Page 47 of Sins and Virtue

“Not always.”

“And how old are you, kotyonok?”

“I’m twenty-two, your point?”

His deep blue gaze tracked my body up and down, calculating to see if I could keep up with him. “You lack experience.”

I smiled carelessly, shaking my head from side to side. If he was going to play that game, then he should be prepared. “Oh, baby, experience is the one thing I got.”

A charming yet deviant look flashed in his eyes, lips amused. “Show me then.” His voice edged with his Russian accent.

“Stick around long enough and you might just find out.” I slightly bumped my shoulder into his, teasing the fine lines of sins and virtue. Walking ahead of him, I flaunted my hips side to side in this lined dress that hugged every inch of my skin as I stopped in front of a vendor who sold cotton candy.

Konstantin caught up with me.

I smiled at the older lady with chunky pink glasses and a floral beige summer dress. She looked like someone’s nonna.

“Un sac-chemo di cotton candy.” I spoke in broken Italian.

The old lady squinted her eyes, and her face distorted in confusion.

Kon’s lips thinned.

“What?” I turned to him.

“Your Italian is worse than your knowledge of the church.”

Gobsmacked, my lips parted at the insult. A line formed between my brow; this man was going to make me age twice as fast.

He turned and spoke, “Un scuchetto di meschino filato, per favore.”One bag of cotton candy, please.

“Si signore,” The old lady complied happily. “At least someone knows how to speak properly here.”

“I’m trying,” I retorted, flipping my head over my shoulder and aligning it with my veil.

“Not enough,” she commented as she started the machine and took a paper cone, wrapping the cotton candy around it.

My jaw popped open; damn, this nonna was ruthless.

She looked up from underneath her glasses, which sat on the bridge of her nose now. “You’re lucky your boyfriend can help you.” She handed him the pink cotton candy.

“But he’s not—”

“Let’s go,kotyonok.” He linked my arm in his and patted my hand. “Grazie signora.”

The old lady waved as she spoke in Italian. “Prenditi cura di lei. È molto bella.”Take care of her. She’s very beautiful.

“Lo farò.” I will.

My eyes switched between the two, trying to determine the message.

“What?”

Konstantin directed me forward, pulling me into the crowd again. I looked over my shoulder back at the nonna, who stood with an all-knowing smirk as she crossed her arms.

“It’s not polite to stare,kotyonok.” His breath fanned against my ear as he picked on me.

Whirling my head back at him, eyes tensed. “She was shit-talking, wasn’t she?”