Page 50 of Sinners Retreat

“Are you saying you care about what happens to me, pet?”

I scoff, but I can’t respond. My arctic heart would like to remain frozen when it comes to feeling anything for him. There is no room for feelings in my world. Feelings distract you and make you soft. His dick is distracting enough, and I refuse to let emotions sully the waters any further.

He glues the wound together, then keeps his hand outstretched, letting it dry, but I don’t miss the way he’s struggling to keep from laughing. I fail to see the joke.

Just before we exit the shower area, the sand begins to rumble and the smell of diesel smoke chokes the ocean’s salty perfume. I round the shower wall just in time to see the mangled body of that yellow-clad Cattle rolling in front of the bucket of a Bobcat tractor.

Someone blind, drunk, or high—maybe all three—uses the machine to push the body through the sand before trying to scoop up the massive man. All the forceful rolling around has detached his arm, and it lies in the sand as the tractor backs away with its prize.

“Will you grab that arm for me?” he says. “I think I want to take a trophy for once. This arm was from the man whose death made Kindra say she cares. Do you think I could make it through TSA with it?”

“You’re an asshole.” I leave him behind as I stomp toward my villa.

None of this is funny to me. I don’t care that I nearly died, and I meant what I said. I’m not a damsel in distress, and I don’t need anyone to save me, even from myself.

Pounding footsteps come up behind me, and I flinch and wheel around.

Ezra stops in front of me, his hands behind his back as he rocks on his heels. “Sorry for sneaking up like that. Listen, I know you’re completely fine, but I’m a little shaken up. Do you mind if I come with you to your villa?”

He’s lying. He’s about as shaken up as an empty soda can. Also, letting him into my villa almost guarantees we’ll end up in bed, and I’m running out of time here. The orgasms are great, but they aren’t bringing me any closer to my goal.

Ezra steps toward me, then holds his hand against my cheek, weakening my resolve. I close my eyes and lean into his touch.

His oddly cold touch.

I open my eyes and discover why. I shout and slap away the hand in Ezra’s grasp, and it drops to the sand. I back away from it as if it will Thing its way across the granules and worm around all over me.

“Gross!” I say, wiping at my skin. “I thought you were kidding about that hand.”

“I thought you needed a laugh.”

“And you think my sense of humor extends to being lovingly caressed by the dismembered limb of a man who tried to kill me?”

A small laugh escapes my mouth, then grows louder as my eyes ping-pong from the sinfully gorgeous man to the pale hand. Ezra’s momentary doubt recedes as we both discover that yes, my sense of humor extends just this far.

Ezra steps closer and takes me into his arms. Despite everything, I let him. The laughter has loosened something inside me, and I’m back to being putty in his hands.

“That laugh does something to me, pet,” he says. “I want to hear more of it.”

He leans closer, until his breath brushes against my mouth. I was almost gutted and yet, here I am, wanting those lips on mine. I’m so fucked.

His hands travel over my body. One grips my hip and pulls me closer, but the other goes to my throat. The grip tightens, and a wave of pleasure thrums through the arteries in my neck.

Does he strangle his victims? Staring into his pretty eyes as he chokes the life out of you wouldn’t be the worst way to go.

“We can’t keep kissing in public,” I say.

“I don’t care who sees.”

“I do, Ezra. Remember why I’m here. People won’t open up around me if they think we’re more than just friends.”

“Did you just call me your friend, pet?” he asks, mimicking Cat.

I hate both of them.

But the truth is more complicated than that, and the truth is that I don’t hate either of them. That’s a fucking problem.

No matter how much my brain tells me not to fuck with this man, my vagina usurps any rational thought. I’m a serial killer who is fucking a serial killer at a murderous retreat.

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