Page 25 of In Ruins
“Well, same old, same old, I guess. How are your parents?”
“They’re going on and on about wanting me to find a wife and give them heirs, too. It’s annoying as fuck,” he grumbles.
“Tell me about it! At least we have that in common.” I giggle.
“Yeah. I hope it works out for you.”
“I hope it does for you, too. Though I kind of get the feeling you don’t let anyone tell you what to do.”
“Damn straight. They’ll get grandkids when I’m good and ready and not a moment before.”
“I know we’re supposed to hate each other and all, but do you know why? Or what happened to make our families supposed enemies?” I ask, wondering if he knows. I’ve always been curious about that. I should be scared, now that he got to have his fun with me—well, technically, we both had fun. He could still kill me, though, for being here and also for snooping in his basement.
I’m not worried, but then again, if he decided to kill me, maybe that would be a mercy. I wouldn’t have to deal with or even think about marrying Salvatore anymore.
“You don’t know the story?” he asks.
“No,” I admit.
“Right. Well, according to the story I’ve heard, your dad was apparently in love with my mother when they were younger. They were even married for about six months. She didn’t love him and only did it to please her parents, since they were the ones who forced and set up the match in the first place. Then my mom left your dad for mine because your dad was an abusive asshole. She had always been in love with him. That’s what caused the rift, so they say. Or, actually, the rift might have more to do with the fact that your dad killed my mom’s parents as revenge after she left him and chose the man she really loved. He’s hated us ever since,” he tells me. Wow! I never knew any of that.
“Whoa! I never knew that, but then again, I can totally see that happening because my dad is an asshole.”
“He totally is,” he says, then leans down to kiss me. “Now, how about we forget about the past and focus on the present, where you let me devour you all over again?”
“Mmm, yes. That sounds like a much better use of my time,” I say, and we go another two rounds before we’ve satiated our lust for each other’s bodies. We’re both exhausted and fully satisfied by the time we’re finished, and I somehow accidentally fall asleep in his arms.
CHAPTER 7
ARIA
A sudden banging noise from somewhere rouses me from the deep sleep I'm in. I let out a groan as I stretch my arms and legs out in the bed, my body shivering a little from the slight chill in the room when the sheet slips down to my waist.
I wonder why my room is so cool when it’s normally warm, but I don’t pay too much mind to it as I blindly grab for the fallen sheet. I pull it up to cover me again, intent on going back under the warmth of it so I can get some more sleep. It feels much too early to be awake.
Just then, another hard knock sounds at the door. I’m guessing that’s the sound that woke me up in the first place. When it sounds again, louder this time and more insistent, my eyes instantly pop open.
It takes a few seconds for my eyes to adjust to the low light coming from the nightlight in the room. I’m disoriented for a moment as I look down at the unfamiliar bed I'm currently in. I look up, take in my surroundings, and see that this is definitely not my room.
All at once, I remember my night with Enzo Andretti and my body heats all over again, cheeks flaming at the memory of everydirty thing we did together. I turn my head to his side of the bed only to see that it’s empty.
What else did you expect, Aria? For him to profess his undying love to you after only one night together?
I run my hand along the sheets where he’s supposed to be and find they're cold, which means he obviously left a long time ago. I don’t know why the absence of him causes an ache to form in my chest, but it does.
I should have known this was coming, since all we agreed on was a one-night stand. I was determined to lose my virginity, even though he didn’t know that. But still, it kind of stings that he didn’t at least wait until I woke up. Then again, it might be a good thing that he’s gone, so we don’t have to face any awkwardness.
Even though we’re supposed to be enemies because of our families—well, because my father hates his family—I couldn’t help but feel like there was a connection between us last night. The chemistry was undeniable and explosive, and we couldn’t resist it. I mean, it had to be, to have that kind of mind-blowing sex, right?
I look over at the clock on the bedside table and see that it’s three a.m. I instantly scramble out of bed. Shit! Shit! Shit!
How could I be this stupid?
I’m going to be dead if my father ever finds out I snuck out of the house and spent hours being gone. My thoughts race as I quickly pull my clothes back on. Once I’m done, I take a quick look around the room. Being the sucker for punishment that I am, I look at the bedside table to see if he left any kind of note for me. I’m wildly disappointed when my search turns up nothing.
Not wanting to dwell on that right now, since I need to get out of here and sneak back into the house before my father finds out, I quickly walk out of the bedroom to head for the front door.Just as I’m almost there, there’s more knocking on the door before the pounding begins again.
I’m about to turn around and head back into the room to climb out the window or something because I don’t know who’s there, friend or foe. Since I’m no longer dressed in my disguise, I don’t want anyone else besides Enzo knowing that I was even here. Just as I’m about to make a run for it, I hear Giana’s voice from the other side, and relief sweeps through me.
