Page 101 of When Sinners Dare

“No. I don’t want you to see me until later.” I grab the curtain to stop him coming in. The words register in my head. “Oh, no, no. Don’t get the wrong idea. We’re not getting married in Vegas.” I panic. He bursts out laughing, and so do I. It’s a sound that pierces my heart and floods me with good feelings. I can’t remember the last time I ever really laughed.

“Not the first thought that went through my head, babe, don’t worry,” he says, still laughing.

“Give me a second, and I’ll be out.”

We leave the shop half an hour later with bags in tow and head back to the suite. The bath idea to soothe my aching limbs is still in my mind, so I indulge and draw a deep, hot bubble bath.

Kai looks in on me in the bath, the bubbles piled high and covering everything but my head. “I’ve made reservations in the restaurant for seven, so we have until then to do as we please,” he says.

I lie back and let the heat of the water soak into my bones. “Perfect."

“Room in there for me?”

“If you don’t mind the bubbles.” I scoop a handful and blow them towards him.

I watch as he strips off his t-shirt and jeans, chucking them on the bathroom floor before climbing in the water with me. The tub is huge, but the water still swishes over the edge as joins me. We both grin at each other as his hands reach for my legs and pull me towards him so they are tangled together.

“Do you regret the tattoo?” He asks as his hands move higher up my leg and brush the spot where he inked me.

“No, why would you ask that?”

“It’s a permanent thing, and you hardly came in asking for ink. Now you’ve had some time, I thought I’d ask.”

I think about my game to get his attention. “I enjoyed you paying so much attention to me. What made you get into tattooing?” I ask.

“I enjoyed sketching, and it wasn’t like I was looking for a normal 9-5 job. It was something that kept me sane when I was inside. Something I could do that kept me out of trouble. I got damn good at it, too.”

“It’s not too late, you know. I mean, you might break my heart, but if all of this is too much, I’d understand. My family is intense, we’re intense, and that’s before you even look under the surface at us. All you wanted was to stay out of the t-word, and all I’ve done is pull you further in.” My eyes mist as I say the words. It’s something I’m going to have to come to terms with. The guilt at what I’ve drawn him into against the love I have in my heart. A balancing act, for sure, because the two can’t be separated – one only exists because of the other.

“While I appreciate the get out of jail card, I’m past that, Mariana. I told you, I love you, and you’re it for me. Not just now but forever. There’s nothing in my life that could change that.” He pulls me, and I lift up onto his lap to wrap my legs and arms around him. I'm more desperate and relieved to hear him say that than I thought I was. We’ve been running full tilt into one problem after another, and the fear that when we stop and take a moment, he might realise what he’s been trapped into, is real. I’d hate for that to grow into resentment.

“Thank you. I love you, too, and I can’t tell you how much I needed to hear you say that. Despite everything that’s Cortez about me, I’m still a girl wanting to be loved.”

“You’re loved, Mariana. Now and for always.”

~

“Wow, you look like a million dollars.”

I do a twirl and a little shimmy in the dress that does, in fact,make me feel like a million dollars. Kai’s expression and the heat in his eyes make all the preening worthwhile. I had to call down and have someone from their spa facilities help with the prep work. “Why, thank you. And you are unrecognisable. Still so handsome and sexy, but you in this …” I run my hands over his shoulder as I walk around him and appreciate him in the new clothes. “I might have to change my mind about going downstairs with you.” I had a glimpse in the store, but seeing him with his hair slicked back, and the whole nine yards, is pretty spectacular.

“I’m never going to say no to that.”

“Later.” I swat his hands away from my waist. “I want to show you off and have some fun.” I swing my arms around his neck and kiss him deeply and soundly.

“Come on. We still have all the time we want.”

We head down to dinner and take our seats at the table. It reminds me of Bellini’s, but better, because I have no curfew and nobody following or checking up on me.

Kai orders champagne and a beer, followed by every cliched choice on the menu, including steak, lobster, and strawberries dipped in chocolate for dessert. It’s all delicious, and we spend the whole time talking about our past. The good and the bad. I know that the glitz and glam aren’t his style, but this is another part of what we’re prepared to do for each other – compromise. It’s not a word I’ve been that familiar with, but if it means keeping him in my world, I’ll be a fast learner.

“I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling lucky tonight. How are you at roulette? Or blackjack?” I ask.

“Isn’t gambling more about math than luck?”

“Don’t. You sound like Knox. Come on.” We charge the meal to the room and head out to the casino floor, stopping first at the cage cashier.

“How much?” I ask him, as I get out my plastic and slide it over to the assistant.

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