Page 77 of The Sinner’s Desire (The Sinner’s Touch #1)
Hana Cooper-Hayes
A few minutes ago, I asked Aunt Khayla who the blond guy with the earring was.
He’s gorgeous. And covered in tattoos.
A lot of them. I kept trying to guess how many.
Before we came here, I overheard Mom and Dad talking about how Uncle Axel’s family would be coming. They said the Kings are part of a motorcycle club in North Carolina.
The guy—who I found out is named Kieran—must be one of the members. I looked it up after my parents’ conversation and learned that’s what they call the people in a motorcycle club. He showed up on a beautiful bike.
We all came to Uncle Ethan’s house to spend Christmas, and I know the bikers have been in Boston for a few days now, but I keep thinking: with this awful weather, how will Kieran even get home? The snowstorm just stopped yesterday, but the roads must still be dangerous.
I knew right away he was part of the King family—he looks just like Uncle Axel, only younger. He’s eighteen. Five years older than me.
When I asked Aunt Khayla if he was a King—just to confirm—she gave me the same look Mom gives when she’s worried I’m about to do something foolish. But I’m not! I was just watching him.
I have to do it discreetly, though, because if Dad catches on, I’m doomed. He watches over me like a hawk.
He and Bruno don’t trust me one bit because sometimes I bend the rules a little. But even if it means getting caught, I can’t take my eyes off that gorgeous guy.
It’s not just that he’s handsome—he’s different from all the boys at my school. He looks angry. And quiet too. I noticed he barely talked to anyone.
There are other King relatives here, but to me, Kieran is by far the most beautiful.
“Where are you going, Hana?” my twin sister Aisha asks when she sees me heading toward the door.
“Just going for a walk in the garden.”
Because of the snowstorm, it’s still freezing outside, so she looks at me like I’m crazy. But my sister is as sweet as honey and never argues, not even with me—even though I manage to get into trouble with just about everyone.
“Don’t stay out too long. It’s too cold,” she says, giving me a kiss on the forehead before going back inside.
I look out at the garden and catch a glimpse of a leather jacket moving between some trees in the distance. Since Kieran disappeared from the house, I’m hoping that’s him.
I shouldn’t follow him—I know that. I’ll be grounded until the end of time if Dad finds out I went after a guy alone. But who said I could help myself?
I walk carefully along the path, which now feels like a sheet of ice. I watch every step I take, but I still slip a little here and there.
“Don’t follow me, girl.”
The deep voice startles me so much I clutch my chest.
Normally, I’m talkative, but seeing Kieran standing there—looking even angrier than before—I can’t form a sentence.
“Go back inside. I want to be alone.”
At first, I want to cry. Why is he talking to me like that? He doesn’t even know me. Then I lift my chin and glare at him. “I wasn’t following you. I just felt like getting some fresh air.”
“You’ve been watching me since day one. Don’t lie. Do us both a favor and go back inside, Hana.”
“How do you know my name?”
“I know everything about you. I know that even though you’re tall and look . . . older, you’re just a baby. And I’m not interested in talking to kids.”
“And I’m not interested in talking to a rude biker,” I snap, furious, and turn to go back inside.
Of course, Murphy’s Law kicks in, and I slip—completely losing my dignity. I flail like an octopus, arms reaching for anything to grab onto, but it’s Kieran’s strong arms that keep me from landing flat on my butt.
When I lift my face to look at him, my heart races.
He’s even more gorgeous up close, with those incredible blue eyes that look like tiny crystals.
“Thank you,” I force myself to say, then quickly pull away. “I won’t bother you again, Kieran. You don’t like me, and I don’t like you either.”
He doesn’t say a word, and I walk away without looking back.
I’m mad—and even though he just saved me, I hope I never see him again.
What I don’t know then is that our fate has already been sealed: Kieran will always be my savior.