Page 69 of Ruin

“Fuck, yes, I’m sure,” he interrupted. “Never been more sure of anythin’ in my life.”

Her joy was palpable, and the smile she gifted him so wide it made little dimples appear in her cheeks.

Clutching her hands to her chest, she bounced on her toes. “Now you.”

He blinked. “Me?”

“Mmhm.” She nodded, still grinning and staring up at him with wide-eyed expectation.

He was missing something.

“You want to keep me, too, right?” she prompted.

“Gods, yes. I’d cut out my two left lungs to keep you.” He cupped her face and bent until they were almost nose to nose. “I love you. So fuckin’ much it feels like I can’t hold it all. I’ll follow you to the ends of the universe. You’re mine, little bird. Forever. You are the suns and the moons and all the stars. You are all and more. You are my reason and my purpose. There will never come a time when I am not yours.”

“Ruin—” Her eyes sparkled with a sheen of wetness, then closed as he swept down and stole the kiss he’d been desperate for.

The taste of her, the little mewl she made, the way she grabbed at him as if she never wanted to let go—it all went straight to his heart then arrowed down to his cock.

He’d never get enough of her, but he’d happily die trying to sate his need—not just for her body, but for her mind, her wit, her spirit.

She was his, and now that she’d agreed, he’d never let her go.

Chapter 23

Lira pried her eyes open when Ruin pulled back from the kiss only to suck in a soft breath at the expression on his face. She'd seen him look at her with desire, with affection, even with that soft warmth she now knew was love.

But this… this was different.More.

There was heat and adoration in that gaze, yes, but they were stronger now. Primal. Possessive.

It sent a shiver down her spine that had nothing to do with fear and everything to do with the way her body instinctively responded to him.

Transfixed, she watched as his nostrils flared. The muscle in his jaw twitched as he clenched his teeth as though he were holding himself back. Then, his lips parted, and she found herself holding her breath.

“Say it again,” he growled.

She grinned, knowing exactly what he wanted. "You'remine."

With a low groan, he grabbed her ass and lifted her straight off her feet. In a matter of strides, her back met the soft cushion of the bed.

Ruin loomed over her, that big frame casting a shadow that made her feel small, delicate. It was a feeling she used to hate, but now, with him? Gods, it was addictive.

She reached up and lightly traced the lines of the tattoos on his cheeks, down his throat, to his pecs.

He captured her wrist, brought her hand to his lips, and kissed her palm tenderly, then lightly scraped his fangs across her skin. The breath caught in her throat and she could almost feel her pupils dilating with want.

“Lira,” he growled, her name a rough caress. “D’you know what you do to me?”

She bit her lower lip, half-shy, half-bold. “Show me?”

Lips curled into a wolfish smile, he lowered himself slowly, deliberately, until their bodies were flush. The weight of him pressed her into the bed, letting her feel every hard line of muscle, every ridged contour of his torso against her softness.

But most of her focus was on the erect length of his cock throbbing against her thighs.

Her core pulsed eagerly, anticipating, craving the feeling of his thickness inside her once more.

He claimed her mouth again, this time with a searing passion that left no room for doubt about how much he wanted her. This wasn't just desire—it was need, raw and all-consuming.

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