Page 24 of Glorious Sinner

I stared. That wasn’t what I’d expected him to say. He wanted to go out? Like…God, like a date? “Umm…”

“You don’t have to, if you’re not comfortable leaving the house.” Another swipe of his roughened skin, this time against my palm. “We can stay in again, watch another movie if you’d rather do that.”

The pulse between my thighs was even more intense and I was finding it hard to breathe evenly. “No…I mean, yes.” I swallowed, my mouth bone dry. “I’d like to go out.” Another evening snuggled up on the couch, having those small touches of his sending me into a sex-starved frenzy, wasn’t something I was ready for. “That’ll be nice. Thank you.”

He smiled, a wolfish smile that was so sexy I had to squeeze my thighs together even tighter.

“We’ll go in about an hour,” he said, voice deeper, rougher.

I felt that slight growl in his voice between my clenched thighs. My heart was pounding so hard he had to see the pulse at my neck fluttering like crazy. “Sounds good.”

“See you in an hour,” he said.

“Yep,” I said, backing away. “An hour.”

Then I rushed from the room.

7

Stephanie

I stood in front of the full-length mirror by the bed in my robe, my makeup done, and worked at taming my hair. Not too much, though. I’d left it down and kept my mass of red waves a little wild. I knew Tomas liked it—well, I thought he did. More than once when I’d danced for him I’d felt him press his face closer, had heard him breathe in deeply.

What are you doing, Steph?

What do you want?

I didn’t know. I didn’t think I could want someone, want to be with someone ever again, until Tomas. I never thought he wanted me, that he could want me. I didn’t doubt it now, and after today in his office…

I shook my head. I was still hot and achy. I’d thought about getting myself off in the shower, but when it came down to it, I couldn’t do it. I’d heard Ryan’s voice in my head instantly, his hissed vicious words, like he was right there with me.

How could I even think about being with a man like Tomas, a man who didn’t seem to have any hang-ups, who was sexy and confident, when I couldn’t even work up the courage to touch myself?

I wanted Ryan out of my life and out of my head. Just when I thought I’d made some progress, I’d hear his voice, his insults and hate-filled words, and I’d be back there. And every time I let him get to me, let him stop me from moving forward with my life.

I didn’t want to give him that power anymore.

Forcing Ryan from my mind, I slid my hand down my belly, letting my fingers catch on the loosely tied belt of my robe. The fabric fell open. I was wearing a bra and panties. They were pink and sheer. The scars on my body had faded quite a bit, but without the makeup I used when I danced they were more prominent.

I tried not to focus on them, tried to see myself as Tomas saw me, as I hoped he saw me. Cupping one of my breasts, I imagined it was his hand, while I trailed the other down my stomach and to the top of my underwear.

My heart beat faster as I pushed my fingers under the elastic, cupping myself for a moment before I pressed in one finger, grazing my clit. I sucked in a little breath. I wasn’t overly wet, not now, but it still felt good when I applied pressure, rubbing gently. I thought about how Tomas looked this morning in the kitchen, hard body glistening with sweat, the way he’d looked at me this afternoon in his office, and it didn’t take long before my fingers were slick, making it easier.

It felt good, so I kept it up, just that, knowing I used to be able to make myself come this way. My breath started coming quicker. I was close. Gripping the headboard beside me, I moved my fingers faster, gasping when I felt it building. So close. I was hovering right there, right on the verge…

Ryan’s face flashed through my mind, the sound of his voice sharp and angry, and I flinched, yanking my hand away, and stumbled back. A sob tore from my throat. “Shit.” I doubled over. “Get out of my goddamn head.”

Tomas

My gut clenched, my fingers curling into a tight fist. I’d come up to see if Stephanie was ready, and Christ, I’d seen her through the gap in her door. I should have walked away, but I hadn’t been able to turn from the beauty of her pleasuring herself. After the way she’d been earlier—turned the fuck on and doing a shit job of hiding it—I couldn’t say that it hadn’t pleased the fuck out of me.

But now…now she was standing in the middle of her room fucking sobbing. She hadn’t come, and from the hesitant way she’d touched herself, I got the feeling she hadn’t let herself feel pleasure in a long time.

What did that fucker do to you, Angel?

I watched as she wiped her eyes and straightened her shoulders, shoving it down, pushing the pain away, and headed to the closet.

I quickly left before she saw me standing there. When I got my hands on Ryan, I was going to make him wish he was dead, then I’d play the genie and give him what he fucking wanted.