Page 302 of The Sinner: James

“I could’ve hooked up with either of them after that night.”

“Yes, you could’ve, but then I would’ve gotten a quick answer and a swift way out of the story.”

“Were you testing me?”

He swivels his head to me, grinning.

“I’m not that calculated.”

I smile.

“Oh, yes... I think you are.”

He chuckles.

“Were all the ‘Nights of the Kings’the same? Lex said mine was different,” I say.

“It was... Yours was more about you than it was about us.”

“It was hot…” I murmur, my mind drifting away, my eyes going back to the floating lights. “So, how do they choose a male?” I ask, pointing to the cloud of lights.

“They flicker their lights at them. Not much different than how women do it.”

I smile.

“I bet that wasn’t your experience. I’m sure women were attracted to you like moths to a light.”

He laughs again.

“Yeah... probably,” he says before his face turns serious as if he muses over something different.

“Would you...?” he starts in a softer voice.

I shift my gaze to him.

“Would you consider spending some time with me this week?” he asks.

My smile drops from my face.

“It’s not what you think,” he says, noticing my reaction. “I just want to spend some time with you.”

“I don’t think it’s a good idea,” I say quietly.

He pushes off the car and pivots to face me.

“I’m not in that place yet...” I murmur, holding his mournful eyes. “I can’t just spend time with you and leave as if nothing happened.”

His fingers slide to my face, making my body tremble like a flickering torch.

“I’m not there either,” he says.

Our eyes stay locked for a few more seconds before my gaze dips to his lips.

“It’s one week. If I’m the only man you’ve ever loved, give me one week, and I’ll try to make you stay. If you stay, there’s no turning back to your old life. No other men. If, despite my efforts, you choose to leave, we part ways for good and never look back.”

My eyes dart back and forth as I ponder. I question his intentions, but in the end, it sounds like a decent proposal.

“Okay,” I say.

---