Page 57 of Vows in Sin

Cleopatra steps up, demanding introductions from Seraphina. Tabitha and Cleo hit it off immediately. Tabitha’s brief distraction leaves Seraphina and me insulated for a moment.

Pretending we’ve never tasted each other.

Pretending she’s not mine.

Acting as if she doesn’t reside in my mind. Taking up so much space. As if my obsession with her wasn’t the catalyst that saved all our lives.

We let the silence stretch.

And in it, I feel everything.

Every touch. Every kiss. Every lie we have to tell.

The words are on the tip of my tongue.

I missed you. I dream about you.

But I swallow them.

Because none of them matter.

Not now.

Not with my daughter standing between us.

Dame puts his arm around Seraphina. Staking his claim.

My blood boils.

I guess they found their way to one another after all. Tastes change.

I’ve not told anyone about Seraphina and me. I trust Sideburns and Budgie to keep their mouths shut tight. The only way Dame knows is if Seraphina told him.

If any other man got one taste of that woman, they’d be as obsessed as I am. They’d have returned her fucking calls.

Texts.

Whatever.

Running a hand over my tired beard, I stare at them. She’s come here for him. Flown across the world without a moment’s notice. Now I’m on their turf, I’m intheirspace.

Dame gives me a broad smile I can’t read as anything other than good wishes.

My jaw clenches. Stone on stone. Jealousy rages through my veins. I can’t not stare at the easy way his arm lays around her shoulders.

I want to take that arm and put it in a matching sling to mine.

“You all can stay with me,” Dame offers. Raking the coals. “My bachelor pad hasn’t been placed yet. Reign?” He glances down at the girl in his arm. “Seraphina?” Back to me. “Sound good?”

I’ll fucking sleep in a lake of fire before I share a roof with the two of them together.

Seraphina pops in, “We’re already staying with Cleopatra. And with the wedding planning going warp speed, we’ll be up all night.” She smiles up at Dame. “I wouldn’t want to bore you with centerpieces.”

Dame laughs. “Thanks for that.”

They share a grin.

And the fire rages on.