Page 122 of Beautifully Ruined

“Isn’t that gold standard in this place? Anything goes?”

“Anything goes indeed, but you’re meant to be finding your feet, not leading the way.”

I look up at him as he strokes his fingers against my upper thigh. “I’ve had a lot of practice, in places that don’t accept people having sex wherever.”

He groans, laughing. “Are you trying to kill me?”

“I definitely want you alive.”

He kisses me again. “That’s good to know. We need to play it like you’re slightly hesitant.”

“Or is it you want me to yourself?”

His eyes flash. “I definitely want you to myself.”

“Good.” The word falls naturally, and with my whole being behind it.

“Don’t get me wrong, I like others watching.” He grips my thigh as he grinds against me, like he wants to torture us both. “Or, should I say, I like you like it.”

“I more than like it. I more than like you.”

His eyes go soft and warm, “And yet, I seem to remember you saying you loved me.”

“I do.” A frisson of delight ripples through me.

“Good, because, Vi, I love you, too.”

It’s more than romantic love.

I kiss him, and it’s a kiss of sweetness dipped in erotic heat. But when it ends, he leads us back to our table, our drinks, and sits me on his knee, another show of ownership, one I like.

This relationship with Cade takes my breath away. Never in a million years would I have thought it’d be so deep, hot, like finding my other half. Because apart from sex, it’s like that.

We fit perfectly together.

And while this is the start, I think we get each other in a fundamental way that should scare me but doesn’t.

I spend the evening with Cade, something in me keeping me close, even when Thomas comes up to set up a time to meet about another job.

He also introduces Cade and me to a bunch of people, and one of the girls there is Macy. Thomas doesn’t introduce us, but I smile at her, like I do the other girls.

However, she is the only one not to smile back. She is the only one who looks through me and pretends I don’t exist.

Finally, she moves on with the group, and when Thomas introduces Cade to someone else, someone who gives off vibes of dark energy.

Cade slides me a look.

He wants to talk to them alone.

He doesn’t have to speak for me to get that.

I know the look. Maybe not from him, because he doesn’t tend to exclude me to my face, but there’s an intensity to the eyes, like he’s saying something.

I run through the things I could say, before finally settling on the vibe we have for the evening. “May I go to the bathroom?”

The mild amusement and pleasure in his gaze isn’t missed. “You have my permission.”

I get up, and head off, trying to covertly look around for someone who looks like Gianna. But even though I wander further into the club, past the bathrooms, there’s nothing.