Page 54 of Silver Sinner

I slip my arms around her waist and pull her snug against my chest, suddenly wary of delving deeper with my questioning. She's open and pliant but for some reason, I can't bring myself to ask. It's like a part of me doesn't want to know, and doesn't want to lose this by learning the truth.

Even if it will hurt me later down the line, I don't want to ruin this.

"You are desirable," I murmur in her ear. "It pains me that you don’t see that, but believe me when I tell you I am completely and utterly obsessed with you, darling. And I have no plans to end that obsession here."

To hide her shyness, Layla flicks water at me with a laugh. Then we settle into an amicable soak in the bath where I wash every inch of her, ply her with water and some fruit, and then take her back to bed where I massage heated oils deep into her thighs and back to help with her growing aches.

"I've never been cared for like this before," Layla says when she's wrapped up in a fluffy robe and resting back against me in a bed of fresh sheets and pillows. "You like that, don't you?"

"Caring for people?" My brow lifts and I kiss the top of her head. "Believe it or not, people in my day-to-day life would be shocked to hear that. I'm not a very caring person."

"I find that hard to believe. You've always been sweet to me. You defended me against that man in the cafe. You helped me find Maddie, which by the way, I am still amazed at. Pity the cops couldn't find my car."

A twitch moves through me. "You've heard from the police?"

"No, not since that night. I just assumed they would call if they ever found it."

Getting Layla a new car would be an ideal gift, but I'd rather not paint a fresh target on her back, especially if the other factions of that street gang are smart enough to come looking. Keeping a shadow on her should be enough to keep her safe.

"I don't have your car, but I do have one thing I would like to give you."

"Oh?" She rolls her head against my shoulder and gazes up at me. "What is it?"

Reaching across to the bedside table, I slide open the drawer and retrieve a small black box from inside. Handing it to Layla, I settle both arms around her in a cuddle. "Open it."

She touches the box and briefly glances back up at me, then she opens it and gasps. Settled on a red silk cushion is a gorgeous diamond pendant attached to a white gold chain woven together like rope. The pendant itself is a flower with several diamond stones embedded in each petal.

"Pierce…"

"Do you like it?"

"This…" She sits up. "This is too much."

"Nothing is too much for my girl."

Layla turns in my lap and squints at me. "I'm your girl?"

"Of course you are. If you want to be."

"Pierce, I—" She glances back down at the necklace and gently touches the stones. "This looks obscenely expensive."

It is, but she doesn't need to know that. "I'm only in real estate," I remind her of my lie. "Not to downplay the gift, but it's not as expensive as you might think. And it's not even token enough for my growing adoration. Please, accept it."

If she doesn't, I'll need to find another way to slip a tracker onto her.

Layla blinks and her eyes shine. "I've never owned something this beautiful before."

"Then it will be the first of many."

"Thank you!" Layla surges forward and our mouths collide in a series of excited kisses. "Can you put it on me?"

"Certainly. I still need an answer, though."

"An answer?" She turns back and scoops her damp hair into one hand so I can slide the necklace around her throat.

"Will you be my girl?"

"Obviously!" She squeals and settles back into me. "But we have to keep it a secret."