Page 290 of A Vicious Love

Gold and diamond. Pretty. Expensive. She still wore it when family was around because everyone expected her to, even though it had never been mine in any way that mattered.

Administrative compliance. That was what that ring meant.

My jaw tightened.

Sienna noticed. She always noticed now. “Jamison?”

“Nothing.”

“That sounded very much like something.”

She laughed and tipped her head back against the curved stone. Her throat stretched, water sliding along the hollow there. The bubbles shifted again.

I took a longer drink and looked at the far wall.

Fucking sainthood had a limit, and I could feel mine walking toward the edge with purpose.

I reached for a cigarette, lit it, and took a deep drag. Smoke moved through the steam, above the bath before drifting toward the open windows. Sienna’s gaze followed the cigarette, then returned to my mouth.

She was watching me.

Very openly.

Interesting.

I let the silence go on because I was a generous man when the reward was watching her fail at discretion.

Her eyes moved from my mouth to my hand, to the glass, to the open buttons at my throat. She sank a fraction lower in the water and tried to look casual.

Terrible liar.

“What are you thinking about in that bathtub?” I asked.

She startled slightly. “What?”

“You keep looking at me.”

“I’m allowed to look.”

“Yes, you are. I’m asking what thoughts you’re having while you do it.”

Her cheeks warmed, which told me enough to improve my mood. She traced one fingertip along the bath rim, pushing a line through the steam gathered on the marble.

The token ring caught the light again.

I hated it.

I shifted closer along the ledge until I sat near the middle of the tub. The water lapped gently against her ribs when she moved, still pretending those bubbles were doing any useful work.

They were not.

I set the whiskey down beside the candles and rested my hand on the marble near her shoulder. “Come here.”

She looked at the space between us. “I’m already here.”

“Closer.”

Her smile turned shy. “You’ll get wet.”