Page 217 of Ruins
“I am, but…” She pauses, her gaze dropping. “It’s not the same,” she murmurs.
I exhale, the weight of her words pressing against my chest like a vice. “I see,” I say, barely above a whisper, as I push off the bed, needing space before my guilt consumes me. She sits up quickly, her worry unmistakable.
“Are you upset?” she asks, her voice trembling.
I shake my head, forcing a tight-lipped smile that barely holds. “No, I just want to get out of these clothes,” I lie, my voice hollow. I kick off my shoes and socks, unbuttoning my shirt and tossing it into the closet. My hands shake slightly as I undo my belt, the weight of her unspoken sacrifices pressing down on me.
When I glance back, I catch her watching me, her eyes darkened with longing. For a moment, the tension between us eases, her lips curving into a playful smile.
“Why don’t you come cuddle?” she purrs, her voice laced with something between a plea and a dare.
I chuckle, shaking my head slightly. “Cuddle, huh?”
She nods, her teeth sinking into her lower lip in a way that makes my pulse race. She’s effortlessly the sexiest woman I’ve ever seen, and she has no idea just how much she affects me.
“If you want something, you have to ask… explicitly,” I tease, my voice dipping lower, watching as she squirms under my gaze.
Her lips curve into a sweet, innocent smile, but her eyes gleam with mischief.
“I really just want you to lay down with me. If you do, I’ll give youanythingyou want.”
Her words are a slow-burning fuse, igniting something deep inside me. I slide the belt free, letting it slip from my fingers and hit the floor with a quiet, deliberate thud. I close the distance between us slowly, savoring the way her breath hitches with every step. “That’s a dangerous thing to offer a man like me.”
“Maybe I like danger,” she whispers, her voice soft yet laced with challenge.
I smirk, leaning in. “No, you think you do,” I murmur, my lips ghosting over hers before I finally claim them in a slow, consuming kiss. Her arms loop around my neck, pulling me closer.
She’s intoxicating, her every touch, every sigh, sending my resolve teetering on the edge. When I deepen the kiss, she lets out a soft moan—needy, perfect, and wholly mine.
But then, I stop.
I pull away, even as her lips chase mine, lingering in the space where I was. A pang of hesitation grips me, and I shift, settling beside her instead. The confusion in her eyes is a knife to my gut, but I can’t go on; not with this weight pressing against my ribs.
“What’s wrong? Did something happen with my mom?” she asks, her voice tender but tinged with worry. She props herself up on her elbow, her brows drawn together in concern.
“No, no she’s fine, safe,” I assure her, but then I hesitate, the words lodging in my throat. With a steadying breath, I ask, “Do you feel trapped here?”
“Trapped?” she repeats, her voice rising with uncertainty.
“Yes,” I say carefully. “Like… under watch. Under my thumb.”
Her gaze flicks upward, to the camera positioned in the corner of the room. “You mean because of the cameras?” she asks, her voice thoughtful.
“Yes.”
She smirks, shrugging a little. “I mean, they’re weird and invasive, sure. And I don’t like when you take people away from me because of what youthinkyou see. But I understand why you have them.”
Her words sting, even if they’re delivered with a soft smile.
“I don’t take people away,” I say defensively, trying to keep my tone light as I give her a mock angry glare. “And I’ve already fixed that.”
Her giggle breaks through the tension, a sound so pure it makes my chest tighten. I can’t help but smile as I reach out to caress her cheek.
“So… you don’t want to leave?” I ask, the words slipping out before I can stop them.
She chuckles softly, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “If Ididleave, would you try to find me?”
My expression grows serious, my voice low and unwavering. “I would tear through heaven and hell to find you. Until the world ceases to exist.”
