Page 43 of Sin & Secrets

I don’t know why it’s so important to me that she trusts me, that she stops looking at me with that apprehension in her eyes. But if this small gesture helps alleviate that just a little bit…I can’t help feeling that it might be worth it.

Tentatively, she reaches out with her hand to take it from me. “Yes.”

All rational thought is telling me that the first call she’ll make will be to the police. That I’m risking my unsteady alliance with the NYPD over this.

But as she matches my unblinking stare, it’s not betrayal I find there. It’s truth and determination. I could be an absolute fool for believing it, but…

Our fingers gently graze each other as I pass the phone to her. Is it my imagination, or do those beautiful hazel eyes flutter closed for just a moment?

“You are not a prisoner here,” I reiterate. “I only ask that you help me as I helped you.”

Cas looks away to pocket her phone. “I suppose there are worse vacation homes.”

“You’d be welcome to stay in my South African home if you’d prefer,” I offer, despite the traitorous part of my mind wanting her to stay close at hand.

Those bright eyes meet mine again. “Are you trying to get rid of me?”

“Quite the opposite.” The words leave my mouth before I can stop them. I have to physically restrain myself from reaching out and running my hands through her dark hair. “Although I imagine it would be easier.”

“I suppose having a random girl staying in your bachelor pad would ruin your reputation,” she snarks back.

I shake my head. Always so fiery. It’s been a long time since anyone dared talk to me the way she does. The trouble is that I’ve already discovered what it’s like to draw out far more pleasing sounds from that perfect mouth of hers.

Sounds that only continue to torment me every second we’re apart.

“I made an oath to you that night inElectrixthat I would protect you from Lazzaro,” I say slowly. “But I also swore I wouldn’t touch you again.”

Her breath catches at that. “As noble as that was, may I remind me that you grabbed me when you were trading me for Claudio’s debt.”

She’s goading me; I know she is. But still, I step closer, unable to stop myself from demonstrating my next point. “That’s not what I meant, and we both know it.”

Finally, I allow my fingers to brush her hair back from her face. The way she absently leans into the touch makes my heart begin to pound in my chest.

“I didn’t realize it was in a don’s nature to exercise self-restraint,” she counters, her voice quieter than before.

“It’s not in my nature to take advantage of women in desperate situations.”

She chuckles darkly. “You seem to think I’m incapable of making my own decisions.”

“You really want to argue with me about protecting the best interests of a woman who was being beaten by her boyfriend and decided that begging the local don for help was her best course of action?”

Her eyes narrow at that. “You think I’m an idiot.”

“I think you got dealt a shitty hand and took a calculated, if not reckless, risk,” I allow. “But I don’t think you’re an idiot.”

She searches my eyes for the truth, and I allow it to shine there.

Finally, she sighs. “If you want my help on this little operation of yours, you have to start treating me as an equal.”

“All right, consider it done.”

“I want to be trusted with any new information that you get.”

I consider this. “At my discretion.”

She takes a step closer to me, so close I can see the tiny glimmers of green in her eyes. “And if I want to get on my knees and put your cock in my mouth, you will get off your high horse and trust that it’s a decision I’m making for myself.”

I feel like something within me snaps in half at her words, knocking me entirely from my axis.Angioletta,I had called her. But perhapsla ammaliatricewas more fitting.

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