Page 13 of The Sinner: James

Startled, I jolt back, slamming into the concrete wall.

Adrenaline surges through my veins, my heart pulsing in my throat, and my lungs crying for more air when I realize I’m stuck.

Boxed in. Caged in.

My eyes land on the broad chest of a tall, athletic man.

“Excuse me,” I mumble, struggling to raise my eyes from the belt setting off his trim waist.

I step to the side, attempting to walk around him, when a man of the same height closes in on me, blocking my retreat.

My gaze drops to the ground, my pulse racing even faster as broken thoughts rush through my head.

I gasp and pant and crush a whimper, shivering as if I face the brunt of winter.

A few moments of silence tick by as I study their boots.

“Are you coming or going, sweetheart?” the man in front of me drawls in a deep smokey voice, a thick rasp threaded through his sultry tone.

Slowly, I drag my gaze up until I meet his magnetic eyes.

Perfect silence flows from my parted lips, my voice muted in my throat.

“Cat ate your tongue, huh? What say you, Lex? Is she coming...?” he asks the man parked at his side, a smile woven in his voice.

“She’s coming,” the other man says.

His voice is deep and raspy, carrying a sexy timbre.

“I... um... I’m sorry,” I stammer, unable to hide my nerves.

“Mmm... She’s got her voice back,” the first man says, amused.

My shoulders sag, my gaze trailing to the ground again.

“Can we see your eyes, sweetie?” the first voice says.

A soft rustle alerts me to his smooth motion as he touches my face and gently grips my chin.

His skin smells like smoke, cologne, and a lot of danger.

He tips my face up.

My gaze drifts up his body for the second time, taking inventory of his dark jeans, fitted T-shirt, hard torso, and sculpted shoulders.

As fuzzy as it is, a memory comes back to me, turning my knees soft and my breaths shallow.

He tilts my face a little more and locks my eyes, the light streaming from above spreading faintly over his face.

My mouth pulls open with a silent gasp.

Dark green bedroom eyes study me intently, beaming with unabashed curiosity.

A few stray bangs of thick dark hair sweep over his high cheekbones, casting shadows over his eyes.

My gaze dips to his perfectly curved lips as he slowly tilts them into a lopsided smile.

I’ve seen this grin before.

---