Page 101 of Sweet Sinners
The word pulls my attention sharply back to the TV.
Anna’s face drains of color, her expression frozen in disbelief, as if the reality of her crimes only now sinks in. Murdering our parents, attempting to kill Cali and me, insider trading, violating Cali’s NDA. Guilty across the board. No escape.
"That's exactly what we needed," I murmur, feeling the weight I've carried for so long finally ease.
Cali nods slowly, composed and calm, completely unsurprised. I nudge her, raising a brow. "You don’t look shocked," I tease.
She brushes imaginary lint from her thigh and glances up at me with a sly smile. "You’re not the only one who had a talk with the lawyer. I might’ve had a little influence on jury selection. Turns out, four jurors lost their parents tragically."
I stare at her, stunned for a moment, then chuckle softly, shaking my head.
God, I fucking love this woman.
I growl softly, rolling her beneath me, pinning her wrists above her head. "Such a naughty girl. What am I gonna do with you?"
Her eyes spark with heat, and she hums seductively beneath me. "Fuck me. Spank me for being bad enough to get justice served." She smirks, pulling me down into a fierce, hungry kiss. Her arms wrap around my neck, holding me tight. "Love me forever and a day?"
"Done," I murmur roughly against her lips, smiling. "But none of that sounds like punishment."
She laughs softly, the sound sweet and perfect. "Good, because neither of us deserves punishment anymore. We deserve something bright, something new." Her voice softens, and she gives me that stunning smile that always knocks the breath from my lungs. "Speaking of...my boyfriend officially got into culinary school."
I narrow my eyes, teasing her with a low growl. "Don’t tell me you pulled strings for that, too."
"Nope," she says brightly, shaking her head. "All you. Your cooking, your recipes, your talent. Just like how you got me. And how we got Anna convicted."
I chuckle, pulling her closer, my lips brushing hers softly. "We did that together—just like we’ll do everything else."
She kisses me again, fierce and possessive, her mouth moving with purpose. I recognize the look in her eyes: the hunger, the demand. She doesn't just want to kiss me, she wants all of me. She wants me to love her, to fuck her, to give her every last piece of myself. And I will.
We get lost in each other right there on the couch, tangled limbs, hungry mouths, skin pressed to skin. Eventually, we slide to the floor, laughing breathlessly between kisses. By the time Cali comes apart beneath me, shuddering and gasping my name for the third time, she’s completely spent, collapsing onto my chest in a warm, heavy heap.
She lets out a slow, satisfied sigh, rubbing her cheek against my chest. "Is this real, Connor?"
I blink, breathless, smiling at the mess we've made. My hand trails slowly down her spine. "Yeah, Angel. It’s real."
She bites her bottom lip, resting her chin on her crossed arms, eyes wide and uncertain. "We're real. We love each other. We put Anna behind bars. I'm a CEO, and you're going to culinary school. But do we deserve a happily ever after?"
I frown, brushing the hair from her face gently. "Why wouldn't we?"
She hesitates, doubt flickering in her gaze. "Because we've done terrible things along the way. I pushed Anna until she snapped—I manipulated her. We're together, and everyone thinks it's wrong. It just feels like all this sweetness is too good to be true. Like we’re waiting for the other shoe to drop."
I stroke my thumb gently along her jaw, tilting her face until her eyes lock with mine. "We fought too damn hard for this, Cali. We deserve every second. Let the world think what it wants. This? Us? It’s real. They can’t take that away."
She nods, but uncertainty still lingers, dimming the sparkle in her gaze. I tip her chin higher, brushing my thumb along her bottom lip.
"Listen to me," I murmur. "We both made mistakes—big ones. But we came out of it together. We survived. That means something. It means everything."
She sighs softly, her lips ghosting over mine. "I love you."
My throat tightens, and I hesitate, swallowing hard. "You might want to wait another second before saying that again."
Her brow furrows immediately, concern clouding her eyes, and I gently smooth my thumb over the crease between her eyebrows. "Connor…?"
"I told your grandparents," I confess quietly, watching her carefully.
Cali’s eyes widen, her mouth falling open in shock. She pulls back abruptly, cheeks flushing deep crimson. "You did what?"
"I told them we're together," I say again, voice calm, steady. "That we're in love. And we're serious. They deserved to hear it from us first."
