Tainted Bastard (Tainted Knights 4)

Sin pulled my car into its regular parking spot and turned it off.

“I wish you would grab a few things and come home with me,” he said as he handed me the keys.

I shook my head, knowing if I went home with him, I would give in, and I still didn’t know how I felt about those pictures of him with the stripper now that I had an explanation. I wanted to believe him, but my trust had already taken a beating when he didn’t tell me he was going to Vegas. A few days would be needed to digest everything.

“I’m still not feeling myself,” I told him. “I need to rest so I can sing Thursday.”

“Even more reason for you to come home with me,” he argued, cupping the left side of my face, his eyes imploring me to give in. “Let me take care of you, Ro. We can just lie in bed for the next few days, and I can rub your back.”

“I don’t need you to take care of me,” I choked out as I pulled my head back and reached for the door.

He was out of the car and around to my side before I could even close the door. “Baby, I know you’re pissed, but I swear to you, nothing happened. Ask Cash or any of the other guys. Fuck, ask Kin. You know she won’t lie for me.”

“I know.” But I wasn’t going to ask Kin about it. If I was going to trust him, I needed to be able to do so with my heart. I either took his word for it, or…

Something painful clenched in my stomach just thinking of the “or.”

Or we broke up.

I was upset, my heart hurting and my head clouded with the events of the last few days. I just wanted a little time to sort through my emotions before I did something I would regret, damn it.

Pushing up onto my tiptoes, I kissed him. “I believe you when you say you missed me. I missed you too. But the last few days are all jumbled up in my head, and I’m still getting over this damn strep. Just give me a few days, Sin. We can talk then.”

His arms snaked around my waist as he pressed his face into my neck. “If I leave you alone that long, you’re going to break up with me,” he muttered in a rough voice. “I know I fucked up not telling you about the trip, but I swear to God, I won’t do that shit again, sweet girl. All weekend, you were all I could think about. Please, just… I don’t know… Just don’t break my heart, Ro.”

Tears blurred my vision, and I clenched my eyes closed. “Breaking your heart will only break mine too,” I whispered emotionally.

He blew out a shuddery breath. “I’m so fucking sorry.” Pulling back, he touched my face with fingers that trembled. “I love you, Roanna. Forgive me.”

The air was suddenly stuck in my throat. Had he really just said that?

Those same words I’d struggled to keep contained for months fell so easily from his lips, sounding so perfectly right, they made my heart sing.

“Y-You love me?”

His brow furrowed. “You didn’t know? Baby, I tell you every night.”

I shook my head. “Maybe in your head you tell me, but I’ve never heard you say those words out loud.”

“I thought you were just pretending to be asleep so you didn’t have to say it back. But I’ve told you hundreds of times.” He rubbed his thumb over my cheek.

“Maybe start telling me before you fuck me into a coma instead of after,” I suggested with a grin, happiness making it feel like my entire body was glowing.

“Fuck, I’ll tell you every hour of the day. I love you, sweet girl.” He brushed his nose against mine. “Before I met you, the world seemed gray. There was no color, no warmth. You make everything better just by being mine.”

I melted against him. Just a moment before, my heart had been aching, cold and empty. Now, it felt like there was a flame in the middle of my chest. Who knew three little words could be so powerful?

“Sin—”

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about the trip. I’m sorry you saw those pictures.”

“Sin—"

“I’ll make it up to you, I promise you I will.”

“Sin!” I cried his name when he kept interrupting me.

“What?” he said with the beginnings of a cute pout.