Page 30 of Ruining Him (McKinley Ranch Duet 2)

Emily

“Wow!” I don’t think I’ve ever been in a nightclub bathroom this fancy. The floors and walls are covered in white marble tiles. There is a chandelier—a huge, blingy chandelier—in the middle of the room. There’s a row of vanity tables with pink fluffy stools. This must be how the other half lives.

“Yeah, I had it redecorated to be more feminine,” Ella says as she takes in the bathroom.

“I’m almost too afraid to pee in here. It’s too nice.” I laugh.

Just then, Ella’s phone starts blaring. “Go pee. I’m just gonna step outside and take this.”

I nod and head into the stall. I can hear the sound of heels clicking on the tiles as I finish up, straighten my dress and flush the loo. I head out to the basin. Just before I reach the sink, I’m yanked back by my hair. My whole body freezes. My eyes shut. I can’t open them. He’s found me. He’s not dead; he’s here.

My body drops to the floor. “You stupid fucking bitch. You ruined everything.” A high-pitched squeal echoes through the room. That’s a female’s voice; that’s not him. It’s not him. I’m okay. Well, I will be once I get off this damn floor.

I open my eyes just in time to see the hand flying towards my face and landing with a sharp sting. I smile at her. If that’s her worst, she’s about to be really bloody sorry for hitting me. I want to know what it is I ruined though. So, before I retaliate, I ask her, “Do I know you?”

I know exactly who she is. She’s the stupid bitch who was at Josh’s penthouse a few weeks ago. But the look that crosses her face is priceless.

“I’m the future Mrs. Joshua McKinley, bitch. He. Is. Mine. I know he was almost ready to pop the question before you came on the scene.”

I think she’s delusional. There is no way Josh would consider marrying someone like her. The thought that he even slept with her is disturbing enough. “Look, clearly you’ve let Josh fuck you. So, I’m sure you know that he has a name inked across his heart. That’s my name, idiot. He was never yours.” I push her off me and sit up. “He will never be yours.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. I don’t care what name he has on his skin. It will be my name on that marriage certificate. That’s all that matters.” She stands up and opens the little clutch she’s holding, pulling out a knife.

Well, that puts a damper on my night. How do I get myself out of here? I look to the door and she steps in front of me.

“No one’s coming to help you. You won’t be walking out of this bathroom.” She leans down into my face. Holding the knife at my throat, she says, “I’m going to enjoy fucking you out of his system.” Then, as if on cue, the door slams open and Josh storms in.

Without a word, he effortlessly picks Whitney up. “I thought I warned you about going anywhere near Emily.”

“Josh, she attacked me. Don’t let her do this to us.” Josh laughs, before his face becomes passive. Blank.

“You should have stayed away,” he says as he grabs the knife out of her hands and slices it right across her throat. She lets out a gurgled sound, and then nothing. The room goes silent.

I can’t stop the gasp that comes out. I’ve never seen anything so graphically violent, aside from my own beatings… and what I did to Trent. But those instances were different… the memories are blurred. Frenzied. I wasn’t in the background, witnessing everything like I am now. Josh looks at me. “Fuck.” He drops her body, stepping over her. There’s blood, so much blood. It’s the only thing I can focus on. The blood pooling around her neck…

“Emmy, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that in front of you.” Josh squats down on the floor next to me.

He shouldn’t have done that at all. I know that. It’s on the tip of my tongue to say. I should say it. But I can’t, even though I know what he’s done is wrong. I also know what I’ve done is wrong. I can’t look at him and not still be completely and utterly in love with him. Is this what crazy is? I know they say love is blind, but this is beyond that.

“Josh, we need to clean this mess up. Zac said no blood baths, remember? That kinda looks like a blood bath.” I nod my head to the body, now limp and framed in red.

“Yeah, babe, don’t worry about it. Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

I shake my head no. I’m not hurt. “I’m okay. Are… are you okay?” I ask him.

“I’m fine. Emmy, can I pick you up?”

Why is he asking to pick me up? It dawns on me that he hasn’t touched me at all. He’s just been sitting in front of me. I nod my head yes. Josh picks me up and settles me on the vanity bench. His hand comes up and brushes my hair away from my face.

“Fuck. Shit. Don’t move. Let me clean that.” He reaches for a towel from the pile sitting on the bench opposite us. My hands grab his shirt, and I pull him back to me. My lips find his. I lose myself in this kiss, in him. This is what I need. I need him.

He kisses me back tentatively at first, keeping his hands away from me. I need him to touch me. I know it’s all kinds of fucked up. I should be disgusted right now. I should be running for the damn hills. But this is the man my soul connects with on such a deep level. Right now, I need to feel our connection more than anything, and he’s holding back. I don’t know why. He’s never held back like this before.

I wrap my legs around his waist and pull him in closer. I can feel the hardness of his cock against my centre. Moaning into his mouth, I rub myself on him. Something snaps in Josh in that exact moment. His hands go straight for my hair, tilting my head back and angling my mouth at a slant that gives him a deeper vantage point. His tongue duels with mine as we both fight for control of the kiss.

Josh trails one hand down my back, pulling me closer to him as he grinds on me. I’m wet, the lace of my panties doing nothing to contain my arousal. I can feel my excitement sticking to my inner thighs.

“Mmm, Josh, I need you,” I murmur into his mouth. His response is to growl, biting down on my lower lip.

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