Page 24 of King of Ruin

“Yeah?”

“Can you undo my zipper?” she points to her back.

Slowly, I grab the metal tab, pulling the zipper down as more and more of her skin is exposed. I could kiss a trail along that skin, drink in her taste. Instead, I turn toward the door and give her a moment of privacy to take her dress off and put my T-shirt on.

“I’m ready,” she calls when she’s done. I enter the bathroom again and take a moment to drink in the sight of her in my shirt. It’s like I’ve left my mark on her. Claimed her. My chest tightens, but I force myself forward.

Gently, I lead her to the bed. She settles in and I tuck the covers around her, “Dim the lights.”

The room darkens and she curls on her side, asleep in seconds.

“Good night, Maddie Reid. I’ll be back in to check on you in a bit.”

She lifts her head. “Where will you sleep?”

“On the couch.”

She lays back down, but I feel her hesitation. The way she tenses. “Is it weird if I say, I don’t want to be alone?”

“No. Not weird at all. I’ll let you fall asleep and then I’ll join you. Don’t worry. I know how to stay on my side of the bed.”

With a nod, she closes her eyes, rolling over to turn away from me. I give it a moment. Two.

Reaching for her phone on the nightstand, I slide it into my waiting palm and leave the room.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Maddie

I wake slowly,warm and comfortable. I can’t remember the last time I slept so soundly, and I try to discern why as I stretch.

Only, I don’t. Stretch.

Which is when I realize that my legs are tangled up with someone else’s and the reason I’m so warm is that I am snug against a hard body.

I jolt awake, pushing up, when an arm I didn’t even notice was around me tightens. “Morning, sweetheart.”

Roman’s hand spreads out on my hip, my bare hip, as I realize the T-shirt I’m wearing is up around my ribs.

I pull my head back, enough sun filtering in that I can make out the lean edge of his jaw and his muscular chest.

His naked chest. My hand comes down on it to create some distance, but I freeze, the feel of his muscles incredibly hot. My fingers dig into his skin, loving the rougher harder planes of his body.

“Why are we in bed together?”

“You asked me, remember?” he answers, stretching as he somehow still holds me firm against him.

“I forgot,” I whisper, my hand splaying out on his chest to push off of him. Only I pause because, holy crap, what a chest.

“You needed to be warm and safe, sweetheart, after everything last night.”

“I…” That’s all I get out before, with a flick of his arm, I’m on top of him.

My other hand comes to his chest too, but I’m not even trying to push away. Instead, I double down on the massage I’m giving his pecs.

I have no idea why I’m behaving like this. Last night, I barely trusted this man. But everything seems nicer in the light of day, and this is a moment I’ve waited for…for forever.

I don’t have to see Roman to know he’s gorgeous. I can sense it in his movements. Hear it in his voice. He exudes the sort of confidence that shouts handsome alpha male.

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