Page 101 of Sinful

“So you’ll be back tomorrow night?”

“Yes. I won’t be long at all.” He jerked a thumb toward the bag, amusement glimmering in his eyes. “But I packed at least four days’ worth of food in there for you. You know… just in case I happen to fall in any more animal traps.”

I swallowed hard, lowering my gaze to the floor. My face suddenly felt like it was on fire.

“Rose, come on. That was a joke.” Sebastian gestured to the bag again. “There’s also fresh clothes in the front pocket.”

“Thank you,” I murmured.

“Oh, and one more thing.” He reached into his jacket pocket. “I want you to have this.”

He pulled out a charm made from bird bones, feathers, and twigs strung together with hair and twine. My brows shot up. “Where did you get this?” I asked, eyes snapping back to Sebastian’s face.

“Someone from the Covenant left it at the hospital for me. It’s a good luck charm, right?”

I nodded. “One of the most powerful.”

“Well… I want you to have it.” Sebastian pressed the charm into my free hand. “I figure it means more to you than it does to me.”

“Are you sure you want to give up its protection?” I asked, eyes falling to his left shoulder.

“I think it’s done its job for me already,” he replied, eyes twinkling. “Honestly, I feel pretty damn good for a guy who had a spike through him just a few days ago.”

“Oh. Well… thank you,” I said softly, holding the charm to my heart. “It’s very kind of you.”

Sebastian rose to his feet. “I should go. I have to meet my father at the airfield in half an hour.”

“Okay.” I looked up at him, eyes tracing every line of his handsome face. It was hard to believe this was the last time I’d ever see him. The last time I’d ever be able to touch him.

Part of me wanted to stay, just so I could see him every day for the rest of my life, but the rational side of me knew that wasn’t possible. Not as long as I was his captive. Besides, the Entity had made one thing abundantly clear with the sign hesent to me earlier: I must return to Alderwood for the Tetrad ritual. There were no two ways about it.

I rose to my feet, stood on my tiptoes and planted a kiss on Sebastian’s chin. He grinned and lifted one hand to cup my jaw. “That’s not a proper goodbye kiss,” he said, eyes gleaming with a mix of amusement and affection. “This is.”

His gaze shot from my eyes to my lips, and he captured my mouth with his. I almost gasped from the instant jolt of pleasure I felt when his tongue slipped past my lips. I opened my mouth for him, heart practically exploding in my chest as he deepened the kiss.

I knew kissing him was a bad idea—it would only make it that much harder for me to leave—but I let my heart take over and wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him even closer. His mouth was demanding, hot and relentless, and I couldn’t get enough. He was addictive; everything I wanted despite the pain and suffering he’d wrought upon my life. Delicious poison that I couldn’t resist drinking.

He finally tore his mouth away, chest heaving as he stared down at me. “I’ll miss you,” he said in a low voice. It was almost as if he knew what was coming.

“I-I’ll miss you too,” I said breathlessly. “But I’ll see you again soon.”

“Yeah, you will.” He smiled and leaned down to plant another kiss on the top of my head. “Bye, Rosebud.”

“Goodbye, Sebastian,” I murmured as he pulled away again and turned around. “I—”

He turned to look back at me. “Yeah?”

“Nothing.” I forced a smile. “Have a safe journey.”

“Thanks, baby girl.”

With that, he was gone.

For a while, I stared at the empty space that had held him only moments ago, as if I were in a trance. Then I finally gotdressed, ate some more food, and had a large gulp of orange soda followed by a cup of water from the tap.

After that, I retrieved the keycard from beneath the mattress and took one last, lingering look around the cell. It was strange how quickly the mind could adjust to things. I didn’t think of this place as my home, but it had still beenahome to me for the last two weeks, albeit in a twisted way. It felt strange to know I’d never see it again after tonight.

Clutching the good luck charm tightly in one hand, I pressed the keycard to the lock and swung open the door. It was cold and gusting outside, so before I left the property, I made my way up to the house to check if Sebastian had left the back door unlocked again.

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