Velvet Sins

thouse like a warning. From where she stood, soaked to the bone and trembling, Detective Sera could see the ci

have been he

here

sin etched into every cruel line of his face. He was leaning against the bar, shirt unbuttoned just enough to s

ety, the kind that made her feel like she

ng off her soaked coat and throwing it over a cha

, you're here. In my penthouse

xposed. Like the badge she wore and the shields she'd built

she said, folding her arms tig

at said he never rushed-because the world would always wait for him. C

ation," he said, lifting a finger to brush a wet strand

ghtened. "Of c

ainst her ear. "A night. Just one. No

rned, stepping back. "You think

as badly as I have since the night we met. And

her. It did. But beneath it, he

, and the way his words slid under her skin made her

est you," she

d a brow. "Y

the storm. Her hand hovered near her holster, but she didn'

in where it rested against her blouse, "it's the on

she hissed, though even she could h

of her collarbone. "You want to know wha

eel. Holding the line. Upholding the law. But Lucien... he made h

window. The city looked so far

ngerous game," she s

lway

aid you had information. Ab

stretched behind

're not going

d slowly.

tal glass, sipped once, then offered her th

wasn't meant to. It was a decoy. The real shipment-guns,

htened. "Yo

captain signed off on the inspe

s impo

he's i

tween them

. "Captain Rou

Callisto family? Don't be naive, Celeste. Ev

. "Why are you

ired of watching you chase shadows. And because I nee

gain, and this time

" he said. "But justice doesn't live in a c

eyes l

hate

eeded

th rain and secrets, Sera made a choice s

issed

soft. It w

was

g him closer, tasting whiskey and defiance as his hands slid to her waist, anchoring her against him.

ien's shirt followed, revealing tattoos that danced across his chest like storie

. Fire. To forg

ghed nothing. Her legs wrapped around him on instinct

do you?" he murmured, draggi

t up

p and dangerous. Her hands roamed his back, finding the

er was he. They didn't ne

her sternum, over the lace of her bra. She arched into him,

to arrest me

haky laugh. "Sh

n he slid his hand between her thighs, finding heat and slickness through the thin fabri

aned. "You

e rain,"

's

rs inside her, slow but relentless. Sera bit her lip, her he

od

ht, and she saw stars. Her bod

" he whispered, eyes lo

e told him t

she moane

a promise, every kiss a threat. She let him take

eep, she cried out, nails clawing down his back. The

ead pressed to hers,

he asked,

dded.

ter, pounding into her until the world vani

is arms, and he followed with a curse, h

e after wa

nst his chest. His bre

of the

her

this was-it wasn'

bout sur

wrapped around Lucien's waist, his hands still c

of the

-not with lust, but somethi

ize it, his usual smirk nowhere to be found. He looked... a

tried to find her voice. "T

h the look in his eyes

Her body still tingled in the aftermath, skin flushed, breath uneven.

of scotch but didn't drink. "You don'

on't pretend

her, voice quiet now. "You fight so hard to stay in control. You

his where you psychoanalyze me, Lucien? Be

t statin

not mocking. And

aid, finally turning to face him. "

didn't waver

tightened

ery morning wondering if today's the day someone finally buries y

er heart twiste

ething better? No. I survived it. And now I own it. But there was a time I was like

up at him

And I built a kingdom

went qu

e but stopped halfway. "I

wh

with someo

gh to touch her again. "Then don't

en, hesitantly, she let him cup her cheek. His thumb

k off," he said

di

e leaned in

inside both of

lung over his eyes. The storm outside had dulled to a whisper, the occasional crack of thunder

ade it

readable. Her badge was back on her belt. Her weapon, too. The armor she'd

t even sleep couldn't completely erase from his body. There was something disarming abou

d held on too long to a f

oots making no sound against the marble f

nted t

needed

e something she c

y, and pulled it shut behind her without a sound. Th

exha

to a different world. One where duty came befo

e had

treet, the city had wiped itself clean

Lucien. Her mind still buzz

climbed inside, sinki

?" the dr

e an address she hadn't

she wh

bove the city, Luc

sm