Page 67 of King of Sinners

She pulls her other hand out from under her, turning it so I can see the ring. Her eyes are closed but there is a small smile on her face. “I’ll miss them.”

My brow draws together as I study her face. She doesn’t look sad, maybe just wistful. Where does she think she’s going? Clearly, I haven’t been clear enough. “I don’t see why you would.”

She looks back at me, her sleepy eyes blinking. “What does that mean?”

“They are yours,” I answer, kissing her shoulder. “Everything I’ve given you is yours.” Even me. I’m yours too.

Something keeps me from saying the words out loud. She keeps talking about when she leaves…

I know I’ll fight for her to stay, but I don’t need to fight yet. She still needs me to keep her safe and I’ve got until this all ends to feel her out, decide upon the words, and share my feelings. It’s new for me and I’m still finding my way.

“Mason,” she whispers. “You can’t give these to me. They must have cost?—”

“Princess,” I push up on one elbow, my fingers sliding down her arm. “Nobody tells me what I can and can’t buy. That’s one of the perks of being me.”

A half smile tilts a corner of her mouth up. Her camera is still sitting on my nightstand and she reaches for it, lifting it up and turning it around.

“You’re going to take a selfie with a digital SLR?”

“Watch me,” she says as snaps several photos, lifting up a bit to kiss my cheek as the flash goes off again.

I look down at her, holding her gaze for a moment, the flash continuing to fill the room before I kiss her mouth. She’s taken several more pictures, but I’ve gotten used to her obsession with photography and I stopped worrying she’d share them days ago. Charlotte excels at privacy.

And if I’m honest, I love the pictures. Every one is beautiful, made even more so because they are us.

She stretches out to set the camera on the nightstand again, and I lean with her to kiss her spine at the small of her back.

Her hand reaches around me, stroking my ribs before she turns back to me.

She settles into my embrace, her eyes closing again, a sigh spills from her lips. “You really know how to wear a girl out.”

“Damn right I do,” I answer even as I pull the covers tighter over her body.

I feel her relaxing into sleep when from the kitchen, her phone chimes. And then it chimes again.

“Is that the phone I gave you?”

“Mmhmm,” she answers, her eyes remaining closed.

“Charlotte?”

“No,” she rouses a bit. “It’s my old phone.”

“Who would be texting you at this time of night?” Worry has me tensing, pushing up onto my elbow.

She looks at the clock. “Probably Kim. Her shift just ended. She said Gus has her working doubles.”

I relax back into the bed as I hear the phone a third time. “Insistent.”

“She’s pissed that she hasn’t heard from me in days. And I can’t exactly explain…”

That’s Charlotte. Discreet. I kiss her shoulder, wondering how one person could be so perfect for me.

“Call her tomorrow. You can tell her my name. I’m about to turn up the heat on anyone who might think about hurting you.”

Her legs tangle in mine. “Do I say we’re engaged?”

“Yes,” I answer, gathering her closer. “And then quit Rebel’s. You won’t be going back there.”

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