Page 83 of Sins and Virtue

“Seriously, you … you…” she stuttered, seeming lost for words.

“Psycho?”

“The word seemed ill-used given your personalities, so no. I’ll go with misogynistic.”

“Misogynistic?” Really, out of all things?

“Yes, and you hate to see women reject you, so you’d rather hold one against her will.”

My brow curved at her ongoing delirious nonsense, not knowing why I kept entertaining her. More like she was using me to pass time. “Oh yeah?”

“Yeah, because you’re making up for other things youlack.”

“If I’m lacking and boring, why did you come here?” I posed the question, needing to pick at her brain because I didn’t fully understand her. In truth, I barely knew much, yet here I was thirsting for more knowledge.

“Well… well…” The words hung on her tongue, blots of frustration painting her cheeks.

“What’s wrong? Found yourself amused? Or do you know once you’re trapped and go into this forest, you will never go back the same?”

My eyes glared into hers, daring to eat her alive as the critical question made the air we breathed suffocating. Bleeding with fervent ardor, unable to escape the prison we kept digging ourselves in. And that was the worst part; we were both playing for keeps.

She avoided any hassling and held her wrist out to me. “Well, go ahead, take me as your prisoner, or I’ll go back to the convent.”

Seriously, did she have a death wish, or did this woman not understand the concept of danger? Instead of running away when given the chance, she runs to it. Seeking it like a euphoric relief.

Truly, I couldn’t get my finger on her, but hopefully if I was lucky, I would get a finger on her tonight.

Maybe, just maybe.

Definitely. She’ll be ours and ours only.

She cleared her throat, drawing me out of my thoughts. “Ahem, your choice?”

One large breath left my lips as I pushed myself off the tree and walked past her, forward toward our destination. If she wanted this, she would have to decide. Everything was done for her, so if she wanted it, she would come and get it.

One, two, three—

“Where are you going?” she loudly demanded.

Indifference rolled through my shoulders while I kept on walking, letting her come on her own terms. “Sapere Aude.”Dare to know.

“Ugh,” the noise escaped the depths of her chest as she stomped her foot. Her voice lingered not too far behind as I heard the snap of the branches and crunches of the leaves, and the next moment, a force bumped into me. The gravitational shift was barely effective, as she only made my shoulder move. Keeping her pace up with mine. “I swear if this is bullsh— crap you’re pulling off, I’ll beat you alive.”

“How romantic.” I turned my head to her casually.

“Trust me, that’s the better ending.”

“What’s the worst one?”

“Aw,” she batted her lashes like a vixen. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

Fuck, yes. I needed to know. The vain desperation made me want to know every single thought that ran in her mind. This woman held me on the verge of madness, and my sanity was already questionable.

Within a few spare minutes, we ended up in front of an array of long green vines as I pulled them aside with one hand to reveal, and Blair trailed onward before pivoting in her walk.

“Wow,” she whispered in awe.

The silver moonlight illuminated the scenery that the vines tried to contain. The small ripples of water revealed a private river stream with lotus flowers floating amidst green moss growing on the rocks and stones and a large waterfall flowing in the background. Dragonflies added that special touch as they glowed here and there.