Page 17 of The Sinners Touch

“Don’t, Kade.”

The warning was soft, even gentle, but it didn’t stop him. He moved closer, until her back hit his chest. A small noise escaped her when he buried his nose in her hair, breathing her in. Flashes of the two of them pulsed against his eyelids. Them at the beach, her curled up against him while they sat on her front porch swing, the beads of water coating her skin while he tookhis time washing her in the shower. He slipped his arms around her and snuggled her into him, his lips grazing her temple.

“Please, don’t.”

The hitch in her voice stopped him. He saw the first tear leak out. Shit. He didn’t mean to make her cry. “I’m sorry, Angel.”

“I think I need to go to bed now.”

Her words sounded wooden, and he moved away from her. “Come on. I’ll show you where it is.” He stopped long enough to pick up her bag then took her upstairs. Thankfully, the master bedroom was the first door he opened. He dropped the bag on the bed then opened a door, thinking it was the bathroom.

But it wasn’t.

He stared, nonplussed.

“Kade?”

He blinked, trying to understand what he was seeing.

The gasp told him Angel had seen it, and he quickly slammed the door. “Maybe you should sleep in the guest room.”

“What the hell is your brother into?”

Kade wanted to unsee the collection of straps, ropes, scarves, and other sexual paraphernalia among what looked to be a vast array of whips. A container labeled “butt plugs” had imprinted itself forever in his memory. Jesus, when had the kid gotten into this scene?

“I knew Nik was a little dark, but I never thought…” Her voice trailed off, and Kade shook his head. He and Nik were going to have a long conversation.

Angel wanted Kade to open the door he’d just slammed shut. She was curious. She’d never seen anything like that before, and it served to distract her from the numbing fear that seemed to have taken root. She’d met Lily. The woman did not seem like the type, either, but one never knew. If that was what made them happy, then she wasn’t going to be all judgy.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know that was in there.”

For the first time all night, a laugh slipped out. He looked so shocked and taken aback. Embarrassed. It was odd to see this side of him. He rarely showed it.

“It’s just toys, Kade.”

“Toys?” he growled. “You’d let someone tie you up and beat you with a whip?”

“That’s not what those are.” She wiggled around him and opened the door. The whips he referred to were the first things she saw. She picked one up found the material it was made of soft and supple. This wasn’t meant to hurt. She doubted it would even sting. “This is a flogger. It’s for pleasure, not pain.”

“How do you know what it is?” He sounded suspicious, and she laughed again. Poor man. He was so out of his depth.

“Everyone has readFifty Shades of Grey, Kincaid.”

He gave her a blank stare. “Not me.”

“Surely you’ve seen the movie?” When he shook his head, she couldn’t fathom it. “Where have you been the last few years?”

“Butt plugs, Angel.” He sounded so disgusted. “The kid has a container of butt plugs. They’re even fucking labeled by size!”

She burst out laughing, which earned her a glare.

“This is not funny.”

“Yes, yes, it is.” She moved out of the closet and collapsed on the bed, laughter bubbling up. “You sound so outraged.”

“This, this is…indecent.”

She’d forgotten how secular in his thinking he could be. “Kade, none of that is indecent. It’s just toys.”

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