Read Online Jake: The Sinner Saints #3 by Adrienne Bell - Free Book Online Page A

to protect his soul,” Verity whispered as she slowly came to the same conclusion. Her hand stilled over his breastbone. “Of course. All that beautiful scroll work, it’s not just meant to remind him of what he’s fighting for, but who he is. To protect him from succumbing to the barbarism that he fights against.”
    “Exactly.” Jake’s brows lifted as he gave a single nod. It was almost as if he hadn’t expected her to understand.
    And until this moment, she never had. When she’d studied that armor back in school, she’d viewed the pieces through the eyes of an art student, not bothering to see past the medieval ornaments and patterns. Never once thinking of the living, breathing men that had worn them all those years ago.
    Men like Jake who fought to guard and protect all that they held dear—their countrymen, their families…their lovers.
    Her mouth suddenly felt dry, and she snaked the tip of her tongue out to wet her lips.
    “See,” she said, her voice breathy. “I told you there was a better story.”
    Jake stared down at her for another few heartbeats, before his eyes narrowed slightly.
    “What are we doing, Verity?”
    She blinked and opened her mouth, but at first nothing came out.
    “T-talking about your tattoo,” she managed to finally say.
    He lifted his hand and slowly curled his fingers around her wrist, but didn’t pull it away.
    “No. I mean what are we really doing?” His voice was so low that even this close she could barely make out his words.
    For the first time, Verity looked down at her hand—really looked at it. Her fingers weren’t splayed across a piece of armor. Her fingertips hadn’t been caressing a lifeless mannequin. And there was no pretending that deep down she didn’t know that.
    A part of her—a big part, if she was being honest—had touched Jake because she’d wanted to. Sure, the art on his skin had drawn her in, but it was the man underneath she was almost desperate to feel.
    And dear God, did she feel him—the steady, constant pounding of his heart under her palm, the rise and fall of his breath, the heat of his body.
    Her hand started to tremble under his touch. She raised her eyes to his. The intensity of his look nearly stole her breath.
    He was right.
    What had she done? What had she really done?
    And how the hell was she ever going to live it down?
    “I am so sorry,” she said. Her voice was soft, but she punctuated every word. “I got carried away. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I know you’re not…”
    Her words trailed off as shame got the better of her. Verity closed her eyes, doing her damnedest to regain her composure.
    “Verity—” Jake tried.
    She shook her head, stopping him short. She couldn’t bear to swallow his consolations.
    She opened her eyes a long second later and pulled her palm away from his chest. He released her wrist. Slowly, she rose up from her knees.
    “It won’t happen again,” Verity said, taking a step back. Then another. “I promise.”
    Jake’s stare stayed steady on her. It seemed like he didn’t blink for a full minute. His body remained motionless, but still somehow hummed with a potent energy that Verity swore she could feel from across the room.
    Finally, he rose from the edge of the bed and strode the few steps to his duffel bag. He drew back the zipper, pulled out a fresh shirt, and slid it over his head.
    Something that felt suspiciously like panic crept into her chest as she watched him slip on his boots.
    “Where are you going?” she asked.
    “We need to eat,” he said without a hint of emotion. “There’s a diner a couple of blocks down. I’ll go and bring us back a couple of cheeseburgers.”
    “Oh. Of course.” Verity’s shoulders fell in relief. He wasn’t walking out on her. Not really. “Thank you.”
    “I shouldn’t be gone long. Fifteen minutes maybe.” He started toward the door. “Twenty if I stop at the liquor store and pick us up a six pack.”
    “Better