Page 45 of The Sinner: James

“Didn’t you just give her a taste of it? You’ve spent like thirty minutes with her in your bedroom.”

“Are you keeping track now?” I joke. “I didn’t give her a taste of anything.”

“What did you do then?” Lex asks.

“Nothing...” I say.

The place is silent for a moment, the water rippling softly near us, the moon shining down on us.

“Kissing,” I add quietly, a slow smile curving my lips.

“Oh.”

Their collective howl hovers over the terrace.

“Shut up, assholes. She can hear us,” I say, laughing.

“Fucking James Sexton...kissing a girl. The world just turned on its head,” Ed murmurs.

“How come she didn’t ask for more?” Lex asks, his eyes glinting with a smile.

“If it were up to her, I’d fuck her right now, but I know better than that,” I say, threading my fingers through my hair.

“Can we?” Lex murmurs.

Silence sits with us for a few long moments as they wait for my response, smirks clinging to their lips.

I take a long drag and blow the smoke up, studying their eyes.

“Nobody touches her before I do, or I’ll break your necks,” I say, and we all laugh.

“Cheers to that. James Sexton is back,” Lex says, raising his glass to his lips.

8

RAIN

The next morning.

Propped on my elbow,I blink several times and look around the room, trying to figure out where I am.

Oh…James.

The memory of last night comes back to me, putting a smile on my face as I sink back into my pillow.

Still…

I crack an eye open and study the room.

The place is mostly dim, with fluttery shafts of sunlight sneaking in from behind the curtains.

I glance at my phone and check the time.

Shit.

It’s almost noon.

Noon??

---