Page 45 of Tempted By Sin

I lower myself so we’re at eye level. His cut bottom lip quivers as he waits for me to speak or make a move. I simply smile at him.

I wish he knew how much his fear gets me going.

“Maybe you should’ve thought about that before you touched what is mine. And now, I’m going to make you regret ever accepting that hundred bucks to hurt my little bird. It’s going to be long and painful, so you better strap in for the ride.”

The moment my fist connects with his broken cheekbone, blood explodes across the room, followed by whimpering and tears.

This better be a lesson to anyone he may have spoken to who thinks they can get their hands on Paetyn. My obsession with her is unlike anything I’ve ever felt. It’s a rush I crave; I need it injected into me like a drug. She is constantly on my mind—her voice keeping me awake at night as I remember the feel of her body against mine and the way she says my name.

I refuse to let any harm come her way. If someone out there is trying to hurt her, they’d better fucking believe I’ll be right there to put an end to it. Mark my words.

CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE

Paetyn

I needto get out of this goddamn house before I lose my mind.

It’s been a week since Liam accused me of cheating on him, and I hit him with the evidence I have collected of his supposed infidelity. Whenever we’re in the same room, he refuses to look at me or utter a single word, choosing silence over discussing the situation at hand. Like a child.

In the four years I have been dating Liam, he has never once apologized for a fight or admitted he was in the wrong. I’m the one who has to apologize first and start talking to him again. Otherwise, if I don’t, he will continue to play the silent game. And I can’t stand it. Knowing he’s in the same house, breathing the same air, and going about his day and not speaking to me makes me irate. He’s sleeping in the spare bedroom for God’s sake.

By now, I would’ve given in and apologized just so he would stop this game, but I refuse to be the bigger person this time, especially when he has been no saint either.

With a huff, I grab my car keys and head to the front door. Liam is at his parents’ house, working on something with his father for his campaign. He has been over there a lot this past week. Not only has he been staying late at the office or been out on the campaign trail, he’s been having dinner with his parents most nights, or he’s out schmoozing with potential campaign donors, telling them I’m still too shook up from my ordeal to come along, leaving me home alone with my thoughts.

I’m sure his parents have questioned him about me and why I’m not with him. Given his close relationship with them, it wouldn’t surprise me if he threw me under the bus but kept the details of his activities to himself.

I slide into the driver’s seat and send a text message to Raya.

PAE: Hey, are you busy?

Her response comes quickly.

RAYA: I’m lying on the couch in my pajamas with a tub of ice cream beside me, so no, I’m not busy. What’s up?

PAE: I need to get out of the house. Are you able to meet me at the mall? I could use some retail therapy and a distraction.

RAYA: Say less, Pae. I’ll be there in thirty minutes.

The drive to the closest mall is about twenty-five minutes with traffic. By the time I get a parking spot and head in to wait at our usual meet-up point, Raya has just arrived with two coffees in hand.

She rushes up to me and hands me a cup. I accept it without hesitation. It’s warm nestled against my palms, battling the chill racing through my body.

“Is everything okay?” Raya asks, her head tilted to the side. She’s wearing jeans and a thick puffer coat, not wanting to take any chances with the New York weather.

I sip the coffee only to take a moment to form a response. Should I tell her what happened with Liam? And more importantly, Ace? She warned me away from Ace, saying I could find myself in danger given what he did to me, but I’ve done the exact opposite. If anything, I can’t seem to stay away from him no matter how hard I try to ignore his presence or woodsy cologne. My attempts are futile.

“I’m okay.” I force a smile on my face. “I just need a distraction.”

“I’m more than happy to help you with that.” Raya links her arm through mine and tugs me toward a shop. “Let’s shop and talk.”

We do just that.

While we walk aimlessly through clothing stores, picking up an item only to put it back when we realize we don’t actually like it, we catch each other up on what we’ve been doing. Raya tells me about her job and a recent promotion she got. She gushes about Seren and how she thinks he’s close to proposing. They’ve been dating for nearly five years, so it’s bound to happen at any time, but Raya is convinced it’ll be soon.

I couldn’t be happier for my best friend. Not only does she have a good job and a caring partner, but she has her shit together, which is more than I can say for myself.

Raya drags me into another store to look at a pair of shoes she has been eyeing. She asks a worker to get the shoes in her size, and she settles onto a stool, her eyes gazing up at me expectantly.

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