Page 66 of The Sinner's Bargain

Breathing tight in my chest, I stared up at him. “Go?”

He nodded. “You went stark white. I thought you were going to faint. What happened?”

I ran a tongue over my lips. “I’m sorry,” I said, not sure for what part — acting crazy or seducing him unintentionally, or both. “I’m sorry.”

“Hey.” He reached carefully for my hand and cradled it gently in his. “What did I tell you about that word?”

I willed my heart to calm, to settle so I could control the short pants of air, but the more I tried, the harder I breathed, the faster my heart clapped in my chest.

“I didn’t mean to...”

“Blue.” His hand holding mine lifted and my sweaty palm was pressed to the center of his chest. “Breathe, sweetheart. Look at me. Breathe. In through your nose. Hold it. Slowly out of your mouth. That’s good. Really good. Again.”

I followed the calming baritone cadence of his voice guiding me to breathe in the middle of the foyer. The bells in my head subdued with every exhale until my heart synced with his.

“I’m sorry,” were the first words I could manage as I returned.

“You’ve got nothing to be sorry for. The person who hurt you should be sorry.”

I shook my head because he didn’t understand that I was the instigator.

“Blue.” His free hand closed around my waist and he drew me to him. “They’re never going to touch you again. I swear on my mother’s grave. I will burn their fucking world to the ground if they ever come near you.”

I raised my chin to study the face of the man I couldn’t figure out. I traced the sharp edges of his scarred cheek to where the puckered line dipped into the corner of his mouth. My fingers itched to trace the jagged skin, to follow them from temple to chin. But like every other time, I sank into the sandy desert of his eyes. The warm landscape of gold dominated by the most gorgeous lashes.

God, his eyes. They made everything stop moving. They brought a peace I felt to my soul.

“Why do you call me Blue?” I whispered instead.

I was sure I knew, but I had to hear him say it.

“Your eyes.”

“What’s wrong with Katie?” I only partially teased.

If I wasn’t lost in the lock of our eyes, I never would have noticed the flare of his pupils.

“It’s not your name, love.” His finger silenced my weak protest. “I won’t press you to tell me, but I’ll ask you not to lie to me.”

I couldn’t refuse him that.

“Okay,” I murmured.

His features softened. His touch brushed my cheek. “Will you still walk with me?”

I let him take my hand and guide me deeper into the darkness.

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