Word Count: 1518

~Millicent

My reaction is immediate disgust.

Sinful walks into the room, looking back at me, as if I'm going to follow him into his bedroom. I stand at the doorway, staring in at him disbelief. Did he seriously just hear me proudly talk about being a respectable woman, and is now telling me I'm sleeping in his room? There is no doubt plenty of guest rooms in this marvelous estate.

As I remain gaping at him, not taking a single step in, Sinful's playful expression erupts into one of pure amusement. Does he think I'm a joke? Folding my arms over my chest, I silently scold my past self for agreeing to this.

"I'm offering this room to you, as it's the best room here, and you, as my mate, deserves only the best. I'm not going to be staying in here with you," he informs me.

My entire body deflates.

"Oh," I draw off. Suddenly I feel foolish for my assumption, although he led me right into it. Warily, I wander into the room, watching him, and his bed, ensuring there is a few feet of space between us. I'm trying to remain as calm as possible, as collected as I could be in his wake. Clearly, he sees right through it, with the taunting smile on his face.

"Unless of course, you would like me to join you," he offers, to which I screw my face up, shaking my head. The idea of sleeping next to Sinful is an unnerving thought. "I would no doubt be okay with this."

"I think I'll take a guest room," I decide.

Sinful raises an eyebrow at me, as if he senses a game. I'm simply looking for a way out of this situation he's placed me in.

"No, I insist," he murmurs, motioning to the bed. I eye it suspiciously, as if a dark satin monster will rise up within it to drag me in. It might seem absurd, but who knows what Sinful is hiding in this house of his. There mustn't be any secrets dwelling in this room, if he wants so desperately for me to sleep in here.

"And I insist that I don't feel comfortable sleeping in your room...In your bed," I mutter, folding my arms over my chest. It doesn't matter how much I attempt to swallow the lump in my throat, my eyes straying back to the four-poster bed only makes it worse.

Sinful's lavender eyes gleam under the dim light. "What are you scared of, my darling mate?"

I consider that for a moment. I know the answer, I'm just unsure of how honesty will fair me. Since I'm in his company for who knows how long, I might as well make it easier on myself, and let him know what I'm thinking.

"You," I admit softly. "I'm scared of you."

Sinful doesn't say anything for a moment. He rubs his hands together slowly, as he considers how to respond to my sudden honesty. I watch him, a million thoughts racing through my mind at once, as he takes a few steps toward me, swallowing up the space between us until there is nothing left but a few inches.

Up close, there really is no denying Sinful is a divine creation of the Moon. He's not like his brothers, the other Sins. He has more power. Power he worked for. It's power that's dark, terrible. All the things that frighten me.

"Do I intimidate you?" he asks gently, reaching out to brush my cheek with his thumb.

The touch might be soft, subtle, but it's jarring. Every time I feel those sparks, it reminds of a fact I often try to deny. To forget it true.

"No, I just...Fine, I'll sleep in the damn room," I mutter, brushing past him. My cheeks flame bright red, heat rising to the surface of my skin across my entire body. I sit down on the edge of the bed, clasping my hands together on my lap. Okay, Sinful won that way, I'll give him that.

"I'm quite enjoying this discussion. It's not that often I get to indulge my mate in a conversation. Especially one that isn't surface level flirting, and banter," Sinful says with an amused smile. I narrow my eyes on him.

"I think banter is one word for it, but not the right one."

Sinful shrugs his shoulders, wandering over to sit next to me on the bed. I feel the weight of him sinking into the mattress and shiver. Why is it that all of a sudden, his every move is triggering something within me to react is such a...girly way. For lack of better words.

"What I'm saying, is that I want to know more about you. Not because I'm trying to intimidate you, or manipulate you into being with me. I'm curious. You're still a mystery to me," Sinful admits. When I look at him, his serious expression stops me from smothering a giggle that arise at the idea of him actually have a depth of thought bigger than wanting to bed me.

"Good, and that's how it shall remain," I say simply, looking away.

He doesn't say anything for a long moment, forcing my attention back to him. He's wincing, looking almost pained. His eyes grow solemn, and for a moment I'm convinced I've just uncovered a completely different part of him.

"Millicent," he breathes. "Please."

There's something so desperate about his plea. Something so vulnerable I've never seen in anyone before. Especially not a powerfully immortal. It is not often - for me at least - to see someone let their guard down to the point where I can practically look into his eyes and see his true intentions. Good intentions.

"Fine. Here's a fact about me. I'm the Moon Goddess, who is meant to be good, and perfect. I'm not sure what sick freak decided to mate me with a Sin – lust especially – but we aren't meant to be together," I tell him, all in one breath.

"Does that bother you?" he asks gently, tone like silken smooth honey, running off my senses. I can feel it in the flutter of my heart and shivers up my spine.

I don't even have to think about that. "Of course, it bothers me. I've always dreamed of having a mate."

Sinful's smiles, but it's only a fleeting hint of one. I wish I could reach into his mind and hear his thoughts. I've never known anything to bother Sinful so much as I do. That's the one thing that allows me to hope that I'll get through these few days. If only his vulnerability is a quality in which looks good on him.

"But I'm not what you imagined?" he says flatly.

"You're more than imagined," I say, before I can stop myself. Sinful looks up from where he was staring at his hands for a moment. Earnest hope dwells within his eyes, as if I've revealed what he has been waiting for me to admit for a long time. What I've done, is given him a chance that I've never given him before.

"I'm yours whenever you want," he insists, grabbing my hands. I watch him do so, staring at his fingers wrapped around mine, wondering what it would feel like to have them elsewhere on my body. "You just need to ask."

There's a moment where I consider the fact that this might just be part of his seduction. That he might be manipulating me like he does to the other innocent girls. He's Lust, after all. It's a power that is a part of his every being. It seeps from him at all times, and I've been good enough to ignore it. I have done for a long time.

But suddenly it seems as though I don't care anymore. I really don't care. And it seems he can tell.

He grabs my face with both his hands, drawing me in to kiss him.

I'm not sure why I let him. But the moment I feel the softness of his lips, taste the sweetness of him, I don't regret anything. His kiss is soft, gentle, not asking for anymore than my lips on his. It's as if all rational thought has vanished, leaving me with a chasm within my mind that is being filled with...Lust.

I pull away. It may have only been a simple kiss, however, it leaves my lips almost stinging. But it's a pleasurable feeling, not one of pain. However, the shame of committing to what I just did plagues me.

I get to my feet, turning away. "I should get to sleep."

Sinful sighs, also getting to his feet. When I brave a glance behind me, he is watching me from the doorway, the slightest smile on his face.

"I'll see you in the morning love," he breathes, as he goes to close the door. "Sleep well."

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If you're liking the story, head over to Radish, where this book is ten chapters ahead (:

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~Midika 💜🐼