Page 36 of The Sinner’s Desire (The Sinner’s Touch #1)

I know I should leave her alone, but I’ve come to a crossroads, and I’m not backing down.

Lilly stirs something in me no other woman ever has—not even close.

I know that once I finally make her mine, it’s going to be a wild, delicious ride for both of us, and I can’t wait to dive into her completely.

I catch a glimpse of the bodyguards in the rearview mirror, trailing behind us, and when I glance to the side, Lilly’s looking straight at me.

“What are you thinking about?” I ask her.

“That from the very first moment I saw you, I knew it would be you, Amos.”

I know what she means, but I need to hear her say it. My sense of honor demands that Lilly understands exactly where we’re heading. “What do you mean?”

She doesn’t hesitate. “My first everything. I’ve never felt this way around any man.”

Does she realize what those innocent words do to me? How the certainty that she’s mine makes me even more possessive?

I’m not a good man. I don’t carry good things inside me. If Judgment Day ever comes, I’ll be the first in line to be sent straight to hell.

But I'm a sinner, and I want the now . I’ve got this angel next to me, offering me everything—and I won’t back down.

We pull into the garage of my building and fall into silence as we look at each other.

“I want you,” I say.

“I know.”

“I’m not going to make love to you, Lilly. I’m going to fuck you.”

“I’m not scared. I’m a little nervous but not scared.”

“Maybe you should be.”

“No. I’ve spent my whole life hiding from myself. For the first time, I want to risk it all. I’m not backing down. The fear of getting hurt by falling for you is nothing compared to the fear of never feeling this way again with anyone else.”

In all her innocence, Lilly has the power to push me to the edge. The urge to take her becomes unbearable.

Before I can get out and open her door, though, my phone rings.

Blood. Something must’ve happened.

“I have to take this. Go on up. I’ll be right there.”

“It’s okay. I’m gonna take a shower.”

I wait for her to step into the elevator before unlocking the phone. “What happened? Bruno?” My heart’s racing, anxiety creeping in.

“No. He’s okay. Only him.”

“What does that mean?”

“All the kids we rescued are showing signs of poisoning. One of them didn’t make it. The others will survive.”

“What? How is that even possible? Where the fuck were the feds, letting something like this happen?”

“Technically, the FBI was monitoring the clinic, but I don’t trust anyone who’s not one of our people.

I’m staying outside Bruno’s room tonight.

I know how important that kid’s become to you.

But if you want my advice, you need to decide what to do about him, Amos.

He’s a living witness. They might try again.

The only reason he wasn’t poisoned too is because of the nurse you personally hired for him. ”

“It has to be an inside job. Someone at the clinic put the poison in their food.”

“Yeah, that’s my guess too.” He pauses, but I know he’s not done yet. “I’ve been thinking about the kid. Maybe he could stay with me for a while—temporary foster arrangement.”

“I’m not sure that would work for him. Besides, I’ll need to pull every string I’ve got in the FBI to even try to make that happen. It would be like a temporary adoption. I’ll have to cash in some favors.”

“But it would keep him safe. Let me know what you want to do. Either way, I’m staying here tonight.”

“How old was the kid who died?”

“Twelve. A girl.”

“We need to investigate every doctor and nurse at the clinic.”

“Already on it, but it’ll take at least a week for a thorough background check. We’re racing the clock.”

“So are the agents.”

“What?”

“The FBI agents need to be checked too.”

“You think—”

“I think people are capable of unthinkable things when they’ve got something to gain.”

“That part’ll be harder. They know how to cover their tracks.”

“So do we.” I pause. “About Bruno staying with you—I don’t think that’s the right move. Maybe a different clinic. I need to think about it.”

“Whatever you say.”

“Blood?”

“Yeah?”

“I don’t want to lose another one. We need to find whoever did this.”

“We’ll get the bastard.”

I hang up and take the stairs to my penthouse instead of the elevator, straight to the bedroom. I strip off my clothes and head into the bathroom, blasting cold water, but nothing can wash away the weight of having failed that little girl.

We rescued her. She should have been safe.

I think about what I promised Bruno—that I and the doctors would protect him—and how he reacted. He didn’t believe me when I said anyone other than me would keep him safe. He wanted me to protect him. And I won’t fail that kid. No matter the cost.

No bastard will ever hurt him again.

I hear a knock on the door.

“Come in,” I say, even though I know I should keep her away. I’m not stable right now.

And I’m completely naked. I don’t think Lilly has ever seen a naked man in real life.

The door opens, and I’m standing right in front of her.

The glass of the shower leaves nothing to the imagination, and she stares at me, wearing nothing but a white robe.

“You shouldn’t be here.”

“Maybe not,” she says, her eyes slowly tracing every inch of me. “But I don’t want to leave.”

I open the shower door. “You don’t know what you’re saying. Back at the beach house, you told me you weren’t ready to go all the way.”

“I changed my mind. I want everything. No more waiting.”

I want her to see who I am. Lilly needs to know she’s not standing in front of some fairy tale prince.

I shut off the water. “If you know what you’re doing, take off your clothes.”

She swallows hard, and I can see how nervous she is.

“If this isn’t what you want, Lillyana, then walk away. I won’t force you.”

Her hands go to the knot on her robe. “It is what I want. I’ve never wanted anything more in my life.”

Without another word, she undoes the tie and lets the robe fall to the floor, standing there, completely bare.