Page 127 of The Sinner's Sanctuary

“You sure?”

He smirks. “Today, yeah.”

I have to fight the urge to roll my eyes. Instead, I grab him by the arm and pull him toward me. He climbs onto my lap and kisses me hard enough to lay me out on the bed.

I grip his head and open my mouth, letting his tongue sweep in. He moans softly and shoves his hands into my hair. Before I get hard, I turn my head slightly and hold him in place. “You sure you want to get into this with your friends waiting for you?”

“It can wait—I just wanted to kiss you. I liked what you said.”

“I liked what you said, too.” Granted, we’re not masters of communication, but I do think we got somewhere. That we’re getting somewhere. It remains a mystery to both of us, I guess, where our relationship is heading, but at least I know we’re both happy with where it’s at. “So…sex or sangria?”

He sighs. “Sangria. But I reserve the right to change my mind.”

“Come here, baby.” I wrap my arms around him more affectionately and draw him back to my mouth. We share another kiss and a long embrace. “Don’t leave my sight,” I tell him.

Christian buries his face in my neck and murmurs, “Why would I ever want to do that?”

The weather couldn’t be betterin the lively outdoor kitchen. A nice breeze makes the eighty-seven degrees tolerable while the sun beats down on the sparkling pool. I have Christian next to me on one of the sofas, which are clustered in a seating area where Drew is still shirtless in those obscene swim shorts with his legs stretched out across from me. He’s sipping sangria and keeping an amused eye on Olivier.

For his part, Olivier is being patient as Elodie Lafayette twists and tugs his dark curls into a hairdo that looks like it will end up being an elaborate bun, which, no coincidence is how her hair is styled.

“Should I keep going?” she asks, turning Olivier’s head so he’s facing Drew, whose eyes light up with a grin.

“Yeah,” he says. “Love that angel face.”

“It’s giving me a headache,” Olivier says.

“Drink,” Elodie commands, and he does.

The container of sangria is gigantic, and it’s probably the best I’ve ever had. I’m on my second glass, and it’s doing the trick of giving me that lazy summer day feeling I haven’t felt in I don’t know how long.

People think rich people have it so great, and we do, I guess, in terms of the trappings of the good life. But feelings like this are as fleeting as they are for anyone else, I imagine. Perfect little moments where everything feels as right as it can possibly be—maybe better.

Christian leans against my side, and I put my arm around him. His hand rests on my abdomen, and I catch the look Drew gives us. There’s no judgment in it, only a careful assessment, a little of me, but mostly his friend. When our eyes meet again, I smile at him, and he nods, but there’s a question there, too.

Something along the lines ofwhat are you doing, dude?

I wish I knew. I wish it were as simple as having fun, or getting away, or even falling in love, but it may be everything and nothing all at once.

Jericho and Mallory are playing volleyball in the pool with Joe and Jeremy. Larry, who’s closest to my age at forty, is in a loud Hawaiian shirt and white linen pants behind the outdoor kitchen island where I get the feeling he’s managing some work crisis with his attention on his phone and aggressive texting.

“If they ever finish, I’d love to get in the pool,” Christian says.

Drew looks over his shoulder as Mallory squeals when the volleyball lands, causing a big splash to her face.

Joe fist pumps the air in honor of his scoring spike. From what I can tell, the men are crushing the women.

“You about done getting your asses handed to you?” Drew calls out, and Elodie laughs.

Her bikini isn’t much more than a series of tiny triangles covering her lady bits, and there’s almost no chance that we won’t be seeing most of her once she’s in the water.

“Come help us out if you can move in those shorty shorts,” Jericho replies from the pool.

“They were a gift.”

“Yeah, I bet.”

Olivier laughs, and Drew glares at him. “It’s fashion!” he tries to defend himself. “And they look amazing.”

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