Page 37 of Ruined
But I was just like Mama. Kissing a guest in the open. Risking everything.
I had to think of my sister, about her future.
But I wanted to kiss him again. I couldn’t pretend like it was a mistake.
“I should be going,” I said. “I mean,weshould be going. They’re probably expecting us.”
I tried to spot Aldrich and Mel, but the room was tilting, and when I finally found them, I saw that Mel was sitting in his lap. He was whispering into her ear and rubbing her back.
“Looks like they’re busy,” Lucas said.
I shook my head. “Let’s go back over there.” I took his hand, but then I dropped it. I didn’t want to touch him, to remind myself of what his hands felt like. Strong. Deep. Commanding.
I stumbled, tripping over a chair I hadn’t seen, and he caught my arm, never letting me fall. His eyes blazed down on me.
All it would take was a private room. No one would know. I could keep my secrets.
Screw it.
“Tie me up,” I said. He raised a brow, helping me stand up straight. “You wrote on our terms that you wanted to tie me up. I agree. I’ll change my answer to ‘yes.’”
Another fence broken. Ruined by the storm. He smirked.
“I will,” he said. “But not when you’re drunk.”
“I’m not drunk,” I argued, but as soon as it was out of my mouth, I knew it was a lie. I could barely walk through the club without tripping.
But maybe it would be better to kiss him again without the alcohol. To know undeniably what I wanted. To memorize the feeling of his lips pressing into mine.
“I’ll tie you up, but not tonight,” he paused. He grabbed my chin, and my lips parted. “I want you to beg for it,” he said. “And you will, Haley. You will beg me.”
Deep down, I knew I couldn’t deny that.
