Page 74 of Taken By Sin
She ties it gently over my face, stepping back with a proud smile. “Now you’re ready to break hearts.”
I laugh, turning to the mirror again. The mask adds an air of mystery, transforming the look entirely. For a moment, I let myself imagine the ball—dancing with Sin under chandeliers, the murmur of the crowd, the thrill of stepping into a world of fantasy.
“Thank you, Bria,” I say softly. “For helping me feel… like I belong.”
She waves a hand, brushing off the sentiment. “Youdobelong. My brother’s lucky to have you, and I can’t wait for everyone to see it.” Then she grins mischievously. “But also, I’m totally taking credit for this outfit. You’re welcome.”
Tonight, Sin is taking me on a date while the company he hired outfits the home with décor. Tomorrow night is going to be so much fun!
The city skyline stretches out before us, glowing under the soft orange and pink hues of the setting sun. The streets are alive with the hum of evening traffic, the chatter of pedestrians, the sound of distant music spilling from bars and restaurants. I’m wrapped in the warmth of Sin’s presence, his hand around mine as we walk down the bustling streets of downtown New York City, the world feeling smaller, quieter, just for us.
Sin’s usually so composed—so in control—but tonight, something about him feels different. Relaxed. There’s a softness in his eyes that I’ve rarely seen, a flicker ofsomething tender. He’s talking to me about his favorite places in the city, places I’ve never been before, and I’m soaking in every word, every smile. His voice is like velvet, the softness of it surrounding me.
“Where are we going?” I ask, glancing up at him, my heart fluttering in my chest. His hand is warm around mine, and the city lights catch the edges of his jaw, making him look like something out of a dream. For a moment, I can forget the weight of the world, the shadows that follow him.
“Somewhere special,” he says with a mischievous smile. “Trust me?”
I nod, squeezing his hand, feeling a warmth spread through me that has nothing to do with the crisp evening air. “I trust you.”
He leads me down a quiet side street, away from the busy nightlife. The crowd fades behind us, and it’s like we’re in our own little world, just the two of us. The glow of a hidden courtyard restaurant lights up ahead, tucked away behind ivy-covered stone walls. It’s intimate, secluded, and I can’t help but smile.
“I can’t believe you know about this place,” I say as we approach the entrance. “It’s so… hidden.”
“Sometimes the best places are the ones no one knows about,” he replies softly. “I like it that way.”
We’re seated at a small table on the patio overlooking the city. The breeze rustles the leaves of the trees nearby, and the city feels a world away, the noise muffled by the calmness of the moment. We share a bottle of wine, the conversation flowing easily, our laughter rising and falling like a gentle tide.
But evenin this peaceful bubble, there’s something in Sin’s gaze—a sharpness, an alertness—that I can’t ignore. I notice how his eyes flicker around the crowd, how his posture is always just a little too tense. It’s subtle, but it’s there, like a thread of tension running beneath the surface of the evening.
“Is everything okay with you?” I ask quietly, placing my hand in his.
He relaxes, leaning into me. “Yes, I just… I’m not used to this,” he admits.
I casually lean back in my chair. “To what?”
“Magnolia,” he says, my name rolling off his tongue like a secret. His voice is low, steady, but there’s an undercurrent of something vulnerable there, something that catches me off guard.
I look up at him, the candlelight flickering between us. “What is it?”
He leans back slightly, his hand resting on the edge of the table, fingers tapping once before they still. His jaw tightens, as if he’s choosing his words carefully, and when he speaks, his voice carries a weight I wasn’t expecting.
“I’ve been trying to find the right moment to say this,” he begins, his dark eyes locked on mine, unwavering. “And every time, I tell myself it’s too soon, or the timing isn’t right. But I’m done waiting.”
My breath catches, and I don’t dare interrupt.
“You’ve been in my life for such a short time, but it feels like I’ve known you forever.” His voice softens, the edges of his usual sharpness fading. “And it terrifies me, Magnolia.Because I don’t know how to do this—how to feel this way. But I can’t ignore it anymore.”
I blink, unsure if I’m breathing. My heart is pounding so loudly it drowns out the sounds of the night around us.
“I don’t just want you in my life. I need you,” he continues, his hand reaching across the table to take mine. His touch is warm, grounding, his thumb brushing gently over my knuckles. “You make me feel things I didn’t think I was capable of. You make me want more than this life I’ve built—more than power, more than control. You make me want something real.”
His confession is raw, unguarded in a way I’ve never seen from him before. It’s like he’s peeling back the layers of himself, showing me the man behind the mask he wears so well.
“I’ve spent my whole life protecting what’s mine, Magnolia,” he says, his voice dropping to barely more than a whisper. “But with you… I don’t want to protect you because you’re mine. I want to protect you becauseI love you.”
The words hang in the air between us, heavy and fragile all at once. My chest tightens, my breath catching as I search his face, trying to make sense of everything I’m feeling.
He watches me, his expression open, waiting, as if he’s bracing himself for whatever I might say next. But the truth is, I don’t have the words. I don’t know how to tell him that his confession has turned my world upside down, that it’s made me realize how deeply he’s already carved his place into my heart.