Guilty As Sin (Sin Trilogy#2)

“Yes. Yes. Like that.”

He went harder and faster, and I lost track of everything except for how he lit my body up. The orgasm hit me harder than ever before, and everything inside me, including all the pieces that were already broken, shattered into dust as I screamed.

“I love you!”

There was no way he could miss the words. Lincoln stilled, and I felt his cock pump into me.

“Shit. I was going to pull out. I meant to, but it—”

“It’s okay. I’m on the pill. We’re fine.”

I hoped he was too worried about that to bring up what I’d said. Why did I say it? Because I wanted to feel something other than sorrow and loss?

“Blue—”

“Can you get me a washcloth? I need to clean up.”

Lincoln nodded slowly and pulled out. His gaze lingered on me before he walked to the bathroom, and I heard running water. When he reappeared a minute later, he held out a towel and I took it from him.

“You know I would take care of you if it wasn’t fine.”

My head jerked up at his words. “What?”

Lincoln looked down at me, his expression soft. “I want to take care of you, regardless. You don’t have to live in your aunt’s house, sharing a room with your cousin. I can get you your own place. Then we won’t have to keep coming here.” He waved an arm toward the bed. “We’d have privacy. Away from everyone. No one could interrupt us.”

“What are you saying?” I blinked again, and then twice more as I stared at him.

“I want to take care of you, Whitney. Let me.”

For a few precious minutes, I’d gotten to shut the world out, but now everything came roaring back.

“You want to take care of me? Like . . . pay for me to have a place to live?” I was so shocked by what he was saying, I had to make sure that I wasn’t misunderstanding.

“Yeah. And your bills. Get you a car. You could go to school, if you want. I’ll make sure your tuition is covered too.”

A greasy feeling pooled in my stomach, and I snatched up the sheet and pulled it over me.

“Tuition?” I felt like a parrot, repeating everything he said.

“Yeah. Spending money, whatever you need.”

I blinked a few more times, waiting for him to start laughing and tell me it was a joke, but he didn’t.

I clutched the sheet to my chest. “You want to give me an allowance?”

Some of Lincoln’s earnest expression faded away. “Not like an allowance, but . . . I just don’t want you to have to worry about money.”



I shook my head, my mouth hanging open. “And we’ll keep seeing each other. You paying all my bills . . .”

“Well, yeah.” Lincoln looked confused.

“So you want me to be your side piece tucked up in some house in town. A convenient spot for you to stop and get your rocks off before you go home to the estate and whichever socialite your mom picks out for you?” I jumped off the bed and snagged my clothes from the floor.

“Whitney, you’re making it sound—”

“Like you want me to be your whore? Because that’s exactly what it sounds like to me!” I yanked the tank over my head and tugged on my shorts.

Lincoln jammed his hands into his hair. “Not like that. I just want you to have everything you need and not have to work or worry about money.”

I coughed and laughed at the same time. “And what would you tell your mom when she found out and had another heart attack?”

“She doesn’t have to know—”

My laughter came harsher and louder. “Yeah, that’s what I thought. Like father, like son. Not fucking happening.”

I marched toward the door to the bedroom as he struggled to get his jeans on. Not a fucking chance, Lincoln Riscoff. I won’t be your whore.

This time, as I walked through the living room, I was smart enough to snag the keys from the table where Lincoln had left them.

“Whitney, wait! That’s not—”

“No. I’m done waiting for you to man up, Lincoln. I’m done with all of this.” I slammed the door on my way out. “You can’t buy me!”

I hoped he liked walking home this time.





49





LINCOLN





Present day

MY MOTHER HAD LAID the seeds of doubt in Whitney’s mind, and I’d played right into them the night I finally got to see her. I was young and stupid then, and all I knew was that I’d never felt like that about anyone before Whitney Gable.

I didn’t realize I’d never feel that way about anyone else, but I won’t be making the same mistake again.

As soon as my mother is in the back of an SUV and on her way to the estate, I return to the front desk to make myself a key card for Whitney’s room. She and I are going to talk tonight whether she wants to or not.

Jackie Gable, who should be long since off shift, stands in front of the computer when I step behind the counter.

Fuck. It didn’t even occur to me to wonder why she was still in her uniform in the lobby when she tried to deal with my mother, because my brain was otherwise occupied.

“You’re working late.”

“Someone called in sick, and it was easy enough for me to cover the shift.”

“We appreciate it,” I say as I glance at the machine used to make key cards.

Jackie’s gaze follows mine. I’ve never thought she was an idiot, and it doesn’t take her long to guess why I’m here.

She shakes her head at me. “Please tell me you’re not here for the reason I think you are.”

“I need a key made.”

“I know that I have absolutely no grounds to refuse to do this for you, but I’m refusing all the same. If my niece doesn’t want to see you, you can’t make her.”

I straighten and meet Jackie’s gaze, a paler blue version of Whitney’s. “Then you can move out of the way and I’ll do it myself. I’m not asking your permission, Ms. Gable.”

Jackie’s jaw tenses and I can tell she wants to tell me to go to hell, but she steps aside instead. Her professional demeanor slips as I take her place. “You better be really damn sure—”

I turn to pierce her with my stare. “Do you want your niece leaving town in the morning because of what my mother said to her tonight?”

Jackie stiffens. “What did she say?”

“I’m sure you can guess, given what you heard in the lobby earlier. Now, I need a damn key so I can fix this before she disappears from my life for another ten years.”

Jackie shoves me out of the way. “I’ll do it. I guarantee I’m faster.”





50





WHITNEY





I STARE out at the darkness. The only thing I can hear from where I’m curled up on the terrace is the rushing water of the river below.

Tonight will be the last night I hear the river. Tomorrow, I’m gone.

I wrap the blanket tighter around my shoulders and think about how the hell I’m going to make this up to Cricket. She’ll be devastated. But in the end, I think she’ll understand.

I hope she understands.

From behind me comes a whooshing sound, and I jerk around to see a form step out into the darkness from my room. I open my mouth to scream, but he turns on the light.

Lincoln.

“How did you get in here?”



He holds up the plastic card. “Your aunt made me a key.”

The traitor. Although, she probably has no idea what happened tonight.

“She shouldn’t have. It’s not going to make this any easier.”

“Yeah, it is. Because you’re not going anywhere, Blue. Not this time.”

Tears burn in my eyes again. “You only get one mother, Lincoln. You can’t choose—”