Page 420 of The Sinner: James

A dark sky stretches outside the windows, with millions and millions of stars pulsing across.

I stop in front of the glass wall and stare at the skyline, the lights underneath, and the moon sparkling above.

I miss so many things.

I miss James, our home, and having our friends around the table. Eve, Lex, and Dahlia. Ed and Thea. Even my sister and her future husband if she’ll ever agree to come and visit me.

But most of all, I miss him.

My husband.

I pull away from the window, set my purse on the table, and fish out my phone.

A text from Eve puts a smile on my face.

Eve: He is delicious.

A picture of her with that man leaving the club flashes across the screen.

He is cute.

I check more messages. There’s nothing from James. And my last text message hasn’t even been opened.

I set my phone next to my purse and go to the bathroom.

Moments later, I shed my clothes and walk into the shower.

I relish the warm water rolling over my body before I turn it off and exit the bathroom, wrapped in a bathrobe.

A sound comes from the hallway, making my pulse spike.

Glancing around, I pat my pocket and realize I'd left my phone in the living room.

Tense, I take a few steps in that direction when another noise comes from the entrance.

I shift my gaze to the door.

It’s cracked open, yet no one is there.

Footsteps ring outside, making my chest tighten. A man pushes the door open, his silhouette filling the doorframe.

He walks in, his gaze trained on his phone, his head tilted down.

“James...?”

He flicks his eyes up, a smile curving his lips.

“Hey, baby,” he says, taking me in.

“James... Oh, my.”

My voice explodes with joy as I dash to him.

He opens his arms and catches me as I hop up and wrap my legs around his waist, my robe open.

My lips connect with his, my fingers sliding through his hair while my nostrils are tickled by his scent. A dash of smoke, pervasive summer, and musky cologne.

“Mmm...” I moan against his lips, my arms looped around his neck.

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