Coletrane (19 page)

THAT NIGHT WAS NOTHING short of maddening, one of the worst in my life. I couldn’t go to the hospital. Sin’s dad had all but stated he’d get a restraining order against me if I so much as tried to see Sin. He’d made it clear she never would’ve been in danger in the first place if it weren’t for me.

And he was absolutely right.

All I could do was wait.

Hunter’s updates provided little relief. She’d be okay, he said. She’d been bruised a little but not raped, not seriously harmed. Shook up more than anything. I didn’t ask him if she’d mentioned me, and he didn’t offer any info on that subject either. So I probably didn’t want to know either way.

I wouldn’t feel better until I could see she was okay with my own two eyes. Hold her in my arms.

The story was all over the news with Sin and her family being so high profile. I couldn’t get away from it if I tried. In the end, I had to turn off the TV before I lost my shit. I tried to sleep but couldn’t. I sat on the floor with Pincushion in my lap, for once deafened to her nonstop noise.

First thing the next morning, I called the hospital Hunter had told me they brought Sin to, but no one would tell me squat because I wasn’t related to her.

That was just fucking unacceptable.

I could go there and demand answers, but I didn’t want to get into a shouting match with Leland. He and Regina didn’t deserve that and neither did Sin. So I sucked it up and bided my time.

When I got the word Sin was okay and being released from the hospital, I was at Retribution. It was the night after Curtis and his gang of dickheads had broken into her house. I almost collapsed on the floor in relief. The news spread through the clubhouse with subdued cheers while I quickly dried my eyes. I left soon after. I wasn’t in the mood to party. I just wanted to see Sin.

I ached for her.

I gave it one more day before I rolled up to her house on my Harley in the middle of the afternoon. I didn’t want to traumatize her anymore than she already had been, but no way in hell was I just letting her go without a serious fight.

I’d picked up a bouquet of flowers, some big pale pink blooms that were just as pretty as her, because I remembered what she’d said:
every woman likes flowers
. But as soon as I started walking up the path to the front door, I looked around at all the blossoms in the courtyard, bursting with colors.

Maybe I should ditch the flowers.

Maybe I should just leave Sin alone.

Fuck it.

I wasn’t about to give up now.

After ringing the doorbell, I stood with my feet braced wide on the giant front porch.

Leland opened the door, his eyes hard and flinty, his face a little haggard. “I’m not letting you see her.”

“With all due respect, sir, I’ve given you your space. Now I’m going to see Sin. She’s still my girlfriend.”

“Is that so?” He bolted himself in place directly in front of me, his lips a thin slash.

“That’s so.” I was just as firm.

“Daddy? Who’s here?” I heard Sin from inside.

My heart pounded a little bit harder.

“No one,” Old Man Gruff shouted back.

Sin peered outside, her beautiful light green gaze locking on me and freezing.

I wondered if I was gonna start having heart palpations.

Forcing myself to speak through a mouth that was suddenly as dry as the late September day, I said, “I needed to see you, precious.”

Her dad scoffed.

“Daddy”—she tried to push past him—“I want to talk to him.”

“No, Sinclair. I forbid it.”

“You forbid it?” Squeezing around him, she scowled in his direction.

“How much trouble has he brought into your life in the two months since you’ve met him?” Leland crashed his fist down on the newel post. “Yes. I forbid it!”

“Just like Mom’s parents told her she shouldn’t see you.”

His eyes softening, he cupped her shoulders. “Sweetie, I honestly think I’m doing what’s right for you.”

“I may be your daughter, but I am a grown woman. Now make yourself scarce.” She grabbed my hand, towing me inside without a backward glance at her fuming father. “We’ll be in my room.”

Leland stayed below as we started up the grand staircase. He muttered some very colorful phrases, slamming the door shut. Sin let my hand go as we reached the first landing above the huge foyer, and the loss of her touch was a punch to the gut.

I tried not to act like I was in complete awe over the sheer size and luxury of the house as I trailed behind her up another set of steps—I had bigger things to worry about—but seriously? Holy shit. I couldn’t wrap my head around having this much money.

We finally reached her room on the third floor at the back of the house. It was behind a double set of doors. And she shouldn’t have said we’d be in her room. She should’ve said we’d be in her wing.

It was a large airy suite—the surrounding doors off the main bedroom opening to a sitting room, office, bathroom, and of course a stone balcony overlooking the well-maintained garden and pool. All of the décor was as classically feminine as her.

“Sin, I—” I reached out to touch her, but she stepped back, her lips trembling, her eyes filling.

“Why didn’t you call me? Try to contact me?”

“I just . . .” I dropped my hand, lowered my head. “I didn’t want to cause any more pain. Wanted to give you a chance to recover.”

“I needed
you
. I needed you so I could feel okay.” She wrapped her arms around her middle, the most vulnerable I’d ever seen her, and all because of me.

“I felt like I should respect your father’s wishes this time.” I paced a little closer. “I thought of you every second, Sin. I wanted to be with you in the worst possible way.”

Her eyes drifted up, hurt and wary.

“I want to hold you, precious. Can I just hold you?” I opened my arms.

She rushed into them, huddling against me, and I closed my eyes. A harsh breath spilled from my lips as I murmured her name and brushed a hand down her back.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Sin.” I rocked her quietly, feeling her cry, not caring if my own tears leaked out, too. “That’ll never happen again. I’m gonna make sure that never happens again.”

Beneath my chin, she nodded her head, snuggling closer.

“You’re okay? They didn’t touch you?”

“They said a lot of nasty things . . . about you . . . about what they wanted to do to me, sexually.” She shivered. “They didn’t do it though, didn’t hit me. Didn’t want to damage the goods, they said.” Her voice was muffled against my shirt.

Anger rushed back to me, but I contained it. “Yeah? Well, they’re going down. I can’t fucking wait.”

Kissing the top of her head, I loosened my hold on her. “Brought you some flowers, precious.”

I gave her a lopsided smile as she drew away. I presented the slightly smashed bouquet.

“They’re beautiful.” She wiped her eyes then took the bundle. “You remembered.”

“Remember everything about you. Always have.”

She set them on a dresser, her fingertips rubbing the silky petals.

“So listen. There’s something I wanted to talk to you about.” I walked up beside her.

“Okay.”

“I’m going into the Academy.” I blasted ahead, my shoulders suddenly stiff.

“What Academy?” Her slim eyebrows peaked together.

“Police.” I paced in front of her. “So is that gonna be good enough for you? For your parents?” Not being able to help her, to go to her when she most needed me . . . I’d decided Hunter was right about me after all.

It was time to take that shit legit and make something of myself.

“WHAT?” Sin screeched.

“It’s no secret your dad has it in for me. And you’re a totally fucking different caliber than me.” I raked my hands through my hair.

“Wait a minute—”

“Would that make me respectable enough? Because that’s what I need to know, Sin.”

“Coletrane Sawyer!” She snapped. Then she stopped. “Wait. Do you have a middle name?” Her eyes were spitting green fire, narrowed on me.

“Yeah.”

“Well, what is it?”

“Not telling.” No way was I giving her ammunition to three-name-shame-me. I could tell that was where she was headed.

“I’ll just have to get it out of you another time.”

She walked toward me with a hip-swinging gait in her loose sweats, oversized T-shirt, blowjob red lips, and flushed cheeks. Her pointer finger waved around, and she’d never been more no-nonsense or more sexy.

“You stupid shithead. You’ve always had misconceptions about me just because I have money.” She jabbed me in the chest. “Well, fuck you, Coletrane Sawyer and the motorcycle you road in on.”

My mouth fell open.

“You were good enough as a tattoo artist—better than good enough for me. You’re incredibly talented! You can be a garbage man, a custodian, you can be the fucking next President of the United States and
none of that matters.
I love you, you stubborn, ignorant man. And whatever you decide to do, I know you’ll be damn good at it.” With a stomp of her foot, she sent her gorgeous blonde ringlets shivering.

“Is that so?”

“That’s so.” Her head cocked as if she was ready to fire another round at me from those luscious, luscious lips.

My slow smile widened into a grin. “C’mere.”

She did. And two seconds later my mouth was crushed to hers, all the pain and worry and strain fading away. All the love and need and want intensifying. I’d never get enough of the taste of her on my tongue, the feel of her in my hands. The rapid pace of my heart every time I thought about her.

“I’m going to have my own man in uniform,
hmm
?” She kitten-licked down my neck.

“Does that turn you on?” Talk about a new kink.

“Let’s just say I’d never kick you out of bed anyway, sexy, but the idea of a hunky, tattooed, bad boy policeman has its merits.” She leaned back, her eyes shining.

“I do have a thing for the accouterments of the job.”

“
Mmm
. The handcuffs, huh?” Her coy smile hit all the right buttons, but I had just one minor detail to nail down first.

I pressed her a little away from me. “So I think we should get hitched first. Because if anyone ever tries to hurt a hair on your head again,
first of all
, I’ll fucking kill them. Second, no one’s gonna tell me I have no right to be with you, go with you . . . stay with you.” I swallowed roughly, remembering the ambulance with her in it driving away from me.

“Is that your idea of a romantic marriage proposal?” Her nose scrunched up.

“
Uh
. No. That kind of sucked, huh?” Feeling more than a little unsure as I laid my heart on the line for this woman who was worth everything, I got down on one knee. Then I paused. “
Aw
, shit. I don’t have a ring.”

She caressed my face with soft fingertips, her voice even softer. “I don’t care.”

I held her hand pressed between mine, staring up at her as my heart stuck in my throat. “Sinclair Chatham, you’re like the ink on my skin, deep, indelible, indescribable.
Forever
. I can’t look at you without wanting you. Can’t think about you without wanting to be with you.” I kissed her palm. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you, making you happy, maybe a little crazy sometimes. I love you, precious.” With those words, my voice got hoarse and raw. I pushed on. “Will you do me the greatest honor and be my wife?” I kissed her ring finger, peering up at her.

Tears slid down her cheeks.

“That any better?”

“Yes!” She pulled me up into her arms. “Yes.” She kissed all over my face. “A million times yes, Cole.”

I picked her up, kissing her, whirling her around.

When I set her on her feet, I laced my fingers through her hair. “You make me so happy. I know a lot of bad shit happened because of me, but not anymore. I love you, Sin.”

“I love you too.” She slid up on her toes, slipping her mouth to mine. As she silkily parted our lips, she murmured with a sexy pout, “I think Pincushion might need a bigger house though.”

“Oh, Pincushion does, huh?” I squeezed her ass. “I don’t think I can afford it right now.”

“Well”—she looped her arms around my neck—“there are a lot of things money
can’t
buy, like our kind of love, but I can afford a few extras.”

“Is it okay if I say I don’t want to talk about that right now?” The thought of her paying for things made me uncomfortable, whether she could afford if or not.

And we had better things to do.

“Okay.” She drew me down and whispered in my ear, “I have one other question though.”

“Hit me.”

Her hands slid down my back, to my ass. “What if I want to take control?”