Page 145 of The Sinner's Bargain

My skin tingled all over at the predatory promise.

Maybe it was a threat?

Whatever it was, my stomach was an eruption of desire and giddy delight. His lips curled up on one side as if knowing exactly what he was doing to me.

The hand next to my head lowered. The fingers unfurled to offer me his square palm. I accepted without hesitation and felt the curl of those long digits as clearly as if he’d wrapped them around my chest.

Together, we made our way to the staircase. His grip was firm guiding me to the bottom in my heels. Oliver, Vance and Cyrus were the only three there.

“Oh, Miss Smith, you look beautiful,” Oliver said, hands clasping over his heart. “I wish Abby could be here. She would have made such a fuss.”

I would have liked to have Thoran’s parents there. I would have liked to see them far more than my own parents. Them and Malcolm.

“Thank you,” I said. “Are you coming with us?”

Oliver glanced in Thoran’s direction, expression a mixture of regret and apology. “I would love nothing more, but it’s a small ceremony and only two people, besides the bride and groom can attend. Vance will be needed and Cyrus should be there.”

My thoughts flicked to the thirty-two pages of names Mother had sent to Jarrett’s people. I didn’t even know how many people Jarrett had on his list. People I had never even met.

Vance wasn’t the person I would have chosen, but he was still higher on the list than Mother. Oliver I would have liked to see there with Thoran, as his uncle, and Cyrus made sense.

“I’m sorry you can’t come,” I said. “I know we would have loved to have you there.”

“Next one,” Thoran promised. His fingers squeezed mine. “The one that counts.”

My stomach fluttered. I had to stave off the urge to kiss him. He wasn’t making it easy to behave.

“I have some business that requires my attention, but I will see you both in the morning ... assumingly.” The teasing quirk of his eyebrow warmed my cheeks.

Vance checked his watch. “We should head out.” His dark eyes moved from Thoran to me. Cool. Indifferent. “I wager you have some type of paperwork.”

I opened my mouth to tell him I didn’t, but Thoran beat me to it. “No, we’ll need to handle that.”

Vance looked neither surprised nor pleased but kept his comment to himself as he jostled the briefcase at his side.

“I did have questions about the other woman,” I murmured.

“What about her?”

I glanced sideways at Thoran before continuing. “What’s going to happen to her?”

Vance remained bemused as he studied me. “I informed Toska of the changes this morning after I was made aware of them and he was rightfully upset, but Kiara understood.”

“Is that who it was?” Thoran asked, not exactly sounding interested or disappointed, but surprised. “I thought she was already married.”

Vance shrugged. “Kiara recently lost her husband to an ... accident.”

Thoran hummed softly and turned his attention down to me. “She’ll be fine.” To Vance, because the man suddenly seemed suspicious and confused, he said, “Blue was worried she might get in trouble for not getting married.”

Dark eyebrows winged up in surprise. “Oh ... no, Kiara is quite fine. She volunteered. She’s had her eye on expanding her own power now that her husband is no more. It made sense to set her sights on Thoran.”

It surprised me and didn’t. Thoran was exceptionally beautiful in that dark, twisted way of his, but he was kind and selfless. He would be highly sought after if it weren’t for that small house problem. But I never expected someone to accept the position knowing the risks simply for more power.

“Thank you,” I said to Vance.

He inclined his head and that seemed to be the end of it as we filed out the front doors and to the dark SUV parked in front. Thoran opened the back door for me and waited until I was fully seated before shutting me in and exchanging a couple of words with Vance and Cyrus. The two nodded before joining me. Vance took the passenger’s seat. Cyrus took the driver’s seat, and Thoran got into the back with me. Our eyes met in the dim cabin, and he reached for my hand.

I held it in my lap, comforted by the warmth and steadiness of it. I must have been holding too tight, or shaking too hard, because he gave my fingers a light squeeze before bringing the knuckles to his lips.

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