Chapter 19: Boundaries

An impressive entourage of cars was waiting outside and right in the middle was a sleek white limousine. I gasped, my eyes widening a little, my fingers instinctively tightening around Sin's hand. I heard him give a small chuckle beside me.

He leaned slowly to my ear. "Do you want it?"

I swallowed. "That's being greedy."

He gave another chuckle before leading me towards the car. We got to the open door, and I slowly got in, then moved away to make room for Sin.

He got in right behind me, and the door closed behind us. The interior of the car was even more superb than the outside, and he had a rendition of the night sky galaxy right on the roof of the car.

I leaned back, my lips parting as I took it in, my eyes slowly blinking. "This is beautiful," I murmured, my hand coming to my heart. "I wish my father was here to see it."

Sin reached for a glass of wine. "Care for wine?"

I looked down at it. "Alcoholic?"

"What is the point of one that isn't?"

I took the glass, his fingers lightly brushing mine as he let go of the glass. "Well. You are not scared that I could get too drunk?"

He shrugged. "Depends on the drunk type that you are."

I turned to him, and his brows were furrowed as he brought a glass of wine to his lips.

"What do you mean?"

He simply shrugged but said nothing more, his eyes focused right ahead. I sighed and leaned back too, my eyes slowly blinking as I took in the stars.

I didn't realize when I rested my head on Sin's outstretched arm right behind me. I started to move, but his fingers curved around my shoulder, and he pulled me down, causing me to stay put.

I turned to him, then swallowed. "That... that is an unhealthy amount of... touching."

"Do you have a skin disease?"

"Do I look like I have one?"

He chuckled into his glass. "No."

"Why do you ask?"

He shrugged, then dropped the glass. "I was wondering why you deemed me touching you unhealthy."

I swallowed, adjusting a little. You are getting too bold, Annalise. The man has a freaking gun that he doesn't seem too afraid to use.

"Well. We are mostly strangers."

"Fix that, Annalise. You and I are married. As for touching you, you are my wife. If I am going to defend you like one, I can also have you lean on me like one."

Okay, that is strange. One thing I expected as I heard this contract was to be treated like absolute trash. A few hours in, and I have earned a million dollars, and I am leaning on Sin. Could this get any stranger? Maybe. Did I have any complaints? Not exactly.

I slowly moved away to meet his eyes, just to make sure he wasn't making fun of me or anything.

He looked up to meet my eyes, his right brow slowly raising.

I swallowed. "I... "

"Of course you have boundaries. That, I have stated in the contract. You can state what you are comfortable with. I am not a man who forces a woman."

I nodded slowly. "I don't know if... within these months, you and I will ever reach a point where I would be able to tell you just how much that means to me."

His eyes held mine, and I was vaguely aware of the car stopping. Neither of us moved, however, and I only tore my gaze away from him to blink back the tears that were threatening to ruin my makeup.

He didn't say anything, as his hand sought mine, then clasped around it. His hand was warm against mine, and he pulled me with him as we got out of the car.

The fresh night breeze sifted through my hair, and I shivered a little, my back bearing the brunt of the cold. Sin's hand clasped tighter around me as he adjusted his coat, then pulled me towards the red carpet.

I now understand why there had been extra efforts in my dressing and why Sin hadn't offered his coat. The number of cameras that flashed threatened to blind me. It looked like an elite ceremony, and Sin's hand left mine to clasp possessively around my waist.

The place was elegant and crowded with people who were dressed just as elegantly. Sin pulled me through, his head held high as he avoided any questions directed towards him. I could hear a few questions that asked about Larissa and his relationship with me, but he never answered anything.

We got to the grand entrance and walked right in, his hand still clasped on my waist. We got to the massive hall where the auction was held. It turns out we were just a bit late.

The door opened, and I saw that so many people were already sitting on the reserved seats. All the seats were cushioned stools and a runway in the middle. I thought it was an auction, not a fashion show.

Sin's eyes thinned as he looked around but didn't take one step further. I didn't have to wonder what was wrong for much longer because a man dressed in a clean suit walked up to us.

"Sir. You are here." His eyes turned slowly to me. "With... someone?"

My brows furrowed. He seemed confused that I would be here. I thought everyone knew I would be here. I looked around, and that was when I saw it.

Right on the front row, in the diamond status seats, were the entire crew we had been at the breakfast table with in the morning. Each of them had their women with them, and right next to the empty seat were Larissa and Aldo, and a couple I didn't recognize on the left.

I turned to Sin, and his jaw was clenched as he watched the crew. In the center was a single empty seat. Just one seat, and it had Sin's name engraved on it.

They had excluded me.

My eyes fell on Larissa, and she gave me a small smile. The bitch. She would be sitting beside Sin if I wasn't there. That probably was the entire idea.