Page 72 of Ruin Me
“Kent!”
“I’ll wait for Mads outside.” A soft click of the door told me she left.
“Little bunny, how is Ife going to get used to us if we hide our relationship?”
“There’s hiding and then there’s flaunting. You sticking your tongue so far down my throat you almost touch my stomach isn’t the best way to get her used to us when she feels we’ve betrayed her.” I patted his chest while searching his face for signs of mistreatment. “Did they do anything to you?”
“No. The accommodations weren’t the best, but I was more worried about you.” Kent brushed the skin under my eyes.
No amount of concealer could fully camouflage the dark flesh, proof of my sleepless night.
“I bet you didn’t even eat before you showed up here, did you?” Kent frowned.
His concern for me when he was the one in jail pushed at the tears I’d tried to hold back.
“I’ll have you know, Nikita Montgomery stuffed me with a proper breakfast before she allowed me to step foot outside.”
“You weren’t alone. I’m glad.” Kent pulled me over to the lone desk and sat me on the surface. He wouldn’t stop touching me. My sides, my hips, my face. As if he hadn’t seen me in years rather than hours.
“You didn’t sleep last night either, did you?” I smoothed his beard and caressed his lips.
“You know I can’t when you aren’t beside me.”
“So what the hell is Quarren doing to get you out? I’ve tried calling him, but I only get his voicemail.”
“If he’s earning his retainer, he’s figuring out the bullshit that’s going on.” Kent explained everything the cops accused him of last night. “But that is neither here nor there. I need you to do something for me while Quarren works on my case.”
“Of course. I’ve already started compiling character witnesses, dossiers on the detectives—by the way, my employees are not happy with me for putting them all on your case—mmph.”
Kent’s mouth smothered mine, preventing me from continuing. Since I’d interrupted our first kiss, I savored this one. He pulled my body until our torsos met and I wrapped my arms and legs around him. Anything to get closer to him and share my heat with him.
His dick grew hard, poking my pussy and serving as a reminder of the time we missed with each other last night.
“Little bunny, I wish we had more time.” Kent pressed his forehead against mine while staring into my eyes.
“Me, too.” I cleared my throat and shook the lust free from my brain. “But we have planning to do.”
He rubbed his thumb against my lips, then trailed his hand to my nape where he stroked the fine hairs and made me shiver. “Quarren has the legal side handled, but there are other matters I trust only you to find out for me.”
“Whatever you need, I’m here for you.”
“I’m sure news has leaked about my arrest. Hal or whoever’s behind him will make their move. They’ll probably call an emergency shareholder meeting to vote me out. Get my proxy documents together.”
“But if you’ll be out by Monday, there won’t be a need. Even an emergency meeting takes at least a week to organize. Wouldn’t my time be better served looking for the real culprit? I already have my private investigator leaning on his DPD contacts to find out what’s in Carol’s file.”
“Little bunny.” Kent sighed and stepped free of my embrace. “Listen to me carefully. I don’t want you anywhere near Carol’s investigation.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but he swiped his hand in the air, cutting me off before I began.
“Carol was murdered, Madison! Probably by the person she was working with. They already tried to kill you once. Don’t give them another chance to murder you and don’t ask me to watch you die.”
And just like that, anything I would have said to argue him to my side died on my lips. To protect his heart, I would never force him to relive another loss like Oye’s.
“Okay, I’ll get your documents together, but only as a contingency. You will get out on Monday and be available for any nonsense Hal and his people try.” I walked into his arms again, desperate to make as much of the little time we had together.
“Promise me you won’t do anything reckless while we’re apart,” Kent said into my hair.
“I promise,” I said and silently added the caveat: unless I’m protecting you.