Page 56 of Unlocking Ruin

“The sound,” he begins, popping his finger out of his mouth, “of my name, leaving your lips...” Reaching down, he pulls my sweatpants up, taking his time to make me good as new again. “Now that I’ve heard it, it can never be unheard. And I want to hear it over and over again.” Dark lust swirls in his eyes.

“Well,” I pant, pressing my spine into the glass, searching for space I’m not sure I even want. “You should have filmed it, because it’s not happening a second time. I’m a one-night stand type of girl. It’s what I prefer.”

“Good thing we didn’t have sex yet,” he gloats, “I still get to taste you.” Raising his hands, he traps me as he leans against the window.

“The problem isn’t me, Rylan. It’s that you think too little of yourself. You only give people one night because you fear they won’t want you.” He straightens, standing tall. “Don’t worry. I’ll show you just how powerful you can be.”

He walks away, giving me some freedom as he chooses to stand near the fire again. “Stop thinking what we just did was wrong. It was perfect.” He holds up his hand and admires his fingers.

“I think I need therapy.” I study my surroundings. I’m in a strange house with a strange man, and everything is fucked.

“It’s overrated. Trust me, I’ve tried it.”

“So, what now?” I push off the window and take a step; my core aches from the magnitude of my orgasm, and my legs feel like jelly. “You just plan on keeping me here until the coast is clear?”

“Your identity is out; the monsters of the world know, and that means you will be folded into BANKS Corp.” He glances at me over his shoulder. “And I don’t want you to be. Is that selfish or heroic? I want you.” He licks his lips; his sun-kissed skin has a blush hue that somehow makes him look more man than monster.

Is BANKS Corp really that terrible? What did he actually endure growing up as one of its heirs?

“But you’re part of that world. Doesn’t that make you a monster?”

“Yes,” he admits. “So either way, you’re trapped.”

I step forward, my toes curling into the plush carpet. I decide to keep the couch between us, not trusting my body’s reactions near him. “I can run again. Start a new life. I’ll stay in the shadows. Be a nobody.”

Is that what I want? Maybe it’s what I need. Men like Steffen chew you up and spit you out. When this lust burns out, he’ll toss me aside like everyone else.

He faces me fully; the fire flaring behind him. “You can’t hide in the shadows when they are the ones hunting you, Rylan.”

“What does that mean? Where does it leave my future?”

“Alister will come for you once it’s safe. But that doesn’t mean you have to go to him. You can stay here. With me,” he deadpans. I know that sound in his voice. It’s a plea. I used to make it when I’d beg my mom not to go on a date. I wanted her to choose me. Steffen wants me to pick him.

Movement down the hall catches our attention, then Torben appears holding up Steffen’s ringing phone. His eyes slide to me; embarrassment floods me. I just let Steffen finger me against the window; the air smells like sex, and it’s clear from Torben’s glare that he knows.

“I’m tired,” I say. I need to process all of this—or better yet, throw it up and flush it away. “I’m going to lie down.”

Nodding, Steffen watches as Torben approaches because his phone is ringing once more. I stop at the door, needing to ask, “Where are Frank and my mom?”

Steffen looks soulless all of a sudden; his tone matches it. “Frank has been dealt with. As for your mother, your father has her.”

“What does that mean? Has her?” My heart starts to panic.

“She’s in a safe house where she will probably remain under his watch. She left you behind; she crossed him. She will have to deal with the repercussions of that.”

Torben glides past me, straight to Steffen as he hands him the phone.

“You said Frank has been dealt with,” I ask, wearily, grabbing the frame of the door.

Torben and Steffen both look at me. “He’s dead,” Steffen replies nonchalantly. “Welcome to this world, Rylan. You sure you want to brave it alone?”

CHAPTER 12

Steffen

Three, two, one. I grit my teeth and brace myself as Torben’s fist crashes into my ribs. My lungs expel air in a rough, gasping manner.

I take it. Accept it. Need it. Deserve it.