Page 94 of The Sinner's Sanctuary

He ends the kiss and runs his hand down the side of my face, lifting my chin to hold my gaze. “I can’t keep my hands off you.”

“No one’s asking you to.”

“What do you want, Christian?”

I frown, not quite following. For as many times as I feel like I can tell exactly what he’s thinking, there’s an equal amount where I’m clueless. “This is good for me,” I answer honestly. “Put your hands anywhere you want.”

He licks water off his lips. “You don’t need more?”

I’m ninety-percent sure I couldn’t handle more, no matter what he means by it. He’s the distraction I didn’t know I needed, but I already rely on him for far too much. I want to say no, I’m good. But now that Pet’s gotta find a new owner, I feel like I owe him more than a dismissal. Plus, I might needslightlymore.

“Do you?” I ask.

“I need everything,” he says, parting my lips with his and sliding his tongue back inside me.

We kiss like that—with my hands pinned and him feeling me up until the water gets cool, and I’m shivering from the lack of heat and overstimulation.

“I need to get you dried off,” he sighs, letting my hands go.

I stretch my fingers and realize they’re numb.

Once I’m dry and out of the bathroom, I grab a black shirt and sweats from my dresser. It’s only five. I doubt he’s going to the club this early, but he looks like he’s heading out, buckling his belt as I’m pulling my drawstring.

I check my phone while he’s buttoning his shirt. Drew and Jericho both texted. Seeing their names prompts me to scroll a mile and open my text thread with Silas to see how long it’s been since we last spoke.

The date of his last text is from March. Four months ago. My last text was in May for the record, but he left it on read. It wasn’t much. Just checking in.Let me know if you want to grab a drink sometime.I guess I could have followed up better.

I do now, being more direct.

Are you working tonight?

To my surprise, the text immediately shows as read and his dots appear.

Silas

No but I have plans. What’s up?

I dodge that question.

When are you free?

What do you have in mind?

Typical Silas. I grin because difficult people are my favorite kind.

Drinks, lunch, dinner, clubbing—whatever you have time for tomorrow.

Silas

Tomorrow? Did you suddenly remember you miss me or something?

I did before you did.

Yeah, I can do tomorrow, but absolutely no to clubbing.

Happy hour?

Pretty sure they don’t do those on Saturdays.

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