The Sinner

My breath literally fled my chest at how handsome he was, but I recovered fast, thanks to the huge pile of clothing at the woman’s register.

I pulled Cas aside. “I can’t afford all that. I mean, I have savings but—”

“Then you can afford it.”

“But it’s my savings.”

“What are you saving it for?”

My jaw worked. I had no answer.

“Money is to be spent, Lucy Dennings,” Casziel said, frowning. “Weddings are to be attended. Life is to be lived.”

Before I could say another word, he nodded at the saleswoman—her nametag read Marcy. She eagerly got to scanning pants, shirts, jeans, and a suit jacket, all in black. I started to protest, then Marcy folded a Henley shirt that promised to highlight every line of Casziel’s chest and arms.

Okay, I sort of need to see him in that.

While Marcy ran my credit card for an amount that made me light-headed, my eyes drifted again t

o Cas’s arm.

He felt my attention and sighed. “I appreciate your concern. In fact, I’m relying on it. But not now.”

I squared my shoulders. “Yes, now. Where did that come from? Tell me the truth.”

“You don’t need to hear the truth, nor do you want to.”

“I do…”

His eyes hardened. “How can I make this more plain?” he bit out. “It’s none of your fucking business.”

I recoiled and let my hair fall over my face, shielding myself from Marcy who was madly scanning clothing, eyes averted.

“Fine,” I murmured. “Forget it. Sorry I asked.”

I moved a few steps away, pretending to be interested in a rack of wallets. I felt Cas move close, smelled the exotic, spiced scent of him that was like nothing I could identify. There was a soft touch under my chin and then he tilted my head up, his eyes heavy with regret.

“Forgive me, Lucy born of light. I’m more beast than human after living so long in the dark.”

To my utter shock, his hand, heavy and strong, cupped my cheek. His touch raced through me like wildfire, down my neck, between my shoulder blades, over my breasts, tightening my nipples. The shivery heat made me gasp.

“My being here has a price,” he said. “That is all you need to know. Understand?”

I nodded faintly, feeling as if time was standing still, and there was nothing left in the world but Casziel’s rough voice and his soft touch on my skin.

“Never apologize for who you are.” He brushed the hair from my face. “In your kindness lies my salvation.”

I could’ve drowned in the longing in his eyes. I felt drawn into their timeless depths, falling through centuries, sunrises rising and nights falling…

Marcy cleared her throat and Casziel seemed to realize what he was doing. He snatched his hand back and looked away, regret hardening his features. The moment snapped so fast, if not for the fading tingle over my skin, I’d almost wonder if I’d imagined it. Like the raven, and the black-on-black eyes, and the feathered wings, and everything else. Every minute with Casziel was a battle with my own sense of reality. Like living in a lucid dream; I was sure I was going to wake up at any moment and he’d be gone.

And I’ll lose him all over again.

The thought nearly stopped me in my tracks. It didn’t make any sense, but then again, I reasoned, none of this did.

We left the store in silence and headed to a nearby Mexican restaurant. The bright colors and warm scents from the kitchen helped dispel some of the otherworldliness of the moment in the department store. Everything seemed so…normal.

Except for Casziel’s appetite.