Page 70 of Perfect Sin

A hysterical laugh bursts free from her. “Of course it is. And I suppose you were going to keep this from me if Gerrick hadn’t requested I meet him.”

“Enough,” Lucien interrupts. “I didn’t tell you either. Sin isn’t the only one who wants to protect you from things. You’re my little sister, so forgive me if I don’t want to expose you to a sex club.”

“Why does he want you to bring me?” she asks, choosing again to overlook us keeping this from her.

I shake my head. “That’s the question isn’t it? I don’t like it.”

“I’m not thrilled either, but we stayed on the main floor last time. No reason to think we’ll be shown the rest of the club this time either,” Lucien replies.

I move over to Raven. “We don’t separate when we get there. No matter what.”

She sighs. “What does one wear to a sex club?”

“Usually as little as possible, but you should put on a parka,” Lucien grumbles.

“Can you get another person invited?” I ask Lucien.

Raven places her hand on my chest and looks up at me with her big blue eyes. “Do not bring Ford into this.”

I know she’s referencing our scene at the gym. “Not what I had in mind.”

As usual, Lucien picks up on my thinking without having to say it out loud. “I’ll see if I can bring Ted.”

Raven stretches up on her toes and kisses my cheek. “I suppose I better go change.”

Lucien pulls the phone away from his face and mouths the word “parka” to her before she leaves the room.

For once I’m hoping she actually listens to her older brother.

22

The Dark Room

Raven

I could seethe look of relief on Sin’s face when I swallowed down the irritation I felt learning they are still working together to protect me. Three days of being apart took a toll on me physically and emotionally, but while letting this go isn’t in my nature, I’m tired of fighting with him.

I spot myself in the floor-length mirror, and I see the weariness in my reflection. For three days I’ve alternated between crying and tossing and turning. The effect is unusually pale skin, even for me, and dark circles under my eyes. I need a pick me up, and I might as well start with a makeover.

Turning from side to side, I study my appearance. My hair, once a solid black, has picked up some auburn highlights from the California sun. Staying with Grant for the last couple of days I didn’t have any products or tools to tame the wildness of my naturally wavy hair. All it needs is a bit of frizz serum to coax it into control. My waist length hair falls free and looks a lot like it does after Sin’s hands have been through it. Satisfied with the result, I move forward to my makeup.

I’m not a big fan of wearing a lot of makeup. Perhaps it was growing up attending all girls’ schools, but I prefer to use as little as possible. I’d skip it, but the dark circles under my eyes need to be addressed. I decide to bypass the cliché smokey eye for simple nude shadow, black eyeliner, and mascara. After I slick on some shimmery lip gloss I move to the closet to see what I can throw together.

I never thought about how many pairs of jeans I have before trying to find something sexy. Pulling open a drawer I find nothing but t-shirts. I flop down on the bed and groan in frustration. There’s only one solution; I need to call Amber.

“I have a fashion emergency,” I say as soon as she answers.

“I always knew my superpowers would be needed. What’s the occasion? A fundraiser, interview, party?”

“A sex club.”

She gulps. “I’m guessing you want something a little more flirty than slutty?”

I exhale in relief. “Would that work?”

“Maybe a blend of the two?” She hums to herself. “Yeah, I have just the dress.”

“Hurry over, okay?” My position on the bed calls to me, and I’m afraid if she doesn’t arrive soon, I’ll give in to the urge to sleep. My eyes droop, and I nearly forget she’s on the line.