Page 33 of Entombed In Sin

“What can I do to prove to you I’m sorry?” I ask, barely managing to keep the whine out of my voice. I haven’t worked this hard to try to get on someone’s good side in forever. Since winning over Sagan I think.

Beatrix shuts the lid to the box and sighs.

“Look, Knox,” she starts. “What I did, spying on you, was wrong, and I’m sorry. But?—”

“You have nothing to apologize for!” I reach up and rake my fingers through my hair, tugging at the roots in frustration. “Not really at least.”

Starr Girl looks down at the wooden box, her shoulders sagging. Internally, I sigh. God, why couldn’t this be fucking easy?

“I wasn’t expecting… I didn’t know you’d… Urgh! I was shook, ok? Remember when I told you about Greg, the guy whomade my life hell? Ever since him, I just kind of expect the worst out of people, and I’ve been right to. Everyone has lived up to my exact expectations. It’s like people have this perverse fascination with anyone different from them. I’m the person that people like to gawk at or harass. I thought that’s what you were doing behind the wall and punished you accordingly. But keeping you down there for that long was a mistake. I didn’t know you were touching yourself while you were watching Thatcher punish me and?—”

“Sagan told you that?!” Beatrix stiffens as her eyes widen in horror. “Great, I feel even more embarrassed!”

“No!” I close the distance between us. I stop just beside Beatrix to stare down into her pretty, liquid amber eyes. She tilts her chin upward to look at me. My fingers itch to reach out and caress her face. “It was fucking hot, Starr Girl.”

Her lashes flutter as her full lips part. “W-what?”

“Yeah.” I give her my best smile. “Maybe next time you can watch while you’re actually in the room with me. Or…” I wink, “maybe you can participate. Remember how good it was when I tongue fucked your pussy? I can’t stop dreaming about it.”

Beatrix sucks in a sharp breath, then stops breathing. My eyes drift down to her mouth. I’ve kissed Beatrix’s lips before, just not these ones. And while her pussy was surprisingly delicious and I’m eager to dive between her legs once more, I can’t help but wonder what a real kiss from Starr Girl would be like. I swallow hard and force myself to push forward.

“You’ve been nothing but unexpectedly sweet since I’ve met you,” I admit. “I like your company and want to spend more time in it. I really am sorry for almost killing you.”

Can she hear my sincerity? Feel the passion vibrating within each word? I hope so. Beatrix Starr is one of very few people who deserves my kindness. From the moment she stepped between me and Trevor the first time, I should have known she wasdifferent from everyone else. Every word, every action after that only proved Beatrix isn’t like the rest. I was just so jaded and blind and, well, if I’m being honest, maybe even a little jealous. I’ve never had to share the Hunt twins before. But that’s all in the past.

“Come on,” I beg. “Give me a chance to take you out tonight and show you I’m not acompletelyterrible person.”

Beatrix looks down at her box. Her hands slide over the lid. My hand lifts and I nearly place it on her shoulder. I stop the movement before I regret it. That could come at a cost. Like a touch in return. I shudder at the thought.

“Alright,” she mutters.

I gasp with delight.

“Alrightas in you forgive me?” I hedge.

As our eyes meet, I notice a little color gathering in her cheeks. It’s followed by her eyes traveling down to stare at my lips. My breath catches in my throat. I know she’s blood drunk, I shouldn’t take advantage, but Starr Girl is looking very much like she wants a kiss, and I’m not opposed to stealing one.

“No. That was a ‘alright I’ll go out’ tonight. I’ve never partied before, not really,” she admits with a shy, small smile that fades just as quickly as it comes. “But Icouldforgive you, on one condition.”

Ok, no kiss, but this is something. Hope fills my veins. If she’s able to look past this blunder, then maybe there could be a reset and we can start over.

“Name it,” I reply eagerly.

“I want to punishyou. Then I feel like we’ll be on equal footing again.”

Again? Clearly there are some wires that have been crossed. Does she think she’s like us because she sanctioned a few kills? Or because she finally shoved a blade into flesh?Psh. She has a lot of bodies to slash through before she will ever tip thescale. But whatever. If this will make her happy, fine. She’s so innocent, anything she cooks up will probably be a walk in the park compared to what the twins have put me through.

Besides, it’s not about if I can handle a punishment—that’s a no-brainer. Agreeing to this is so much more than some tit-for-tat thing. I want Beatrix to trust me. Hell, I want more than just that, but this is a start. Once we get past this little hiccup, I know I can win her the rest of the way over.

I agree, “Deal. Whatever you want to do to me, I’m game. Nothing’s off the table, ok? So do your worst.”

Her worst will probably be forcing me to watch some stupid movie with her or some shit. She seems simple in that way. Starr Girl’s smile returns, bright and warm, and her gaze shifts ever so slightly again. Yup, definitely blood drunk.

“Ok, I’ll have to think about what I want to do.”

I laugh. “Take your time. We’re together in this for the long haul, Starr Girl.”

“She said yes!” I announce as I kick the office door that’s ajar all the way open. The door bangs against the wall behind me but I don’t care.

---