Page 19 of The Sinner: James

“Power cars. Anything that moves fast.”

Silence grows around the table.

“Cars, huh? Fast and hard.”

“Edward,” James growls.

“What? We can give her a ride,” Ed insists, smirking.

Lex clasps the back of his neck, pulls him closer, and whispers something in his ear.

His expression changes, his eyes still on me.

“Got it. She’s cute, though.”

“You can get plenty downstairs,” James comments.

“I’m fine. That’s where I came from,” Ed says, flashing a cocky smile.

James’s phone rings, and silence hovers over the table while he takes the call.

“Yeah... Okay.”

He sets his phone down and looks at me.

“She’s outside, waiting for you,” he says, not moving.

“Thank you.”

I push to my feet, my top hemline sliding up, exposing my lower stomach. The fabric stretches across my full breasts, revealing their shape and hard tips.

Their eyes go to my chest, and much lower, below my waist, undressing me with hunger.

I feel completely naked.

Tipping his head back, Ed takes me in, grinning, while Lex runs his eyes over me way more discreetly.

Turning to my right, I catch James staring.

“I need to go,” I say, pulling them out of their reverie.

James slides out of the booth and raises his hand, stopping Lex and Ed from pushing out of their seats.

He wraps his fingers around my neck and motions to them, tilting his chin. On cue, they nod goodbye to me before watching us head to the exit.

Moments later, we stop near the door.

Sliding his hand down my back, James ignites an electric storm across my skin.

I turn to him.

“Take care, Rain…” he says softly. “It was nice meeting you.”

“Likewise,” I murmur, and without giving it a second thought, I push up onto my toes, take his face in my hands, and before giving him a chance to say something––or do anything––I press my lips against his.

He stifles his impulse to pull back and break away from me rather harshly, allowing me to kiss his lips instead.

I linger a moment longer, relishing the taste and scent of him before pulling away.

---