Page 81 of King of Ruin

I lift up, swiping the hair from my eyes and turning on my back to swing my feet over the side of the bed.

Roman’s place has started to feel like home. “Lights,” I call out, the bedroom and closet lights flicker on.

My clothes now hang in the closet, but I move to his side where all his clothes are arranged in a neat line. I never thought I’d be in a closet where my stuff was on one side, a man’s on the other.

He has a ton of finely brushed dress shirts. They smell crisp and clean and feel even nicer as they brush my skin.

Reaching for one, I take if off the hanger and pull it on, doing up a few of the buttons at my waist.

Heading for the bathroom, I brush my teeth and toss my hair in a clip before I make my way out to the living room.

Roman is exactly where I thought he’d be, curled up on the couch. He’s still asleep.

But at some point, not only did Thomasina decide to curl into the hollow of his knees, between his legs and the back of the couch, she’s brought all her kittens there too. Apparently, she got the memo.

Roman is our protector.

I have another moment where I wish I could see this picture more clearly, see Thomasina’s expression.

I can hear her gentle purrs. “I’m going to have to put them back in the whelping box, Thomasina,” I whisper. “Roman might crush one of your babies on accident.”

Thomasina doesn’t acknowledge I spoke. Likely ignoring me because she doesn’t want to hear what I have to say. Stubborn cat. I softly laugh.

Roman’s words from yesterday replay in my thoughts. He told me that he loves me. But also that he wanted me to teach him to love…

I sit down on the floor, my cheek resting on his knee. I think of all the ways he cared for me. He doesn’t need me to teach him anything. And I can’t let him give up his own career to help me care for homeless animals.

I heard his story about his mother. I’ve listened to what he’s said about Mason. Roman tends to divert his own needs for the people around him.

I will not be one of those people. We’ll forge a future together.

Not able to help myself, I reach out and touch the back of his hand, running my fingers along his skin.

He starts under my touch, breathing in deep.

“Maddie?”

“I’m here.”

“Miss me in bed?”

“Terribly.” I stand up, running my hand gently up Roman’s leg and then along Thomasina’s body.

I can see the mass of kittens but not their individual outlines. Carefully, I feel for their edges.

“Maddie,” Roman growls out, sounding predatory.

I stand up straight, cocking my head. “What’s wrong?”

“You look fantastic in that shirt,” he rumbles, his hand sliding up the back of my leg and under the hem to cup my ass cheek.

“Do I?” I bite my lips as I run my hand down his arm, loving the feel of his skin under my fingertips.

He sits up, parting the fabric to place a kiss on my belly. “Sexy as hell.”

I’m already heating. “Roman,” I give a gasping giggle. “We should put the babies back first.”

“Your wish is my command.” Gently, he lifts the babies, placing them into the whelping box. Thomasina follows and then Roman stands, pulling my body close.

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