Page 48 of A Sip of Sin

“He’s safe,” said George, kneeling next to Adair and touching his shoulder. He was clammy and cold to the touch, sweat and humidity clinging to his skin.

The first time he’d seen Adair was before Hollen had realized George had taken up residence. Adair had been curled on the couch in pajamas a few sizes too big, a man next to him who had disappeared from their lives shortly after that encounter.

He had been caught by Adair’s exotic brown eyes, perfectly symmetrical but large and soft. Hollen had leaned in to place a kiss on Adair’s lips as George had squirmed, desire flaring through him. Some of it was his own, and some was Hollen’s.

What parts were his were directly tied to the rush of adrenalin that had been plaguing him since Hollen had offered himself so willingly.

But there was something so purely handsome about Adair, even when his eyes were filled with tears. George had noticed early on, resisting the attraction until the moment he saw Adair dance. After that, he knew it was no use resisting.

George shifted, his naked knees pressing against the cracks between the tiles. A shiver worked over his skin, all but his hair quickly drying. “I didn’t mean to scare you.” He moved his hand along Adair’s arm to the spot of nakedness beneath his sleeve. He was drawn to it, staring as his fingertips brushed warmth and softness. “Did you need a shower to get cleaned up?”

“I— How do I know you didn’t hurt him? I want to talk to Hollen.” Adair flinched away, swiping at his mouth with the backof his arm. His gaze was locked on George, his eyes narrowed. When his gaze strayed for the slightest moment, a flush rose to his cheeks, smothered by his golden freckles

George shook his head. “He’s too weak right now.” He reached deep, only to find Hollen slumbering in the same spot he himself had called home for months. “I’m only watching over him until he’s strong enough to come back.”

He’d told many lies in his extended lifetime, but this wasn’t one.

Standing, George grabbed a glass from beside the sink, filling it and holding it out to Adair. “You need to trust me to keep him safe.”

“I don’t trust you,” said Adair, glaring at the cup as if he hadn’t seen George fill it a moment before. “You just came home with four fucking teeth in your hand.”

Touche.This century had been quite the eye-opener. No seemed to want trophies anymore unless they were stuffed and hanging on the wall.Should I suggest a necklace?Hollen would never let him live it down if he heard something like that.

“I plucked them from a vampire who tried to attack Hollen.” George squeezed his hand shut, only a bit of dampness remaining. The tattoos flexed as his knuckles strained. Hell, he had missed them. “I had to protect Hollen. He’s the most important one.”

Adair opened and closed his mouth a few times. “Oh.”

“Let me help you as I helped him.” George pulled the shower curtain back, starting the water again. Instead of the cooler water he’d used, he turned it warm, until steam filled the room. “I won’t hurt you.”

Adair didn’t run from him or turn away. “Promise?” The question was heartbreakingly soft.

“I would gladly die before I hurt you or Hollen.” Hollen was a given—his host, his life force, and his current source ofamusement. Adair should have meant nothing in comparison. But perhaps Hollen was rubbing off on him more than he cared to admit, the pureness of his soul matching with the love for his best friend.

Adair reached out, flinching when George clasped his hand and gently led him closer to the open bit of the curtain where steam billowed out in great gray clouds. They were close—close enough that George could scent his skin and see a stray sparkle caught in his eyelash.

He could feel the small shivers go through Adair’s body from the warmth, every bit of attention pinpointed on their connection. The slight chill of the bathroom was gone, heat pouring between them instead.

“I need to get undressed,” said Adair softly, his hand still clasped in George’s. He turned his wrist, sliding their fingers together until they were entwined. Perhaps it would not have felt quite so intimate if George wasn’t naked, his accomplishments and failures on display.

Adair let out a sigh, his eyes slipping shut as his trembling finally stopped. “I’m so tired.”

“That’s the adrenalin crash.” George released him, slowly clasping the bottom edge of Adair’s shirt and pulling it over his head. There was no resistance left. Perhaps Adair had given in to him—or maybe it was the strange connection between them that snapped into place when George had first seen him dance.

It was difficult to undress someone when they were taller than you, but Adair helped him by freeing his arms and tossing the shirt to the ground. He wobbled, his face still pale and his eyes clenched shut.

“You’re here with me. I’ll take care of you.” George trailed a finger down Adair’s now-naked chest. He was unreal perfection, faultless muscles bound to a lithe frame that hid the true extent of his immaculate fluidity.

Centuries ago, George had looked after someone, bathing their skin and kissing the tears from their cheeks. Looking at Adair, the memories of those days washed over him with the warmth of the sun and the scent of the turbulent ocean. There was bitterness, too.

Although his love had lived, he had eventually failed, as all men do. The empty husk he left behind had haunted George so fiercely that he’d driven himself to madness. The people who had taken him from George had burned brighter than the eerie moments before an eclipse.

But now, so much time had passed, he couldn’t recall his lover’s name. It was buried along with every happy bit he’d had in his life. Hollen was the first thing to bring that back, pulling him from his weak existence and his darkness.

But Adair…

George didn’t hesitate before clasping the stretchy waist of Adair’s pants, easing them to the ground. There was nothing underneath except more perfection, perking with interest as George stared.

When he finally looked to Adair’s face, he was flushed, dark pink scrawled over his cheeks and dipping to his chest.

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