Page 28 of Shades of Ruin

Jesus Christ. “This is crazy.”

“You only have a couple minutes left. Better decide quickly.”

“Fine!” I shriek. “Fine. Tell me how to do it.” My cheeks are burning as I wait for him to instruct me on how to shove a piece of peeled ginger inside me.

“Pull down your jeans and panties and bend over the counter like you did for me last night.” Internally berating myself, I do as he says and fold my upper body over the black quartz. “Put the ginger in your mouth and suck on it. Make sure you get it plenty wet because it’s the only lube you’re gonna get.”

Parting my lips, I slide the ginger into my mouth, the citrusy tang sparking against my tongue. Just to fuck with him, I close my eyes, hollow out my cheeks, and suck the ginger down, making sure to moan loudly.

“I wouldn’t play around. Any minute, someone will walk in here and see you with your dripping wet cunt on display. I’m certainly enjoying the view.” Thoroughly chastised, I pull the ginger from my mouth with a pop and slide it down between my legs. “Where’s it going, angel?”

Putting food in my pussy doesn’t seem like a good idea, so I go for the only other option I have. “M-my ass.”

“Perfect.” I can hear the fucking smile in his voice. “Reachback with one hand and pull those gorgeous, plump cheeks apart.” I obey, equal parts embarrassment and arousal sending my heart into overdrive. “Good girl,” he hums. “Now slide it in.”

I try, but the pressure of the ginger invading my ass hurts just as much as you’d think it would. “I-I can’t.”

“Oh yes you can, angel. Bear down and push it in at the same time.” Holding my breath, I listen to his instructions, gasping when the peeled root slips past the tight ring of muscle and slides into my ass. “There you go. Such a pretty whore with your ass filled up. How does it feel?”

“It burns,” I answer with a wince. I clench my thighs together, but that only makes it worse.

“Just wait until it really kicks in,” he chuckles. “Better pull up your pants. Time’s up.”

“You expect me toworkwith this thing inside me?” There’s no way in hell I’ll last. The sting of the ginger in my ass is getting more intense by the second.

“Of course. I told you I wouldn’t be any nicer in the kitchen. Consider this your torture for the day.”

“I hate you,” I hiss while shucking my pants up over my ass and buttoning them.

“Don’t lie, angel. I’ll punish you the next time you do.”

“Thisispunishment.”

“No, Angélica—this isplaytime. When I’m punishing you, you’ll know the fucking difference. Understand?”

Fuck he’s serious. “Yes, chef,” I respond on instinct.

“Good.”

I’m distracted from the temptation to tell him tofuck offwhen Liam runs into the kitchen with a panicked look on his face. It’s enough to make me forget the part he played in my humiliation last night. At least for now.

“Chef, Chicago PD just stormed the dining room,” Liam blurts, his words a breathless gasp.

“What do they want?” Greyson and I ask in unison, neither of us sounding particularly innocent. He and I exchange a charged glance, and I think I’m in for an interrogation even if I don’t end up in a police station today. Putting it to the side for now, Greyson turns his attention back to Liam.

“Something about a murder,” the young chef answers finally.

Fuck.They couldn’t have connected it to me. I’ve been too careful. Anxiety pins me in place, and I couldn’t run even if I wanted to.

Greyson isn’t looking at me; his darkened eyes are fixed solely on the chef who brought the news. There’s so much tension in his body, I fear he’d crack if I touched him. “Who are they here for, Liam?”

“They have an arrest warrant for you, chef.”

My eyes dart up to Greyson’s, but his expression is closed off—I can’t read a goddamn thing about what’s going on in his head right now. And honestly, I’m not sure if I shouldwantto.

Greyson nods, accepting the startling information as though Liam merely said we’d have a late delivery today. “Keep things as quiet as you can, Liam. Tell them I’ll come without a fight. They don’t need to disturb the restaurant or my employees.”

“Yes, chef,” Liam affirms before hurrying back to the dining room.

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