Sinners' Playground (The Harlequin Crew #1) - Caroline Peckham Page 0,119

wrong about that.

JJ’s brow pinched as he seemed to notice the change in my mood, clearly remembering that morning as well as I did. The last time I’d woken up believing I had a place in the world. But neither of us said anything more on it. What was there to say anyway? It was history, dead and buried even deeper than the bodies we’d left in the ground.

He moved to his bed, drawing back the covers for me and I slipped into the cool embrace of the fresh sheets as the bed flexed beneath his weight hitting the mattress.

We both moved to lay on our sides, looking at each other in the dark as we rested our heads on the pillows.

"You remember that time I snuck into the group home through the window because my mom had company and the dude kept yelling at me? And you threatened the other girls under pain of death if they ratted you out so that I could sneak into your bed?" he asked with a smile playing around his lips as he scooted closer to me.

"And Mary Beth heard me laughing with you and came to check what was going on?" I added. I’d hidden him beneath my blankets and Rosie of all people had actually covered for me by saying we’d been laughing together – only because she knew she would have been punished too if we were caught, but still. Rosie had been my roommate in the group home for years and she was honestly the most irritating fucker I’d ever met in my entire life. She was always sniffing around my boys like a bad smell while ratting me out to Mary Beth at every opportunity.

"This feels like that. Sneaking into your bed, wanting to touch you while knowing I shouldn't. Staying quiet to make sure we don't get caught out." JJ reached out to tuck a lock of my damp hair behind my ear and I couldn't help but smile at him. I didn't know how he found ways around my barriers so easily, but it was seriously difficult to stay angry at him all the time.

“You wanted to touch me then?” I asked him curiously.

“I always wanted to touch you, Rogue. You were always the only girl for me,” he murmured and I chewed on my bottom lip as I tried to decide whether I believed that or not.

"What would Fox do if he found us here?" I breathed, a little thrill dancing along my spine at the idea of us going against his regime. I was like a fearless protester, flying my flag in the face of a twisted dictator while secretly undermining him. I just had to hope I wasn't caught and executed for my crimes.

JJ's gaze brightened for a moment before narrowing. "Well we aren't doing anything he could object to, are we?" he said slowly and I shrugged.

"He seems to object to pretty much everything I do, so I'm gonna guess that we are." I reached out and caught the drawstrings which held JJ's sweatpants in place, tugging on them lightly as I started fiddling with them. "But let's say, hypothetically, we did do something he would absolutely object to. Then what?"

"Are you asking if you're worth risking a bullet for?" JJ teased.

"You think he'd shoot you?" I asked in surprise.

"Anyone else? Maybe. But me? I like to think he'd just try and kick my ass to make me back off. Who knows though? I've never seen him get crazy over a girl the way he is for you. Maybe you're destined to be the death of me, Rogue Easton."

I laughed lightly and JJ caught hold of my leg, hooking his hand around the back of my knee and dragging me closer.

"I can think of worse ways to go," he murmured as he pulled my thigh over his hip and moved to press his forehead to mine.

"I still can't forgive you, J," I whispered as the look in his dark eyes made the fissures in my fragile heart quake.

"I know, pretty girl," he replied sadly, wrapping his arms around me as he let his eyes fall shut.

I frowned to myself, wondering if I should just go. But then I remembered that I wanted something from these four demons, and I wasn't going to let anything get in my way. Not even this sinfully tempting creature in my arms.

"Do you miss Rick too, JJ?" I breathed so low that it wasn't even really a