Page 33 of Sinful

“I am no saint, Sirena. I’m a very bad man.” He thumbed my bottom lip. “If you leave me, I’ll find you and weave you into my mother’s bracelet.”

I shook at his words.

“Whether you like it or not, you belong to me. I never let go of things that are mine. And nothing that ever hurts what belongs to me gets to live for long.”

I turned my face from him, fear washing over me.

“Look at me,” he commanded, turning my face back to his with a firm hold.

I stared into his eyes, my breath held.

“I will find the person who caused you harm, specter. When I do, I will deliver him to you. I will watch you carve him to pieces if that is your wish, but I swear on my life, you will have your revenge if it is what you seek. For you, I’d give the world. I’d give you your own heaven.”

The darkness I’d been trying to keep at bay peeked out from the shadows, eager to get to work. The fear washed away, replaced by excitement.

I licked my lips, the numbness of this new part of my soul coming out to look around.

“What if I want hell, Dante? Should you deliver it?”

His eyes darted to my lips, where I had the bottom one pulled between my teeth.

“I would deliver hell and all its fucking demons anywhere you’d like, my love. For you, I’d do anything. Kill anyone. All you need to do is give the command, and it will be yours.”

“Promise?” I leaned in.

He exhaled and closed his eyes briefly. I studied his peaceful face. So beautiful. So flawless. Such a beautiful, perfect monster.

His lashes fluttered for a moment before he opened his eyes.

“I vow it. Yours. All of it. Anything. You are my reason for everything now. Both my sanity and insanity. You drive them. Steer them well, my specter, because once I let go, I really will unleash a hell you couldn’t even fathom in that pretty little head of yours. So call my name. I will come to you and go to my knees, then await your command. I am yours, Sirena. Forever.”

I let my eyelids close, relishing his words. This darkness within me adored them. The light feared them.

Who I was, I didn’t know, and that scared me.

But not as much as Dante Church did.

“Tell me your story, Dante,” I demanded softly, not reeling in the darkness. Maybe if I let the darkness out, it would keep me safe. It would protect me.

I wanted to be safe inside my body.

He cradled my cheek when I opened my eyes.

“You may never look at me the same way again,” he murmured.

I pressed my lips to his. He immediately kissed me back, dragging the breath from my body.

“I am not myself,” I whispered against his lips between kisses.

“I know,” he answered in a trembling voice. “We all snap in here. You are no exception.”

I nipped his bottom lip, earning a soft groan from him.

“Tell me your story,” I commanded again.

His lips trailed down my neck. I loved the way it felt. So firm and in charge. So. . . Dante.

His lips left my skin and was replaced by his hand in a firm hold around my neck. He gave it a squeeze, making me gasp out.

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