Page 19 of Wicked Sins

I hadn’t realized, what with his music blaring, that I’d been walking into a masturbation session. I get that he was pissed off, and that’s exactly why I was in his room in the first place—I’d wanted to apologize.

I mean, crap, I’ve never had a sister. Especially not one as…Well, Emma’s not exactly independent, is she? And that’s what keeps throwing me about the girl. She’s like ten years old, so I keep expecting her to be able to do things for herself. But she doesn’t act her age. I guess she can’t.

I forgot that. I guess it will take me a while to get used to having someone like her in my life.

Holy crap—even just having a brother is turning out to be a massive adjustment.

Who the hell jerks off at home at like three-thirty in the afternoon? It’s broad daylight outside. Why doesn’t he wait until everyone’s asleep—

Like you?

I shove away the thought and gingerly step away from the door.

Somehow, I’m still expecting him to storm in here with that ravenous look in his eyes.

I shiver and hug myself hard.

Why didn’t he say something? I’d knocked like five times before I went inside.

At least now I’ll know.

Josiah Bale is not to be disturbed.

Like, ever. Ever,ever…just in case.

* * *

The afternoon’sevents should have been enough to put me out well before my normal bedtime, but here I am, seven hours later, and I still can’t sleep. I’ve tried just about everything except going back to the pool house and pouring myself another glass of wine.

Nope, can’t do that.

When I hear Wayne’s car pull up, I just about leap off my bed.

I have to speak to Mom. I have to tell her. Not what I saw—God, my cheeks are burning just thinking about that—but aboutthis.Allof this.

She made a mistake.

We’re better off on our own.

I mean, we gave it a good shot, didn’t we? No one will say we’re being—

I get to the landing a moment before my mom and my stepdad come through the front door. I’m about to speak, to tell her I need to talk to her, when…

Wayne grabs my mom’s wrist as she starts walking away. He tugs, and she whirls around and into him like they’re actors on a movie set.

My words die on my tongue.

I watch, open-mouthed and spellbound as Mr. Bale kisses my mom.

He slides her handbag off her shoulder, and the sleeve of her dress comes with it, baring her skin. He kisses her there and then moves his lips to the inside of her throat. Mom makes a sound I can hear all the way up here, and I take a hurried step back.

“Have you considered the repercussions?”

I spin around with a strangled gasp. Josiah’s standing right behind me, so close I can feel his body heat.

What the hell is he talking about? Is he honestly expecting me to rat him out for jerking off? God, I’d die of embarrassment before I’d get a word out.

I shake my head. “What? No. Of course not.” My cheeks catch fire. “Why would I—?”

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