Page 25 of Judge of Saints and Sinners

“Who the fuck are you? What are you getting into, Justine?”

I shook my finger in front of his face, loving the way his eyes jumped back and forth. “Danny, Danny, Danny. That’s above your pay grade. I’m the Judge. That’s all you need to know.”

Reaching back, I gripped Justine’s hand in my own and towed all of us out into the hallway, taking her key from her to lock the door after us. Without another word, we left Danny standing in the middle of the hall.

It wasn’t until the fall-scented air of downtown hit my nostrils a few moments later that I realized Justine was crying. I turned to her, worry crawling through me at the sight of the thick tears on such beautiful, pure skin.

“What's wrong?” My anger replaced worry. “Did he hurt you?”

Deciding I didn't care, fury replaced all other emotions in my chest. I prepared to go charging back into the building. But before I could go anywhere, slender, band-like arms were thrown around my neck and I was being pulled into the most devastating hug of my entire life.

But instead of flinching away, I didn’t stop myself when I leaned in.

10

Justine

He was so solid and strong against me. Immeasurably strong. I pressed my nose against his throat, my chest still tight and itchy with unexplainable emotions that had nearly burst out of me when he not only challenged my disgusting bully of a landlord, but when he’d delivered that final punch, building me up and letting me stand on my own.

Rather than feeling protected, I felt… God I felt cherished. When was the last time I’d felt that? Maybe never. It buzzed and jumped in my chest like a living animal, tugging me closer, and before I knew it, I was against him, on him, my arms sliding around his shoulders, my feet dangling midair. I knew he didn't mind, because he’d bent down just a little to help me capture a grip on him. Now as he leaned back, a warm hand pressed against my lower back, supporting me as my feet dangled in the thin air.

“Thank you,” I mumbled against his skin, the rough texture of his jawline a pleasant scrape against my nose. “Thank you so much.”

His chest rumbled under me, and while I wasn't sure I’d ever heard another man do that, I found that I liked it quite a lot. Under the fancy words and posh accent, this male felt…primal in a way that I had never experienced. I wasn't sure why that made me shiver like I did, but I liked it far more than I should.

“It’s only right, little thief. It seems our deal remains intact.”

I could feel the way his body began to tense. I’d hung on too long, and even though it physically hurt to release him, I parted my fingers, letting my weight carry me down until I was standing flatfooted once more on the front stairs of the building. Blinking, I stared around us. Why had it seemed like an entire world had just paused when we touched?

Judge searched my expression, and I offered a small smile in response. We needed to move, to leave this moment that left my blood rushing and my breathing shallow. I wasn't sure how much longer I could stay in it with him, without wanting…something more.

But first, I needed to clear something up.

“I need to tell you something.” I gulped down some air, steeling myself for his disbelief, before pushing on. “I never slept with him, you know.”

“You never slept with him,” he echoed me.

“No.” I shook my head. “He wanted me to, he wanted me to a lot, but I never did. I always had rent ready. Even when he messed with me about it.”

Judge’s dark eyes flashed and his teeth bared in a snarl, “Damn right. Males like him don’t deserve females like you.”

“I just didn’t want you thinking I’d had sex with him.”

To my surprise, Judge reached out, brushing a strand of hair that had escaped my ponytail back from my face. “The matter is resolved, Justine. You never need to worry about him again.”

Well, until next month. But maybe, maybe now that Judge had said what he had said, maybe Danny really would keep his distance. Maybe I had a real shot.

I gulped. What if Judge was still around next month? Maybe then. I turned, taking in the mostly deserted Omaha city streets as I raised a finger to my mouth and gnawed on the broken edge of a nail. I was stupid to think that Judge would still be around next month.

The way my life moved, I wasn’t even sure I would be here in a month. But deal or no deal, this male was changing my life. And while I knew I should be thrilled, I couldn't help thinking that there had to be another shoe ready to drop.

“We should go,” Judge murmured, making me jump. He had crept close while I had been lost in my thoughts, and now, the warmth and weight of him was firm against my back. Seeing my reaction to him, Judge carefully placed a hand low on my back. “Are you alright? Should I simply end him now and forego any future concerns?”

“End him?”

“Honestly, I believe it would be a contribution to the human genetic pool.”

A laugh burst out of me. “You’re joking…”