Page 62 of Sin

He comes to the passenger side of the vehicle and opens my door for me. “Come on.” He brushes his hand gently across my cheek. “I have a lot to say to you.”

Somehow, between our abrupt departure from home and now, Sin had arranged a room for us. As soon as we walk through the doors of the hotel, we are ushered immediately to the top floor and shown to our suite.

I look around the room. It’s charming. It’s not like the hotels Sin has booked for our usual afternoon escapes. Instead of being a sleek, modern space designed to impress with its attention to expensive detail, this suite has comfortable furniture and has a warm and cozy feel to it.

“I’m glad you like it,” Sin says, watching as I look at the room. “Since it’s going to be our home until we decide on something more permanent, I want you to feel comfortable here.”

“Our home?”

“Yep,” he says. He removes his expensive watch and then takes out his wallet from his jeans and places both of them on the end table. “We’re never going back to that house again while Gideon is still a free man.”

“But it’s your home. All your belongings are there.”

He shakes his head. “It’s never been a home to me since my mother died. I can buy new clothes, and I’ll arrange for Betty Jo and all of my vehicles to be moved to a private garage until we’re settled.”

I don’t understand his sudden change of plans. “What brought this on?” I ask him, needing to understand.

He stalks over to me and grabs me by the shoulders. “You told me you loved me, and I realized that I couldn’t tell you the same.”

At his words, my heart feels like it’s been vivisected. I had been so sure that his true feelings had been in that kiss, but I’d been so very wrong. I try to break free and step away from his hold.

“No,” he tightens his grip, “baby, listen to me.” When I settle, he finally goes on. “Not in that house. Not when staying there puts you in danger. I had to get us out of there so I could tell you I love you too.”

Everything in me soars at his words.Sin loves me. My emotions go from dragging on the floor to doing cartwheels and spins. “Really?” I hold my breath for his response.

“Really.” He kisses me lightly on the lips. “At first, when you said the words, I was terrified. They fucking thrilled me, but I was worried I didn’t know how to love you. That I wasn’t good enough to love you back, but then I realized that I’ve been loving you for a long, damned time, and I let everything with my father get in the way of us.” He kisses me again. “No more. You and I come first.”

I reach out and let my hands travel over his sexy blond hair, and glory in the way he leans into my touch. “You really don’t want to go back to your house?”

“I’m not stepping back in that house until Gideon is locked up and doesn’t pose a threat any longer. He’s becoming more unhinged every day. If he would have found you in his office today?—”

“I shouldn’t have been tempted to go in there,” I tell him, still feeling bad for my lack of judgment. “I didn’t think it through because I wanted to help.”

“That’s not why I brought it up.” He places his hands on my hips.“ It was just an example of the risk I was taking by continuing to have us live there. I’d never wanted you around Gideon because I know how dangerous he is. Live with a snake long enough, eventually he’ll strike.”

“I don’t think he bothers to remember I even live there, except for the occasional family photo op, or to randomly threaten me.”

“You never should underestimate your enemies.” Sin raises a finger to trace the two minuscule scars on my neck that Gideon caused.

Anger fires in his eyes, as white hot as the day he first saw them. “Especially when they’ve already demonstrated what they’re capable of.”

“You really think he ‘d act out, now, when the media has him under a microscope?”

All the attention he’s getting that he can’t control and manipulate is unraveling him.” Sin shrugs. “I’ve always believed I was one step ahead of his schemes, but I realized today that I’m not willing to take the chance if it means losing you.”

“But you once told me that you wouldn’t walk away from your mother’s legacy.”

“I don’t think I am. I remember after my father pushed us down the stairs, my mother twisted as we were falling to protect my head, neck, and spine in the fall.” Tears well up in his eyes. “I think her last conscious act in this world was one of love and protection. I’m choosing to pick that legacy over the house and land she left me, or the hate and need for revenge I’ve inherited from my father.”

I put my hand over his cheek, and he cradles it. “I love that.”

“Don’t get me wrong. Love hasn’t cured me of all my evil ways. I’d still like to gut my father for his sins, and I haven’t given up my need to see him suffer for what he did.” He kisses me. “ Just from this day on, I choose your love over it every time.”

Moved by his words, I can’t help kissing him. Sin is totally in on the idea, and when our lips meet, I’m struck by the fact thatI’m kissing the man that I love and who loves me back. It adds a spice to our kisses that I never knew was missing.

Sin must think so too. “Damn,” he says after breaking away from my mouth. ”This whole love thing is fucking hot.” Then he dives back in for more.

We continue devouring each other, but soon it’s not enough, though. Sin picks up the hem of my t-shirt and lifts it off over my head. Then I unbuckle my belt and unzip my jeans, and step out of them. Once completely naked, Sin walks me back toward the bed and then pushes me down on it, watching with half-hooded eyes at the way my body lies sprawled on the mattress, waiting for him.

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