Page 15 of Throne of Sin

“She’s just about to take my cock, of course she’s okay. Unless you’re here to watch like a perv?” Jameson responds for me.

I hit him in the chest and he laughs. No matter how hard I struggle, I can’t get out of his grip. “Kiss me like you mean it, so Savio will leave,” Jameson whispers into my ear. If I want to get away, I’m going to have to kiss him. I wrap my arms around him and press our lips together. It’s my goodbye kiss. Soon, I’m never going to see this guy again. I can’t believe I had a crush on him at one point.

Jameson is the one to pull away, and Savio is no longer in view. “You’re a whore, just like your mother. How many men have you spread your legs for?” My hand comes up and slaps his cheek.

“Fuck you, Jameson.”

He laughs in my face. “You’ll be back before the end of the week, begging for my cum in you.” He lets me go and I stumble from the sudden lack of force holding me to him.

I can’t do this anymore. I don’t know why I ever thought Jameson was someone I wanted to be around. I should have seen through all of his false compliments. Every time he hears I’ve been with Dante, he makes himself oppressively present. It’s creepy how suddenly he appears.

I hug my purse under my arms, scared that the pregnancy test in there is going to grow legs and jump out of the bag. The walk home allows for my mind to run a hundred different directions, none of them going any place good.

The ladder that Dante keeps up is taunting me as I stare at it. I’ve never deserved someone like him in my life. He’s the one I want to share the news of this pregnancy with. Once I tell him, he will make it better, but that creeping doubt overshadows anything positive.

My head peeks over the edge of the roof and Dante is sitting there with a smoke dangling out of his mouth. I’ve only seen him smoke one other time. His facial features are strained as his head tilts to the sky. I climb over and sit beside him. Immediately, he drags his arm around my shoulders. This is my safe place. It’s the only place I truly ever want to be.

“We’re getting out of this town.” He blows the smoke up into the air and the wind has it scattering thin.

“That’s always been the plan,” I respond.

“Leave with me.” He digs into his pocket and shows me the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen. My mouth hangs open seeing it. “I’m done sharing. I want to start something amazing with you.”

I can’t answer. My mouth dries. That pregnancy test feels like it’s pulsing its way from my purse into my heart.

“You don’t mean that.”

Dante uses his fingers to move my jaw, so we’re staring into each other’s eyes. “I do. I want to take care of you.”

“I need to learn to love myself before I know how to do that with anyone else.” All I can think about is the baby that’s growing in my stomach. It’s time I take responsibility. I can’t be relying on Dante for everything.

“Do you love him?” I know he’s referring to Jameson.

“No.” The answer is quick and true. I never did.

He slips the ring on my finger. “I love you, Demi Gallo.”

“Please, don’t say that.”

“I’m not expecting you to say it back.” He sighs and removes his arm from around my shoulders. He leans back onto his elbows, his legs stretched out.

I stare at the ring. It would be the most unfair thing I’ve ever roped Dante into. My fingers tremble as I slip the ring off and place it back into his pocket.

“It’s not the right time.” I wish it was.

“Savio and I are leaving in the morning. Come with us.”

The wings of hope flutter in my stomach. Can it really be that simple?

“Meet me back here, and that will be your answer. If you don’t show, well, then I’ll know.”

My hand cups his jaw. “I have a few things I need to do first.”

“You’ll come?” Excitement flares over his face and he searches mine to see if I’m telling the truth.

“Yes!”

He kisses me, hard, like he doesn’t believe me and this is our last kiss.

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