Page 110 of Inked Adonis

Let them.

“Yeah, yeah. I know.” My fingers find the spot behind Rufus’s ears that Nova always scratches. “Let’s go get our girl."

38

SAMUIL

“Who is it?”

The sound of her voice, even muffled through her thin, wooden door, reminds me why I came here. Why I’m already in too deep to get out cleanly.

God help me, I want her.

“It’s Rufus and Ruby,” I answer.

The dogs shift excitedly, their wagging tails a blur. Ruby has never been here before, but Rufus recognizes this place. He’s already sniffing along the crack of the door.

For a few beats, I think I’m going to have to break through it. Not that it would be much of a hurdle. There isn’t even a deadbolt. Just shoddy, composite wood between me and her.

Or, worse to think of, between her and Ilya. Or her and Katerina. Or her and any of the thousand and one nameless fucks who would be willing to hurt Nova if it meant hurting me in the process.

Then the lock turns and Nova peeks through the narrow gap. Her eyes don’t quite reach my face before she looks down at the dogs.

“Weird, Ru—you sound exactly like an asshole I used to know.”

Rufus takes that as his invitation to wedge his meaty head through the crack, forcing the door open another foot. Ruby wriggles in after him, the floor vibrating with every step.

And then there’s Nova.

She’s barefoot in the doorway, wearing a pair of baggy sweatpants. Her hair is wet from a shower, and she’s a little paler than usual. Fuck me; she has never looked more beautiful. At the sight of her, thin and fragile and afraid, I want to burn the world down just to prove to her that nothing will ever hurt her.

Not even me.

“You didn’t buzz in,” she accuses.

“One of your neighbors held the door open for me.”

Her lips flatten. “I need to do something about the lax security around here.”

“It’s an epidemic all over town.”

Her honey-brown eyes flash up to mine. She’s searching my face for something—more accusations, maybe? Another rush of anger that will send her recoiling into the corner? Some sign of remorse?

On that front, I’m as lost as she is.

I don’t know what’s coming next, either. Truth be told, I haven’t known for a long time.

She’s dragged me into deeper waters than I ever knew existed.

Whatever she finds there, she steps aside with a sigh. “I just made a fresh pot of coffee if you want some.”

I don’t need more caffeine. My body has been humming all morning with an energy I can’t seem to exorcize. Now that Nova is in front of me, though, I have some ideas.

Fuck her against the door while the neighbors listen in.

Drag her to the floor and feast on her, couches and beds be damned.

Kiss her here. Kiss her there. Stroke the hair from her face and tell her what she’s come to mean to me.

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