Page 27 of Sapphire
“Brave,” he says, gripping my shoulders, pulling me closer. “You’re the bravest person I know. You took that shitty upbringin’ and you made somethin’ out of yourself. You have your business, the club, the respect of your peers. You have your brother who adores you, and me. You have me, Saph.”
“What about Pickles?”
“Well, clearly, you have him already. Looks like I’m gonna have to fight to be the alpha in this house.”
His words resonate deep inside me. The reassurance I’ve always wanted that I didn’t know I needed.
Do I need a man? Hell no.
But the real question is, would I like to have Sin around? Heck, yeah. I don’t know why we’ve fought this for so long. I circle back to his earlier statement, my eyes locked on his. “You have me, too.”
He cups my face with both hands. “For real?”
“I just told you I’m a murderer and you still want to be with me. I’d say you’re a keeper.”
Sin presses a soft kiss to my lips. It will never cease to surprise me just how soft this brute can be. I never would have guessed it. “You’re no murderer. You took matters into your own hands. Dealin’ with baggage like this your whole life takes its toll. I can carry some of that for you. You don’t have to do it alone.”
I shake my head, tears welling, and damn it, a couple fall. I don’t brush them away, and I’ve never cried in front of anyone before. “There’s no need. That burden lifted the second I told you. My guilt was buried long ago. I may not have meant to do it, but I still killed him, and I’ve learned to be at peace with that.”
“You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for, cupcake.”
“I don’t know about that—”
He places a finger over my lips. “I do. Thank you for bein’ honest with me.”
“Well now you know my darkest secret, so I really am showing all my cards.”
“There’s nothin’ you could say to me that would shock me.”
My heart races at the thought. “No?”
Sin shakes his head. “Nope. I swear. I’ve heard it all—”
“What about ‘I love you’?”
I’ve never said those words to anyone before. Well, Pickles, but who wouldn’t, he’s perfect.
Sin stares at me, his eyes fierce, guarded. It’s almost as if I see the little boy inside of him. That seven-year-old child with the weight of the world on his shoulders. The little boy who wanted to save everyone. Alexander just wanted his mom to love him—to be loved. “Not as much as I love you.”
“Holy shit,” I whisper. “We just went from zero to a hundred.”
Sin pulls me into his arms. “Only way I want it. I’ll tell you every day if I have to. My only regret is not doin’ this sooner.”
“You know we’re completely crazy, right?”
He kisses me again, leaving me breathless. “Only way I want it,” he mutters, picking me up and sitting my ass on the kitchen counter. “Just you. Only you.”
“Right back at ya, pretty boy.”
“You just can’t help yourself, can you?”
“Shut up and get on your knees.”
He grins, embracing me, and I’ve never felt so loved, cherished, and protected in all my life. “Whatever you say, ma’am.”
CHAPTER 12
SIN
