Page 123 of Saint

Kole drags his nose along my cheek, breathing me in, moving to my ear and licking the shell of it.

“Do you want to pray for me, Violet?” he whispers in my ear. “Do you want to get on your knees and beg the Lord’s forgiveness for my sins? Or are you worried he’ll condemn you for your own?”

Kole slips his hand fully between my legs, until the heel of it is on my pussy, and his fingers press against my ass.

I blink a tear from my eyes as the service begins. As everyone else bows their heads and the priest leads the prayer. But I tip my head back against Saint’s shoulder and let out a blasphemous sigh for him.

I don’t know what will happen to our souls; I just want them to stay together.

“I’m scared, Kole.”

“Of judgment?”

I shake my head. “Of losing you if they learn the truth.”

It’s honest. Raw.

I’m scared of what Kole has woken up inside me, but worse, I’m scared of never feeling it again if he’s gone. Even if he taints my soul, I’m prepared to suffer every lick of the flames of hell if I can burn beside him.

“Don’t worry, kitten. There’s nothing to be afraid of. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll protect you. Even from God himself.”

39

Miss Me

Violet

“I can’t believe allthree of you are leaving me this summer.” Mila frowns.

She lines our shot glasses up and pours down the line until they’re spilling over the top.

“Trying to get us drunk?” I ask.

“Trying to forget how mind-numbingly boring it’s going to be around here with all three of you ditching me in a few months.”

She’s already four drinks in and slurring from trying to drown her problems away.

“I’ll keep you company.” Teal shrugs. “It’s not like I’m going anywhere.”

“We all know you’ll get into the summer art program in Paris. Don’t try to make me feel better by doubting yourself.” Mila’s glare cuts in Teal’s direction before shedowns her shot and starts pouring a fifth for herself. “Stop being such a pessimist and drink.”

Teal rolls her eyes but doesn’t argue. She’s only doubting herself because Patience and I were already notified about our summer programs, and she’s yet to hear back from the art department.

She says it’s not bothering her, but she’s been quieter the past few days while she pretends nothing affects her.

The tension will lift soon enough. There’s no way Teal isn’t going to get it. She has the kind of artistic talent that you’re either born with or aren’t. It can’t be taught. I have no doubt she’ll get into the program, and it’s probably just the administration slowing down the notification process.

“I’m sure you’ll keep busy without us.” Patience frowns at Mila, likely thinking she’s being overdramatic because Mila doesn’t do anything quietly. “After all, if there’s one thing you’re incapable of, it’s being boring.”

Mila takes a shot, slamming the glass back to the counter after she drains it.

“Boring is for the dead.” Mila grins, ignoring the undercurrent of annoyance in Patience’s comment.

She flips her hair over her shoulder and, like Teal, is pretending nothing gets to her. But as she turns to the sink to grab a glass of water, I don’t miss the unease that flashes in her gaze.

Patience doesn’t seem to notice, shaking her head at Mila. She doesn’t like that Mila’s been spending time with Marco at Sigma House, and that was only heightened when I started seeing Kole.

She isn’t happy her friends are associating with the fraternity responsible for what happened to her brother, and I don’t blame her. If she knew as much as I do about the sick initiation ritual that caused it, she’d probably hate them even more.

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