Page 91 of The Sinner: James

Her free hand comes to my neck as she locks my lips.

She truly has it in her… Chasing her own pleasure, igniting hunger in my blood.

She rolls onto her side while I shift, tucking my elbow under my head, facing her.

The pool casts a blue light over her face, making her eyes glint mysteriously like the Northern lights.

A faint smile tilts her lips.

“I’ve never been in bed with a man,” she says, bringing her fingers to my face and gently caressing my skin.

“Me neither,” I say seriously, putting a chuckle on her lips.

“You are so funny,” she murmurs.

I smile.

“I’ve never been in bed with a virgin either. Besides, hot virgins are like pandas. You never get to take one home,” I add, winking at her.

“Shut up,” she says, her nose creasing with a cute smile before we share a stare, our smiles dying out as silence fills the room.

“I’m going to miss this girl,” I say, nostalgic.

She looks at me intrigued, her fingers touching me softly, sparking a storm across my skin.

“What girl?” she whispers.

“The one who’s gonna die tonight.”

She searches my eyes, the meaning of my words sinking in.

“She won’t die,” she says, her eyes gleaming with emotion.

“Yes, she will,” I say, gently stroking her hair while taking in her long lashes, sparkling eyes, and full lips, lodging this snapshot of her in my memory.

“It’s the end of the road for her,” I murmur, touching her lips with my thumb.

She smiles through her perfect tears.

“Why would you say that?”

“Because it’s the truth…”

Slowly, I run the back of my knuckles across her cheek, stroking her smooth, warm skin.

My gaze is trained on her lips as I speak again.

“This is life, baby,” I say before lifting my gaze. “Nothing stays the same. Everything is changing all the time. You and me included.”

Her eyes twinkle even more.

“I don’t want to make you cry.”

“You’re not,” she says, rolling her fingers under her eyes and fingertips across my lips. “It’s just that I don’t want her to die.”

I smile.

“It’s her time. That’s why I said I’d miss her.”

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