Page 80 of Second Sin

“Yeah, well. Grief does weird things to your appetite.” The words come out casual, but there’s weight in them. She doesn’t look at me when she says it.

I don’t push.

Pull into the garage. Park in my spot near the elevator. Kill the engine.

By the time I round the hood, she’s already unbuckled. I open her door. She slides out—rain-soaked and flushed, coat clinging to her legs.

Our footsteps echo against the slick concrete as we cross to the elevator. The air is cool, damp, heavy with the kind of quiet that settles after something breaks open.

Inside, the elevator hums. I swipe my keycard and press the code. And as soon as the doors close, I reach for her.

No hesitation.

Hands at her waist, pulling her in. Her body meets mine—wet, chilled, and trembling against my chest. She exhales, sharp and quiet, and curls into me like it’s instinct.

Her fingers find the front of my shirt, and my palm slides to the small of her back.She tilts her face up—eyes half-lidded, lips parted, breath warm against my jaw.

I lean down.

Lips brushing, soft at first. Testing.

Then deeper.

She presses close with that quiet urgency that undoes every part of me.

My hand slides up her spine, fingers threading into her damp hair.She sighs into the kiss, a soft, broken sound that hits low, sharp.

And just like that, I’m hard.

No buildup. No warning. Just her mouth on mine, her body against me, and the way she sounds when she lets go.

I deepen the kiss, just enough to taste that edge of need. Her hands fist tighter in my shirt.

She pulls back just enough to murmur against my lips, “I’m gonna need some warm clothes.”

I breathe hard. Nod. “Yeah.”

She licks her bottom lip. Smiles. “And a hot shower.”

I groan.

The elevator dings, and the doors slide open to my place—wide windows, soft light spilling across marble tile. Sleek, spare, expensive. Quiet.

We step out, still touching.

My hand finds the small of her back again like it belongs there. Like I can’t not touch her now that I’ve started.

She takes a slow look around, eyes wide, mouth parting.

“Wow,” she breathes. “This place is…”

“Too much,” I mutter.

But she doesn’t disagree.

Just turns her face back to mine, a ghost of a smile still on her lips.

I don’t give her time to second-guess.

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