Page 49 of Ruin Me
“Don’t rule it out because you’re angry. You have a right to be, but I’m saying this is bigger.”
“Yeah.” I press my lips together and then do something crazy. I lean forward, my hand curling around the back of his neck, and I kiss him, deep and hard, pouring all my frustration and fire into the contact asI open my legs and draw him against me. His response is immediate, his hands snaking around to pull me closer as if he’s trying to absorb my temper through osmosis.
His lips are like velvet, moving in perfect synchronisation with mine, making me want to stay lost in this moment forever. Our breaths intermingle as we reluctantly pull away, both panting from the intensity of our kiss.
“What was that for?” Thayer manages to ask, his forehead still pressed against mine.
“Motivation,” I murmur. “We need to be sharp for tomorrow.”
Thayer smirks, his thumb caressing my cheek. “Oh, I’m always sharp, Vogue. But I’ll take whatever you’re offering as encouragement.”
I push him back playfully and stand up. “Get out of here and let me study.”
He stands too, winking at me before he exits the room. “I’m in the next room if you need me.”
“And what would I need you for?” I ask with a seductive tone.
“You’ll find that out soon enough,” he whispers and leaves me alone, longing for more of his kisses. The shock has worn off from Callum and Quentin’s words earlier. So, what if they all want me, and I want them? Who is anyone to judge anyone anything? Sure, it’s all physical and lusty right now, except maybe with Quen. We seem to have hit a deeper note already, but the others will get there. I know we will. We are too close, too involved for it not to now.
Alone again, I take a deep breath and refocus on my textbook. The pages might seem mundane compared to the swirling world of power plays I’ve entered, but knowledge is power, and I’m going to arm myself with every weapon possible.
Sleep feels like a luxury I can’t afford tonight, not with plans to devise and moves to make. My mind is a whirlwind of statistics and probabilities intermingled with images of Thayer’s intense gaze and perfect kisses.
The guys see something in me that’s crucial to our collective survival in this risky game. It’s not just about survival anymore; it’s about supremacy—taking control of our destinies and not letting anyone else dictate how.
This is my armour—knowledge, preparation. While these guys have their fists and guns and charm, I’ve got balance sheets and market analyses.
But it’s not just about numbers; it’s about people, and that’s where I excel; reading them, playing them like a hand of cards, knowing when to hold back and when to reveal just enough truth to keep them guessing.
I remind myself that despite everything—the danger, the moral ambiguity—I’m here because of opportunity. An opportunity to leave a legacy far removed from any working-class roots that tried to anchor me down. An opportunity to prove that success isn’t reserved for those born with silver spoons in their mouths.
27
THAYER
As I leaveVogue’s room, my cock is rock-hard after that kiss. Fuck, that was some kiss. Cal and Quen are lucky fuckers to have tasted her pussy already, but there will be time. Vogue and I are developing a connection all of our own, and I have no doubt it’ll lead us to some explosive fucking places. I shake my head to clear those thoughts, knowing that if I don’t get a grip now, there’s no way in hell I’ll be able to focus on the tasks at hand.
I head to my bedroom, flopping back on the bed with a sigh. It’s not often that someone gets under my skin like Vogue has. She’s like this force—beautiful and fierce, capable of tearing down everything in her path, yet somehow, she’s also calm at the centre of her own hurricane.
I close my eyes and let out a long breath, trying to slow my racing heart and throbbing desire. Sleep won’t come easy tonight; it never does when there’s a plan in motion. Tomorrow needs to go off without ahitch—our reputation and control in this university depend on it.
I finally stand up and start pacing my room, rehearsing every play we’ve got set up for tomorrow. Vogue will be there watching for those counting cards, reading people like she does her textbooks and her business skills to make sure this goes off without any loss, only profit—her skills are going to be invaluable to keeping our income secure and spotting any potential traitors looking to exploit our momentary weakness.
When dawn starts creeping over the horizon, I haven’t slept a wink, but that doesn’t matter. It’s not unusual. I’m fuelled by purpose and adrenaline—and by the promise of Vogue’s fire joining with ours to forge something new, something unbreakable. We’ll reclaim what was lost, and this time, we’ll do it together, with her by our side.
These power-hungry assholes at Crestmont don’t know who they’re fucking with.
As I gaze out the window, watching the first light of day wash over Crestmont University’s elite façades, I smirk. They all believe they’re playing the game, but wearethe game, and with Vogue, we’re rewriting the rules.
Heading out to the kitchen in this unfamiliar place, but it feels like home anyway, I meet Harry at the coffee maker.
“Not sleeping, asshole?” he mutters, taking his mug and making space for me.
“Nah, too wired thinking about later,” I reply,pouring myself a cup as well. “We’ve got to be on point.”
Harry takes a sip of his coffee, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. “With Vogue in play, we can’t afford any slip-ups. She’s a game-changer.”
I nod in agreement, feeling the weight of responsibility toward her even more now. “Yeah, despite the obvious, she’s solid. She understands the stakes. There are not a lot of people you can say that about.”
