Page 29 of King of Sinners

I snap his hand from a few angles, finally taking a picture that I think is just right.

It’s a short trip to the jewelry store, the traffic less thick this time of evening. In another hour, the strip will be packed.

We pull into the back of the store through an alley and enter a door I’m certain most customers don’t use. It leads into a private room that doesn’t have cases of jewels.

Instead, pieces have been set out on a long counter.

I gasp, despite myself as a large sapphire cocktail ring winks back at me.

Mason chuckles, flicking a hand in the direction of the ring. “We’ll take that one.”

I hadn’t even noticed the salesperson until the man steps forward with a nod.

“Might I suggest, this as well,” he points to an aquamarine set of earrings and necklace.

“Not my preferred stone,” Mason murmurs.

“But it suits the lady’s eyes,” the salesperson says with a flash of a grin meant to charm.

Mason nods as we move down the table. I mostly allow him to pick out the pieces. I know they’ll be perfect.

The cocktail ring is slipped onto my right finger and the way it flashes and winks under the jewelry store lights is magical. It keeps drawing my eye.

“Any diamonds, sir?” The clerk asks.

Mason nods in the affirmative and my chin snaps up. I’ve already gotten a ring, two necklaces and two pair of earrings.

Diamond studs are brought out, “For everyday wear,” the man says with a smile. They must be a carat and a half each. I don’t know a ton about jewelry, but I know fat diamonds are expensive. “These fulfil all four C’s where diamonds are concerned?”

I look at Mason, having no idea what the man means by four C’s.

“Cut, Carat, Color, and Clarity,” he answers my question that I didn’t even ask. Mason is clearly very comfortable in this world.

We keep moving down the display, Mason’s hand at my waist as he dismisses various items, chooses others.

At the end of the line is another ring.

I stop when I see it because I’ve never even imagined something so beautiful. It’s a pink diamond in a platinum setting that must be over three carats in size.

“Try it on,” the clerk has noted my reaction, and his eyes are sparkling nearly as much as the ring. Which tells me this piece is beyond expensive.

I shake my head. “No, that’s all right. I…”

Mason’s hand, which has been at my back slides to my hip, his fingers splaying out in a move so possessive, it has my nipples tightening. Does he have any idea how much his touch affects me? “I want to see it on your finger.”

That starts my heart hammering in my chest, with something that isn’t lust, it’s so much deeper. Why this ring is different, I don’t know. It’s just so…me. Simple in design, perfect in its proportions, set in cool tones that compliment my skin, I just know I’m going to love it.

The clerk lifts my hand and slides the piece on my finger. The ring is already made to size.

I stare down at my hand, my fingers splaying out as a gasp falls from my lips.

Mason pulls me against his side, my hip pressing into his erection. I had no idea trying on engagement rings might turn a man on, but he is.

I look at him, my eyes surely swimming with questions, but his gaze doesn’t answer them. If anything, his eyes are darker and more dangerous than I’ve ever seen.

I look away, slipping the ring back off my finger and then I reach out to hand it back to the clerk. I’m allowing myself to get caught up in the moment. This is not real. None of this is real.

But Mason’s hand covers mine, stopping me from returning the ring.

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