The Sinner

CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX

SIN

I WALK INTO the man’s office, and he looks up to see me. “Have a seat, Easton.” He points to the chair across from his desk.

Doing as I’m told, he sets a stack of papers on the surface and slides them toward me and then hands me a pen. Looking over them, I sign my name where the yellow tabs are placed.

“I have to ask, Sin,” he calls me by my nickname, “is everything okay?”

I turn the page and sign the last one and then place the pen on the paper. “Everything’s fine,” I lie as I stand and exit his office.

Entering our house twenty minutes later, I make my way straight to the master suite. The sun hasn’t even started to rise yet. My meeting this morning was off the books. It needed to be done but draw as little attention as possible. The less who know, the less can ask questions.

Pushing the bedroom door open, I find her still lying in our bed, sound asleep. I shut the door and lean back against it, crossing my arms over my chest and just listening to her soft snoring fill the room.

My chest is heavy, everything she has been through was due to my family. My father started all of this. Her mother helped, but I never thought to ask why or how. Now it’s too late. The damage is done. I don’t mean my little demon. Although I hate what she went through, I’d never change who she is. I love her. Every crooked piece, every sharp edge. She is the frame to a picture. She is what holds me together. I just wish I could have been the same for her.

Pushing off the door, I pull my T-shirt up and over my head while kicking off my shoes. Then I’m undoing my jeans and shoving them down my legs along with my boxers. Pulling the covers back, I crawl in bed next to her. Wrapping my arm around her body, I pull her into me. She’s so warm, like a fucking oven.

She shifts, burying her head into my chest. I love it.

I kiss her hair and slide my hand down her bare back. Whenever we’re in bed together, we’re both naked. Always. I want to see and touch what’s mine.

My hand slides between our bodies and I find her pussy, running my fingers over it. She lets out a moan, her hips pushing against my hand.

I kiss her hair again, inhaling her scent while pushing a finger inside of her. Her breath catches and I push her onto her back, adjusting myself to sit between her parted legs.

“Sin,” she sighs my name, her hands coming up to run through her hair while she arches her back.

I lean over, my free hand wrapping around her chin to hold it in place, and press my lips to hers. “I love you, Ellington.”

Her eyes open and she looks up at me, and they’re filled with concern. I never call her by her full name other than when she pisses me off. “You okay?” she asks, wrapping her arms around my neck. Goose bumps spread across my body as her fingers softly run through my hair.

I’m going to miss this. Her hands on me, hearing her voice, seeing those beautiful eyes every morning when she wakes up. I give her a soft smile, but don’t answer. She will be okay. I’ve made sure of it. But me? I’ve had a clock ticking since I made my deal with the Spade brothers. And I don’t regret it.

“Sin.” She goes to sit up, but I continue to hold her down with my hand around her chin and press my lips to hers.

I kiss her passionately, trying to tell her I’m sorry without having to say the words. Hoping that she can feel how much I love her. Need her.

Pulling away, she opens her heavy eyes and looks up at me. “I love you, Sin.”

Now I can die a happy man.

Letting go of her, I sit up and reach over to open the top drawer of the nightstand. Pulling out what I want, I take her left hand and slide the Harry Winston halo wedding ring onto my wife’s finger.

She gasps, holding it up to get a look at it. Eyes wide with excitement and surprise.

“I hope you like it.”

Her eyes look over at the nightstand and then back to mine. “How? How long have you had this?”

“A while.” I admit shamelessly. “I always knew I’d make you my wife, Elli.”

Her hands grab at my face, and she pulls my lips down to her. “Yes,” whispers against them.

I laugh. “It wasn’t a question.” Nothing would have stopped me from making her my wife.