Page 22 of Ruin (Villains for Hire)
R uin moved to the side so Lira could walk past him. “These are our- my rooms.”
They were a relatively small crew of thirty and the ship had modular capabilities, allowing each of them to have decently sized quarters customized for their species.
His weren’t huge, but they were plenty for him. He had a front room with a food prep area, and a sleeping room with an attached cleansing room.
She stepped inside slowly, gaze flitting over the sparse furnishings. For the first time, he really noticed the lack of personal touches and decorations. Others had customized wall colors, added creature comforts, and personalized their quarters.
Looking around his, he grimaced. Everything was utilitarian and a dull grey.
Maybe she’d appreciate the ability to decorate it to her liking? And if she wanted more room, he could put in a request with Whisper. The male was reasonable when it came to matters of crew comfort, even if he was a bit of a hardass about everything else.
Of course, that was assuming she wanted to stay here at all.
He had no idea what she was thinking. She hadn’t said much since waking up, and it was giving him wicked fucking anxiety.
Gods, but he wanted to lock her in his quarters so she could never escape and leave him. But that was a bad idea. Right?
He tilted his head consideringly. Beep was still in the medbay, getting its casing repaired. For the moment, it was just him and Lira. No one would know, not right away, at least.
He shook the thought away.
No, no. Definitely a bad idea. She had to choose to stay of her own volition. And if she didn't…
Then he'd follow her.
Yes. He'd stalk her for as long as it took to convince her she loved him as much as he loved her. He was a mercenary, after all. A villain. They weren't exactly known for playing by the rules.
Feeling a little better with a plan in place, he watched her explore his rooms.
She stopped in front of a Sokovesian singing stone he’d been given by a Na’vah child after saving their life.
“I sold myself into slavery,” she whispered.
Ruin's thoughts ground to a halt.
“My mother and I lived in the slums on Protus Station .”
He couldn’t quite hold back a wince. Protus was an ugly place, rampant with poverty and crime. Despite not being in the Outer Rims, it would’ve been right at home there. Hells, he could think of a dozen places in the Outer Rims that were significantly nicer and safer.
“It wasn’t an easy life, but we got by, and we had each other. And then she got sick. We tried scraping up enough to pay for treatments, but she got worse so quickly. So… I sold myself. I backdated the start time and used the money to pay for her care.” She huffed a laugh that sounded more like a sob. “I lied and told her I found some antique tech, repaired it, and sold it to some Rodians. I’ve always been good at fixing things, so she didn’t ever question it.”
Her shoulders curled inward, and he could hear her swallow convulsively from ten feet away.
“She died anyway. There weren’t any stim-pods on Protus, nothing strong or advanced enough to cure her permanently. But those treatments bought us an extra seven months. An extra pain free seven months.”
Godsdamn it. His heart felt like it was cracking in his chest.
“I’m so sorry, Lira,” he rasped, knowing the words were inadequate, but not knowing what else to say.
“It was only supposed to be for three years. And I didn’t give up memory rights. I guess that’s why Vargot never took me with him when he had to venture out of the Outer Rims.”
If he could bring that Mogovian fuck back to life just to kill him again, slower this time, he’d do it in a heartbeat.
Unable to stand the distance between them, he approached slowly, not wanting to startle her. He gently placed a hand on her shoulder, offering silent comfort and support. She leaned into his touch, some of the tension leaving her small frame.
“I don't regret it,” she said softly. “Those extra months with my mother were worth it. But I hate that Vargot stole so much more from me than I ever agreed to give.”
The urge to gather her into his arms and shield her from any further pain was almost overwhelming. But he held back, letting her have space, at least until she gave him some signal that space was wholly fucking overrated.
“He took more than he ever had a right to,” he rumbled. “But he can’t take any more. You’re free now, little bird.”
She turned, tilting her head back to meet his gaze. Her expression was unreadable, a mix of emotions he couldn’t quite parse.
He swallowed hard, knowing the next words he spoke would change everything. “You have a choice now. You can stay here with us, with me… or I can take you somewhere safe, where you can start over.”
This was the moment. This was when she’d tell him what she really wanted, when she’d make the choice that’d either keep him whole or shatter him completely.
Every muscle in his body was taut, coiled, ready to spring into action to convince her, to beg her if it came to that. But he stayed silent, waiting, because this had to be her decision.
She licked her lips in a gesture that struck him as nervous, but her gaze didn’t waver from his. “If I stay, I would like to keep you.”
“You would… what?” he croaked.
Had she just said what he thought she said?
He didn’t breathe, didn’t blink, in case he’d somehow conjured this moment into existence by desperation alone.
“I would like to keep you,” she repeated. “For forever.” Her gaze bounced back and forth between his. “Okay?”
Ruin blinked down at her, lips quirking slowly, dazedly. A wave of relief washed through him, and he wasn’t sure if he was more shocked by her claiming admission or that he was still standing there, dumbstruck.
He wanted to swoop down, haul her against his chest, and kiss her fucking senseless. This was real, wasn’t it? She’d agreed to stay. To be his. For-fucking-ever?
In his haze, all he could do was mutter back a simple, “Okay.”
She let out a whooshing breath and smiled beatifically. “Good.” Her brows lifted expectantly. “So… ”
“So?” he repeated, feeling like his brain was still playing catch up.
“So how do we solidify this keeping? Do I add my name to your tattoos or—oooh—maybe we can get some kind of implant so you can only go a certain distance from me? I like that idea. Can we do that?”
Adorable, deranged little female. Gods, he didn’t think he’d ever been so turned on in his fucking life.
Fuck it. If it meant he could keep her…
“Yeah, bird, we can do that. We can do anythin’ you want.”
And he meant it.
Some of the bright light in her eyes dimmed, replaced by uncertainty. “Are you sure? You’re not going to change your mind about me? Because if you say yes to me keeping you, I need you to mean it. Really mean it, Ruin. I don’t want there to be any take backs. Because I don’t want, would never want, to trap you the way I?—”
“Fuck, yes, I’m sure,” he interrupted. “Never been more sure of anythin’ in my life.”
Her joy was palpable, and the smile she gifted him so wide it made little dimples appear in her cheeks.
Clutching her hands to her chest, she bounced on her toes. “Now you.”
He blinked. “Me?”
“Mmhm.” She nodded, still grinning and staring up at him with wide-eyed expectation.
He was missing something.
“You want to keep me, too, right?” she prompted.
“Gods, yes. I’d cut out my two left lungs to keep you.” He cupped her face and bent until they were almost nose to nose. “I love you. So fuckin’ much it feels like I can’t hold it all. I’ll follow you to the ends of the universe. You’re mine, little bird. Forever. You are the suns and the moons and all the stars. You are all and more. You are my reason and my purpose. There will never come a time when I am not yours.”
“Ruin—” Her eyes sparkled with a sheen of wetness, then closed as he swept down and stole the kiss he’d been desperate for.
The taste of her, the little mewl she made, the way she grabbed at him as if she never wanted to let go—it all went straight to his heart then arrowed down to his cock.
He’d never get enough of her, but he’d happily die trying to sate his need—not just for her body, but for her mind, her wit, her spirit.
She was his, and now that she’d agreed, he’d never let her go.