Page 36 of Relentless Sinner

“I don’t know. I can’t imagine you reading, let alone quoting parts of my favorite classic to me. It’s not very…”

“Beast like?” I raise my brows and level her a hard stare.

“Yeah. I guess.”

“Maybe I want to be the beast with everyone else. But not with you.”

The moonlight is just bright enough for me to see the slight hint of rose creeping into the pale skin of her cheeks.

“How is your face?” I ask, changing the subject.

She touches her cheek. “Better. Eve gave me this cooling cream so the bruise is nearly gone.”

“Good. It shouldn’t have happened.” Today is the last time I’ll underestimate anybody. I stand and set my shoulders back. “I’m going out. If you’re going to stay here try to keep warm.”

“Where are you going?”

I’m not used to people questioning my whereabouts, but I like it coming from her. “Work.”

“At this hour?”

“Time works differently for men like me. No rest for the wicked,Krasota. See you in the morning.”

I dip my head and she stares at me.

“Jaxon.” She stops me as I’m about to walk away. That’s the first time she’s ever said my name.

“Yes.”

“Thank you for today. For stopping my father.”

“You’re welcome.”

An uneasy look invades her eyes. “What did you say to him that made him so scared?”

I think for a moment, deciding on whether I should tell her that I threatened to flay the skin off her father’s body in my trademark way and hang him out on the lawn for the crows to eat what’s left of him. It sounds bizarre. Like something only a savage would do, but the reason Salvatore nearly shit himself was because he knows I’ve done it before.

“It’s best you don’t know,” I tell her instead, deciding that I don’t want to scare her any more than she is.

“I don’t want him to walk me down the aisle. Or ever touch me again.”

I was going to ask her about that so I’m glad she mentioned it. “Done. Just remember what I said about next time he gets out of line.”

“I remember.”

When I leave her I feel like something just happened between us to draw us closer. Something more than the fascination that’s overpowered my mind enough to stop me from drilling her about her sister.

If nothing else I seem to be breaking down those walls Gabriella raised to keep me out.

What would it feel like if she let me in?

If she did I know I’d never leave and I wouldn’t allow her to leave me either.

Chapter Eight

Gabriella

I stand by the glass wall gazing out at the large infinity pool nestled in the middle of the garden like a jewel.

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