Page 34 of Sinful

“If you try to leave me after hearing it—”

I reached out and wrapped my hand around his neck before squeezing like he did to me.

“Then we will both die,” I whispered.

“Don’t tempt me with a good time.” He crushed his lips to mine in a fierce kiss. All senses left my head as he took control of my body.

“Tell me who owns you.”

“You do,” I choked out.

He sucked against the sensitive skin of my neck, releasing his hold on me. I moaned softly as he cradled my breast.

“You’re not my specter,” he whispered into my ear after trailing kisses and bites along my jaw.

“I am. I’m just a different version.”

“I wantherright now. She needs to hear my words. Bring her back. I want my sweetheart, not her monster.”

“No.”

“Bring her back to me,” he commanded, pulling away and glaring down at me. “Now.”

I blinked rapidly, heat sweeping through me. Dizziness. Nausea. Confusion.

I stared up at him, wondering how we’d gotten into the position we were in. Why I’d snapped the way I had. It was the darkness inside me. I was sure of it. I was her. She was me. A demon sent from my own personal hell. One meant to protect me from the bad men in our world.

The lines were blurred. We were all bad here it seemed.

“There you are,” he murmured, cradling my cheek. “Specter.”

A tear worked its way down my cheek. Fear blanketed me. Something was wrong. Really wrong.

But it felt so right. So safe.

“It’s OK. We’re all a little crazy here, baby.” He kissed me sweetly before pulling away. “You were asking about my story. Do you still want to hear it, or would you like to save it for our next walk through the cemetery at midnight?”

With a shaky hand, I reached out and squeezed his hand.

“Now,” he confirmed. “So be it. Just don’t run. There’s nowhere you could ever go that I wouldn’t find you. Understand?”

I stared back at him, knowing exactly what it meant. He was scared he’d lose me by telling his story.

He wouldn’t, though. I’d stay.

“Your eyes are so expressive,” he said in a gentle voice. “If I stared long enough into them, I could know the secrets to the universe.”

He brushed his lips against mine. “Let’s begin, shall we?”

I exhaled and gave a slight nod of my head.

That seemed good enough for him because he began speaking.

“My mother’s name was Calista, and she was beautiful."

CHURCH

Ilicked my lips, my ugly story tainting my tongue. I never spoke of my mother. It wasn’t a memory I liked, but the guys knew it, so my girl should also know it. I shoved all the shit out of my head that had transpired with Sirena moments ago. It was a subject I’d broach another time. Right now, I needed to focus on this moment.

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