The Sinner's Bargain (Contracts & Deceptions #2) (17 page)

“Now there’s a face I’m happy to see!” Anna said, smiling widely as she adjusted herself on the bed.

“Hey, Mrs. M,” Colin said. There was no visible pity in his eyes, just slight sadness that he blinked away quickly as he hugged her.

“Sit right here,” Anna said, licking her dry lips as she tapped the spot she always saved for Amara. She would have complained, jokingly, but couldn’t stop smiling at the happiness she felt at the light in her mother’s eyes. “Tell me how you’re doing. How’s Nancy holding up?”

He sighed, running a hand through his wavy hair. “We’re fine—my mom’s getting by.”

Amara took a seat in the chair in front of Colin, where the tips of their feet touched, and watched them as they spoke. Colin’s eyes met Amara’s as her mother talked about the oxygen tank she needed to breathe. There was so much compassion in his eyes, so much of everything she missed about being with him. She wanted to freeze time and stay in that room with them forever.

“Amara tells me you’re engaged now,” Anna said nonchalantly. Amara felt her eyes go wide. It was like a punch to the gut, the mention of the engagement.

“For business purposes, yeah,” he said, still looking at Amara.

“You’re a good boy, Colin. Your dad was always proud of you. I hope your mom reminds you of that often.”

His gaze dropped from Amara’s. In all the years they’d known each other, he was always the one to make things happen. She could count less than a handful of times in which she’d seen that particular look on his face—where the guy with the wide, wolfish smile lost his cockiness and turned into an insecure boy. Hating to see that look on his face, Amara tapped his foot with hers. He didn’t look up at her, but she saw his lips tilt up into a small smile.

“Will you stay married to her once the business side of things go through?”

Amara couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t believe her mom was asking these questions. It was as if the filter she kept so perfectly screwed over her mouth had suddenly fallen off.

“Mom!” her words snapped through the silence that the question had placed in the room.

“It’s just a question. He knows he doesn’t have to answer it.”

“I don’t know,” Colin said after a moment of contemplation. His response sucked the air out of her body, but she tried to focus on the floor, bringing her feet in so they would no longer touch his. He continued, “I’m hoping it doesn’t get that far.” Amara felt his eyes on her face, but she refused to acknowledge his words.

Amara glanced at her mother, who returned her look with a twinkle in her eyes. This was definitely the most awkward hospital visit ever. At least her mom was in a cheerful mood, and that brightened her up, despite the blood rushing her face.

“You’re crazy,” she mouthed at her mom, which made both her and Colin laugh.

Colin stood from the edge of the bed and kissed Anna on the forehead. “It was good seeing you, Mrs. M, despite the circumstances. If you ever need anything, please know I’ll be here.”

Anna reached up and patted him on the cheek. “You know what I need.”

Colin chuckled and dragged his eyes back to Amara. “It’s not me you need to be having that conversation with.”

Her heart skipped at the meaning in his words, and at the fact he’d said them to the one person he knew meant the world to her.

“You know I love you like a son,” Anna whispered, tears gathering in her eyes.

“Then you know I’ll do everything in my power to keep our girl from harm.”

“I’m counting on it.”

He turned to face Amara, his hand reaching out to cup her face, his thumb caressing her cheek. “I’ll wait for you outside.”

Her response was a silent nod. She turned to her mother as soon as the door closed behind Colin and waited for her jumbled thoughts to get sorted out in her brain. “Oh my god, mom!” she said in a hushed whisper.

Anna coughed out a laugh as she adjusted the purple scarf that covered her bald head. “What?”

“You know what! I cannot believe you just did that.” Amara buried her face in her hands, mortified.

“I thought I did great.”

Amara couldn’t keep a laugh from escaping. “I’m assuming you’re having a good day.”

“I guess I am. So tell me, how did he end up coming with you?”

“Sam showed up at the apartment, telling me Colin was in the middle of their plan and he needed to get me away from him.”

“What did Colin say?”

Amara’s eyes widened. “I didn’t tell him. He just knows someone showed up uninvited.”

Anna frowned. “Are you going to tell him?”

“Well, I don’t know. I don’t know if I should.”

“Did you tell him you’re being blackmailed?”

“Yeah, and I don’t think that was the right thing to do. I wish I wouldn’t have.”

“Amara, come here,” she said, pulling her to sit beside her on the bed. Her hand, the one without the IV sunk into it, stroked her daughter’s hair to soothe her—the way she always had when Amara was little, and Amara sighed as she leaned into her touch. There’s nothing a mother’s touch can’t erase. If there was to be one cure for everything wrong with the world, it would be that. Amara could feel her mother’s collarbone pressed against her cheek, and could smell the iron that must coat her mother’s taste every day. “You can’t keep doing this to yourself. Talk to him. Trust him. He’s a good man. He loves you—you have to see that.”

She sighed, nodding slowly. “Sometimes love isn’t enough. You of all people should know that. I have to finish this thing with Philip, Colin won’t understand that.”

Placing a kiss on Amara’s temple, Anna pulled back. “Why don’t you let him decide?”

“He’s going to want me to marry him. If he really does get rid of Molly, he’s going to ask me again.”

“If none of this would’ve happened—if you wouldn’t have made that stupid deal with Philip for your father—do you think you would have married Colin?”

Her insides fluttered. “I’d like to think so, yes.”

“So do it.”

“There’s so much at stake, Mom, and I’m scared. I’m scared of what will happen if I drag him into this.”

Anna ran her fingers through Amara’s long hair. “It’s too late for that, Mara; he’s already been dragged into it.”

“I know, and it’s killing me already. What if Philip really hurts him? Or you?” Amara said, her eyes widening as reality rushed back to slap her in the face.

“Don’t worry about me, baby girl. There’s not much time left for me either way.”

“Don’t say that,” she whispered as tears burned in her eyes.

“I’m sorry, Mara. I know you want to keep me here forever, and I swear if I could stay, I would, only for you. I’m trying to hold on as long as I can, but some days I feel myself slipping.”

“Don’t talk like that, please.”

“I love you, my sweet child. I love you so much.”

“I love you too,” she whispered. “I can’t do this without you, Mom. I can’t.”

“You can,
khorshid
,” she responded as tears spilled down her face. The nickname made the fat tears rolling down Amara’s face multiply.

Amara stood and gave her mom an extra long hug.

“Remember what I told you,” Anna said.

Her daughter nodded. “I’m going to try. I promise.”

When Amara opened the door, she was surprised Colin wasn’t in the hallway, but took advantage and walked up to the nurses’ station, pleased to find her favorite nurse there.

“Hey, I thought you left for the day,” Cathy said with a smile.

“I had to come back. I won’t have my phone with me tonight and maybe most of tomorrow. As soon as I get a new number, I’ll call. I’m scared I’ll miss a call from here.”

Cathy nodded, smiling sadly. “She’s been doing well today. You know we take good care of her.”

“I know. I understand there’s nothing I can do, but it still worries me to have no phone.”

“Everything will be okay. Take a break.”

Amara nodded, thanking her as she walked toward the elevators. When the doors opened, Colin was inside, apparently on his way back to her, his hands tucked into his jeans.

“Hey,” he said.

“Hey,” she replied, getting in and standing beside him. “Why are you smiling?” she asked, craning her head to look at him.

“Just thinking. Thanks for letting me see her.” His hand drifted between them until it reached hers, their fingers linking.

“Of course,” she said, squeezing his hand in hers.

“I had forgotten your mom called you that,” he said as they found the car in the parking deck

Amara smiled, knowing he just wanted to hear her say the word. “
Khorshid
?”

“Yeah,” he said, returning her smile. “My sun, right?” His words were a murmur against her lips.

“Just sun, no possession,” she whispered against his mouth.

“Some possession,” he replied, brushing his lips against hers in a soft caress. Their tongues intertwined, begging for forgiveness, pleading to possess the other. Amara knew she would tell him everything—anything to keep him this time.

They checked into a hotel an adequate distance away from their apartments. Colin called Brandon and told him he wasn’t going in to work earlier that morning, repeating to Amara that they needed the day to sort things out between them. They needed to work together, and he seemed optimistic. Amara, on the other hand, was just short of freaking-the-fuck-out. Still, she told him everything, from start to finish. Amara recounted how she stood up for her father all those years ago—how Philip came for her and everything that followed—and Colin listened patiently, encouraging her to continue. When she was finished, he simply stared at her.

“I… I need a moment to process this.” He stood and headed to the bathroom. Amara listened to the water, wondering if he would have a change of heart while he was in there, but when he walked out, he had a determined look in his eyes that assured her he was all in.

“What are you doing on Friday?” Colin asked, taking a bite of the burger he’d ordered for lunch.

“I have a thing to go to.”

“For Méchant,” he said, wiping his mouth.

“Yes.”

He raised an expectant eyebrow.

“I have the papers at home; Philip gave them to me a couple of weeks ago. Some guy needs a date to a gala or something.”

“Huh,” was all that he replied. His eyes stayed on her, intense, waiting, as if he was going to pounce on her at any moment. “I’m going to a gala on Friday as well.”

“For some charity?”

“That’s the one.”

“Are you… you’re going with Molly?” she asked, hating the way her throat clogged at the mere mention of her.

“I’m supposed to. I can have her not go though, either way, she knows the wedding is off.” He said the words as if they were no big deal—as if he didn’t know that they made her heart sing with joy.

“When?”

“Before the auction, after the office…”

Amara smiled slightly. “After the engagement party you skipped out on?”

Colin grinned. “After that.”

They looked at each other for a long moment, their eyes filling with building lust. Finally, when she couldn’t take the pressure building inside her any longer, Amara pushed her plate away, stood, and sauntered toward him. She pushed the rolling table with their unfinished food aside and straddled his lap, running both hands through his hair and gently pulling until his throat was exposed to her.

“And now you’re a free man?” Amara asked, placing open-mouthed kisses over his neck. Colin’s breath hitched every time he felt her tongue on him.

“I’ve never been a free man,” he replied, pivoting his hips upward so she could feel the hardness in his boxers. “Yet I have to share you once more.”

“It’s only one more job,” Amara said, moaning when he feathered his lips against the shell of her ear.

“A job I’d rather you not do,” he murmured against her mouth as he gripped her hips.

“I’d rather not do it either,” she said, kissing one side of his lip. “But I need to get it over with.” Her mouth skimmed to the other side, licking his lip there. “Once I’m done, I’m all yours,” she said, biting his bottom lip. “If you still want me.” She reared back slightly and looked into his eyes, waiting, hoping.

“I want you to be all mine
now
,” he growled, pushing his erection against her already wet core.

“Then have me,” she said, grinding her hips against him.

“Really mine, Mara.” He stilled her movements by tightening his grip on her. “Not just mine right now, not just your body. Mine completely.”

“Like I was before.”

His head shook in response, leaning forward to bury his face against her neck, breathing in her scent. “More than how it was before.”

Amara pulled his face from her neck and cupped it in front of her. “And I won’t have to share you with Molly?”

He spread his fingers over the thin shirt covering her breasts, his thumbs stroking her nipples gently. She shivered with pleasure. “You’ve never had to share me with her,” he murmured, his lips pressing against hers, his tongue plunging into her mouth, exploring.

Colin pulled Amara’s shirt over her breasts as she rocked against his cock, trying to gain more friction under the tiny cotton shorts she wore.

“You like that?” he asked gravelly, knowing damn well she loved it.

One hand left her breast and was replaced by his mouth, his hot tongue slowly licking her nipple as his other hand continued to tweak the other. He pulled back his head and blew on her nipple, making the bud harden.

“You really like that,” he said, moving to the other nipple and repeating the process. “I can feel how wet your pussy is for me. I can practically taste you on my tongue.” Amara moaned, pushing her chest further out, offering her breasts to his mouth as she held on to his shoulders. Colin’s hand drifted down between them and dipped into her shorts. “Hmmm, going commando for me.” He rubbed his finger from her clit down to her opening and back up. “So fucking wet,” he groaned. “So fucking wet
for me
.” Amara nodded, panting, her hips still circling, enjoying the sensation of rubbing against his cock. “You wanna come on my fingers, Mara? Or do you want my mouth?”

“Fuck,” she moaned. His words were pushing her over the edge. Colin pulled his hand out of her shorts abruptly and pushed her body away slightly so that he could look at her. His eyes were dark, blazing, completely hooded with desire and need for her. He stood, carrying her with him to the bed. He let her slide down his body to the ground, then yanked her shorts over her hips and pulled her shirt off. Their lips met in a frenzy, bodies colliding, hands scratching, clawing, and taking. Colin broke the dizzying kiss and took a breath, letting it tickle over her face as he exhaled.