Page 14 of The Sins of Silas

“I could tell you wore a mask, hiding your true self because you were scared to be her. It was something I related to. But that’s why I enjoyed teasing you…enjoyed pushing your buttons.”

I held his unrelenting gaze.

“Because I saw her peering through, begging to come out. And I loved every bit of her.”

His eyes flickered, and he was the first to look away. Pain knotted in my stomach as reality sunk in.

You would've never loved a witch, isn't that right, Quill?

…Or is your mask on tight?

We rode mostly in silence for the first few hours to Forsmont, a little small talk amongst the group, but that was it.

It was difficult saying goodbye to my mother for an amount of time I was unsure of. It was difficult watching Silas wrap his arms around his wife, smiling softly while she beamed up at him.

But nothing was more difficult than riding on this damned horse with Roland.

We switched this time, me sitting in front and him behind me, and Gods, did I regret it. It had been a few hours on the road, and we were currently letting our horses drink from a freshwater river. In the distance, the sun was still bright in the sky, warming the air to a comfortable temperature. The terrain before us was mostly bright, green grass—rolling meadows.

We had all hopped off our horses, taken bathroom breaks, and refilled our waterskins. Now, Roland and I were back on our ride, waiting for the mare to finish hydrating.

His strong thighs were pressing against mine, his hands resting comfortably on my hips. I, for one, was not comfortable with the placement. And the bastard could tell—relished in that fact.

“You’re awfully stiff, Ginger Snap,” he crooned, his hands sliding down my thighs. Chills spread across my entire body as he whispered, “I can help with that later.”

Despite what happened to me, I felt safe around Roland. My uncomfortableness didn’t stem from disgust or fear of his touch; it was from how much I found myself enjoying it.

Plus, I wasn’t in those cuffs. I was far more powerful than him.

“Roland,” I said sweetly, leaning back to whisper in his ear. “If you try any more shit, I am literally going to light you on fire.”

He snickered. “That wouldn’t be kind to ol’ Donut here,” he replied, patting the horse’s white mane. “Wouldn’t be fair for her to get caught in the crossfire.”

I turned ever so slightly, giving him an artificial smile. “Then don’t test me. Or smoked Donut with a side of Roland will be what is served for dinner tonight.”

I would never hurt an innocent animal. But I aspired to clarify that I would not tolerate his shameless flirting. Even if I liked it—more than liked it. I refrained from slapping my forehead.

Ugh! What is wrong with me?

He let out a dramatic sigh. “I want to say,‘I’d love for you to eat me for dinner’,but for Donut’s sake, I shall keep my lips sealed.”

I narrowed my eyes back at him. “You literally said it anyway.”

He gave me a lopsided grin, his hazel eyes sparkling with amusement. “Yeah, but it didn’t have the punch it could have had,” he retorted.

The sun shining down not only complemented his deep, tanned skin, but the rays also brought out the green hues in his irises. Most of the times I’d seen them, they had appeared on the browner side, but seeing them now as their true color, a combination of olive and ochre, I found them…captivating.

And his eyelashes…I never realized how long they were.

His smile grew, showcasing his bright, white teeth. “Your ogling is making me horny, Ginger Snap,” he purred.

My eyes blew wide when I realized Ihadbeen ogling at him, and I groaned, my grip tightening on the reins as we angled Donut back onto the road. “I can’t stand you,” I muttered.

He chuckled, and the sound had me clenching my thighs. “Whatever you wanna tell yourself,” he replied smoothly.

The others were slowly following us now. "What's your fascination with naming things after desserts?" I prodded, looking down at Donut as she marched.

I felt Roland shrug. “I dunno. Donut just looked like a powdered donut,” he explained, patting her mane again. “And you look like a Ginger Snap."

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