Page 169 of Never Die for a Sinner
She shivers in my arms, her eyes half-lidded and hazy when I slip out of her.
“Thank you,” she breathes, and just like that, I know what I need to do. She has no idea how deep this runs.
She doesn’t know that possession burns in my chest, thinking of someone coming for her.
How, before her, I’ve never held someone. Never taken care of someone when they were sad or sick.
To her, this thing between us is murky. To me, it’s never been clearer.
I’m in love with her.
—And now I need to tell her the truth.
Fuck.
AVA
As December rolls around, the cold settles in, blanketing everything in a layer of snow. I don’t mind, mostly because I spend all my free time in Levi’s bed, either in the cabin or in the house.
I’m not ashamed to admit I’m healing myself in a non-conventional way. One orgasm at a time. When he’s touching me, I don’t have to think about anything else. Only him and what he wants me to do for him. Whether that’s making him come with my mouth, my hands, or my body.
I’ve had so many orgasms, I’ve lost count of them, but I know I must have a strong heart from how hard it’s been working recently.
Levi and I don’t talk about my mother and Brad. We don’t talk about Gran’s death, or how I fell apart after she died.
We just live. One day at a time.
“I’ll only be a moment,” he says, pressing his lips to my forehead. He’s dropped me off at the bar, again, while he goes back and talks with Deigo. “Cherry’s here, and if you need anything, I’m only a phone call away.”
I really don’t like him leaving me with the wicked witch of the north, but I force a smile on my face.
“I’ll be okay.”
He stares at me for a moment, his eyes bouncing back and forth between mine like he doesn’t believe me.
Something briefly flashes across his features before it’s replaced with indifference.
“I’ll just be a second,” he reminds me.
“She’ll be fine,Casanova,” Cherry chimes from behind me. I can’t help but cringe at her voice. “She’s not a baby bird.”
Levi looks over my head at her, and something unspoken passes between them. I get the sinking suspicion there’s more between them than what Levi told me, and I can’t deny I feel like the fool willing to turn a blind eye.
Finally, Levi nods and releases me.
I watch him walk away, my stomach sinking as he goes. I push it down and slip into an empty stool at the bar. Cherry doesn’t ask, sliding a soda across to me without a word.
“Thank you,” I say quietly.
“Don’t mention it,” she says, equally as awkward.
She’s quiet for a while, washing the bar. Drying glasses. Otherwise, ignoring my presence.
Then finally, she speaks.
“It’s strange, isn’t it?”
I stare at her for a moment, swallowing my drink slowly.
