Page 92 of Sin

Movement drew my attention away from the sky, and I tracked London as he sauntered over to the large bed across the room. He held my stare as he slowly slid out of the towel, letting it drop to the floor. I held my breath as I watched him slip under the dark blue bedding expertly made on his bed. Silk sheets enticed me to slip beneath them, and the matching silk pillows brought back naughty memories of pressing my face into…

I stopped at the foot of the bed, unsure if he actually planned to have me sleep in the bed with him.

“So?” he asked with a crooked smile. “You coming to bed? Or planning to stand there all night?”

I glanced around now that the window full of stars helped me look around the space better. A large, walk-in closet was off to the side of the room, the hint of many, many clothes just barely visible under the starlight. There was also a large, oak dresser across from the bed, with a few pictures and plants decorating its surface. In the corner of the room, I spotted a small lounge chair with a knitted blanket folded across it. “Am I sleeping in your bed?” I asked, needing clarification.

“I’d like you to, yes.”

“Just sleep?” I pressed.

London rolled his eyes and folded back the cover and sheets. “Yes, Sin. Just sleep.” He paused, smiling at me in that familiar way that got my blood heating. “Tonight, at least.”

Dios, ayúdame. Like I was going to be able to sleep now.

Forcing down my hesitation, I tossed my towel on top of his and climbed into the empty space beside London. I tried not to think about the last time I’d been in this bed, the way he felt sliding inside me, the way he sounded calling my name as he…

Nope. Not going there.

For a while we both just laid there, gazing up at the stars and lost in our thoughts.

I spotted different constellations in the sky, though I only recalled the names of a few of them. But it was nice, simply letting my mind wander as I counted stars. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d see the night sky so clearly like this.

After some time, London’s fingers reached out to brush mine where they rested on the bedding. I turned my head to look at him, resting my cheek on the silky pillow. His face was already turned toward me, his dark eyes exploring my facial features.

“I missed you,” he confessed in a barely there whisper. “Every day, I missed you.”

My heart stuttered, relieved and saddened to hear those words. “I missed you too.”

“Never again.” His fingers slid to twine with my own. “You can’t leave me, Sin. That’s a line you can’t cross again if you want things to change between us.”

I nodded. “I won’t let you down, London. Not again.”

He smiled, sweet and hesitant. “I think I might believe you.”

Smiling back, I made a vow to prove to him just how serious I was. London was mine, and I knew what it felt like to lose him. I wouldn’t lose him again.

Never again.

Chapter Nineteen

He got a little tied up

Far earlier than any human being should wake, London had me up and moving, insisting we get one last checkup with Mend to make sure the clots were officially gone. And sure enough, Mend cleared me.

After getting the go ahead from President Osborne, we met up with the rest of the team in the parking garage and set off. Apparently, the team Osborne assigned to the case while we recovered managed to find Lucas for a while but had lost track of him in the night. His last known whereabouts were in a city called Clarksville, about a half day’s trip from the capitol, so that the direction we planned to go until London felt well enough to search for him.

It was apparent in the bags under his eyes and slight slouch to his posture how absolutely exhausted London still was, even with a decent night’s rest in his own bed. He needed to be more careful moving forward with how much power he exerted tracking Lucas down. We all did.

Since there weren’t any airports between us and our destination, it was decided we would drive instead of fly. Which wasn’t the worst thing for me since it gave me more time to sleep.

The team rotated out who drove, making sure everyone remained well-rested in case we caught up to Lucas and needed to be at full strength. Everyone but me, that was. No one offered, since technically, I was still considered a criminal until the mission was over.

Somehow, however, Lewis still managed to be at the wheel more times than not. It was really fucking annoying. Especially when I’d manage to relax, only to suddenly find my head smacking against the window.

He really shouldn’t be allowed to drive. Nos iba a matar.

Despite London’s disapproval, Mare helped me practice my mental shields for the duration of the trip, and I was excited to find I was able to mostly keep her out now. It was still a pain in the ass, and a few times, she’d managed to get something out of me. Glimpses of the day my father stole my powers, the time several inmates had cornered me in my cell and beat me so badly I thought they were going to kill me, images of Mike’s cruel smile…

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