Page 41 of Protected by the Sinner (The Sinner’s Touch #2)

I pretend not to notice him watching me while I rub lotion on my legs.

Beau showed up early and, without saying a word, picked me up, carried me to our room, and made love to me.

Though I can’t even say we made love—it was his act. Solo.

He explored, kissed, licked, and worshiped every inch of me. Afterward, we showered together. Now, while I moisturize my skin, getting ready for bed, he watches me, wearing nothing but boxer briefs, lying on the sheets.

I can’t even remember which parts I’ve already put lotion on—he’s completely stealing my focus.

“You always do that,” I accuse, closing the jar and giving up on the task.

“Do what?”

“Stare at me.”

“I can’t help it. You’re stunning. And I love the way you’re so comfortable in your own skin. Watching you is addictive.”

“Was that a cute way of calling me vain? I must’ve gotten it from my mother. We were really repressed back in the cult. Since we were little girls, we wore long white dresses that looked like trash bags. Hair long with no accessories, not even the older women.”

He reaches out a hand, inviting me in, and I lie beside him.

“Tell me more.”

“We moved around a lot before my sister turned eighteen. We weren’t just running from the cult but also from the authorities. If they caught us, they’d put us up for adoption—and Elodie promised we’d never be separated.” I shake my head.

“What is it?”

“Talking to you about the past is like watching a movie I’ve seen a hundred times. The scenes are coming back more vividly. And still . . . I can’t remember us.”

He doesn’t say anything.

“What does all this silence mean, Beau?”

“This is who I am, Amber. More silence than words.”

“That’s not what the tabloids say, Mr. King of the Night.”

He makes a face of disapproval. “You’ve been stalking me online? Not sure that was a great idea. I think it goes against what the doctor recommended. Either way, I bet you didn’t find much.”

“I didn’t. And I wasn’t trying to stalk you. I just got curious. I visited some celebrity sites and there you were.”

“The journalists gave me that ridiculous nickname because I own a nightclub chain. What they don’t know is that those clubs don’t even make up a tenth of my fortune.”

“What they don’t know is that you wouldn’t need any fortune to make me fall for you.”

He looks like he’s about to say something, but he holds back. I’d be lying if I said I’m not disappointed he doesn’t say he loves me back.

Frustrated, I roll onto my back and stare at the ceiling.

“What?” he asks.

“Did you ever share your past with me, Beau? Before the accident, I mean.”

“No.”

“That’s weird. The more I think about it, the harder it is to believe that you and I were the real deal.

I saw a photo of us at a movie premiere in L.A.

, and a few others of us leaving restaurants—different cities, like you said.

One article even called me your chosen one, because apparently, you’ve never stuck with a girlfriend for so long. ”

“I’m still not getting your point.”

“It’s simple. You didn’t know anything about my past, and I didn’t know anything about yours.

That doesn’t sound like a relationship with a future.

You told me we lived together, but I’m starting to think it was more out of convenience, because you wanted me around.

I didn’t do anything with my life and just followed you around like a parasite. ”

I get out of bed, feeling suffocated. I have the sudden realization that I’ve been acting like a fool, thinking this one-sided love would take us anywhere.

“I won’t bring this up again,” I say before rushing out of the room.

I don’t even make it to the stairs before he catches up to me.

“What the hell is going on?”

“You never loved me. I don’t remember anything, but I don’t need my memory to know that much. You never loved me, and you probably would’ve tossed me aside like all the others if I weren’t pregnant. God, I’ve been such a fool!”

“Amber.”

“I need to be alone, Beau. I’m so confused. Now everything makes sense.”

“What makes sense?” he explodes, and his face is furious.

“If you could explain it to me, I’d appreciate it.

Because from where I’m standing, nothing makes sense.

I think I’ve been crazy about you since the first time I saw you.

I’m the coldest bastard you’ll ever meet, and yet I’ve never once run away from what I feel for you. Even when I had every reason to . . .”

“What do you mean by that?”

He pulls away and starts walking back to the room.

“Beau, what did you mean when you said you had every reason?”

“I can’t say. That damn doctor in Boston said we have to wait until you remember on your own.”

My body starts to tremble. “Did I sleep with someone else? Did I cheat on you?”

He walks up to me. “No. You didn’t. You’re mine. Only mine.”

“Being crazy about me doesn’t mean you love me,” I say, because there’s no point in pretending at this stage.

“Good luck finding a name for what I feel, Amber. You wanna call it love? Go ahead. But that doesn’t even begin to explain what you are to me. When I say I’m crazy, it’s because there’s no word invented yet for what we are. And I don’t know if there ever will be.”