Sinful Like Us (Like Us, #5)

by Krista Ritchie

“Stop sucking his dick—” “It was just the tip,” Eliot laughs. “—he’s a liar,” Ben continues. One of them cares that I lied. Eliot is serious in a sudden flash. “Ben—” “A liar is dating our sister!” Ben motions to me. “That should worry everyone. Why am I the only one in this family who’s upset about that?”

“I lied too, Pippy. If you fault Thatcher, then you have to fault me.” Ben lets go of her hand. “I don’t know anything about him, Jane.” “We’re about to fix that,” Charlie says smoothly.

Charlie flashes a half-smile. “It’s a game called What Would You Do for Jane Cobalt?” I cross my arms and nod.

“Pick a card and complete the instruction.” Sounds too simple. “That’s it?” I ask. “You won’t flip all the cards tonight,” Charlie explains. “Whenever we tell you to turn over one or two or five, you’ll do it. Until you’ve gone through the entire deck.” I get it. I finish the game and I gain their respect or trust or both,

Tell us the number of people you’ve had intercourse with. Unholy fuck. I rub my mouth. She intakes a sharp breath. I haven’t even told Jane my number, and she hasn’t told me hers. Now we’re about to announce this shit in front of security, her cousins, and brothers.

“If Thatcher can’t complete this, then he’ll drown every time he’s with our family.” “Around forty,” I announce my number. Suddenly. Just like that. “Around forty?” Ben glares. “You can’t remember the exact number of girls you’ve slept with?”

Tell us your favorite part of Jane’s body. My face almost screws up. I must’ve read this shit backwards or ass-fucking-sideways. Because in my head, there’s no way brothers would want to hear this shit about their sister.

“Her heart.” Jane smiles. Beckett makes a what the fuck face. “So you’re not physically attracted to her?” I shake my head, a hot breath coiled in my chest. I’m not seeing the exit sign inside this burning building. “You want me to embarrass your sister and say a body part?” “Jane’s fine,” Tom defends. “Right?”

“Thatcher and Jane aren’t vegan like yo—” “It doesn’t matter!” Ben yells. “You should all respect my feelings on the consumption of animals. This didn’t have to happen!” He points at the hearts and then whips around on me. “Don’t eat it.” Sulli was right. Oh fuck. I need to make a hard call.

“What happens if I vomit?” Eliot grins. “You’ll have to eat it.” “No,” I say at the same time as Beckett. “You’ll lose if you puke,” Charlie says. “The game stops for you, but Thatcher will continue.”

I’m more in love with this girl today than I was yesterday. I didn’t think that was possible.

“She was with Winona and Kinney. We didn’t want all the little girls here—” “I knew it!” Winona Meadows shouts. Kinney Hale comes onto the line. “You’re all a bunch of ugly trolls! We don’t even like you—” “Hang up.” Charlie orders

“That’s all for tonight,” Charlie tells us and tosses Jane more napkins. He stands up, cane in hand.

Beckett makes a confused face. “Besides Jane, you’re the only other Cobalt going on the trip. I can’t make her and Thatcher play the game if I’m in New York.” Charlie glances to Jane, and she gives him a tense nod. I understand the clandestine exchange. I’m in on this plan that we’ve all been constructing. So are Banks, Maximoff, and Farrow. I didn’t think it’d be implemented tonight, but I’m prepared for the fallout. Shit is about to get tense. Beckett doesn’t realize it yet, but he’s going to Scotland.

Thatcher angles more towards me. My wingman. My right-hand. My partner in crime. My protector. My boyfriend. It feels terribly good to have him next to me,

you continue to use, then Charlie, Moffy, and I will force you on this trip.” Beckett freezes cold. Fury lances his yellow-green eyes. I’ve seen his calm exterior rupture and explode quite a few times in my life, but mostly it’s only ever been to protect Charlie. “Use what?” Eliot asks, breathing hard. “Beckett?” Tom gapes. “Dude.” New York hedonism, they’re all surrounded by the lifestyle of debauchery, riches, and fame. Ben stares haunted at the table. I glance backward at the bar, and Sulli mouths to me, what the fuck? Beckett is her best friend. None of them knew. Not until now. Beckett lets out a blistering breath. “Thanks, sis.” He glares at Thatcher. “Fuck your brother—”

“I’m not doing this here.” “Yes you are.” “Charlie,” he pleads. “Let me go.” Charlie can’t look at his twin. He eyes me, in need of an assist. I come in. “Beckett—” “Adderall terrorizes my OCD! Okay?” Beckett rubs his palms together, then clutches his thighs. “Cocaine doesn’t.”

Sulli is already approaching the booth. Disappointment all over her face. “What the fuck, Beckett. How long?” He looks pained. “It’s not a big deal—” “You’re using drugs!” Her eyes bug. “We said we’d never take the easy out and use performance enhancers!” “Ballet is different than swimming.” “Fuck that,” Sulli cringes. “Jane is right. You didn’t tell me because I’m the one person who chose a sport over a childhood and I’m the one person who can tell you fuck your excuses.”

“What have you learned, children?” This is a classic Cobalt word game. What have you learned, children? Whoever asks this directs the game to those younger than them. Beckett is next in age and supposed to pick a line of poetry, the others will then add to his opening line. He stares at the table. “I’m not playing.” Eliot rises. “It was all decaying.” Tom leans back. “I can feel us fraying.” Ben opens his mouth to finish the poem. His eyes start filling with tears. And he buckles forward and cries into his palms.

Tell us your last sexual fantasy Jane horizontal on a kitchen table while I pound my nine-inch dick inside her pussy. I politely answered, sex on a table. I got reamed for not including, with Jane. It feels like I blow my shot to hell with every card flip. I piss off or irritate at least one Cobalt.

The dares, on the other hand, are a cakewalk. Strip to your underwear and watch Titanic four consecutive times.

But Jane, the sweetest thing my arms have ever held—she’s fit for heaven. She was restless after the eight-hour mark but she persevered. The good: she was beside me. The fucking weird: she had to strip in front of her brothers.

I plan to bear the onslaught for as long I need to. But if someone wrenches Jane into this, I will end them. That’s my line. Clear in the motherfucking sand.

I can’t apologize for falling in love with her. I can’t call what happened a mistake. Gun to my head, I’d repeat every moment so I’d have the boldest, smartest girl next to me—a girl I shouldn’t have. But she’s mine, and I might not deserve her but I swear to God, I’ll never harm her, and I’d give my life to protect her.

I know I’m not a prince. I’m not a king. But I’d treat Jane like she should be treated. She’s my princess, my angel, and my queen. Every morning and every night. I’d kneel at her feet and stand by her side.

“Admit what you did was wrong.” “I can’t do that.” Flat-out. I can’t. Being with Jane is the most right thing I’ve ever done. “Great.” He’d be in my face if he could reach it. “So you’re saying that if I find myself in a room alone with Luna Hale, and she comes onto me, I’m in the clear to fuck her. Right there. Down and dirty on the floor.”

You chose pussy over your own integrity,” he sneers. “Hope it tastes worth it.” I see red. It’s a switch, but all I want is distance. I want him out of my perimeter. I want him to stop bumping against my fucking chest. Like a reflex, I uncross my arms and shove him back. He careens into a punching bag. It sways, but he barely loses balance on his feet. He charges at me. I see the fist coming.

I hear rounds firing in violent succession. My pulse ratchets up. I turn my head, but I have tunnel vision. This—this hasn’t happened before. Not while I’m awake. Fuck me.

I want to turn around and lift her in my arms. To press my forehead to her forehead and stare into the bluest depths of her gaze. But she’s not here. She’s back at the townhouse.

My hand is shaking. Christ, I just want to hear her voice. I should compartmentalize my feelings and shove off. But I pull my phone out of my pocket. Without much thought, I’m calling Jane. Like this is an ingrained reaction.

“And I’m terribly proud of you.” It knocks the wind out of me. Slowly, I shake my head. “Why?” “You handled everything well, especially under stressful conditions. It could’ve rattled you more, and you could’ve said worse to provoke him. You tried your best I truly believe. So…um, I…” She sounds flustered, and I almost smile because she’s mostly only like this with me. “I’m very, very proud of you. Which I’ve already said, but it doesn’t hurt to say twice.” I hear her blow out a measured breath. More quietly, she asks, “Are you still there?” “Yeah.” My pulse slows. “Thanks, honey.”

“I love you,” I tell Jane. “I…” She sucks in a sharp breath. It’s okay. Still, something stings. Her hang-ups shouldn’t hurt because she warned me that she’d be pushing and pulling, but I feel like I’m fucking up.

“I know, and you don’t have to say I love you back every time,” I remind her. She’s silent. My pulse thumps in my throat. “Jane?” “Je suis désolée.” I’m sorry. “You don’t need to apologize,” I say strongly. “I love you, that’s it. Nothing else has to happen.”

I clearly see that I busted my fucking lip open. Farrow sticks a new piece of gum in his mouth. “That’s not healing in four days, by the way.” Fuck. Shit. “Mannaggia,” I curse out loud, and I rake my hand across my unshaven jaw. The twin switch—I can’t pretend to be Banks if I’m the one with a visible wound.

“You really want me to hit your brother?” “I’m not forcing you,” I tell him. “But yeah.” I trust Farrow. I’ve always trusted him. And I need him. “Okay.” Farrow slides off his silver rings from his right hand. His smile grows. “Shit, this is not how I thought today would be going.” Banks begins to smile and kneels on the tile. “Just don’t knock my teeth out.”

“You’re not the Moretti brother I’ve wanted to uppercut,” Farrow says lightly. “Your teeth are safe.” His joke alleviates some tension. My lip wants to lift.

the team quiets and zeroes in on my brother’s swollen mouth. Sinclair grimaces. “Which one of you shit-tickets hit him?” “I fell, sir,” Banks lies. SFO is smiling.

To swap with the intention to fool others for my own benefit, not just for shits and giggles—it’s wrong. Clear-cut. And the only way to make this okay in my head is to ensure we’re not tricking people who matter to us. Her parents—Banks can’t run into Rose and Connor Cobalt.

“That’ll never work, Thatcher—you switching with Banks, I mean.” “Are you against it?” “No, no way. I’d do anything for you and Banks. You guys know that.”

He’ll be sixteen this month, on Christmas day, and I’ve been waiting for him to make it there. Because my older brother never did. And if I do anything in my life, Lord, let me have this. Helping Xander live when I couldn’t do the same for Sky.

“You really don’t think you’ll get caught? You two don’t look that much alike, man.” The corner of my lip inches upward, just slightly, because Xander genuinely believes Banks and I look different. “That’s probably because you grew up around us. For other people it’s harder to tell the difference. Even worse when we’re not standing together.” “But my parents will definitely know.” “They won’t.”

“Wait, did they get you two wrong?” I don’t want to lie to him, so I say, “A few times.” I don’t mention how one of those was last week. Xander immediately springs to his feet and steps away from the skateboard. Aiming for the door like he plans to hunt down his mom. “Hey.” I extend an arm and block the door before putting a light hand on his elbow. “It’s normal—” “That’s not alright.” A thousand emotions pour out of his expressive eyes. “They’ve known you and Banks for years.”

when people see me—truly see me and not just the twin that I am—it’s a rush. Like drinking the coldest ice water on a scorching summer day, and I feel that every moment I’m with Jane. I almost glance back at the shut door. I miss her.

What I feel for Xander…it’s as deep as blood, but I’m not his brother. I’m not permanent to his life in that sense, and I’ve tried… I’ve tried fucking hard to make sure he understands this. I’m replaceable. Banks is replaceable. We should just be nameless bodyguards on a team to Xander, and one day another bodyguard will stand here and take our post. He shouldn’t bat an eye or even notice a real difference. His life should continue at the same rate without misstep or back shuffle.

99% of the time, you’re protecting me inside my own damn room. And we both know that the threats are mostly just me.”

I’ve seen Xander at some of the lowest points. I’ve tried to pull him up. I remember him at eleven. How he couldn’t get out of bed one morning. He was crying, sobbing, and could barely breathe as he said, “I don’t want to be here.” I had to call his parents. I stayed with him. I held his hand. It’s true that most clients don’t ask for their bodyguards to be in their room with them all day. Every day. But Xander Hale has different demons that he needs us to fight off. It’s why I’m here. What I’m made to do. When he stays inside the Hale mansion, his security detail is often posted in his room with him. Mostly for his peace of mind…and so that he’s not alone.

“I just…you know I thought if you were going to be a part of the family, you’d be a Hale.” He shrugs. “Marry Luna or something.” I tense. I’m fighting through a steel castle just to be welcomed into the Cobalt Empire, but the closer I am to them, the further I am from the Hales.

“I wish you were my little brother, but you’re someone else’s.” It kills me to say that out loud. “Maximoff and even Farrow will be there for you for the rest of your life when I can’t be.” He has to let me go. I have to let him go. I shouldn’t be on his detail. It’s not good for either of us. His eyes redden. “Yeah.” His Adam’s apple bobs. “I just wish I could have all of you. Moffy, Farrow, you, and Banks. I know it’s selfish.”

“So you didn’t sneak into Luna’s bed?” He chokes a little, then shakes his head. “Nah, man.” He glances quickly at Xander, then back to me. “It was just that one time—”

it’s clear to Celebrity Crush and our source that every bodyguard is actually the boyfriend to who they protect. The couples: Sullivan Meadows & Akara Kitsuwon Charlie Cobalt & Oscar Oliveira Beckett Cobalt & Paul Donnelly Luna Hale & Quinn Oliveira