Page 58 of Shades of Ruin

“Fine. Deal,” I choke out before he manages to drag me willingly to the shower for a fuck against the slippery tile wall—or floor.

“I’m going to punish you for making me wait,” he breathes across my skin. It’s a threat that sends shivers racing down my spine.

“Yeah, I’m counting on it,” I answer with a smirk. “Now go rinse off. You smell like sex.”

“Enjoy your moment of safety while you can, angel. I’m going to tear into you as soon as I get out.”

“Promises, promises,” I laugh before gathering the tray of dishes and heading for the kitchen.

I discover that the kitchen isn’t actually in a terrible state, so it won’t take me too long to wipe down and put everything in the dishwasher. I slide our plates into the sink, jolting when I notice alittle blonde head and a pair of blue eyes staring at me from across the counter. “Fuck,” I screech, clutching my chest in surprise. “How the hell did you get in here?”

The little girl of about five stares at me suspiciously. “You’re not Uncle Grey,” she accuses, staring me down likeI’mthe one who shouldn’t be here.

Uncle Grey. He mentioned that he had a sister, so this must be her daughter, his niece. The girl’s eyes go even wider when I circle the counter, and I realize that my shirt is still completely unbuttoned. “Shit, sorry.” I start to shove buttons through the holes as fast as I can while she watches me intently.

“Elia,” someone calls down the hall. The little girl doesn’t break her stare. “Lia!”

A woman with dark hair and eyes the same shade as Grey’s walks into the room, gasping in embarrassment when she sees howunderdressedI am. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry,” she apologizes, averting her eyes as she reaches for her daughter. “Greyson never has anyone over on Sunday.”

“What the fuck is going on out here?” Grey walks into the kitchen wearing only a towel wrapped around his hips, his hair and chest dripping wet. He looks across the kitchen, and his eyes flash with mortification.

“Jesus, Liv, you can’t just barge into my apartment without calling first.” He fumbles with his towel, but there isn’t much that can be done to conceal the fact that he’s naked underneath.

His niece giggles. “You look funny with all those pictures on your skin, Uncle Grey.” His tattoos are pretty striking when he shows this much of his body.

“Your mommy has funny pictures too, Lia. She just keeps them covered up now,” Grey teases. He looks over at me, and I have to try very hard not to salivate over his half-naked body while his family is watching. “This is my niece, Elia. And my sister, Olivia. She has a terrible habit of using the emergency keyI gave her to walk into my apartment unannounced whenever it suits her.”

Olivia glares at him in annoyance. “That’s becauseyounever answer my calls or come to see us.”

Grey shrugs. “I’m busy, Liv. I run a very successful restaurant, remember?” I roll my eyes at the false arrogance in his tone.

“Too busy for your niece and only sister?” she challenges. I look at Elia to see if she’s picked up on her mom and uncle’s argument, but she’s spotted Grey’s pantry and makes a beeline for the snacks.

“Most of the time, yes.”

Olivia levels him with a terrifying glare that must be a Greyson family trademark. “Stop acting like you’re a dick. It doesn’t suit you.”

Grey crosses his arms over his bare chest. “What makes you think it’s an act?”

Her scowl melts into a smile. “If you really didn’t want to see me, you wouldn’t have given me a key.”

The moment Grey cracks a smile too, I know he’s surrendered. “I hate it when you’re right,” he sighs.

“I’m always right. That’s what little sisters are for.” Her ability to put Grey in his place makes me like her immediately. “So who is this?” She studies me curiously, no judgment in her eyes in spite of the fact that she’s caught her brother and me half-naked.

“Angélica, my pastry chef,” Grey answers in a bland tone. It’s true, but that doesn’t make his response hurt any less. Last I checked, he didn’t stuff his employees like profiteroles every chance he gets.

Olivia narrows her eyes. “It’s Sunday, so she can’t be working.”

Grey groans like the next confession physically pains him. “She’s also my girlfriend.”

“Girlfriend?” Olivia repeats like she can’t quite believe it.

“It surprised me too,” Grey admits with a laugh, his warm eyes finding mine. “But I can’t live without her now.”

“Ahh, that explains the obsessive glint in your eye every time you look at her.” She glances at me conspiratorially. “I don’t know how you put up with his shit.”

“It’s not too hard,” I reply. “When he gives me hell, I just give it right back.”

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