Page 12 of King of Ruin
“Should I go back outside and look?” I’m half thinking I should just leave. I know this is my house, but I’ve invited a strange man in, and my preservation instincts are kicking in.
I could always call for help. Where is my phone?
“No,” he answers, his voice sharp. “If Vigo or Vincent come back, I wouldn’t want you out there.”
A little of my fear recedes at the way he is thinking of my protection too. Vincent does seem completely crazy. “Okay.”
He lets out a long breath. “Fuck, my head hurts.”
“Dizziness? Nausea?” I ask, moving a little closer, my hands clasped in front of me.
I’m still in that dress from my date, my hair spilling over one shoulder as I reach down to feel his head.
“Neither. Just a headache from where I cracked my head.”
I nod, sitting next to him, tucking my hands under my legs. “So what do we do next?”
He rubs his head. “I just need to think for a second. I’m usually better at this but…”
But then, the sound of a distant car engine fills my ears. “Lights,” I say, speaking clearly as all the lights dim at once.
The car grows louder and he touches my arm. “Smart.”
I nod in his direction and then realize he probably can’t see me either. “Benefit of not seeing so well. I’ve trained my ears and voice-activated most of the house.”
His fingers skim down my arm, reminding me he’s there, as the car revs up right in front of my house and then stops just in front. It sounds like Vincent’s car, the one I just left.
“What should we do?”
But he’s already pulling me to standing. Navigating around the couch, he crouches, tugging my hand with his. “We hide.”
CHAPTER FOUR
Maddie
Before I even have mybearings, I land in his lap.
He’s sitting on the floor, his back to the couch, his arms around me as he presses me tight to his chest.
For the barest second, I forget that I’m afraid, forget that Vigo has come back to my apartment, and I just feel.
Because this man’s body is the stuff of fantasy. Hard and lean it makes a girl…want.
I think back to my plans and hopes for the evening. Vigo is not a man I could trust my body with, but the man I’m touching...
His arms are wrapped around me, the hold so protective, his cologne and the slight scent of an oaked alcohol fill my nostrils.
I brace myself on his biceps, the muscles rippling under my hands. What would it feel like to kiss a man like this?
“Name’s Roman, by the way.” The deep smooth tenor of his voice pulls me deeper in, my brain completely losing every detail as he overwhelms my senses.
A loud banging on my door interrupts my carnal thoughts and I jump in Roman’s arms. He holds me tighter.
“Shit,” I mutter. “What do I do?”
His hands splay out on my back. “Shh,” he softly whispers.
“Maddie,” Vigo calls, rough and loud as he bangs again. “Open up.”