Page 29 of Heartless Sinner

“Good, because I’m not done with you.”

“You aren’t?”

“No. It turns out I want more, bellezza.” He runs a finger down my cheek.

“I… want more, too.” I can’t believe the words coming out of my mouth.

The handsome stranger smiles back at me. “Come here to me.”

We move toward each other at the same time, falling into another kiss, and I’m lost all over again.

When the first rays of dawn paint shadows across his beautiful sleeping face, my heart twists.

I promised myself I’d leave when the sun came up. It’s time.

I just don’t want to go.

I don’t want to get my clothes back on and walk through that door. I don’t want to leave him—my handsome stranger.

But I know I have to.

Last night was just a fantasy. The magic is gone and everything that made me his bellezza has faded into the ether.

I’m back to being myself again and all the reasons I came to New York have resurfaced in my mind.

I have to leave and the wise thing to do is get back to my room and figure out my next steps.

I want to get the chip within the next few hours while it’s still quiet. So, I need to leave now. Getting that chip will place me one step closer to freedom—or as free as I can be. Free from Anton.

Freedom from Anton keeps me and Dad safe. I’m not even thinking about Johnny at this point. He made his choice.

With that thought, I sit up, careful not to wake Mr. Dreamy.

I look at him again and note how peaceful he appears in his sleep. The dominance is still very much there, but there’s a calmness to him that I like.

Last night was amazing, and I haven’t felt that punch of reality that’s supposed to come when you do something crazy—like sleep with a hot bartender you literally just met.

Does this make me a slut?

I guess it does in most people’s books, but I’d do it again. This man took me into a fantasy where I forgot everything that wasn’t him. We had sex all night, and I only fell asleep because sleep caught up with me.

I drifted off before him, but I’m glad I woke up before him. It would have been harder to leave.

Then again, one-night stands have rules. This is my first time, but even I know that rule number one is that you don't stay until morning.

I also think you’re not supposed to lie in bed memorizing the constellation of tattoos on your one-night stand’s body so you don’t forget them.

You also shouldn’t imagine anything to do with the future. There’s a reason they’re called one-night stands, and we had the classic example—no names, no strings attached. It needs to stay that way.

Besides, look at this man. He probably has a one-nighter every weekend. I could be just one of this weekend’s girls.There’s still tonight and tomorrow, so he could wake up with two different girls by the time we hit next week.

With a heavy heart, I get off the bed, ignoring how my body yearns to sink back into his warmth.

I find my dress and my underwear and quickly put them on, then drag my shoes on last and find my purse, which is somehow caught up in his clothes.

We were so wild last night I’m surprised I can find anything.

I see his pants and the thought hits me to look at his wallet so I can get his name. I’d at least like to know that.

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