Page 138 of Where Sinners Repent

Christmas lights reflect on the contents in the box as it slides open, and Roxy covers her mouth with a gasp.

Is that a good thing? Does she like it?

“No,” she murmurs, shaking her head. “I... I can’t take this.”

My beating heart stutters in my chest, stopping altogether. She doesn’t like it. My hands slide off her and I straighten underneath her, eyes dropping from the choker, black diamonds framed by delicate silver that twists between each stone.

Ash pays us well to be his seconds. Too fucking well. I’ve barely touched a cent of it. Didn’t have anything I needed to spend my money on. Until now. Or so I thought.

“Roxy...” Kaleb starts.

“I can’t.” She shakes her head harder, and my eyes flick up to watch her stare wide-eyed at the necklace. “This is... fuck. It’s too much.”

My jaw locks. Fuck.

“You don’t like it,” I murmur.

Roxy’s head snaps towards me before dropping back to the box. “I love it,” her voice is watery. “But I don’t deserve it.”

My hands find her body again, and my grip is tight.

“Don’t tell me what you deserve,” I growl, heart resuming its ridiculous fucking racing.

This time, when she looks at me, tears fight to slip past her lashes. She sniffles and her bottom lip begins to shake.

“It’s beautiful,” she whispers, the words barely forming. “Can you put it on for me?”

I will my fingers to not shake as I pick up the piece of jewellery and wrap it around her delicate neck. As soon as I clasp it, I grip her legs again, hiding the slight tremor in my hands.

Bringing her hand up, she slides her fingers over the smooth diamonds, her brows drawn. Because she thinks she doesn’t deserve it.

If she says that again... fuck. I’ll have no choice but to spend the rest of my life proving her wrong.

My fingers bite into her skin.

The rest of my life. Fuck.

I stare at the side of her face while she grips the necklace, as if it will disappear if she lets go.

The thought of having her for the rest of my life shouldn’t feel the way it does. It settles something deep inside my chest, something that I didn’t realise was missing.

Kaleb catches my eye over her shoulder, his narrowing just slightly. I look away.

Roxy turns on my lap, lifting her hair out of the way so that the black diamonds are on show.

“Well?” she whispers. “How do I look?”

My mouth feels dry. So many words form on my tongue. Like the most beautiful creature this earth has ever been blessed with. Like mine. Like ours.

Black suits her.

The look on her face fucks me up. Uncertainty shining deep in her eyes. I slide my thumb over the centre stone.

“Perfect,” I grit out, the words coming out like gravel.

The tears pooling by her lashes finally fall, and my thumb catches one before it passes her jaw. She falls against me, hugging me as if it’s the last time she’ll get the chance. Her small arms tighten around me, burrowing her face against my neck.

“Thank you,” she whispers.