Sin & Suffer (Pure Corruption MC #2)(128)

Our first vacation together.

A year late … but better than never.

Yawning, he propped himself up on an elbow. His long hair curtained one eye, making him look like a ravaging pirate about to claim me. “Your opinions are very loud.”

I giggled. “You never complained before.”

Our private paradise in the Dominican Republic was barricaded to everyone but us. We’d rented an exclusive treetop villa for three weeks and the space filled with my laughter as he scooped me beneath him and tickled me. “Perhaps I’m too afraid of you to complain.”

“Whatever.”

His lips touched mine and we slipped into the waltz that never failed to arouse me.

I’d never been so deliriously happy.

The moment Wallstreet had taken away Arthur’s position, I’d been hurt, pissed, and downright livid. Not only were the Pures Arthur’s success but they were also his friends and surrogate family.

Arthur had been born on the back of a motorbike and inhaled the lifestyle since before he could speak. But in one move, Wallstreet took that away from him.

I expected him to fight. But once again, Arthur and his juggling act of plans surprised me.

He was the one who wanted to step down.

He was the one who wanted more.

And to be honest, I thought it was a mistake leaving a world we’d always known, but now I had different conclusions.

Waging daily battles on bent politicians and delivering information to the people gasping for help was Arthur’s perfect vocation. He stood up for people who couldn’t and fixed messes others didn’t understand.

The enormity of what he’d taken on didn’t faze him. It only energized him to the point of joy.

It was as if the shadows of guilt and hate were gone. All that was left was the happiness he could never find before.

Arthur pressed me onto my back, capturing my wrists and holding them above my head.

My hand landed on the television remote, heralding the news to boom on the flatscreen and tear apart our interlude.

The international news channel blared.

“Early this week, up and coming political superstar, Arthur Killian, revealed yet another fraudulent fact on the nationwide bank Cross Fund. Through an independent regulatory committee, the house and senate denied emergency funding provision set forth by Cross Bank representatives. New audit reports reveal the company has been running at a deficit for seven years and owe their investors millions of unpaid loans.”

Arthur groaned as his own voice filtered from the screen.

“We, as a society, have to stop believing men in power are gods. They’re human. They make mistakes and get caught up in deals suffocated with fine print. Most of the world’s problems are caused not from illegal activities but from illiteracy when it comes to dealing with long-winded contracts for the exact purpose of blindsiding taxpayers.”

“Fuck, I sound like a stuck-up *.”

Kissing the tip of his nose, I shook my head. “No, you sound divine.” I looked over his shoulder, eyeing up the marvelous man in a suit, dripping with sex appeal and breaking all laws of business with his untamed long hair and unbuttoned blazer.

My mouth went instantly dry.

He’s mine.

That delicious spectacle on TV was currently between my legs. My hunger for him increased exponentially. “Eight three one …”

His lips parted. “What?” Then understanding brightened his face. “You’ve been studying sequences again.”

I giggled. “Well, seeing as you’re back to speaking in numbers and codes that fly over my head, I figured I could put in a little effort.”

Awe glowed. “You’d do that for me?”

My heart lurched. “I’d do anything for you. You know that.”

He brushed aside a strand of hair from my cheek. “Eight three one, huh?” He bowed his head, inhaling me. “Let me see if I can guess. Eight … letters … am I right?”

I nodded. He’s so smart. It’d taken me days to figure it out when I’d first seen the code, before having to cheat to find the answer.

“Three words?”

I nodded again.

His eyes lit up, glowing rich emerald. “One meaning. I know what it is.”

“Smarty pants.” I pouted. “So … what is it?”

Arthur kissed me. “It means I love you. Eight letters, three words, one meaning.”

I huffed, wriggling away from his kiss. “Fine, Mr. Genius. Way to show me up.”

He chuckled. “You’re the one who started it.” His forehead furrowed. “Hang on, I’ve got one.”

I rolled my eyes. “What, just like that? You can come up with them that fast?”

I’d spent an entire afternoon studying cheesy mathematic sayings online and he could conjure one in a second.

If I didn’t love you so much I’d be jealous.

“One four three two …,” he said with a flourish.

My face scrunched, trying to work it out. Arthur didn’t move, didn’t help.

Finally, I gave up. “No idea.”

He beamed. “One letter, four letters, three letters, two.” He gathered me close, his warmth melting my bones. “I love you, too.”

My heart skipped and I hugged him hard. “Always …”