The Sinner

“I can give it to you, Lucy.”

I craned to look at him. “Even that last night?”

“That nightmare is best left in the dark.”

“I want it, Casziel. I’m not afraid.”

“Of course, you aren’t,” he said. “You’re my fierce woman. My Li’ili…”

He kissed me, and while there was no icy heat or otherworldly aura behind it, it held its own power. The simple power of a man kissing the woman he loved. My tears spilled from under my closed lids as his mouth gently captured mine, tasting and touching. So familiar. The memory of us was a thousand years old and yet alive in that moment. But unfinished. I wanted the rest of us—our brief love that burned so bright and hot but was stamped out just as quickly.

Like Romeo and Juliet.

Now that my thoughts had latched on to the comparison, I couldn’t stop, and the dread in my heart grew heavier with every passing second. Cas kissed me, beautifully deep and slow, with love and goodbye.

Thus with a kiss I die…

I pulled away, the sobs wracking me. He gathered me to him.

“I’m sorry, Lucy,” he breathed into my hair. “If there was something else to do, I would do it. But I’ve made my fate. I ruined myself when you died and gave myself to darkness. The sins I’ve committed are not w

ashed away by your sweet tears.”

“I’m not giving up,” I said, wiping my eyes. “And we have time yet. Tell me more about us. Our wedding. Was it beautiful?”

His gaze was steady and soft. Sad. “It was perfect.”

“Show me the rest of our story.”

“I will. But not yet.”

He gave me a final kiss and then rose from the bed. My gaze trailed him, taking in his naked body that was perfect, scars and all. Except for that terrible brand burned into his back. It looked better, but the lines were stark and black on his olive skin. He pulled on a pair of boxer shorts from his pile of clothing at the foot of my bed and padded into the bathroom.

I heard the bathwater running, and the scent of lavender bubbles wafted on the air. He reemerged and wordlessly scooped me naked out of the bed, holding me under my knees and around my back.

“Are you going to join me?” I asked as he deposited me into the water that was just how I liked it—a few degrees below scalding.

“No,” he said. “This is for you. For last night.”

“If you insist,” I said with a groan. I lay back, luxuriating in the perfect water. My body was pleasantly sore and aching, feeling as if it had been turned inside out with the intensity of…

Fucking a demon?

I pressed the back of my hand to my mouth, a crazed laugh trying to burst out. I’d really done that. Like performing a cliff dive when you’re afraid of heights. Thrilling, death-defying, pushing oneself to the very limits… And you know you’ll never do it again.

Cas took a washcloth and ran it over my face, my neck, under my hair and down my back. Then over my breasts and then lower. Even as wrung out as I was, I couldn’t keep from arching into his touch. But he moved on, running the cloth down the length of my arm, ending with my fingers that he pressed to his mouth. He tossed aside the washcloth and folded his arms on the edge of the tub. I did the same so that our elbows were stacked one on top of the other.

“What happens next?” I asked as steam curled around us.

“I have until five tonight.”

I nodded and realized the only way to survive this was to pretend Cas was going away on a long trip and I wouldn’t see him for a while. Not never again.

Because it’s not never again. It can’t be.

“Is there anything else you want to do?”

He shook his head, his chin pivoting on his wrist. “I want to do whatever you want to do. Or nothing. Just be with you. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”