Page 122 of My Sweetest Temptation

This was the price of betrayal.

As I pulled onto her street, I killed the headlights and parked a few cars down, keeping my presence concealed from her. I slipped out of my car and treaded carefully toward the building, staying cloaked in the shadows. I trusted Enzo to watch over her, but I needed to see her with my own eyes.

My phone vibrating snapped me back to the present. I pulled it from my pocket and read the text message from Enzo.

Enzo

She’s asleep.

A smile tugged at my lips as I tucked my phone away, feeling a rush of warmth at knowing she was in her own little world right now. I entered the code for her apartment building and ascended the narrow staircase, my heart racing a little with each step.

I slid the key into her door’s lock, and as it clicked, I took a deep breath. The moment I stepped inside, I was struck by the simplicity of her living space that I hadn’t noticed before because Winter’s face was all I could see.

It was small, but it was hers. I spotted a gray couch adorned with colorful pillows and cozy blankets draped over the back, a petite dark brown coffee table that fit the space just right, and a modest thirty-two-inch television. The walls were bare, devoid of pictures or artwork, leaving the place feeling like a temporary stop rather than a home. It was as if she was just passing through, and that idea gnawed at me.

With slow, deliberate steps, I moved down the hallway, drawn toward her bedroom. The door was ajar, and the soft glow from the nightlight spilled out. I was immediately sucked in by her sweet floral scent when I entered her room, intoxicating and familiar, wrapping around me like a warm blanket.

My gaze landed on Winter curled up on the bed, her back to me, facing the window. A wave of protectiveness washed over me as I watched her. How could someone so delicate hold such power over me?

I opened the dresser drawers quietly, my lips curling into a smirk when I discovered her underwear was neatly folded. My jaw tightened when I spotted sexy black thongs. Who the hell was she trying to impress? I snatched them up and tucked them into my pocket.

The next drawer made me chuckle; it was stuffed with candy bars. My little sugar addict. Shutting the drawer with a soft click, I knelt beside her, my breath hitching as I took in the sight of her. Her dark chestnut brown hair spilled over the pillow, framing her face like a halo. I watched her chest rise and fall with each rhythmic breath. Seeing her so calm instantly soothed my racing heart, allowing me to finally find peace.

This girl, this beautiful enigma, stirred something deep inside me. I wanted to be the one to shield her from her demons, to kiss every inch of her body, to peel back the layers and expose the woman hidden beneath. I wanted to unleash the darkness she kept buried inside, to show her she didn’t have to be afraid.

I wondered if God created her for me. An angel sent from the heavens to be owned by the devil.

I gently pulled the blanket higher, tucking her in more snugly. Standing up, I pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. “Sweet dreams, my angel,” I whispered, my voice barely breaking the silence. She didn’t stir, lost in her dreams, and a pang of reluctance hit me as I turned to leave.

But before stepping out, I couldn’t resist pulling up the feed on my cellphone. At least now I could watch her whenever I wanted.

To keep her safe.

To keep her close.

With a last lingering glance, I stepped out. But there was a darker undercurrent to my thoughts. This wasn’t just about protection. It was about claiming what was mine, about confronting the world that threatened her. I wouldn’t let anyone—especially not her demons from her past—take her away from me.

Nico

Enzo will be bringing you to my place tomorrow for Thanksgiving.

I rolled my eyes. Seriously? He was demanding it like some kind of order instead of just asking me like a freaking normal person.

Me

Thanks for the non-invite, but I already have plans.

Nico

Yeah, with me.

Me

No, Nico. I have plans with Tabi and Tristan.

Nico

Cancel them and bring them to my place.

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