Chapter 4: London

I was a fool.

A goddamn moron.

That was the only reason I would be flirting with my sister's fiance and enjoying the hell out of it. 

I was naturally flirty, something that had put me in trouble more times than I could remember. It was just rare or more accurately had never happened before, that I got to flirt with someone as hot as Sin -quite literally- and have him flirt back in kind while looking at me like he was two seconds away from tearing my clothes off and taking me on the couch, the bed be damned. 

I was leading him on and I knew it was wrong. There was no way, no way on planet Earth that I was going to have sex with Sin. One of the unspoken rules of sisterhood was that you do not by any chance, mistake or error sleep with your sister's partner. It didn't even matter that Cath had said it was okay, which up till now still baffled me, I was sure she would eventually come to her senses and then family dinners will get way more rife with tension than they already were or worse case scenario, I'd lose my twin forever. Both things I dreaded. 

Ever since everything changed with Cath and I somehow became the family disappointment, I had started to put in double effort when it came to my parents so they wouldn't have more evidence piling up against me. 

"So, what game are we playing?" He asked.

"Okay, it's easy. I'll ask or one of us will ask a question, and the other person has to answer with either a lie or a truth. If the person who asks guesses correctly if it's a lie or a truth, the other person has to- uhm-" my mind whirled. I didn't want to drink because I was a ridiculous drunk and not only was it embarrassing but I could spill some things and give up this whole charade. We couldn't play for money because I had about twenty dollars to my name and Sin would probably want us to pay in hundred dollar notes. "Owe a favor. To be collected at a later date." I finally said.

"I'm more into instant gratification."

"What?"

He leaned forward and I caught a whiff of his scent. Leather, spice and something entirely male that left me feeling heady. Everything about this man was intoxicating and God, but he was a dangerous combination. Wealth, charm and the sort of beauty that shouldn't even be legal. "You said a favor to be collected at a later date. What if I want to collect now?" His eyes held me entranced and I couldn't look away even if I wanted to. 

"I'm sure that can be arranged." I whispered.

His smile was big and wolfish and I wondered for the millionth time what the fuck I had gotten myself into. If I had any iota of sense, I would have stood up at that moment and run all the way back to New York, but alas, I had never been the smart twin. I sat right there and I let myself be consumed by Sin. 

"I'll go first. What's your favorite color?" He asked.

"I'm disappointed. Too easy. Orange." Which was frankly my least favorite color, but Cath's favorite. I knew it hadn't changed up till now because among her row of corporate outfits in blacks, whites, and varying shades of grey, I had spotted an orange hoodie and sky high heels in orange that had made me pause because they'd fit in more at a strippers club than a boardroom.

"That is correct. I want a kiss."

I grinned. "Once again, I'm disappointed." I lean in and quickly press my mouth against his cheeks. When I sit back down, his eyes are narrowed at me. I shrug. "You should be a little more specific next time."

His lips twitch like he's holding in a smile. "Noted."

"My turn." It was at that moment I realized how senseless this idea had been. I didn't know Sin, how would I know to point out a lie or truth. I was going to have to play smart. "Are you wearing a shirt?"

I didn't expect the amused grin he shot me. "No."

"That, is the correct answer."

"You're such a cheat."

"Work smarter, not harder. I demand breakfast in bed. Banana pancakes as thick as your skull, drowning in syrup, bacon at the side and caramel macchiato."

He chuckled, the sound sending vibrations skittering down my body. "You've been saving that for a while."

"A woman just knows what she wants." I replied innocently, shoving a slice of pizza in my mouth and taking a large bite. When I looked up, he was staring at me in what could only be fascination and I flushed, averting my eyes quickly. What was I doing? Cath would never eat in such an uncouth manner. My cheeks were bulging with food and I was sure I had sauce all over my face. 

"What color are your eyes?" He asked.

"Blue." 

"It should be a crime to just call them blue." 

"What?" 

"I want to kiss you."

"Oh. Is tha-"

"Not as a part of the game, Cathleen. I want to kiss you because it feels like I'd die right now if I don't. I've never wanted anything as much."

"Not even all the other money in the world?" I swallowed. 

"Fuck all the money in the world." He growled just before the pizza boxes were roughly pushed to the floor and I was manhandled unto his laps. I gasped. Even from afar, this man was lethal, but this close, our bodies pressed up against each other so deliciously, I couldn't breathe. His eyes blazed at me.

Somehow, all the caution that had been in my head a second ago went flying away. I couldn't remember all the reasons this wasn't supposed to be happening. All the cold, hard facts I'd chanted repeatedly in my head about how this was going to end in a major catastrophe. It was only this man and I in the world and the maddening attraction that burned between us. 

I leaned forward and it was all the permission he needed, he dove in. One second the world was on fire and the next it was I who was on fire. The kiss at the restaurant felt like a tame peck in light of the carnal hunger and possession of this one. His mouth was soft but firm and coaxing against mine. I moaned low in my throat, my body melting against his, letting him take charge. A hand slid into my hair and another pressed down on the junction where hip met thigh. 

I lost all rational sense when his tongue slid into my mouth, hot and silky against mine. 

Oh God. 

I arched into the kiss, giving myself up to him. Surrendering to the unrestrained passion of him. When he finally pulled away, it took a second before the world around me came back into focus. All I could do was blink at him stupidly. I felt wrecked. His mouth had branded his ownership on me. I suddenly wanted to cry. It had never felt this good with anyone else. Would it ever? 

"Why did you stop?" I winced at the whine in my voice. 

He didn't laugh at me, just looked. "Because, baby, I was this close to eliminating the layers of fabric between us and sinking myself so deep in your pussy that you'd feel it for weeks."

Yes, please. A double serving of that, please. 

"Oh."

He chuckled darkly. "Yes, oh."

Since the rest of dinner had ended up on the ground, we packed it up and watched some episodes of a reality show which I honestly don't remember a word of. My head and body was still stuck in that kiss. I wondered what sex with Sin would be like then quickly forced the thought back into a box and locked it up. I shouldn't even be wondering, it was never happening. 

Never, ever. 

I had to draw the line at kissing. 

That line shouldn't even exist. You shouldn't even be here.

My subconscious voice screamed at me. She was right, of course. I was making Sin an unwilling participant in cheating. If he ever found out- 

I halted that thought too. He would never find out. And even if he did, I didn't want to think about it. His relationship with Cath would suffer of course, but it had nothing to do with me. I'd go home and forget this whole episode, go back to my little unglamorous life. Easy peasy. 

"Let's go to bed." Sin asked. 

It was an innocent statement. I knew this. My traitorous body knew it too, it just didn't care.  

"You can go ahead and use the bathroom first." He said.

He had barely finished his sentence before I hurried into the bathroom and locked the door behind me. All I could think was, oh God. 

The most dangerous part of this whole disastrous mess was my response to Sinclair. Normally, I was wary of men. It took quite a while for my body to lay down it's defenses and tentatively breach some kind of trust of their presence. 

All my self preservation skills had jumped into a car and sped off into the sunset, that was why I felt like I had known this man forever. He felt safe to me and that was a big problem. 

Safe and exciting at the same time. A dangerous combination for sure.

My reflection in the mirror showed bright eyes and flushed cheeks. I made a face of disgust. I was acting like a teenager with a crush, not a woman above thirty who was supposed to be playing a cold hearted role. 

I quickly peed and washed my hands then brushed my teeth. The fact that I took extra care in brushing meant absolutely nothing. No, I wasn't hoping for more kisses. I was just anal about my oral hygiene, okay. I rolled my eyes, I was a dumb fool.