Page 83 of Her Ruin

“I didn’t mean?—”

“I think you meant it exactly how you said it.” His look was cool. He held up the shirt. “I need to replace this before someone comes looking for me.”

“In your apartment upstairs?” Wow. I was just full of snarky outbursts.

He gave a tight smile. “Yeah. Exactly. It’s where my wife and three kids are. Want to come and meet them?”

It was my turn to give him a flat look. “But I’m the one behaving like a high schooler?”

“You’re fucking impossible sometimes, you know that, right?”

“Ugh. Just go change, we’re done here.” I scooped my jacket off the couch, ready to leave.

“I was wrong; maybe it’s a booty call room after all,” he said quietly behind me. “You just got the roles reversed in terms of who’s using who.”

“Oh no, you didn’t!” I whirled on him. He was right behind me, and I came up short as I realized how close he was. “Oh.”

Zayn looked down at me, anger glinting in his eyes. “You done?”

“No.” I swallowed. “Maybe.Yes.” I crossed my arms and looked away. “I don’t know.”

“Do you want to talk about it?” he asked, his tone even.

“No.” I shuffled my feet. “I think it’s best forgotten.”

He pushed my hair away from my face. “I think you’re going to have to face the reality of the situation sooner or later.”

“I’m not stupid,” I muttered. “I know what this is.”

“And what is that?”

I met his steady stare. “Really? We’re having the talk now with you shirtless and us just having had...”

“Sex.” He said it firmly. “I’m not ashamed of what we’re doing. I don’t broadcast it because it is no one else’s business except Rye’s, especially when the club’s open.” He ran his eyes over me. “You need to have a conversation with yourself. Otherwise, this isn’t going to work.”

“And this is?” I sassed at him, my inner teenage drama queen suddenly surfacing after being dormant my whole life.

“Fun.” The word was final. “We’re two people who enjoy spending time naked with each other.”

“What happens in the bottom club?”

Zayn didn’t react to my question. He merely held my stare with that sane, steady gaze. “Deflecting doesn’t make you clever, Is.”

“Youjust deflected.”

“And we’re back to being a teenage brat.” He inhaled. “Okay, I’m going back to work.” He pulled the soiled shirt back on.

“It’s got blood on it,” I reminded him weakly.

“Yeah, seems to be a theme.” He moved past me, and I thought he was going to leave me when he turned back, and in three steps, he was crushing his lips to mine in a harsh, punishing kiss. He pulled back and looked down at me. “When we’re together, nothing else seems to count.” He grabbed my ass. “But this bullshit tonight? You’re obviously not happy with this arrangement. Sort out what you need to and then come and talk.”

“I don’t need to,” I replied, my voice trembling with a mix of defiance and desire.

He kissed my forehead. “You do.” His thumb brushed over my cheek. “I need to go to work. I didn’t intend for this to happen here,” he said, and I believed him. “You’re just hard to resist now that I know what it feels like to be inside you.” He glanced at his watch. “Should I walk you out?”

Shaking my head, I saw the flare of disappointment he quickly masked. “No, I’m, um,” I sighed. “I’ll manage.”

“You have time to work on it.” He headed to the entrance. “Good night.”

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