Page 34 of Made For Ruin

“I do trust you, Marcus. More than I probably should. But I can’t just abandon my life for you.”

I press my forehead to hers, struggling to rein in my need to just throw her over my shoulder again and end this discussion.

“I’m not asking you to abandon anything. The diner will be fine. We’ll make this work.” I tip her chin up, holding her gaze. “Say you’ll stay with me, Lainey. Say you’re mine.”

Her lips part on a soft gasp, pupils blown wide. I can practically feel her wrestling with herself, wanting to give in but scared to let go.

She pauses, worrying her lower lip between her teeth.

“Can I at least have a few days? To figure out how to make this work?”

My jaw clenches at the thought of being away from her for even a day, let alone multiple. But I force myself to take a breath, knowing I need to handle this carefully.

“How long?” I ask gruffly.

“Until Friday? That will give me time to talk to Ruby and get organized at the diner.”

Five days. Fuck. It feels like an eternity.

I want to refuse, to tell her that’s not an option. That she’s mine now, and I’m not letting her out of my sight. But the rational part of my brain knows that will only push her away.

I exhale harshly through my nose, my grip on her hip flexing. “Fine. You can have until Friday.”

Lainey nods quickly, relief washing over her delicate features. “Thank you for understanding.”

I lean down and capture her lips in a hard, possessive kiss.

“Don’t thank me yet, baby. Because come Friday, I’m not letting you leave this cabin. Understand?”

Her breath hitches, arousal darkening her blue eyes.

“Yes. I understand.”

“Good.” I nip at her lower lip before reluctantly pulling back. “Now, come sit back down so I can finish feeding you before I take you to the diner.”

Lainey lets me lead her back to my lap, no longer arguing when I continue feeding her bites of omelet. I relish every brush of my fingers against her soft lips, the warm weight of her in my arms. I want to memorize everything about her in this moment.

When the plate is empty, I press a kiss to her temple and breathe in the sweet scent of her hair.

“Alright, baby. Let’s get you dressed so I can take you back.”

She nods and climbs off my lap, padding to the bedroom I watch her go, already counting down the hours until I can have her back in my bed.

NINE

LAINEY

Two hours later,Marcus’s truck rumbles to a stop in front of my apartment building. My hands fidget in my lap as reality crashes back in.

Last night feels like a dream. But now we’re here, in the harsh light of day, and I have no idea what happens next.

I’ve never done anything like this before. Never been the girl who gets swept off her feet, who spends the night with a man she’s barely spoken to. Never been the girl who lets herself want something this dangerous, this complicated. The confident woman who responded to Marcus’s every touch last night feels like a stranger now.

“Well, this is me.” I gesture vaguely at the weathered building, cringing at how awkward I sound. “Thanks for... everything.”

A low chuckle fills the cab. “You’re welcome, baby.” The endearment rolls off his tongue, rich and warm, like he’s been calling me that for years instead of hours. “Want me to walk you up?”

Part of me desperately wants to invite him inside. But I think about my tiny apartment with its secondhand furniture and peeling paint. About the dishes I left in the sink yesterdaymorning. Marcus’s cabin was all clean lines and masculine elegance. My place would feel like a child’s playhouse in comparison.

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