Page 55 of Sweet Sinners

Chapter forty-seven

Connor

Six Months Later

"Calliope," I call out, shaking my head at the disaster she’s left in the kitchen. Typical. She always leaves a mess when she attempts to cook—ingredients scattered everywhere, pans forgotten. It drives me insane, but I secretly love it. It means she needs me.

"Hurry up, you're missing it!" she shouts back from the living room.

I chuckle softly, abandoning the mess for once and walking toward her.

She’s curled up on the couch in one of those sinful little dresses she loves, completely oblivious—or maybe too aware—of what it does to me.

Six months together, and Cali still hasn’t figured out that I can't concentrate on anything but her when she's dressed like this.

Or maybe that's exactly the point.

Groaning, I sink down beside her and immediately pull her against me, my hand settling possessively on her thigh. "These damn dresses," I murmur against her ear, lips brushing her neck, making her shiver. "Showing off your legs, distracting me."

"I'm celebrating," she teases softly, nodding toward the television screen. "Look."

I glance up just as the news footage zooms in on Anna. She’s wearing glasses today, trying to play the quiet, innocent role, but there's no hiding the fury simmering beneath. It burns coldly in her eyes, dark and sharp, a quiet anger that poisons from the inside out.

She's getting exactly what she deserves.

It's the final day of her trial. Her lawyer’s arguments are pathetic—desperation dressed in a cheap suit.

He tries insanity again, then temporary madness, tossing every excuse he can think of into the air.

But the evidence we handed over—the camera footage, the Reddit posts, Anna’s own angry texts—has made her guilt crystal clear.

Not even the judge looks convinced by the circus her defense has created.

Cali stiffens slightly, her muscles tensing under my hand. "But what if—" she starts, voice barely above a whisper.

I squeeze her thigh gently, pulling her tighter against me. "Even if they somehow buy it, even if she's declared insane, the whole world already knows what she did. Her life is over either way."

She exhales slowly, the tension melting from her shoulders as she nods. Her hand slides over mine, gripping my fingers gently, the quiet reassurance more powerful than words.

Anna will get what’s coming to her. But we—we've already won where it counts .

Cali hums softly, her gaze drifting to my ankle as if she still doesn’t fully believe the bracelet’s been off for months. She checked the day I took her to the lake to watch the leaves turn gold, and again the night we had our first public date, the night I stopped caring who saw us together.

We haven't made any official announcements, but anyone who sees us knows. It's impossible not to notice. The way Cali looks at me—raw affection, pride, love—it tells the world she’s mine clearer than words ever could.

I can’t stop touching her, needing constant reminders that she’s here, safe, whole.

Ever since Anna walked into this house with a knife and a gun, Cali hasn't spent a single night alone. And the nights she travels for work? They’re hell.

My nightmares play on a loop—Cali strangled, shot, bleeding out—until I wake soaked in sweat, reaching for her.

She nuzzles against my neck now, pulling me out of my dark thoughts. "Stop thinking so hard. They're announcing the verdict."

"Already? I thought we were still watching closing arguments."

"They prerecorded them. We just need one last win," she whispers softly. "Though, I wish she'd pled guilty."

I shake my head. "She would've gotten a lighter sentence. That's why I made sure the lawyers didn't offer her a deal."

Cali goes quiet, her palm sliding slowly up my chest, stopping right over the spot where the bullet tore through. Her breath hitches softly, and she presses a gentle kiss to my neck. "I love you. If her aim had been even an inch higher...I think I would’ve killed her."

I gently turn her face toward mine, brushing my thumb across her chin. "No more talk about killing—from either of us. Death stays in the past. Our future?" My voice softens, steady, certain. "It's long and happy. We've earned it. Speaking of...how did it go with Dr. Anderson?"

She smiles softly, eyes brightening. "Good. Really good."

Relief settles inside me. I'm grateful she resumed therapy—something I hadn’t even known she was doing until she admitted how intense her anxiety had become whenever we were apart.

I regret how little I knew her when we were younger. I was too busy raising hell, causing trouble, ignoring the quiet girl who was suddenly my stepsister. But maybe that was a good thing. Because now, I can’t imagine ever seeing Cali as anything other than the woman I love.

"Guilty!"

The word pulls my attention sharply back to the TV.

Anna’s face drains of color, her expression frozen in disbelief, as if the reality of her crimes only now sinks in. Murdering our parents, attempting to kill Cali and me, insider trading, violating Cali’s NDA. Guilty across the board. No escape.

"That's exactly what we needed," I murmur, feeling the weight I've carried for so long finally ease.

Cali nods slowly, composed and calm, completely unsurprised. I nudge her, raising a brow. "You don’t look shocked," I tease.

She brushes imaginary lint from her thigh and glances up at me with a sly smile. "You’re not the only one who had a talk with the lawyer. I might’ve had a little influence on jury selection. Turns out, four jurors lost their parents tragically."

I stare at her, stunned for a moment, then chuckle softly, shaking my head.

God, I fucking love this woman.

I growl softly, rolling her beneath me, pinning her wrists above her head. "Such a naughty girl. What am I gonna do with you? "

Her eyes spark with heat, and she hums seductively beneath me. "Fuck me. Spank me for being bad enough to get justice served." She smirks, pulling me down into a fierce, hungry kiss. Her arms wrap around my neck, holding me tight. "Love me forever and a day?"

"Done," I murmur roughly against her lips, smiling. "But none of that sounds like punishment."

She laughs softly, the sound sweet and perfect.

"Good, because neither of us deserves punishment anymore.

We deserve something bright, something new.

" Her voice softens, and she gives me that stunning smile that always knocks the breath from my lungs.

"Speaking of...my boyfriend officially got into culinary school. "

I narrow my eyes, teasing her with a low growl. "Don’t tell me you pulled strings for that, too."

"Nope," she says brightly, shaking her head. "All you. Your cooking, your recipes, your talent. Just like how you got me. And how we got Anna convicted."

I chuckle, pulling her closer, my lips brushing hers softly. "We did that together—just like we’ll do everything else."

She kisses me again, fierce and possessive, her mouth moving with purpose. I recognize the look in her eyes: the hunger, the demand. She doesn't just want to kiss me, she wants all of me. She wants me to love her, to fuck her, to give her every last piece of myself. And I will.

We get lost in each other right there on the couch, tangled limbs, hungry mouths, skin pressed to skin.

Eventually, we slide to the floor, laughing breathlessly between kisses.

By the time Cali comes apart beneath me, shuddering and gasping my name for the third time, she’s completely spent, collapsing onto my chest in a warm, heavy heap.

She lets out a slow, satisfied sigh, rubbing her cheek against my chest. "Is this real, Connor? "

I blink, breathless, smiling at the mess we've made. My hand trails slowly down her spine. "Yeah, Angel. It’s real."

She bites her bottom lip, resting her chin on her crossed arms, eyes wide and uncertain. "We're real. We love each other. We put Anna behind bars. I'm a CEO, and you're going to culinary school. But do we deserve a happily ever after?"

I frown, brushing the hair from her face gently. "Why wouldn't we?"

She hesitates, doubt flickering in her gaze.

"Because we've done terrible things along the way.

I pushed Anna until she snapped—I manipulated her.

We're together, and everyone thinks it's wrong. It just feels like all this sweetness is too good to be true. Like we’re waiting for the other shoe to drop. "

I stroke my thumb gently along her jaw, tilting her face until her eyes lock with mine. "We fought too damn hard for this, Cali. We deserve every second. Let the world think what it wants. This? Us? It’s real. They can’t take that away."

She nods, but uncertainty still lingers, dimming the sparkle in her gaze. I tip her chin higher, brushing my thumb along her bottom lip.

"Listen to me," I murmur. "We both made mistakes—big ones. But we came out of it together. We survived. That means something. It means everything."

She sighs softly, her lips ghosting over mine. "I love you."

My throat tightens, and I hesitate, swallowing hard. "You might want to wait another second before saying that again."

Her brow furrows immediately, concern clouding her eyes, and I gently smooth my thumb over the crease between her eyebrows. "Connor…?"

"I told your grandparents," I confess quietly, watching her carefully .

Cali’s eyes widen, her mouth falling open in shock. She pulls back abruptly, cheeks flushing deep crimson. "You did what?"

"I told them we're together," I say again, voice calm, steady. "That we're in love. And we're serious. They deserved to hear it from us first."

She takes a sharp breath, eyes flashing with irritation as she steps back, arms crossing defensively. "Connor, we didn't discuss—I mean, that was something we should’ve decided together. Jesus, you—"

"Angel," I cut her off gently, closing the distance again.

I cup her face in both hands, holding her firmly, making sure she hears me.

"I love you. Not halfway, not in secret, not only when things are easy.

Completely. Recklessly. Forever." My thumb strokes gently over her trembling lip.

"I refuse to let you hide from this or pretend it isn't real. You’re mine, Cali.

And I'm yours. And I want everyone to know. "

Her breath hitches, those beautiful eyes softening, uncertainty melting into quiet vulnerability. She searches my face, voice barely above a whisper. "Connor…we didn’t even discuss this. It’s such a huge—"

"I don't need to discuss loving you," I say softly. "I just do."

She blinks once, then twice, fighting a smile. "What did they say?"

I exhale, smiling slowly. "At first, they laughed. Then your grandma said it actually made sense, something about blaming it all on the Gods. They’re supportive, Cali. And they're coming here for Christmas."

Cali stares up at me, mouth slightly open, then bursts into a shaky, relieved laugh. She shakes her head, disbelief written all over her beautiful face. "God, you're impossible."

I grin, pulling her into me, lips ghosting over hers. "And you love me anyway. "

She melts into me, eyes softening, surrendering to the truth. "Always," she breathes against my mouth. "I love you more than I've loved anything, Connor. More than anyone. And I'm done hiding it, okay?"

Her words sink deep, filling every empty space inside me, calming every lingering doubt. "Good," I murmur roughly, holding her tighter. "Say it louder."

She draws back just enough to meet my eyes, her gaze fierce and certain, the Calliope I fell hopelessly in love with.

"I love you," she repeats, voice steady, sure, like it's her greatest truth.

"I'll love you through every scandal, every whisper, every damn obstacle they throw at us.

Because you're the best thing that's ever happened to me. "

My chest tightens, breath catching at the sheer power of her words. I stroke her cheek softly, memorizing this moment, this feeling.

I nod, drawing her closer until nothing exists but us. "No more darkness, Cali," I whisper fiercely. "Just this sweet feeling, just you and me."

Her smile deepens, her eyes glowing with warmth as she seals the promise with a kiss that feels like the beginning of everything we've fought so hard for.

And finally, it feels like we've won.