Page 71 of Sin

He cleared his throat, unable to look us straight in the eyes. “Right. Yes, you have a point. How about we all just promise not to overexert ourselves in the future, agreed?”

Mare smirked. “Sure thing.”

London sighed and slumped against his seat. “Are you coming with us or do you have somewhere you need to go, Mare? Until we know what’s in the drug, we’re supposed to stick around.”

She nibbled her lip with those terrifyingly sharp teeth. I was surprised she didn’t break skin. “I don’t have anywhere to be tonight. I tried contacting my sister, but she’s busy,” she muttered, looking both irritated and sad.

“That’s fine. I was just thinking of hanging out at the house tonight, but you’re welcome to stick around. There are plenty of extra rooms.”

Sighing dramatically, she stretched out across the back row. “Sure, but if I hear you two banging, I’m out.”

I choked on my spit, doubling over.

London merely rolled his eyes as he started the van and adjusted the seat and mirrors. “I assure you, you wouldn’t be able to hear a thing.” He grinned at her in the rearview mirror. “The rooms are soundproofed, after all.”

Mare made gagging sounds, but I barely paid her any mind. Because London winked at me, just before backing out of the parking space.

I couldn’t help but fixate on that damn wink and his words, probably reading way too much into it all. But I couldn’t help myself. I was only human, after all.

As we pulled into London’s heavily protected fortress of a house, Mare’s phone started buzzing.

She scowled down at the phone and swiped to ignore the call.

We parked inside the garage and hopped out, and the buzzing only continued. Mare sighed in defeat.

“I need to take this or else she’ll never give up,” she said, waving us on. I wondered if she was talking about her sister. “I’ll join you in a little bit.”

“Okay,” London said, leaving her in the garage. “We’ll see you inside.”

He led me into his house, switching on the hall lights but keeping close to my side. This time, when we passed the wall of pictures, he didn’t seem irritated by my interest. “Where are Finn and George living these days?”

“They actually live with my mom on the other side of town. She needs a lot of help around the house and with Allie, so they’ve become live-in caretakers and help Eva.”

I coughed to hide my snort. “Those two?”

London smiled. “I know what you’re thinking, but they’re good for her. They make her smile, and it’s hard to get her to smile these days.”

I looked away, clearing my throat. “And Allie?”

“As bullheaded as they come. She doesn’t like to listen to anyone, except maybe Bennett. But I swear, Bennett only enables her stubbornness.” His hand brushed down my spine, sending heat through me, and he nodded his head to have me keep moving. When he left his hand at the base of my spine, I struggled to think of anything else.

“Are you hungry?” he asked, leading me toward the kitchen and completely oblivious to the mess he was making of me. “I can make you a sandwich or something?”

I hated how much I liked this. Him doting on me. It reminded me of the London before, the London who loved me. I worried how much this would hurt if he returned to the stoic, distant guy he’d been since my release from prison.

“I’m not really hungry,” I said, the idea of food making my stomach roil.

He paused in the kitchen doorway, his gaze falling on my stomach. “You need to make sure you eat, Sin. Mend’s not the only one who’s noticed you’re not properly taking care of yourself.” His attention moved from my head to my stomach, and his mouth tightened. “We need to make sure you’re taking care of yourself so we can hopefully avoid further complications. How about soup? I’m pretty sure I have a can or two in the pantry?”

When he moved to turn away, I stopped him with a hand on shoulder. “Hey,” I said softly. When he finally looked at me, I continued. “I’m okay. And you heard what Mend said. As long as I relax and take it easy, I’ll be fine. You don’t need to worry so much.”

“I still think he should have done one more test to make sure he didn’t miss any clots,” he muttered. “Or given you another injection.”

Rolling my eyes, I pushed past him into the kitchen. “You saw the scans. The clots should all be gone by tomorrow. Besides, I have that vial of his blood in case something goes wrong, so that's something.” When he still didn’t look pleased, I sighed. “London, he can only donate so much blood. And considering this isn’t life threatening any longer, I don’t think it’s right to ask him to give me more. Especially not when there are people who actually need him right now.”

It was his turn to stop me in my tracks, and I found myself pressed gently but firmly against the wall. With the light from the hall shining on his back, London’s expression was all shadow. “Don’t do that, Sin.”

I was a little distracted by the heat of his thigh sliding between my legs. Swallowing hard, I tried to remember what he’d said. “Do what?”

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