Page 26 of The Sinner’s Desire (The Sinner’s Touch #1)

“Did you find my note?” Amos asks as soon as I answer.

“I did, yes. Thank you for leaving it, or I would’ve thought last night was just a dream.”

“I’m not—”

“Yeah, I know, you’re not a prince. Still, I can’t seem to stay away from you, so I must be crazy.”

He goes silent, and since I’m not in the mood to start a fight first thing in the morning, I go on, “Are you coming back? Actually . . .where did you go?”

“I probably won’t come back there. I don’t know how long I’ll be gone.”

“Is what you went to do dangerous?”

He takes a while to respond, then finally says, “I can’t talk about it.”

“If you don’t want to talk, why did you call?”

“I didn’t say I didn’t want to talk to you—just that I can’t talk about work.”

“Okay,” I say, trying to hide my irritation.

“What are you doing today?”The shift in topic doesn’t go unnoticed—he’s clearly trying to distract me.

“I was thinking about going to the beach. I’ll stay until midweek, then I have to go back to Boston and start organizing my life. Classes start soon.”

“Organize your life how?”

“Apartment hunting. I want to wait for my brother to get back before I make the final decision, but I’d like to visit a few places before that.”

Silence again.

“About Ethan, I wanted to ask you . . .uh . . .not to tell him anything about what happened yesterday, because he’ll freak out about us and—”

“Not while he’s away. But when he comes back, yeah, I will. I don’t see a reason to hide, and neither should you. You’re an adult.”

“I thought that you and I . . .that we . . .I mean, whatever this is between us—”

“You thought it was over? I don’t make promises I don’t intend to keep, Lilly. I told you last night that I want you.”

“You also told me you’re not a prince.”

“And I’m not.”

“But can you be faithful? I’m not asking for a relationship label, but if we’re . . .whatever this is, I don’t want to see scenes like yesterday again.”

“Nothing happened. She came on to me and I told her no. End of story.”

“I’m not used to relationships. I’ve never had one. All I know is I was insanely jealous.”

“As long as we’re together, there’s only you,” he says.

I don’t know if that was meant to reassure me, because if it was, it didn’t work. The needy part of me can only think he’s already sure this thing between us will eventually end.

“Okay,” I say simply.

“That doesn’t mean we’re going to last forever. Just know what you’re getting into,” he continues, confirming exactly what I feared.

“Right.” I try not to sound upset, but it’s not easy. How can someone see the end of something that’s barely begun?

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“I’ve never done this before, Lillyana.”

“Done what?”

“Been in a relationship. I don’t know if I can do it. Chances are, I’ll screw it all up.”

“If that’s the case, maybe we should stop right now. I’m not going to be just a fling, if that’s what you’re offering. I might be inexperienced, but I know myself. I’m not made for casual. Either we’re on or we’re not.”

“We’re on. Even though I’m sure you have no idea what you’re signing up for.”

“I really don’t. But I’m not walking away. I don’t want to walk away, Amos.”

“Now we need to talk about your dead phone the other day.”

“It wasn’t off—the battery died. I met that guy I told you about, Theodoro Argyros, at the bookstore. He studied fashion in Paris too. We started talking and decided to grab a bite. That’s basically it. When I realized my phone had died, I came home.”

“I’m a control freak, Lilly. What happened with your phone can’t happen again.”

“I didn’t do it on purpose.”

“I didn’t say you did. I just want you to be more aware so I can reach you whenever I need to. There’s no room for negotiation on that.”

“I’m not irresponsible, and I wasn’t trying to escape from you or my brother, Amos. I’ll keep the phone charged, but I don’t want to be treated like a child.”

“I don’t see you that way. When you came on my fingers last night, you were a woman. All woman.”

He hangs up without saying goodbye, and I’m left so weak in the knees I have to sit down.

God, how am I supposed to survive being in a relationship with a man this intense?

Worse yet: how am I supposed to survive when it all comes to an end?

“What kind of apartment are you thinking about?” Theo asks, mid-bite of his salad.

We went out for lunch since he’s flying to LA for work tomorrow, and I’ll be completely alone in Boston—the bodyguards watching me 24/7 don’t count. They’re quiet and never speak to me.

It’s been several days and Amos still hasn’t returned. Even though he calls every morning to check on me, he hasn’t said a word about when he’ll be back.

He told me yesterday that Ethan is unreachable, and I’m starting to suspect there’s way more to this security company than they let on.

“Nothing too big. Maybe three bedrooms. One for me, one as a studio, and another for guests.”

“A penthouse would be great.”

“I’d love that, especially if it had a pool—but all the ones I’ve seen are massive and duplexes, like the ones my brother and Amos have.”

“Amos. Your boyfriend,” he teases, and I roll my eyes—but I can’t stop my foolish heart from racing at that label.

“We’re in a relationship, but he never said anything about being my boyfriend.”

“You live together,” he says with a wink.

“I’m gonna throw this meatball at you if you keep laughing at me.

You and Martina are soulmates. I’ve never seen two people so sarcastic,” I say, laughing despite myself.

I’ve told each of them about the other, and they’re dying to meet.

“We don’t live together. I’m only staying at their place because my brother forced the situation. ”

“Alright, I’ll help you find an apartment. When I get back from LA, we’ll go look. Your classes start the Monday after next, right?”

“Yeah. I’m really excited. So many changes at once!”

“You’re growing up, Lilly. Change is scary but necessary. It’s a transition phase. If you weren’t scared, that would be weird. Just don’t let it paralyze you.”

“My biggest fear is getting my heart broken by Amos.”

“A justified fear, I’d say, if he’s really all that like you’ve said. But not being with the guy you’re into just because you’re scared? That’d be pathetic.”

“You’re right. Watch out, world—Lilly the Bold has officially arrived.”