Page 3 of Glorious Sinner

I shook my head. “No. I…I bit my lip,” I lied. I didn’t know why, but I had a feeling that things would get even scarier if I told him Ryan had bitten me.

He stared down at me for several long seconds, like he knew I was lying, like he was trying to pry the truth from me with just a look.

Finally, he lifted his head, eyes on Ryan. “I’m taking her home. You’ll wait here.”

Ryan shifted from one foot to the other, his face red with anger and humiliation. “No fucking way. She’s my girlfriend—”

“I wasn’t asking,” Tomas said.

Ryan clamped his mouth shut, but I could tell he was furious.

I forced myself to speak up. “Do I get a say in this?” I asked Tomas.

He didn’t even look at me, his eyes still burning into Ryan. “No.”

As much as I wanted to, there was no point fighting it. Tomas could easily tell my father he’d seen me here, which meant not pissing him off. My dad had no idea I was here, and thought I was at a late movie. Yes, I was eighteen, but he already wasn’t Ryan’s biggest fan. If my dad knew Ryan had brought me here and what had happened tonight, he’d be furious. It could make things difficult.

“It’s okay,” I said to Ryan. “Tomas worked for dad. I trust him. He’ll make sure I get home safe.”

Ryan scowled, looking even more pissed off, and when I looked up at Tomas, he looked…well, I wasn’t sure. I’d never seen that particular expression before, and I’d definitely taken a lot of interest in that face and the way it looked over the years, so I should know. Those black eyes were more intense than before, though.

I didn’t get the chance to say more to my boyfriend because Tomas grabbed my wrist and started toward his car. Tingles shot up my arm and I suddenly found it hard to breathe as he led me to the passenger side and waited, that tall, lean body rigid. I climbed in quickly and he strode around to the driver’s side and slid in behind the wheel.

He started the car, and when he pulled out he glanced at me. “Did he hurt you, Stephanie?”

“No, never. I swear it, Tomas.” I swallowed, my mouth incredibly dry all of a sudden.

“He’s getting rough with you, though. I saw the way he touched you,” he gritted out as he shifted gears.

“I promise, I’m okay. It was nothing, really. He’s just drunk, that’s all. He’s not usually like that.” And he wasn’t. I just hoped the Ryan I saw tonight never made another appearance.

Tomas was quiet for the longest time, and stayed quiet until we reached my house. He pulled up outside and I thought he’d let me get out without another word, but when I reached for the door he curled his fingers around my wrist, stopping me.

I turned back to him.

His gaze slid back down to my mouth, then up, capturing my eyes. “You can do better than that asshole, pretty girl. So much better.”

My belly clenched down low, my pulse picking up speed. He still had hold of my wrist and I knew he’d be able to feel it. The way my body responded to him so quickly made me feel guilty, ashamed. Ryan was my boyfriend. Yes, he’d acted like an asshole tonight, but he’d never hurt me. “I suppose you think you’re better?” I said, letting my anger show, even as my heart was close to pounding out of my chest, waiting for him to answer.

He grinned and my breath caught in my throat. I’d never seen him smile like that. He was the handsomest man I’d ever laid eyes on. He was also dangerous as hell. All you had to do was look at him to see it, that dark, wicked glint in his eyes, the sexy tilt to his beautiful lips. He was trouble.

I bit my lip and pressed my thighs together, the ache there impossible to ignore.

His nostrils flared, and the muscle in his jaw jumped. Finally, he shook his head. “Nah, Angel, you can do a whole lot better than me as well.” He reached out, and I sat frozen as he gently brushed his thumb over my abused lower lip. “I was never good enough for you, and I never will be.”

When his eyes lifted to mine, I wanted to crawl under the seat. Humiliation hit my face. He knew. He knew I’d been in love with him when he worked for my dad. He’d probably always known.

I tried to pull free of him again, tried to get the hell away, but he didn’t let me go.

“You might hear things about me,” he said. “Shit that freaks you out. But no matter what, you don’t ever need to be afraid of me. I’d never do anything to hurt you.” His thumb slid over the inside of my wrist and I shivered. “No matter where I am, if you need help, you’re in trouble, all you need to do is call and I’ll be there, understand?”

I wanted to ask what he meant. What he’d done that would freak me out. Instead, I nodded, desperate to get away from his all-too-knowing gaze.

His grip on me loosened and then slipped away, and as soon as it did, I shoved the door open, rushed to the front door, and quickly unlocked it.

Don’t look back. Do not look back.

But I couldn’t help it. I turned, glancing back over my shoulder. He wasn’t in his car anymore—he’d opened his door and was standing there, like he’d been going to follow me but changed his mind, and he was watching me.