scene. The fallout had been exactly what he’d promised.

Nothing.

I got the same man everyone else did—the passionateprofessional.

When I’d gone for our meeting that afternoon, I’d braced, expecting the real him to peek out. I’d waited for some hint of danger, playful banter, or even a crude comment to goad a reaction from me.

But, just as he’d promised—no, threatened—there’d beennothing.

One of the knots in my messy life had been untangled.

I should’ve been ecstatic.

I won.

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