Page 155 of A Sin So Pure

An exasperated laugh bursts from me. “As okay as I can be, I think.”

“What you did earlier was hard. I’m proud of you for being honest with everyone,” Josie says. Her gaze is a hot press of an iron over my body as she takes in my outfit. “You’re beautiful, Mo.”

“Thank you,” I say, my cheeks running hot.

“Just the truth.”

She shrugs, the silky jade colored shift-dress reflecting the low light with her movement. It’s much less ornate than mine but suits her perfectly.

“You’re not looking too bad yourself,” I say. “You clean up nice.”

“I don’t get to doll myself up too often,” she says. “It’s nice.”

“I may have to host some formal nights at the Den, so you can.”

She barks a laugh. “Sure.”

“I’m serious—you look gorgeous.”

Now it’s her turn to have pink rising on her cheeks. “Thank you.”

Nora bursts from our room, shooing away a leathery winged sprite that keeps fussing with her hair. She gives us a wide-eyed glance, and I snort, covering my mouth to hide my laughter.

I had left her to their wrath once I was done. I knew if I stayed and watched her cursing at them while they did her makeup, I would cause more trouble than good.

After one last swipe at taming the flyaway hairs at Nora’s temple, the sprite finally deems its work complete and zooms off down the hall.

Nora murmurs expletives as she strides to us, heels clacking against the stone floor. Her dress is simple, a black silk satin bias-cut to fit her form and flutter around her ankles. The neckline is a sharp v that cuts into her decolletage. The exposed skin at her collarbone shimmers with glitter, giving her an ethereal glow. Matching gloves of pure night rise past her elbows, accentuating the toned muscles of her arms.

Warm lips press against my forehead. A shiver works down my spine.

“You left me with them,” she murmurs into my forehead.

Josie snorts. “They’re little menaces, aren’t they?”

“Precisely.” Nora cradles my waist, deft fingers skimming over the exposed skin there. Leaning forward, her lips crest the shell of my ear. “It’s going to be exceptionally hard to keep my hands off you. We may have to sneak off to a side hallway.”

Heat spreads across my neck, and I know that if I looked in a mirror, I’d see my skin flushed red as a strawberry. She places a kiss on the divot where my jaw meets my neck and the curve of her smile grazes my skin.

“I’m sure the sprites won’t mind if we disrespect a hidden corner of their castle,” she adds.

Three loud knocks booming through the hallways have me flinching away from Nora; we both turn to see Josie banging on Leo’s door.

“Sorry.” Josie cringes. “But we are going to be late if he doesn’t hurry up.”

I stifle my laughter as Leo throws open the door a second later. His shirt is still unbuttoned, and his tie is slung around his neck.

“I need five more minutes,” he says, buttoning the shirt from the bottom up.

“Did they not send sprites to help you get ready?” I ask.

“Nope,” he huffs and disappears back into his room, leaving the door open.

I snort before grabbing Nora’s hand and squeezing it.

“I’m going to go help him. He’s terrible at tying ties.”

Her red lips curve into a soft smile. “Of course.”

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