Page 34 of Ruin

She gasped, a jolt of desire shooting through her core. “R- Ruin?”

Yellow eyes locked onto her. They were usually so soft when he stared at her, but they were wild and unfocused now, pupils blown wide. Gods, he looked ravenous.

Slowly, awareness returned. He blinked and pulled away from her, uttering a string of curses that made her cheeks flame.

“Fuck,” he snarled, voice raw. “Lira, I- shit.”

“What’s wrong? Are you in pain?”

Movement drew her gaze down his body. Her breath caught in her throat at the sight of a prominent bulge straining against his pants. Another scan of his expression and she understood it wasn’t pain making him writhe.

“What’s going on? Why… ” she trailed off, unsure how to even word the question.

“It’s the poison,” he gritted out. “It’ll wear off, eventually.”

“You knew it would… do this to you?”

He nodded tightly.

She'd never seen him like this—so undone, so vulnerable, his control hanging by a thread. It both thrilled and terrified her.

“What can I do?” she whispered, aching to soothe him somehow. “Tell me how to help.”

A war of emotions played across his features. Desire. Shame. Need. He reached for her, then stopped himself.

“You can't,” he growled. “Just- just stay back. I'll be fine.”

He was far from fine. Every muscle was coiled tight, trembling with restraint.

She inched closer, despite his warning. “Let me help. Please?”

His nostrils flared as he inhaled sharply. “You don't know what you're offerin’.”

“Then tell me,” she insisted, voice stronger now. “I'm not afraid.”

His laugh was dark, pained. “Maybe you should be.”

“Maybe. But I’m not.” She hesitated, but swallowed hard and whispered, “I want you, Ruin.”

A groan tore its way up his throat. “Gods, bird, I wish that was true.”

A flicker of hurt moved through her. “Itistrue.” At the unconvinced look he gave her, she tightened her lips. “Did last night not prove that?”

“Last night was fuckin’ incredible,” he growled, hips bucking upward in a small, involuntary movement. “But I also know you needed that release, needed that to?—”

She knew where he was going and cut him off. “You’re wrong. Last night happened because I wanted you. Not because I feel obligated, and not because you saved me. I wantyou, Ruin. All of you.”

His eyes narrowed, his expression a mix of desire and disbelief. There was a long, weighted pause and then he rasped, “Prove it.”

A rush of heat flooded her, making her skin prickle. Every part of her was suddenly hyper aware—of his closeness, of the danger, of how badly she wanted him.

Without breaking eye contact, she reached for his hand and guided it beneath the hem of her skirt. Pulse fluttering wildly in her throat, she gradually drew it up her thigh, higher and higher. They both sucked in a breath when she pressed his palm against her bare pussy. If she hadn’t been sitting, her knees would’ve buckled at the intensity of it.

“Can you feel how wet I am for you?” she whispered, voice trembling with need.

She searched his face, seeking something—permission, perhaps, or a spark of the same desperate hunger that was consuming her.

Ruin groaned, a guttural, animalistic sound that made her clit throb. His fingers twitched against her, sending sparks of pleasure shooting up her spine. She gasped, her whole body tightening as if it might snap from the force of her arousal. It was almost physically painful to keep herself from rocking against his hand.

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