Page 60 of Ruined

Way to sound like a spoiled brat.

“You forgot something.”

Jumping in my seat, my head swings around, eyes snapping up, finding Ryker staring down at me.

“What are you talking about?” Jace asks. I can hear him placing the plates down on the table, but I don’t turn around. And neither does Ryker. Are we having a moment? I can’t tell. I’m only confident when there’s conflict. I’m protecting myself, but now with him standing over me, looking scary, all I can think about is him cuddling me early this morning. Answering my questions and fuck, he wascuddlingme.

“You made pancakes. You’re getting fruit,” Ryker looks away from me finally. Swinging around, I shrug at Jace, confused about what Ryker was trying to get at.

“Spell it out for me, Ryker. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Where’s her cinnamon rolls?” Ryker asks, stepping out from behind me.

Jace glances down at me before looking back up at Ryker. I feel like I’m caught in the middle, and all because I’m a brat and love cinnamon rolls. I don’t want them to fight but I don’t get a chance to wave my hands around, to try and explain that it’s fine before Jace is answering him.

“I thought something with a little protein in it would be better for you two since you’re taking her around the woods today.”

My face and neck heat, realizing Jace must have heard our conversation. Which means he knew Ryker was behind me, and my throat fell into my stomach. I have no idea if they know I am messing around with both of them. It would make sense if they knew since Ryker handed me off to Jace early this morning. But that doesn’t necessarily mean they know.They’re men for fuck’s sake, and men are blind to almost everything.

“Where’s the cinnamon roll from this morning?” Ryker asks.

“Still in the room.”

I frown, my head bouncing back and forth between them. Having a whole conversation as if I’m not even here. Folding my arms over my chest, I sit back, flexing my fingers. I usually would pull my hood over my head, to hide away from the tension. But I feel safe for a moment; I know they won’t judge the scars, but now I’m feeling too vulnerable.

“Promise me you’ll at least eat half the pancake; there’s some protein in it. I don’t want you passing out while you’re out there,” Jace says, gaining my attention.

Looking up, I cock my head to the side. Something changed and I’m not sure what. After Ryker choked me, I was so upset with Jace for not stopping it. Or I blamed my anger on that. Truthfully, I was upset that I enjoyed it so much. I wanted Ryker’s hands on me again. I wanted to feel his fingers stretching around my throat, forcing the air from my lungs. I wanted Jace to watch as I enjoyed the pain, and then I wanted Jace to ask me if I was okay. To make me feel okay that I liked what his psycho friend did to me. So, while I locked Jace out of his own room, I formed my plan to invade Ryker’s room. What I hadn’t expected was to be fucked with a knife and then whipped with a belt.

“Here,” Ryker snaps. Pressing my lips together, I look at what he slides onto the table, a Hostess cinnamon roll sits there.

How did you know I like cinnamon rolls?I sign.

“Jace had me pick them up at the store and I’ve never known Jace to eat them,” Ryker says, reaching over to grab a plate. Pressing my lips together, I’m unsure how to feel about it. Ryker is being nice to me, and it’s odd. He wantssomething, but I’m not sure what. Jace even tilts his head to the side, looking at Ryker as if he grew two heads.

“I’ll be outside chopping wood,” Ryker announces. He turns around without waiting for Jace to say anything, or for me to sign.

Peering at Jace over my shoulder, we share the same look. Something changed in Ryker, and I wasn’t sure if it was all that good.

I sit outside on the steps of the cabin, watching Ryker chop wood. It’s probably one of the hottest things I’ve seen in my twenty years of life.

While I stare at Ryker, I can feel Jace’s eyes on me. Grabbing my whiteboard from beside me, I writeWhy are you staring?on it. Handing it over without even so much as moving my head, Jace chuckles before taking it.

“Maybe you’re just so beautiful.”

Rolling my eyes, the corner of my lips tip up. I’m not sure how he could think that. I’m scarred and damaged.

“You are beautiful, Sunshine.”

I look at Jace, searching for the lie. He has to be lying. It makes me feel weird and I’m not sure how to handle it. It’s easier with Ryker, he calls me things that those men said when we were taken. It’s messed up that I’d rather be called a whore than beautiful.

“Do you like him more?” Jace whispers, his eyes flicking between Ryker and me. My eyebrows pull together, and my fingers go numb. I swear I feel my heartfall into my stomach. How can he think that? “Most girls do, the mask usually does it. He’s just…he’s more dominant and controlling. I would unders—” I don’t know where I got the sudden pair of balls, but I slam my lips against his. Jace doesn’t move his lips and neither do I.

I can feel Ryker’s eyes on us, but instead of deterring me away, I find myself getting turned on with the idea of him watching Jace and me. I’m not sure who moves their lips first, but it’s Jace who shoves his tongue into my mouth.

His hand tightens on my thigh before he reaches around my neck, dragging me further into him. Our tongues fight for dominance and all I want to do is hand myself over to him. I might not know everything that happened to Jace when he was younger, besides the small bits he’s given me. But I trust him. I can’t explain the depth of faith I have in Jace.

My tongue slides across his lips and into his mouth, curling around his tongue. I need more of him, more of both, but especially Jace. I lift my hands to his face, needing to feel his skin under my palms. Jace bites down on my tongue, my hands gripping the roots of his hair. I know I’m messing his hair up, but he doesn’t seem to mind.

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