Page 9 of Lessons in Sin

Rubbing my eyes, I reach over and slam the snooze button on my alarm. Finally, the screeching stops.

‘Jesus, mornings should be illegal.’ I mutter.

‘Agreed.’

Sitting up, I pull my hair into a ponytail. ‘Where did you disappear to all weekend?’

She winces. ‘I might have stayed over at Doug’s after the party, and then the next day … and the day after that.’

I raise my brows. ‘Sounds like you guys hit it off then?’

‘Yea, sorta I guess.’ She says, not sounding sure of herself at all.

Just then my phone buzzes and Tristan’s name flashes in the dim light of the room. Standing I slip from the room and press the phone to my ear.

‘I could have been sleeping you know.’ I say as a way of greeting, anger as fake as my parents infused into my voice - as if I could ever be angry at him calling me.

He chuckles. ‘Not a morning person then? I’ll add that to my list.’ His voice rolls over me in waves sending desire crashing through me and then I’m dripping. Sex voodoo I’m telling you.

‘Your list?’ I swipe some crumbs off the communal couch and sit, ignoring the ache between my thighs.

‘Yep.’

‘Care to elaborate?’

‘My list of you.’

‘Yea … still not getting it.’ I grin, as infuriating as he is, his words always teasingly cryptic, I wouldn’t change it for anything.

His voice deepens, growing intense. ‘You’re a mystery to me, Scarlett. I want to know every part of you - no stones left unturned. I won’t allow it.’

‘You’re an intense person, Tristan.’

I hear leather squeal as he shifts. ’Does it bother you?’

‘No. The opposite actually.’

‘Good.’

‘Okay, you want to know me better? Then how about a little exchange.’ I waggle my brows, as if he were here. ‘Question for a question.’

‘Interesting.’ He says simply.

‘Is that a yes?’

‘Yes.’

‘Okay me first!’ I sit up. ‘Dog or cat person?’

He laughs the sound as deep and rugged as him. ‘You could have asked me anything and this is what you choose?’

‘It’s an important question!’

‘Okay, okay. Can I say neither?’

’Neither?!’ I shout. ‘You cannot be serious.’

‘I’m just not a pet person.’

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