Page 93 of In the Light of Sin

My hearing aid case clattered on the floor, heavy footfalls coming from my right, but I couldn’t focus on Sarge. My hands cupped over my mouth, taking in the view in front of me.

No more pristine white that was a symbol of Sarge.

Now, the four walls of his living area were three yellow walls with an accented green one. I stood there in disbelief. My head turned to him. He was standing there frozen, waiting for my reaction. I didn’t know how to react. He told me not so long ago that I wasn’t even allowed to bring in a vase of flowers, and now his colorless world was brighter. It was a major shock for both of us, I think. “How did you—“

“Your fingernails are painted the colors of your favorite flower.” He looked away from me with a shrug, his voice slightly off. I had to bite back a smile. Was he embarrassed? “I just went based on that.”

My heart fluttered. He remembered the color I kept my nails? I always had pale yellow on my nails besides the ring fingers; they were green, like the stem of a flower painted with a sunflower design. I loved sunflowers. They always face the way the sun is rising. “Won’t this ruin your man cred?”

“No one comes up here.” He wasn’t bothered by that. He’s reminded me many times that I was the only one he was willing to let in his company. “And if they did, they wouldn’t be able to tell anyone else if they’re dead.”

I chuffed, amused by his response. “What about the ‘everything needs to be white, clean, and pristine’ mantra?” He told me everything had to be spotless. A pristine white, he got mad when I asked him about bringing some color into his cabin that resembled a sanitarium.

He faced me, hands coming to grip the sides of his hood. I grew eager, knowing he was going to show me the face that replaced my nightmares; ironic since people would say Sarge’s face would be the source of all the demons in their dreams. He lowered his hood, revealing his handsome face, his heterochrome eyes on me as he spoke profoundly. “You seem to break everything about me.”

I smiled at him, walking over as his hands slid down to his sides. He shattered every artificial smile I made others believe. It was only fair his facade would break when he cracked mine. I stood toe-to-toe with him, taking in just how much larger he was than me, but I had more power over him than he did himself. His eyes softened as I looked into them, brown and silver, swirling with wonder at what was going to come out of my mouth next. “We make quite the pair, don’t we?”

He grunted, reaching forward to grab my hand before leading us to the front door. I was curious when I saw where he was leading us: his garage. Why was he taking us out there? The last time we were out here…

My face flamed, the sun bright in the sky, so if he turned around, he would know I was thinking of the time he took me on the hood of his Caddy. My legs slightly wobbled at the phantom feeling of him fucking me into the chrome. Maybe he was taking me out here for round two? I wouldn’t mind that.

The memories were making my skin hot and my knees weak. This man made me insatiable.

Or was he just replacing the touch of every unwanted man before?

The first oddity was his precious Cadillac parked outside of his garage. He always had it parked inside so a tree wouldn’t fall on it or the paint could get weathered by the rain. I paused as he held up a hand, signaling me to stop as he went to the padded garage code he had installed after my little stunt. I wasn’t allowed in here without his permission, the door inside the house leading into the attached awning having the same lock.

The door opened slowly as Sarge widened his stance, his head turning towards me. I didn’t know what was happening, but I just stood there, trusting whatever was on the other side of that door was something good. Sarge wasn’t going to try to kick me out again. He wasn’t going to hurt me.

But what I saw had my breath hitching, eyes widening while my fingers covered my now opened mouth as my jaw fell wide open.

Bags of mulch, potted sunflowers, roses, an array of yard decorations, rakes, gloves… everything anyone could only dream about having for a garden. A bird and squirrel feeder and a bird bath. I looked to him, not winning the battle with the waterworks, when I saw what was in the center of it all.

A pale yellow rocking chair. Matching with the white-painted one he had on his porch. I stepped trepidly over to it, fingertips pressing against the smooth wood in disbelief. It was smaller than his, which made sense since I was half his size. When I looked closer, a sun was carved into the wood where the back of my head would rest. A detail that made the back of my eyes burn.

“Is this for me?” That was such a stupid question.

“It sure as shit ain’t for me,” he responded huskily, crossing his arms over his chest and looking away from me. Was that red on his cheeks? It couldn’t have been. It must’ve been the way the light was reflecting off the red mirror ball. “I don’t bring things to life, Sunshine. I kill ‘em.”

Something else he’s proven multiple times: he wasn’t afraid to kill for me. Something that should terrify me but warmed my heart instead. Any man could bring flowers, but a real man brought you the heads of the men who have wronged you. “Why did you do all this for me?”

He shrugged casually, not looking at me. “Wanted you to feel more at home.”

I smiled, fingers tracing the sun indented into the wood. “Are you going to stop trying to get rid of me now?”

“Someone needs to watch after you. You’re too fuckin’ selfless.”

I chuffed, turning to face him, leaning on the side of the garage. I began to walk towards him, his gorgeous, scarred face turning when he heard my footsteps approaching. “So you’re going to be my babysitter?”

He snorted, pushing off the garage and shoving his hands in the pocket of his hoodie. Standing straighter, he said, “Just want you ‘round longer.”

I laced my hands, pushing them behind my back, looking at him with a cheeky grin. “Are you done trying to get rid of me now?” Even if he kept trying, I would always come back.

“Yeah.” A step forward made me drop my arms to my side. His lips stretched thinly as his eye looked serious. “Been walkin’ this life by myself for the past six years. I want you by my side for the rest of it.”

I wasn’t expecting that. My eyes widened, my cheesy smile turning genuine as I grabbed the lapels of his cut, pulling myself into his chest. I wish he didn’t wear such a baggy hoodie. I wanted to feel his body pressed against mine.

Thankfully, his jeans weren’t baggy. His thighs were thick, and his legs were long. I wouldn’t be surprised if he had to special order his jeans. They fit tightly around his thighs, made his ass pop, and…. other areas look large. Not that it was fabricated in any way. Sarge was very gifted in that area.

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