Page 16 of Protected by the Sinner (The Sinner’s Touch #2)

On the Plane

One Hour Later

When we boarded my private jet, the flight attendant, at my request, gave Amber a tour of the plane. As soon as the pilot turned off the seatbelt sign, Amber asked if she could lie down in one of the bedrooms.

I couldn’t get any work done, which is what I usually do during flights. My mind never stops.

“What are you thinking about?” Roman asks, sitting across from me.

“About the mystery surrounding her.”

“She’s not that mysterious,” he says. “She uses fake identities. Keeps her first name, which is weird for someone trying to hide, but she’s changed her last name multiple times.”

“Do we know why she’s hiding?”

“Not yet.”

“Has she committed any crimes under any of those names?”

“No. I checked all of them, and they’re squeaky clean. But it’s hard to gather info in a short amount of time on someone constantly on the move.”

What he says matches what Amber told me: that she never stayed in one place for long.

“But I’m working on it, and I believe I’ll have a full report on her soon.” He pauses, and I can almost guess what he’s thinking. We’ve known each other for years.

“Speak,” I order.

“Just because she doesn’t have a record, at least not that we know of, doesn’t mean Miss Martin is an angel. I don’t trust her or believe she went to Hazard by accident. Sure, she might’ve just been a woman trying to catch your eye, but she might’ve been sent by someone too.”

“By whom?” I ask the same question that’s been haunting me since I met her. “I never said I trust her. I said I’ll keep her close until I figure out who she really is.”

That’s a damn lie. I could keep tabs on Amber even if she were on another continent, but I don’t want to dig too deep into my own reasons right now.

“You know my opinion. You should keep her under control but not close.”

I ignore the advice. I never let anyone interfere in my decisions. “And what about the bastards who went after her today?”

“They got away. But one of my men suspects they were Italian, which means they might have nothing to do with Miss Martin. Angelo probably already knows you’re after him. They might’ve been trying to grab her as leverage.”

“Any chance Amber’s connected to them?”

“I’m already looking into that angle, but I think it’s unlikely. That’s not how the Louisiana Italians operate,” he says, referring to the Sicilian mafia that controls the state.

“Keep checking anyway. I want every possibility locked down.”

“It’s already in motion. But she was never really in danger today. The moment she left your building, there were three bodyguards following her.”

“Still, they got way too close. I don’t like that. You can shoot someone in the head from farther away than they were.”

“True, but I don’t think that was their intent. I believe they wanted to take her. If someone’s been watching you, they know you’ve never kept a woman in one of your houses. They might think Miss Martin means something to you.”

I get the feeling he’s still holding something back.

“You know I haven’t mastered mind-reading yet, right?” I ask, irritated.

Roman usually isn’t subtle about sharing his opinions, but today, he seems to be weighing every word. “I’ll keep my thoughts to myself for now. Just be careful with her.”

Minutes later

I knock on the bedroom door, but there’s no answer. So I slowly turn the knob, giving her enough time to stop me if she wants to. But silence reigns.

She’s asleep on her stomach, still wearing her shoes, feet halfway off the bed. Her long hair spills over her back like a waterfall, hiding her face.

I barely take two steps before she bolts upright, alert.

Fear and vulnerability flash across her face.

She quickly recovers, avoiding my gaze and trying to mask her expression, but I saw it. “I fell asleep by accident. I was just going to close my eyes for a minute.”

I move closer. “You don’t have to ask for permission to sleep.”

Her chin lifts. “I don’t have to ask your permission for anything.”

“Is that so?”

“You bet.”

I stop at the edge of the bed. I could swear she’s forcing herself not to scoot away. “If you’re afraid of me, why’d you come?”

“Who said I’m afraid of you?”

“If you’re gonna fake bravery, you need more practice.”

To my surprise, she kneels on the bed and asks, “Can you teach me?”

“Teach you what? How to fake bravery?”

“No. Everything. How to survive in this world.”

“You seem to be doing just fine so far,” I say, sitting on the edge of the bed. “Where’s your family?” I know it’s a question that might make her shut down again.

“Why do you want to know?”

“I want to know everything, Amber. I’m a control freak, in case you haven’t noticed.”

“I didn’t think I liked that.”

“Liked what?”

“Control freaks.”

“And do you?”

“I’m not sure. But whatever this thing is between us, it turns me on.”

Fucking delicious woman. It’s like she knows exactly what words to use to drive me insane.

She moves closer.

I grab her and pull her onto my lap. She’s wearing tight jeans hugging those perfect curves.

“I’m controlling in every area of my life, Amber.”

“And what if I try to escape your control?”

I bury my face in her neck, nibbling her soft skin. “Are you going to try?”

“Maybe.”

“Why?”

“The thought of you chasing me makes me happy.”

I squeeze her ass and align her sex right over my cock. “I’m not the kind of guy you want chasing you.”

She grinds against me and moans. “I don’t think you are,” she agrees, “but I like the butterflies I get just being near you.”

I slide my hand under her shirt, and my cock throbs when I realize she’s not wearing a bra. “You never wear one,” I say, brushing the side of her breast.

“No. I hate them.”

“I want to come right here, between these gorgeous tits.” I cup both breasts, teasing her nipples with my thumbs.

“Ahhhhhh . . .”

“Fucking sexy.” I lift her shirt, completely losing my mind, but right at that moment, the pilot announces that we’re beginning our descent.

We look at each other, desire mirrored in our eyes.

Frustration has me curling my fingers into her hair, tilting her head back. I kiss her the way I want to fuck her—hard and deep. Amber kisses me back just as fiercely.

“Saved just in time,” I say when our lips finally part.

She climbs off my lap, and even though her face is flushed and I know she’s as turned on as I am, she doesn’t back down. “You didn’t hear me asking you to stop. Who said I wanted to be saved?”