Page 112 of Ruin Me Gently

Lilith

Oh, and I’d like my scarf in black. Thanks.

I stoppeddead in my tracks and my grip tightened around my phone, thumb hovering over the screen.

Bring my A-game? What did that mean? Did she want more than what I’d been giving her?

Heat curled at the base of my spine, pulling tight through every nerve, stretching up through my ribcage, winding into the tendons in my neck and jaw until it felt like my whole body was strung on a single, burning thread.

I couldn’t fuck her. IknewI couldn’t do that.

I couldn’t risk giving her everything. I knew how it ended. I couldn’t do that to her.

But she deserved more than what I’d been giving to her. Hell, she deserved everything.

That was the problem.

If I lost all control—if she got too close—it wouldn’t end with me inside her.

It ended with her hurt. Broken. Worse…

I clenched my fists as I carried on walking, trying to shove the thought down.

I couldn’t give her me.

Notallof me. But I could give her something close.

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

Imoved through theshelves, straightening stacks, running my fingers over the spines, letting the scent of paper and ink soothe the restless itch that was crackling just under the surface of my skin.

Maybe I was tired. Maybe it was the long shifts, the cold weather, the fact that I was surviving on caffeine and reckless decision-making.

Or maybe it was the fact that in just a few minutes, I’d lock up the store, and he’d be there. Waiting for me.

Not that I was looking forward to it. Obviously.

I was just mentally preparing myself for whatever broody bullshit he’d bring tonight. That was it. Nothing else.

I needed to finish up in the stacks, count the till, grab my stuff, turn off the lights. Simple. Easy.

But the bell above the door chimed.

Shit.

“Sorry, we’re closed!” My voice rang out, already prepared for the awkward shuffle of someone realising they’d missed the cut-off.

But no one responded.

The hairs on the back of my neck lifted.

I pressed my fingertips against the edge of the shelf, grounding myself in the feel of solid wood beneath my palms. It was fine.

Then I heard it. Not a response, not a quiet shuffle toward the exit.

Footsteps. Slow, measured footsteps.

Ice slithered down my spine, wrapping tight around my muscles. My pulse stuttered, instincts waking up, ready to make themselves known.

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