Page 138 of Mine to Ruin

Kian

She is so beautiful, it knocks the air from my lungs. My chest constricts at her pain, but it’s what reminds me she was mine. The image of her in bed with Brandon flashes by, and I wonder why she’s playing the hurt one?

She pushes herself off the hood of the car, still weak on her feet. My heart almost stood still in my chest at the panic etched in her face. I watch as she caresses the ring I gave her, when she was my entire world of light, and now she’s the queen of my darkness. I couldn’t have married any other woman, because she’s the one that rules me, and in the pain, and chaos and murderous thoughts of revenge, she is my anchor.

I want her at my side, where no one can ever have her again, just me. Chained by betrayal.

Her face drops, and my damn heart, too.

“I would like another room. I can’t sleep in the same bed as you.”

She pops a bottle open, and swallows a calming pill and my response dies on my lips.

Back at the penthouse, I point toward the room that used to be ours.

“You stay. We have enough rooms.”

The next morning, her wild mane of locks pops up, and relief flows through me. I could move my clothes in the closet of the new room, but I need to see her. She hops from the bed, and my mouth drops, at the minuscule shorts and low top she wears. I can see the side of her boob and I salivate.

“What is that?”

“My pajamas?”

“No, when we slept together, you wore pajamas. That is not the same. You better not bring anyone else in my bed.”

My chest heaves, and she props a hand on her hip, defiance oozing from every pore.

“Why would you care?”

Red clouds my vision, and this has to be the punishment of the hypocrites, getting what they dish out to others. She bends in front of me, and I wonder if she’s doing that on purpose. She peels her clothes off and sways into the bathroom, shutting the door in my face.

Chapter 50

Ellia

There must be something wrong with me, but when Brandon called last night and told me to think about why Kian is marrying me instead of Melanie, something shifted in me. What if pain blinded us to believe the worst in each other?

I am still mad at Brandon, but I need to talk to someone about what I am going through. And whatever Kian keeps telling himself, he still feels something for me, even if it’s just lust or obsession. I want to make it hurt, to make him see what he lost until it kills him. A new game begins, and with the help of Anna, who seems to know the most about sexy online shops, my war begins.

It so happens that I bump into Kian when he comes back from training, and I am wearing the tightest nude dress the world has ever seen. His eyes bulge out, the greens burning with lust and his jaw sets in a hard line, it might crack his face.

“What are you wearing?”

“A dress. Like it?” I ask, and twirl on my toes.

“Where are you going?”

“Out.”

“No.”

“Yes.” He strides to me while I hold my stance.

“Ellia.”

“I dare you to keep me in the house,” I challenge him and jut my chin.

His nostrils flare and he mumbles under his breath, “I am coming with you.”

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