Sin Series

Chapter 4

“Are you sure you’re okay, Are? You seem—”

I hissed and blew the burning sensation on my palms. “I’m good. It’s just that time of the month.”

“So, you finally met Skip Linton,” Mom simply started.

My gaze met hers. “Come again?”

“Skip Linton.”

“Is he related to Axson Linton?” I had to pretend I never met him before.

“Your crush? Member of the Fifth Death, then yes. He’s Axson’s cousin. Remember you went to their concert with Alys? Skip came with them to met your brother. You didn’t get a chance to meet him because he left in the morning before you came home.”

So, he wasn’t lying when he said he was a Linton. I thought it was his first name though.

Uncle Jett and Lorcan arrived and everyone’s attention solely focused on Skip and my cousin. I barely talked throughout the dinner. I lost my appetite, but I managed to eat a tiny portion of the food I scooped into my plate. I couldn’t help myself to steal glances at Skip. All these years, he worked for his dad’s company in London that was why I never saw him again after that night.

He was more beautiful, especially when he smiled. His well-defined jawline dusted with dark brown stubble. I had every detailed committed to my memory of how handsome he was back then, but there was nothing could compare to the way he looked right now in front of me. He’s perfect.

My skin pricked with the painful memory of my fingertips touching his skin seven years ago. He was my first, and I could still remember how it felt like when I was pressed against him and how he worshiped my body.

You’re so beautiful, Reigh. So beautiful that it’s hard to let you go after this.

And Jesus, those arresting blue-brown and blue-gray eyes—the first thing I noticed from him. They just amazed me.

I forced myself to tune back to the conversation and just the smile of Skip threatened to totally overwhelm my senses.

“How about tomorrow night, Skip?” Brett suggested. About?

Skip shook his head and pressed his lips together, causing his dimples to pop-out. “You won two days ago, Bretton. So this time, I pass. How about you and Lorcan?”

“Nah. Thanks, dude. I pass. How about you and Arella?” Lorcan said.

My eyes widened when my name was mentioned. “A pool? No, thank you. I’d rather sit on my couch and watch Marvel’s.”

“Seriously, sis, stop moping at the tiny space of your apartment. Get a life, and you’re still young to waste your life over your asshole ex.” A sudden pang hit my chest, but Brett was right, that was why I’d been trying hard to get back my life.

Mom gripped his hand while Uncle Jett shrugged as if telling us Brett was right, then continued his dinner.

Lorcan groaned.

“Brett,” Dad warned as if to remind him we had our guest.

“Give her a break, Davin,” Uncle Jett said to Dad.

Suddenly, the dining room turned dead silence and small. Everyone’s eyes pinned on me as I lifted my gaze to survey them. Skip’s hard and painful eyes were also on me. His jaw muscles clenched hard, making his jawline more evident.

I composed myself and cleared my throat. “I’ve been out on a few dates. So chill out, mates,” I broke sarcastically.

“Really? Well, that’s good to hear, sis.” Brett was literally grinning. He loved me so much, and what happened to my past affected everyone in my family, especially my brother.

He never liked Dom in the first place, but I was blindly in love and nobody could stop me from marrying him when he proposed. And I thought he was the one—it turned out he was a jerk. My life crumbled down like post-apocalyptic earth, barely standing.

We were back in the living room. Mom chose not to join us. I sandwiched between Brett and Uncle Jett. Dad was on the loveseat. Skip and Lorcan chose the two recliners.

“But make sure, he respects you, Are. If he doesn’t want to have broken bones,” Brett whispered. He was on a business trip at that time, and I couldn’t face my parents in my state, so I flew away. Lorcan went ballistic when I escaped to LA with swollen lips and black-eyed.

“Aren’t we done talking about my personal life here? It’s nothing serious, Brett. It’s just a date.”

“I don’t agree with nothing serious, Are. You have a life ahead of you, but at least find a decent guy,” Dad countered.

“Sorry, Dad, but I agree to disagree. Let Are enjoy her life. She’d been in hell, and I’m glad I have my sister back.” He was dead serious, then he faced me. “And she’s going to beat me over a pool,” Brett enthusiastically announced.

“What? Hell, no, Brett!”

“Why not, Arella? I heard you’re good as well,” Skip rejoined, eyebrow half-arched.

“How the hell am I gonna win over a shark when I haven’t played in years?” Brett and I used to play pool back when I was in high school. I stopped when he moved out to college.

“Let me teach you,” Skip suggested.

“No, you’re not, and I don’t play anymore.”

“Okay, this is just a game, Are. You and Skip are partners, then me and Lorcan. How about next week?” Brett’s eyes were warning me.

“Fine, but can we be partners instead?”

“No way. Baby shark and an old shark can’t be together as a team. So, you and Skip have a week to practice.” Lorcan laughed, clearly happy and already expecting to win.

I rolled my eyes. “Whatever, Lorc.”

* * *

“SO, WHEN can we gonna start to practice, Arella?”

I stopped walking toward my car when the deep voice spoke at my back. I turned to face him. His unique-colored eyes expressed the same. “We don’t have to. Brett said you almost win.”

“Because he let me and wanted to know why I challenged him,” he simply answered. His hands were on his slim-fit jeans pockets, showing the best of his strong and powerful thighs. His closeness almost ignited me. His spicy, minty, and musky smell refreshing the summer air.

“And what is your reason exactly?”

He chuckled confidently, “You don’t wanna know, love.”

Chapter 5

Arella Rogue

Skip

WHEN I got out of my last relationship, I decided not to ever get serious with a woman again, or she had to come with me where ever I go. Then, her entrance just caught me off guard. Things got offhanded.

Arella Reighan Rogue was nothing like in her picture. When I first saw her, she was already beautiful, but now, she’d grown up into a gorgeous woman, and as sexy as f**k! She was slim back then compared to the femininely curved body she had right now. Her brown caramel hair was longer than before—it couldn’t possibly be natural because I still remembered it was the color of Champagne. It cascaded midway down her back in wavy ringlets and shone and glossed in the light from their living room. Her skin looked so soft and smooth, and pale as milk. And those puckered pink painted lips parted when I pretended not to remember her. Her perfect heart shape face paled when she recognized me, then blushed a crimson rose when she paired with me over a pool.

My heart jumped out of my throat the moment our eyes met. Her wide honey-colored eyes adorning with long ebony lashes were alluring, but there was something in those eyes that I couldn’t point my finger on— was it sadness? Regrets?

Your eyes look magical. I’ve never seen like these before.

I thought they scared you away like most girls were.

I had been with my shared of women, but I never imagined any of them naked underneath me, unlike right now. So, what was with Arella? The forbidden fruit that worth a bite— another bite. The jolt of electricity was still there— after all these years. Had she felt it too?

She swayed her wide hips, walking away from us. Her turquoise mini-dress hugged her gorgeous round arse perfectly, revealing her long shaped legs that could run miles. Despite wanting to taste her, I clenched my aching jaw, remembering about her lies just to avoid a hard-on in front of her family.

Damn it! I needed to get laid. I hadn’t had longer than a week without a woman since my ex. Thanks to HeartRated!

And what the bloody hell happened to her marriage? At the other corner of my brain, I was pretty celebrating. Now I had a chance to pursue my plan.

“You okay? Homesick already?” Lorcan pulled me back to his attention.

The weather was just right, but I found myself sweating to what I thought about her. The fresh air expanded my constricted chest, making me calm.

“I’m too old to feel homesick, Lorcan,” I chuckled. Bitterly.

The guilt I’d been carrying for seven years worsened a thousand times. Mum and business were just part of my plans of coming back. I persuaded Dad to transfer me with reasons for taking care of my mother.

I realized I was such a bloody awful son.

Since I found out about Arella’s divorce and my constant stalking her online like a creep, I finalised my decisions.

“So, how’s your first week?” Brett asked, then sipped his beer.

I leaned my back to the chair, looking up at the clear dark sky. “I have to visit the lab next week. One of our chemists just developed new scents.”

Brett chuckled, “Good luck, mate!”

My brows arched with curiosity. “Why?”

He shrugged. “Nothing.” When his phone rang, he excused himself.

When his shadow was far enough, I faced Lorcan. “Lorcan, I don’t want to be nosy, but what happened to Arella’s marriage?” I sounded like a nosy b***h because I was actually snooping. But a few info wouldn’t hurt. It didn’t feel right to ask Brett about his sister, or I was just guilty as s**t to ask him.

“Brett didn’t tell you?” He looked at me in disbelief.

“Why would he tell me?” I almost chuckled at my absurdity.

Then why are you even asking him, i***t?

“Then why are asking me now?” See?

“I was wondering, and I couldn’t shut my ears off to listen while Davin and Arella were in a serious conversation earlier. So, that bad, huh?”

“Are all British love to snoop like you?” Lorcan laughed, and it made me groan as I was afraid Brett could have heard us. “You better ask Are. I’m not the right person to tell you that, but how do you know about her divorce?”

Fuck! Lorcan f*****g Rogue!

“Have you forgotten that you all just talked about it earlier?” I breathed inwardly.

He pursed his lips, but his blue eyes remained pin at me. “Yep, pretty bad, but Are got a good settlement. That asshole deserved it.” The clenching of his jaw was hard enough that he breathed through his nose.

I nodded in understanding and didn’t pry anymore. I looked away, feeling the unknown emotions flooding my senses. My hands fell down to the armrest. When I looked back Lorcan, his scrutinising eyes still pinned at me. I was afraid he just saw something.