Page 12 of Ruin

That’s when he strikes.

Charlie launches himself across the balcony, open palms slamming into the front of my shoulders. The back of my skull collides with the rough brick of the external wall, a thud reverberates around the inside of my head. A flash of white flares across my vision and then his blade is digging into the hollow of my throat, his voice hissing in my ear.

“Donotfuckwith me.”

I drop my head back against the wall, his knife following, pricking the hollowed space of my throat. I swallow, feeling the blade, heat runs across my skin like liquid, head tilted back, gaze cast down. I stare into his eyes. Wide, knowing, accusatory. I think of the men Idohave stationed in his territory, as I am sure, he has in mine, and I feel the smirk curl my mouth before I can stop it.

His hips carve into my own, his bare chest against mine, I breathe deep, think of the tip of his bladejustpuncturing skin and I sag further against the brick.

“We’re doing this dance again?” I taunt, thinking of the last time he were here, too many years ago. “What did she do this time?” I chuckle, “Such a fucking predicament you seem to find yourself in every timeshe’sinvolved.” The knife digs in deeper, my skin flushes hotter and my smirk morphs into a grin. “So beautiful, isn’t she? All those striking scars, big grey eyes. And, I must say,Lalalooks simplystunningin red, doesn’t she, Baby Boy?”

That’s what sends him over the edge.

It’s always her.

The hold she has over him.

I fucking hate it.

I want it to be me.

The blade drives into my shoulder so fast I don’t feel it right away. I blink, but I don’t move. My heart thuds loud in my ears, chest banging with the harsh beat of it. Warmth trickles down my left arm, seeping into my white shirt. I can smell the blood, but I still don’t feel the wound. Not until, slowly, those big green eyes on mine, pupils blown wide, raging fire in their irises, he twists the blade. Withdrawing it agonisingly slowly, a short sharp breath is sucked in through my nose, the icy air making me cough, my shoulder spiking with pain. I swallow my groan, a low simmering laugh spilling from my lips in its place.

Because I know he knows what he’s doing.

And he hates that I know he would never hurt me.

Not in a way I didn’t like.

Our breathing comes hard, our chests heaving, but neither one of us moves. Eyes locked in a tense stare, the smile falls from my lips. It’s been years. Since he has appeared like this. And I find myself almost not knowing what to do. But then I swallow, eyes flicking between his, and I see something there that is all too familiar.

“Lick up your mess, Baby Boy, and don’t miss a fucking drop.”

Chapter7

Kazimir

Charlie hesitates.

Something I am not familiar with. But it has been years. And as much as I believe us to be tethered in a way, I don’t think, anyone could understand, it is possible I do not know him all that well anymore. But as it still stands, I am not a patient man.

My fingers wind into the roots of his white blonde hair like a slithering serpent and I yank his face into my shoulder. His nose crashes into my collarbone, his teeth immediately driving into the parted flesh of my shoulder. His pointed canines tearing into the wound through my open shirt as I suffocate him against me. His arms fly up between us, forearms knocking mine away. My fingers are torn from his hair and he’s falling back, away from me, trying to get his footing on the stone flooring.

His nostrils flare, my blood on his cheek, chin, the tip of his nose.

Fuck, he looks like sin.

“Fuck you,” he seethes, chest heaving, fists clenched at his sides, he lifts an arm, swipes it across his bloody face, smearing the crimson higher, up and along his cheekbone.

“We could,” I smirk lazily, dragging my eyes down his sculpted body, “but I do so enjoy our foreplay,Malysh.”

“Shut the fuck up,” he spits back, spittle like acid droplets falling to the ground.

“Why’d you come, Charlie?” I ask lowly, chin dipped, warm blood dribbling down my chest. “Why here?” I push off of the wall, taking a single step, slide my hands into my pockets. “Why me?”

He stares at me, face etched with anger, the tension rises and this always only ever goes one of two ways.

“Huh?” I shrug with the question. “You thought you could come here and try to what?”

---