Page 42 of Mine to Ruin

The next morning, I drive to the place that will forever remind me of a night I gave myself to a man I never imagined meeting, or wanting to be with this badly. Butterflies flap their wings like crazy in my stomach at the thought of Kian. I pat my belly urging it to calm down and step inside.

“Hi, Anna. How was your weekend?”

“Not as good as yours, I’m sure.” She bends over the counter, her glossed lips curling into a secretive smile. She looks right then left before she adds, “There’s a rumor, you and the boss…”

I freeze on the spot. The levitating feeling evaporates. My insides tie themselves into a double knot.

“Miss Santos, I do not condone gossiping at work. In your private hours, you can do whatever you want,” Kian says, sneaking up on us.

Anna turns scarlet and turns her attention to the screen. Kian nods towards my studio, quietly escorting me away. Once we’re safely inside, I have a meltdown.

“Oh my God, if there’s a rumor going around about us, that means everyone knows. I can't even deny it, because I did sleep with the boss. What is wrong with me?”

Kian lifts my chin, determination transforming his face. “Are you done?” he asks. “Last time I checked, you were an adult. You can’t freak out on me now. Not now that I’ve gotten a taste of you. Lorene is your boss, and Melanie is her boss. And they both work for me.”

He wraps his hands around my waist and rests his chin on my shoulder. An absolute feeling of comfort, belonging, and peacefulness envelop me. It’s surreal, this power he has over me.

“I’m done.”

“Good. Because I have no desire to lose you.”

And just like that, something clicks, and I smile goofily while he pecks me on my lips.

“Is this my good morning kiss?”

“Since you ran away, it is.”

I chuckle. This crazy man of mine... I remember I made something for him and rush to get it. I hand him the painting wrapped in a ribbon and wait.

“For me?” he asks, amazement transforming his face and I sway on my toes. Kian tears the wrapping paper, and my heart speeds in my chest.

He gulps and stares at the painting for long minutes. The plethora of emotions I am feeling waiting for his reaction threaten to overwhelm me. If he doesn’t say something soon, I will implode.

“I have no idea what I did to deserve you. Thank you,” he says with a heartfelt smile.

I lift on my tiptoes and kiss him. “You’re welcome. Like in the painting, I’m here.”

“Is this how you see me? Like a king, ruling on his throne, above everything?” He scratches his neck, showing a vulnerability that is endearing, and I lock my hands around his neck.

“I do, but now you’re not alone anymore. If you want, I can keep you company.”

“Then don’t leave like yesterday.”

“Kian, there’s a huge difference between going home and leaving you,” I say, trying to reason with him, but his brows narrow in confusion.

“It’s the same for me.” he pouts melting me.

“You are such a baby!”

“I thought I was all-powerful,” he says, lines digging in his forehead, and I tilt my head to the side, trying to muffle a smile. He is such a beautiful conundrum.

“You should leave, I need to work. I have a pretty demanding boss,” I say to him as I walk over to my canvas.

“You do? Who is that asshole?” he asks, waggling his eyebrows. He cups my neck and bends my head back, and he kisses me while his other hand slides down to my ass. When he ends the kiss, I’m both breathless and lost in him.

“I heard the boss has a weak spot for you.” He winks at me as he backtracks. “And your ass...”

I chuckle, and my heart trails after him when he exits the studio.

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