Page 24 of King of Sinners

“What is it?” I ask, hardly able to breath.

“I want your virginity.”

And I want to give it to him. But somehow, him speaking those words has me shifted in my seat.

It’s so transactional. This whole thing makes me uncomfortable. “Mason.”

He laces his fingers into mine, leaning even closer. He knows when to speak and when to be quiet. Mason is impeccably perfect with even the smallest choices, and I find myself gripping his hand tighter.

There isn’t even really a choice. Have sex with the sexiest man alive or be thrown to a rival group of gangsters and certain death. Hmmm. Let me think.

I cast my doubts aside as I square my shoulders. By way of answer, I loosen my fingers from his and push back from the chair.

Standing in front of him, I pull my shirt over my head.

I’m wearing one of the bras he bought for me, black lace demi cup that shows the smallest peak of nipple and pushes my boobs up and together for all sorts of cleavage.

Mason stands too, stepping closer to me, his eyes sparking, the tension and power rolling off him as he hooks his hand around my waist and pulls our bodies tight together. “Is that a yes?”

Tentatively, I jerk my chin in confirmation. I know I want this. But I’m scared too. I just found out that those men are one step closer to knowing who I am, and let’s be honest, I’ve just agreed to have sex with the man I’ve been trying to escape from for two years. That’s been different for all of two days.

He swoops his head down, capturing my lips with his in a kiss that sends my head spinning. It commands, it claims, and my body melts into his, wanting to belong to him.

His other arm is around me, his hands spread out on the bare skin of my back. His strong touch helps me to forget my fear.

But before I know it, he pulls his mouth away again. I stare up at him confused as he leans down and places a feather light kiss on my collarbone.

Then he slowly lets me go, taking a step back. I stare at him in confusion, my arms dropping to my sides. “I don’t understand.”

“When I fuck you, sweetheart, you won’t be afraid.” His eyes are dark and possessive, his hands clenched into fists at his side. “When I fuck you, you will beg me to be inside you and then you’ll beg me to make you cum.”

And then he stalks off, stomping into his bedroom, leaving the food and the dishes out.

I stare at them, trying to process all that just happened. Why does he care about my pleasure if I’m just giving myself to him as payment?

Slowly, I pick up my T-shirt and put it back on. Then I carry the plates to the sink, rinsing them and loading them in the dishwasher. I take the leftover tacos and pack them in the refrigerator because I’m too poor to waste food.

When I’m done, I wipe the counter and straighten the kitchen before I pick up my laptop and head to my room.

I’ve stayed busy all this time because I can’t even process his words. Mason is a contradiction that I can’t puzzle out. Is he my greatest danger or my one salvation?

What was it about him walking away that makes me want him even more?

Would he take me if I begged right now? I think I might be ready.

CHAPTER NINE

Charlotte

I wake up to knocking at my door. I open my eyes confused. It can’t be Mason, he always just walks in.

“Charlotte?” He calls from the other side. Apparently, he’s knocking now. Did agreeing to be his fuck buddy upgrade me to knocking status? I would have thought we’d actually have to do the deed for that kind of consideration.

“Yes?” I call back.

“The stylist will be here in an hour. Breakfast is nearly ready.”

“Be right there.” I push up out of bed and start toward the bathroom. I hear the door open to the bedroom and stop halfway there because I slept in his T-shirt again. I might be addicted.

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