Distorted Affliction

Chapter Nine

When we pulled into the short driveway, I noted that there were no lights on inside of the house. No windows were illuminated, no signs that anyone was there, but that didn't stop the feeling inside of me from igniting, the hope that there would be clues, some kind of trail that I could follow. I wanted very much to see my son again, to know that Silas was safe, alive, being taken care of somewhere out of danger.

I couldn't help but feel as if we had been wasting time, though I understood we were moving as quickly as we could under the circumstances. It all felt surreal, spending months grieving the loss of the life I would have given anything for only to discover that there was a possibility that he was with his father the entire time. I was still frustrated that Lucas had allowed me to feel that pain, but the more I regained my memories, the more I couldn't help but believe he had done it out of spite.

"No lights on, but I'll check the door," I offered, climbing the steps two at a time. When I tried the knob, it was locked, and I couldn't help but feel a little deflated. I didn't have a key, and the porch was devoid of any hiding places, as it looked abandoned. I felt something inside of me snap, a ball of anger that bubbled up, warming my chest and arms all the way down to my fingertips.

I placed my palm on the door, only mildly unsure of myself and my magic, knowing full well that if I wasn't capable, Sin certainly was. I closed my eyes and imagined that I was channeling the energy through my body, to my fingertips and into the door. For a moment, nothing happened, and I was ready to collapse on the porch and cry until the danger came for me.

Then I felt the air around me shift, there was a crack, and the door went flying into the darkness of the house. I stood there for a moment, proud that I had, without my memories or guidance, managed to work my magic.

"So, do you have to be invited in, or something?" I asked, throwing the question over my shoulder with a sly grin. I could almost hear Sin's eyes rolling in his head as he stepped around me and into the house, glancing back at me with a mischievous grin.

"Even if I did," he purred. "I've already been inside this house."

There was a tone to his words that left parts of my body tingling that I hadn't felt in a long time and my mind wondering at the seductive undertone. A chill slipped down my spine, and I relished in the look of Sin's piercing gaze before he turned and ventured further into the house. I stepped over the threshold hesitantly, something in my gut telling me that this place wasn't safe.

The entire first floor was devoid of any signs of life, nothing that gave clues to when the last time someone had been there. There was no food in the cabinets, the covers had been left over what furniture there was left, there wasn't even a drop of water in the sink to show that someone had been here in months. When I was met with no clues, I couldn't help the frustration that tainted my attitude.

"I'll check upstairs," I heard Sin call, and I hurried to follow his silhouette up the staircase to the second floor. I didn't want to miss any possible signs, any clues that Lucas might have left behind for me.

"It's so strange," I whispered, keeping as close to him as I could stand without touching him. "This place feels so familiar, but I don't have any real memories of being here."

"Well," Sin started, peeking into one of the rooms before moving further down the hallway. "Like you said, he took away your memories of this place so that it would be safe. I'm assuming there were concerns that someone might look into your memories and come snooping, though I can't help but wonder if he didn't do it out of spite, since there are no signs of house guests."

"What do you mean?" I asked, opening a door on the opposite side of the hallway from the one he was checking out. It was dark inside, but I could make out the frame of a bed and a small table next to it. Something inside of my mind seemed to click, and I stepped further into the room. I jumped when the light flickered on, but when I turned, Sin was standing in the doorway, his body covering the entrance and a sly smile on his face as he glanced around.

"Well," he started, eyeing the bed in a manner that left my interest piqued. "While this might have been the place you and Lucas made your home for a while, those weren't the only memories you had here. I'm sure it brought him some level of satisfaction to take those memories away from you."

My gaze met his, and neither of us said a word for a long moment. What he was saying made sense to me, though my mind couldn't comprehend Lucas ever being okay with Sin being in his home. Then again, it wasn't like I really knew who Lucas was anymore. The idea of him seeing someone else, especially a sister in the coven, left an odd sensation in the pit of my stomach. I wasn't nearly as upset as I felt I should be, but I had a strong suspicion that my untold story with Sin had something to do with that.

"What happened here?" I asked softly, stepping closer to him before glancing back at the bed. It had no sheets or blankets, only a bare mattress that gave no hint of the unspoken secrets it held. When I turned back to him, Sin had taken a step closer, closing the distance between our bodies so that I had to turn my head up to see his face.

His fingers reached out to trace my arm softly, his hazel eyes drifting across my body, a fire igniting inside of them. My movements were as slow as his, as if we were testing the boundaries between us, each waiting for the other to pull away. No part of me wanted to pull away, though. I couldn't explain the sensation inside of me, but my body was attracted to his, like I couldn't help but to gravitate towards him.

"I don't know if this is a good idea," Sin whispered, his lips so close to mine I could feel his breath, warm against my skin.

"From what I can tell," I whispered slowly. "I'm not the best at making good decisions."

His hand slipped up to my neck, pulling my body to his as his lips met mine. Everything inside of me ignited, and my body reacted to his in an instant. I felt as though I couldn't get close enough to him, my fingers entangling in his deep black hair as I begged for more of his touch.

"Shh," I whispered, giggling against his lips as I pulled him closer to the bed. "Lucas can't know you're here, not tonight."

"Fuck Lucas," Sin breathed, pulling at the hem of my shirt until it was over my head and tossing it into the depths of the room. "I want to hear you scream."

My fingers pulled at his shirt manically until he pulled back slightly to yank it off, as if the fabric were a barrier between our bodies he couldn't wait to rid himself of. His fingers were gentle as he ran his hands around my waist, pressing his palms flat against my back to hold me closer. I allowed myself to trace every muscle in his chest, to touch every inch of him that he would give me access to until he pulled away slightly to look me in my eyes.

"Are you sure about this?" he breathed heavily, his voice husky as he stared at me. "I don't want to overstep--"

"Take your pants off," I demanded wriggling out of my own jeans and then abandoning them on the floor to move to the bed.

Sin pressed his body against mine, laying me down gently as the memory played in my mind of the first time that we had been in this room together. I knew him, I knew every inch of him, and I wanted every inch of him touching every part of my body. His tongue traced my lips before he moved his mouth down my throat, and I let out an audible gasp of anticipation for what I unexpectedly craved.

"Bite me like you used to," I whispered, arching my body into his. I could feel him pause for a moment before he moved back to look at me again.

"August," he said slowly, his gaze penetrating mine. "Are you sure you're ready for that?"

"Oh Sin," I called seductively, leaning my head sideways to give him access to my neck. "This isn't my first time. I know you can be gentle."

He needed no more persuasion, there was no more hesitation. When his teeth dug into my neck, and he pressed himself between my thighs, there was an explosion of pure euphoria that paled every sexual encounter I ever remembered having with Lucas. My body was ignited with pleasure, and I couldn't explain it. In that moment, I felt like I had finally come home after being away for far, far too long.