Page 176 of Sinister

My heart feels full from all his thoughtfulness.

The days when I had worried about being too much of a grump for this charming, sunshiny guy seem to be way back in the past.

Today, it seems natural that he should be by my side, attending my OB-GYN appointment with me, and then taking care of me when there’s a blackout and the earth starts shaking like it’s the second coming of Christ.

The last thoughts send a pang of fear through my heart, and I want him back in the room, even though he has just left.

“Sin,” I call softly.

“Coming! Just a minute,” he shouts back from the kitchen. And from the way the sound of his voice makes my limbs relax and settles the butterflies fluttering around in my stomach, I know that I have fallen for him. Deeply.

Soon, he returns with a glass of water.

“Drink this. You need to stay hydrated, especially after . . . you know, everything.”

As I sip the water, he sits on the edge of the bed, looking slightly hesitant.

“How are you feeling now?” he asks.

“A little better, I think. Just tired and sore.”

“Good, just rest. I’ll be right here if you need anything.” He fusses over the blanket, making sure that I’m as comfortable as I can be.

His face looks so adorable and adoring, so filled with the light of affection, that I feel an overwhelming urge to lean in closer, to plant a kiss on those downturned lips.

“Sin . . .” I begin, but my throat tightens slightly.

“Yes? What do you need?” he asks immediately.

“I want—” I begin uncertainly before clearing my throat and trying again, “Can we . . .” But then I lose my nerve at the last minute. By now, I’m tired of all this politeness, so I reach forward and cup his face in my hands instead.

With slightly more force than usual, I pull him toward me.

His eyes widen as our lips connect, but in the next second, his arms are crossing around my body, and he’s pulling me closer, too.

The kiss starts out sweet at first, but then it quickly turns steamy as Sin pulls me into his lap so that my legs are wrapped around his waist. His hardness pushes against my center, and I grind myself against him.

I moan into his mouth he grips my waist tighter.

When we finally pull back, Sin’s eyes are downright glittering. “Wow,” he breathes, his tone tinged with wonder. “That was . . . mind-blowing.”

“It was,” I reply, my heart racing. “Today was quite the day, huh?” I laugh nervously.

Sin nods and pulls me down to the bed, tucking me back under the covers again.

“Just know that I’m here,” he says in a voice thick with untold emotions. “For you and the baby. No matter what happens.”

The night stretches deep and dark before us, but the snug circle of Sin’s arms lulls me into a sleep that comes fretfully but stays awhile.

52

PETRA

For some strange reason, the venue for the engagement party has changed. Now, it’s being hosted at the Snowden estate.

But the information I’ve received in my dreams clings to me like a shadow as I make my way through this beautiful, haunting house.

What if that wasn’t just a dream? What if Snowden truly is keeping some rotting corpse hidden in his basement? What if it gets out—tonight—and terrorizes the very guests he’s hosting?