Page 134 of Two Sides of Sin

Julian had been out of the apartment all day, claiming he had errands to run, but he had been acting incredibly secretive and closed-off lately. With my birthday coming up so soon, I had a very strong giddy suspicion about what he was planning.

It was a sensation I still didn’t know how to carry, being so thoughtfully fussed over. Growing up adopted, I’d never gone without the basics, there was always food on the table and a roof over my head—but I’d never felt celebrated. In that house, my birthdays were just another day on the calendar, often forgotten entirely. When I’d dared to feel the sting of it, the reminder was always the same: they hadn’t been there, they couldn’t be expected to remember a day they hadn’t witnessed, and I should be grateful regardless.

I’d learned to swallow my existence like a bitter pill, but Julian was changing the prescription. The idea of someone—especially a man like him, making a fuss over the mere fact that I existed was enough to overwhelm me, threatening to break the levee I’d built around my heart.

“Well,” I murmured playfully, reaching across the table to lay my hand over his massive, scarred knuckles. “I’m just glad you’re finally home.”

Chapter 69

Julian

The city stretched out infinitely below the penthouse, a sprawling grid of glittering lights bleeding into the dark, endless expanse of the ocean. But my focus wasn’t on the view.

I stood still in front of the massive glass window, staring down at the small open velvet box resting in the palm of my hand.

Nested inside the dark velvet was a ring. It was a breathtaking, flawless vintage piece—a massive, deep green emerald surrounded by a halo of intricate, antique cut diamonds set in heavy platinum. It had cost significantly more than I would ever admit out loud, but the money meant nothing. When I saw it, locked away in the private vault of a high end jeweller, I knew instantly that it belonged on her finger.

It was Sages birthday.

A tight, distinctly human knot of nerves twisted in my gut. By all mortal standards, this was terrifyingly fast. I knew that. We had confessed our love for each other within mere weeks of our first phone calls, driven by a desperate, unexplainable pull.

It might not have been a rational time to propose, but to me, it was the perfect moment.

I didn’t know how else to anchor her. I didn’t know how else to show her, in a language she could currently understand, that she was my forever. That she always had been, and she always would be.

The soft, muffled click of a bedroom door opening echoed down the hallway, followed by the quiet tapping of heels against the hardwood floor.

My heart gave a heavy, sudden jolt. I closed the velvet box and shoved it deep into the inner pocket of my tailored suit jacket, turning back to the window just a fraction of a second before she walked into the room.

I caught her reflection in the dark glass.

I was stunned, my brain short stammering at the devastating sight of her.

I turned around slowly, my eyes tracking every single detail as she stepped down into the sunken living room.

She was wearing a perfectly fitted black dress that hugged every single curve of her body flawlessly. It cinched tightly at her narrow waist before flowing elegantly to the floor. The front was classy and demure, but as she turned slightly, I saw the dress was backless, the plunging cut beautifully framing the delicate slope of her spine and the dark ink of her tattoo against her flawless skin.

Her long, dark hair had been meticulously styled, falling in heavy, perfect curls down her exposed back. She wore a striking, bold red lipstick that contrasted perfectly with her eyes, and a pair of delicate black kitten heels that clicked softly as she stopped in front of me.

She looked otherwordly.

“Wow,” I breathed, my voice coming out as a thick, gravelly rasp. I took a step towards her, unable to keep my hands to myself. I reached out, my fingers lightly tracing the bare curve of her waist. “Languages haven't evolved enough to invent the words for how beautiful you are.”

A beautiful flush rose to her cheeks, the stark red of her lips curving into a shy smile.

“You’re by far the prettiest thing ever to walk this earth,” I swore, meaning every single syllable. A masterpiece like her wasn't meant to be hidden away, but god help anyone who dared to look too long.

“You don’t look so bad yourself, soldier,” she teased, a sharp little smirk playing on her lips.

I kept my hand resting securely on the dip of her lower back as I guided her out of the penthouse and into the private glass elevator.

Down in the lobby, a sleek, black car was already waiting for us idling at the curb. The valet opened the rear door, and I helped Sage slide into the plush leather interior before getting in beside her.

As the car pulled smoothly away from the curb and merged into the glittering city traffic, Sage turned in her seat to face me. The passing streetlights flickered across her beautiful face, highlighting the deep, nervous appreciation in her eyes.

“Julian, seriously,” she whispered, reaching across to lace her fingers through mine. “Thank you. For today, for the apartment, for… just everything. You do so much for me.”

I let out a soft sigh, bringing her hand up to press a kiss to her knuckles. “Sage, I told you to stop thanking me. You don’t ever have to be grateful for me taking care of you. Just enjoy it. You deserve this, and so much more.”