Page 23 of Sinful as They Come (Sinful Trilogy #1)

HOLLY

“That bed is real big, huh?” Carter whispered into my ear.

I shuddered, his breath warm on my neck.

“I, uh, haven’t seen it.” That was a lie.

The first thing I did when we got to the cabin was check out the bed situation.

The four bedrooms meant almost all of us got some privacy.

But I was worried about sleeping with Carter.

I still wasn’t ready for that . For sex. Something I knew he wasn’t happy about.

He hummed. “There’s so much room for me and you, so much room to do whatever we want.”

A hand landed on my thigh and I choked on my breath a little. Everyone else was in the kitchen, leaving me and Carter alone in the living room. I could see them gathered in there as my eyes darted to the side. He didn’t seem to mind getting handsy despite so many people being around.

“Annie actually asked me to sleep in her room tonight,” I lied. We had not had that conversation at all. “She thinks her room is haunted.”

“She’ll be fine. We finally have the chance to spend some alone time together. That’s why I asked Lucas if we could come here. Doesn’t that sound fun?”

I squirmed in my seat. “Carter…”

“Hm?”

“I… I don’t know if that’s a good idea…”

“You’re my girlfriend and I’m your boyfriend,” he said, pulling away from me. The tone in his voice grew darker. “Tell me what’s wrong with the idea of me spending the night with you.”

“It’s… I’m just…” I’m not ready to have sex with you , I thought. I’m not ready, I’m not ready, I’m not ready .

“Is the game on?” Brodie suddenly interrupted, a can of soda in his hand. He chugged it quickly. “You guys aren’t watching the TV, right?”

Oh, thank God for Brodie. He didn’t even realize what a lifesaver he was.

“We were in the middle of something,” Carter practically screamed at him.

“Oh.” Brodie pouted a little. “Sorry, I can—”

“Hey, is the game on or what?” Sawyer suddenly appeared behind the couch. “Did we miss it?”

And I couldn’t believe it, but I was suddenly thanking God for Sawyer’s presence too. I heard Carter audibly sigh beside me as the cousins took seats on the other couch.

My hand landed on Carter’s knee, hoping a little squeeze would be enough to show him that I was sorry our conversation got cut short.

I was expecting him to push my hand away, but he wrapped an arm around my shoulder and pulled me in closer to him.

He shifted so that I was practically in his lap.

I couldn’t help but smile at the contact.

It was good to know that he wasn’t mad at me, because his tone earlier had been getting a little worrying.

But he held me close to him and I got to lay my head on his chest while Brodie put the hockey game on. Someone was winning, but I didn’t care who, because the only noise I could really focus on was the sound of Carter’s heartbeat.

My eyes lingered to the right for a second. I could see, from the corner of my eye, Lucas and Annie working on the barbeque. By the smell of it, the food was going to be ready soon. But as my eyes trailed back over to the TV, I caught a glimpse of Sawyer.

Why was he staring at me like that?

His eyes were dark as he swigged back a bottle of beer lazily.

And he didn’t even break eye contact with me.

He just looked at me and I looked at him and suddenly I couldn’t even feel Carter’s arm around me anymore.

The room felt empty. Empty besides Sawyer.

He glimpsed at Carter for just a second, glaring away like his life depended on it before he focused back on the TV.

There was nothing to say. All I knew was that right there in Carter’s arms was where I belonged.

***

The air had quickly turned chilly, but the breeze was comforting and calm.

I still had goose bumps, which was why I was sliding on my pink jacket.

Tucking my hands into my pockets, my tummy felt full from the barbeque we had just had.

Lucas had some hidden chef-like qualities I hadn’t known about.

The guys had been the ones to down the beers, but all I had was some soda with my dinner.

Now I was sat by the fire, my eyes stuck on the gorgeous, orange flames. Things were going good despite Sawyer showing up. Why did he have to come? Brodie was fine, but his cousin ?

But… Sawyer had been surprisingly well behaved all night.

He and Carter hadn’t said a word to each other.

It was easier to just keep them separated.

I didn’t want a fight. I didn’t even want a small argument.

It was nice to just get lost in the quietness of the night and the stars that formed a blanket above us.

I had been busy staring at them when I felt someone grab my shoulders from behind. I jumped, spinning around hastily to see a grinning Annie.

“Why do you hate me?” I asked her, pressing a hand to my chest. My heart was beating wildly and would be for the next minute.

“Did I scare you?” She grinned.

“Yes. You’re the worst.”

“Hm, maybe. But it’s good to get the heart racing every now and then.

” Annie sat down next to me on the log-turned-seat, her body huddling up next to mine.

She rubbed her hands together, sticking them in front of the fire.

“So, tonight’s been fun. It’s been so long since I’ve been in the outdoors.

“I really needed a break from everything. My head hurts from all the choreography I’ve been going over for this CalArts audition. ”

I squeezed at her knee. “You’re overthinking this.”

“I’m literally dreaming about ballet at this point. Is that pathetic?” She rested her chin in her hand.

“No, it just means you want it really bad. I promise you’ll get in. You’re the best dancer on the cheer team. You’re the best dancer in the whole school.”

“My aching legs thank you. Ooh, let me show you the leotard I’m wearing for my audition.” Pushing a hand into her jacket pocket, she pulled out her phone. “Tell me if you approve or not. I’m going for understated elegance.”

“Ooh, it’s so pretty,” I whispered, eyeing the lavender leotard on the screen. “You’re gonna look so good in it.”

“Thanks. I’m picking it up next weekend, but I’m so glad we got to do something like this before we have to go back to our boring, college obsessed lives.”

“Me too. This has all gone surprisingly well.” No fights. Yet.

“Despite your best friend coming along?” Annie chuckled.

I rolled my eyes. “He’s literally the worst person I’ve ever met in my entire life. Just the worst.”

“His cousin’s kinda funny, though.” Annie looked over her shoulder, trying to check the long-haired boy out subtly. “What’s his deal?”

“Brodie’s a nice guy. He’s actually really sweet and creative. Weird how he and Sawyer are related. One of them has to be adopted,” I mumbled.

Annie chuckled. “Sawyer isn’t that bad. Come on. He’s got that ruggedly handsome thing going on too.”

I gave Annie a look. “Stop.”

“I mean, I know you only have eyes for Carter.” She nudged me. “Who can’t seem to keep his hands off of you tonight.”

I blushed at her words. Carter had been a little handsy during dinner.

Handsier than usual. I could still feel his heavy touch on my thigh from when we had sat down at the dinner table.

And the way his fingers ran along my skin, getting closer and closer to my center.

He had held me close to him, keeping an arm wrapped around me when we had finished with our meals.

He had been kissing me all night. Much more than he would do normally.

I didn’t mind it. I loved his touch. I loved him.

He just seemed unable to keep his hands off of me all night.

Normally he did that in private. In his room or at his house – not with people around.

He had been on his phone when me and Annie left the cabin, engrossed in some conversation. I had wondered who he was talking too, but he took off before he could answer.

“You noticed that too?” I wondered, my cheeks still feeling hot.

“Duh. Everyone did. Sawyer seemed to find it downright scandalous.” She laughed.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I frowned.

“He just looked… I don’t know, annoyed? A little pissed off?”

When wasn’t Sawyer pissed off?

“It was probably just disgust.” I rolled my eyes. “I don’t care what he has to say or think. Especially about me and Carter.”

“Speak of the devil…” Annie said quietly.

I looked around, spotting Sawyer with his hands in his pockets. Brodie and Lucas were by his side, the both of them offering us a friendly wave.

“I only came here ‘cause it’s fucking cold and I’m sick of you hogging the fire,” was Sawyer’s greeting to me.

“I didn’t ask,” I said quietly. “And I don’t care. And I’m not hogging the fire. There’s plenty of fire for all of us.”

Sawyer rubbed his hands together before holding them against the flames. “All of us, huh? I mean, you don’t have to be here.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “I was here first, thank you very much.”

“No, I mean, you don’t have to be here. At the cabin. At Alden Lake,” he said, eyes locked on to mine. “And if I knew you were coming along, I would not have accepted the invitation. Thanks, Brodie.”

“Hey, I didn’t know she was coming.” Brodie threw his hands up before his eyes widened. “I didn’t mean it like that, Holly.”

“I sure as fuck did,” Sawyer said swiftly.

I shook my head at Sawyer. “You think I want you here or something? It’s bad enough that I have to see you at school. Seeing you on the weekend sounds like some kind of terrible nightmare I’ve had in the past.”

“Aw, you dreamin’ about me, princess?” Sawyer asked with a grin.

I rolled my eyes. “You wish.”

“I really don’t.”

“Things were nice and quiet until you got here, Sawyer.”

“Like I said earlier, you’re free to leave. The night is still young if you wanna head on back home and take your annoying, little boyfriend with you.”

“Again. I was here first. And also: Carter is not annoying.”

“Again. You weren’t meant to be here. Also: yes, he fuckin’ is.”