Page 15 of Ruin

Seeing the Voragon in the middle tense to move, she darted out of the alcove before she could second-guess herself, using her small stature to her advantage to quickly weave between bodies.

A flash of pale skin and black tattoos had her shifting direction.

Inhaling, she fought down the fear Vargot had beaten into her about speaking above a whisper and forced herself to call out, “There you are!”

His head snapped toward her, yellow eyes widening before narrowing with concern.

She glanced furtively at the Voragons, then focused back on Ruin and pasted on a happy smile. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you, my mate.”

Without pausing, she strode right up to him, pushed up on tiptoe, and hooked her fingers over his shoulders, pressing her body intimately close to his.

For a split second, he was stiff with surprise, but then his gaze flicked to where she’d just looked and understanding dawned. He relaxed into her, those massive hands coming to rest on her hips.

“Been right here, waitin’ on you, little bird. D’you get lost?”

Lira bit her lip and nodded, wincing apologetically.

“C’mere,” he rumbled, drawing her closer.

Her heart lurched as he bent, dipping his head to brush his lips tentatively against hers. Sucking in a quick breath, she froze, stunned by the contact.

And then she melted into him.

Ruin made a sound low in his throat and slid one hand up her back, burying his fingers in the hair at the nape of her neck. Slanting his mouth over hers, he kissed her. Truly kissed her.

The noise and bustle faded away. There was only this, only him.

All thoughts of acting, of pretending for the Voragons' benefit, fled as desire blazed through her veins.

When his tongue flicked her upper lip, she opened for him with a moan, fingers spasming on his shoulders. His taste, smoky and exotic, flooded her senses. His scent enveloped her—dark and decadent, laced with the haunting sweetness ofXhendanleaves.

Growling, he straightened, lifting her until she wasn’t touching the ground at all. And then he devoured her, claiming her mouth with a hunger that made arousal bloom hot and slick between her thighs. Gods, she craved his touch like she'd never craved anything before. Every nerve ending sang with heightened awareness of him.

All too soon, he began to pull back, placing one last lingering kiss on her swollen lips. When he set her on her feet, she swayed dazedly, lips tingling, breath coming in soft pants.

Blinking up at him, she found his golden eyes had darkened to molten amber, the slit pupils blown wide with undisguised hunger. For a moment, his gaze burned into hers with such piercing intensity she wondered if he was going to snatch her back up for another go.

But then he swallowed, attention shifting over her shoulder.

“C’mon, little bird. Need to get outta here.”

Chapter 6

Ruin remained watchful as they got off the lift on level six and wove through the crowded pathways. Lira remained glued to his side, her delicate frame all but swallowed by his bulk as he shielded her from the jostle of bodies.

Throwing a glance over one shoulder, he scanned the throngs for a tail, ears perked. Satisfied, he slipped down a narrow side passage, the sounds of the main thoroughfare fading as they delved deeper.

“Where are we going?” Lira asked.

“There’s a quieter market down this way. Figured you’d feel safer with a smaller crowd.”

Her fingers tightened around his in silent gratitude. “You sure are thoughtful for an assassin,” she murmured with a playful lilt.

He snorted. “Only with you.”

“Mm, that just makes it better,” she whispered.

The words were said so softly he was sure she hadn’t meant for him to hear. But he had.

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