Page 47 of The Fall of Sin (The Sins of Saint 2)

Saint scooted down and turned on his side, our eyes leveled and faces inches apart. “I’m not going to give you some smart-ass answer to that question, Mila. I know I said I’ll answer your questions truthfully, but this is one answer I can’t give you.”

“Why?” I whispered.

“I’m not a good man, Mila. I’ve never claimed to be or pretended otherwise.” He reached out and gently brushed a finger down my cheek. “I’m the villain in this story, the devil in the world I’ve sucked you into. But somehow, somewhere, you also made me the husband who would do anything to protect his wife.”

My heart hiccupped, and I’d be the world’s greatest liar if I said hearing those words didn’t fill my belly with a million and one butterflies…even if it was words from the devil’s mouth.

He scooted closer and snaked an arm around my waist. “Telling you what I do would complicate matters, and it’s complications neither of us want to deal with right now.”

“Okay,” I whispered.

He frowned. “Okay?”

“What else do you expect me to say?”

“I kind of expected you to press the matter. Be persistent for an answer.” His smile wasn’t smug or devilish, but handsome. Warm.

“I do have another question, though.”

“Of course you do.” He glanced at his wristwatch. “Lucky for you, it’s four past midnight.”

“Before I ask, you should know I’m not the jealous type.”

He snickered. “Not according to the stunt you pulled in front of Anette a few weeks ago.”

I traced a finger all along the filigree pattern on the fitted sheet. “That woman just rubbed me the wrong way since she set foot on your yacht.”

He smiled and glanced down at me. “What do you want to ask me, Mila?”

I took a few moments to try to rationalize my burning question inside my head, but the truth was there was no rhyme or reason for it…other than a woman’s insecurities. “Have you ever, you know, brought another woman here…to this hotel?”

His brow lifted. “Where is this coming from?”

I placed my hand against his chest but couldn’t look him in the eye. My own insecurities weren’t something I liked exposed—especially not with Saint, as it had been a battle of wit between us from the start. But everything had changed between us, and it had been changing for weeks.

“I’m not naive, Saint. A man like yourself has a very colorful past with numerous lovers.”

I braved a glance at his eyes and was surprised when he leaned forward to kiss me softly, a mere brush of his mouth against mine. “No, Mila,” he breathed against my wet lips, “I have never entertained a lover here in this hotel suite.”

It was futile. I knew that. Whether he had brought a woman here to this bed before wouldn’t change a thing. But knowing he hadn’t eased my insecurities, and the relief soothed me enough so I could close my eyes.

He brushed his fingers through my curls. “Sleep, Mila.”

“Stay,” I whispered and reached out, grabbing his arm. “Don’t let me wake up and you’re not here.”

“Okay.”

* * *

We joinedElena and James in the reception area of the hotel after enjoying a breakfast of pastries and fruit. Saint seemed different. Less dark, but not in any way less dominant. His presence still wrapped around me like a cloak of authority. Maybe it was just me who looked at him in a new light. Maybe I was finally able to see past the shadows, past the dark clouds and focus more on the slivers of light that broke through every now and then.

Saint had opted to join me in the back seat on our drive back to the helicopter, and he held my hand the entire way. Elena continued to talk from the front seat about all the time she had spent in Milan, and how she wanted to take me to all the different boutiques instead of just one when we got the chance to come back again. It was easy to see Milan was Elena’s most favorite place on Earth. The way she spoke about all the city had to offer was filled with enthusiasm and awe, and I loved watching her beam with delight.

The helicopter ride back to the Empress was as awesome as our ride to Milan. I couldn’t stop looking out the clear panel and down at the land and sea below us. There were no words to explain how beautiful the world was from a bird’s-eye view. I loved every second of it.

Once we arrived back on the yacht, Saint pulled me closer so he could fuse his lips with mine, and with a simple yet powerful kiss, my body became liquid in his arms.

“I have some business to attend to which will keep me busy for a while.” He stepped back, a somber look on his face. “I know I agreed to let you accompany me to the charity ball tonight, but—”

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