Page 98 of The Art of Ruin

Something flickers in her expression—annoyance, maybe, or just the fact that I’m not letting it go. “It’s better than it was,” she says, quieter now. “Just… tired.”

That, at least, is honest. “You should lie down,” I say.

Her head tilts slightly. “In the middle of your entire family? That feels rude.”

“They’ll survive.”

“I’ll be fine here.”

I look at her for a moment, weighing it. She’s not wrong. But she’s also not entirely right. “Then you stay here,” I say finally, shifting slightly so I’m still between her and the worst of the movement in the room. “And you tell me if it changes.”

She studies me for a second, something softer threading through the look now. “Yes, sir,” she says lightly.

There’s a beat. My blood heats at the sound of those words on her lips. Visions of her saying them in very different circumstances spring to my mind. I swallow past the thought of her taking my cock with those words on her lips.

Then, quieter—

“I’ll tell you if I get worse.”

I nod once, accepting it, and settle into the chair.

I want to stay close, just enough that I’m not crowding her.

Not far enough that I’m not aware of every small shift.

Across the room, Matteo glances over, something like amusement flickering across his face before he says something to Nico that pulls his attention away again.

No one comments.

They don’t need to.

The space has already adjusted.

And she stays exactly where she is.

Close enough that if she leans, she’ll feel me there.

“Something’s changed,”Matteo says quietly, appearing at my side like he always does when he’s about to be irritating.

“What are you talking about, Matty?”

He hums, unconvinced. “You’re hovering.”

“I’m standing.”

Dinner was a relaxed affair as it can only be with those you trust and feel comfortable around.

“Near her.”

“That’s a coincidence.”

Matteo looks at me like I’ve just said something particularly stupid. “You don’t do coincidence.”

I don’t bother responding to that.

He grins slightly anyway. “Interesting.”

“Careful,” I say, my tone even. “You’re starting to sound invested.”