Page 21 of Ruin

Fuck. I had hoped to go, but Mimi knew I’d stay and help her through this. She needed to know someone had her back from home, someone who also wasn’t her brother.

“You’ve got me, honey,” I told her.

She smiled sadly over at me and then wiped at her eyes. “I’ll go and see if Mother needs anything.”

“All right,” Taro said, and we watched her walk from the room, but not before she reached out for my hand as she passed. I took it and gave her a reassuring squeeze. She breezed out the door with her head held high, but I knew it was an act.

I glanced back to Wolf and caught him quickly averting his gaze away from me. He nodded once and moved off towards the door.

“You sleep in your suits?” I blurted, and I didn’t know why.

He paused. “I sleep naked, but that’s not something you need to know, right?”

I swallowed. I didn’t. Why did he have to fucking say it though?

“Right,” I answered. He took a couple of steps. “Why’re you ignorin’ me?”Shut the fuck up, man. I didn’t care that I was no longer on his radar. It was better that way.

Then why did it burn my chest every time he kept quiet?

Christ, I should have kept my mouth shut.

Wolf turned slowly and cocked his head as he studied me. I ground my teeth together when my gut tightened.

Was the tightness for disgust about the way he looked at me with heat in his eyes?

Or did my gut act up for another reason?

Nope, fuck no, it was disgust.

There was no interest there. That was fucking laughable to even allow that random thought to brush through my mind. Especially since no other guy had caught my attention inthatway.

Then why did I keep talking to keep him here?

Why didIfeel like a shithead for snapping at him that morning in the kitchen?

Maybe it was because I didn’t want Wolf to think I hated gay people. I didn’t. I had many in my life and loved them all like family.

Wolf just got under my skin in a way I didn’t understand.

“You told me to fuck off, Ruin. I’ve fucked off.”

Lifting a hand, I ran it over my hair. “Look, I’m not homophobic or anything. I have gay people in my life back home. You scared the hell outta me that morning by sneaking up.”

He dragged his top teeth over his bottom lip, and I knew it was because he was trying to hide his smirk, but he failed. He took a step back my way. My heart skipped a fucking beat, and I suddenly felt like prey. It wasn’t good.

“Are you saying if I warn you beforehand, I can greet you as such again?”

“What? No.” I forced a laugh. Jesus, where did he get that idea from?

Wolf hummed under his breath before smiling.

“What’s that smile for?” I demanded. I didn’t trust it.

Wolf shrugged. I wished Mimi was back in the room or that I hadn’t stopped him when he went to walk out the first time.

“Are you attending the party tonight?” Wolf asked, taking another step my way.

I cursed under my breath when I backed up a step, and his smile turned wicked. I didn’t fucking retreat from anyone. Clenching my hands at my sides, I glared at the man before me. “No.” I wasn’t going to go to some swank party when I could look out for Mimi in our rooms since she wasn’t into it either… unless she just said that yesterday for my sake. Now I didn’t know.

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