Sin: A Dark Reverse Harem & Age Gap Novelette (Sweet as Sin Book 1)
Sin: Chapter 12

My head was throbbing, and I couldn’t explain why.

I hadn’t had alcohol, and I knew I had been eating and drinking enough water to avoid headaches.

So why was there a pounding in my head?

And where the hell was I?

Relief washed over me when I opened my eyes and found myself in Archer’s bedroom. He lived in a penthouse, way up high in one of the city’s highest buildings.

He had taken me here before, but we rarely made it to the bedroom.

I had taken baths and showers in his bathroom though, so I walked through this room more than I stayed in it.

It was dark out, and it had to be the middle of the night. I closed my eyes again, needing another minute to come to my senses.

There were voices coming from the living room, and I was instantly reminded of what happened last night.

Renner.

His hands on my body.

His groans and threats.

Then there was darkness.

I opened my eyes again, feeling extremely sick to my stomach. I had to get to the bathroom, but the second I sat up, I immediately bent over the side of the bed and heaved.

My body ached and my toes curled, and I clung to the mattress to avoid falling over and right into my vomit.

“Kitten.” Archer’s voice was full of worry. When he reached me, he pulled back my hair with one hand and rubbed my back with his other. “That’ll make you feel better,” he assured, his words gentle and empathic.

Once my stomach was emptied, I sat back up and wiped the back of my hand over my lips. My eyes filled with tears from how uncomfortable throwing up made me feel, then I started crying at the reminder of what Renner had done to me last night.

“Is he here?” I asked, scared to see that man again.

Archer’s brows furrowed. “That motherfucker won’t ever step foot in this apartment again. Tabor, Link, and Ford are here. We took care of him, and he won’t come near you again,” he assured.

I studied him as he cupped my face with both hands, brushing my cheeks with his thumbs. I waited for him to say more, watching as his face went from serious to guilty.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have let that happen. I should’ve stayed with you. Hell, I shouldn’t have taken you to that bar. I broke your trust and I loathe myself for that.”

I slowly shook my head, my frown deepening. “Don’t…it wasn’t your fault.”

“I brought you there, and he used you. He fucking used you and I won’t forgive myself for that. You’re hurting, and it’s all my fucking fault.”

“No, Archer!” More sobs escaped me as I pushed myself up from under the covers, kneeling next to him while reaching my hands to touch his face. “You did nothing to hurt me. It was him who took advantage.” My words didn’t sound as strong as I wanted them to, but I needed Archer to know that if anything, he was the one who saved me. “I’m just glad I’m here with you,” I finally whispered.

He lowered his head, and I felt his jaw tighten.

I moved my hands to his neck then, resting my forehead against his. “I’ll be okay because of you.”

A sigh left him. “You’re not angry? I dragged you to that bar and let my friends have you. Then he ruined everything. Used you.”

I’ve been fascinated by Archer ever since I met him. I was amazed at how he carried himself. How self-assured he was, but never in an arrogant way. But I was starting to like this side of him.

I smiled and shook my head. “Up until what happened with Renner, everything was perfect.”

Talking about it helped a lot. Should’ve talked about it the first time it happened, but at fourteen, you don’t talk about the trauma you went through. You keep it inside of you, tell yourself to be strong, and try to forget it because life has to go on.

I was older now. Old enough to not let a man like Renner ruin me a second time.

I would heal from this. Not only because of Archer, but also because of myself. I was older, mentally stronger. And if I’d see that asshole again, and would happen to have a gun with me, I will shoot him.

Right in the nuts.

ARCHER

Sinclair was stronger than I ever could’ve imagined.

I knew what Renner did to her would still linger on her mind, but I would give her all the time and support she needed.

When I first met Sinclair, I hadn’t planned on sticking around for long. I imagined her being yet another hookup. A fun time I would keep to myself and never share with my friends.

But everything turned out differently.

I didn’t regret bringing her to Tabor’s bar, and I also didn’t regret sharing Sin with them.

And even if I couldn’t have known Renner would turn on me, I did regret my friendship with him.

Some people were unpredictable in their actions, and Renner had proven that even the most loyal ones in your life had the audacity to turn on you.

Ford and Link had taken care of him. Made sure that from now on, he was a ghost in this town. All connections we had to him were cut. He was damn lucky I didn’t break his damn neck last night.

I held Sinclair in my arms, comforting her as best as I could. I still felt as if I had failed her, but the way she caressed my neck told me that she truly wasn’t upset with me.

“It’s still early,” I whispered into her hair. “But I need to clean this. You can’t sleep in here like this.”

“I’m sorry,” she said quietly.

“Don’t.” My body tensed, and I gripped her hair at the back of her head tightly. “Don’t ever apologize. Let me get you something clean to wear. We’ll sleep in the guestroom.”

She didn’t argue and let me hold her a while longer.