Page 8 of Sin

“Perfect.” Livia smiled, piled three pancakes on a plate, and handed it over.

Adira sat down across from Courtney and reached for the maple syrup. For the next few minutes, it was silent as they ate breakfast.

“There’s an all-day party at the club,” Livia said after wiping her mouth. “A get-together for wives and girlfriends in the day, and wildness at night. Would you like to come with us? Might give you a heads-up.”

“Heads-up?” Courtney asked.

“Adira overheard two women talking about working at The Pussy Willow. Did Ares ever find a hostess?”

“Nope, the bastard is too picky. He has this vision of someone beautiful and angelic looking…” His voice trailed off as he glanced at Adira. “You should put in your application. You might be exactly what he’s looking for.”

The more she thought about it, the more she wanted that job at The Pussy Willow. She might have an edge, if what he said was true.

“You’re more than welcome, Adira. The more the merrier.” He looked her up and down. Not in a lascivious manner, more like he was assessing her. “It’s a biker party. That means there’s going to be booze. Drugs. Naked people, and a lot of fucking. Can you handle that?”

Adira looked over his leather vest. She’d never really been into bikers, thinking they were criminals, but she’d lived with people who had deceived her at every angle. Her family was reprehensible, so who was she to judge?

“Yes. As long as I’m not intruding.”

“How about I drive us, and if you want to leave, you can drive home?”

“You sure?”

“Of course.”

“Okay,” Adira said. “Thank you.”

“If you’re going to drive, I’ll head back,” Courtney said. “Give me a kiss, baby.”

Livia stood up on tiptoe to give him a quick kiss goodbye, only that didn’t seem to satisfy him because he tangled his fingers in her hair and deepened the kiss. Adira wanted to look away, but the hard truth was she envied her friend. The kiss evoked an unexpected response through her body. It was sexual, sensual—Courtney’s obvious love and lust on full display—and it seemed neither one of them cared that she watched. She had never pictured herself as someone who might be a voyeur, and it made her wonder what sort of kinks she might be into. When the lovers broke apart, Adira had to drag a calming breath into her lungs.

Livia walked him outside, and a few minutes later, a motorcycle roared to life. She couldn’t lie to herself and say that kiss between Livia and Courtney hadn’t woken something deep inside. It made her long for something like it. A man to kiss her like his life depended on it. It was sad that Abel had never been that man.

Livia walked back into the house, a dreamy expression on her face. “Isn’t he amazing?”

“I think he’s very nice, that he treats you with respect, and you two make an awesome pair.”

Livia beamed. “You really think so?”

“I do,” Adira said quietly.

“I have a feeling you’re going to get that job and find a man who knocks your socks off.”

Adira cocked her head. “I’d prefer my clothes.”

Her friend nodded enthusiastically. “Those too. Nothing empowers a woman more than accepting who she is and not giving a damn what others think.”

Sound advice, and Adira took it to heart. Even if the thought terrified her. What if she didn’t like sex? What if she was, indeed, a cold fish like Abel said she was?

“What are you thinking?” Livia asked.

“I’m wondering if Abel was right about me,” she whispered.

“Oh, hun,” Livia murmured and hugged her. “He’s not, and you know why I know that?”

Adira shook her head.

“Because you chose to leave. If you were really what he thought you were, you would’ve stayed and accepted that stale life like your mother.”

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