Page 44 of Claimed By Ruin

I tightened both arms around her. Dared to pull her closer.

“I’m not going anywhere, Asia,” I finally whispered in her ear.

She didn’t say anything. Not even when I pulled her closer still.

The silence was brief.

“Why’d you even come back?”

Anyone else would have recoiled from the venom in Asia’s voice.

I should have.

But I stayed where I was, standing in this too small room that was more of a closet, a place where she thought she could hide from me, and stared at her.

The seconds ticked by one after another after another as I took in her rage—and her anguish. In those seconds her mask was gone.

And I could see—really see—what I’d done.

Then it was gone. She pulled away and looked at me, her face as blank as the fresh new notebooks she’d told me she loved.

She crossed her arms under her breasts and let out a breathy sigh. “You know what? Never mind, it doesn’t matter.”

She turned to leave, and I reached for her arm.

She looked back at me with a brow arched, a soft smile on her face, one that mocked me with its insincerity. When she finally spoke, her voice was docile, placating, and drove me up the fucking wall. “I’m really sorry, Jack. That was very insensitive. I should have been more considerate of your feelings. I hope you can forgive me.”

My hand shook with rage, with other emotions I couldn’t name, but I cupped her cheek gently. Her nostrils flared with her breath, the only slight crack in her iron facade. I didn’t bother with a ceremony, just twisted her and pushed her face down on the mattress, my hand splayed across her stomach in a way I knew she hated.

She looked back at me. Her eyes gleamed, equal parts rage and anticipation of the pleasure she knew my body would give her, satisfaction at the victory she had just won.

I entered her roughly.

She yielded to me.

We’d never been further apart.

THIRTEEN

Asia

“You ready to go, Caitlin?”

She looked at me, then gestured towards the kitchen. It was empty this morning, and I leaned against the cabinet, looking at her.

“Ugh. Not really,” she muttered.

I frowned. “I thought this was the plan. We take stuff to town, which gives you a chance to plan out your solo trip and keeps Christopher away from here.”

“Yeah.”

“What’s going on, Caitlin? You said yourself you wanted to get this over with.”

She sighed. “I do. I hate going to that place, though. Not sure I want to do it twice back-to-back.”

“You and me both.”

She nodded, then looked at me. “But you’re right. We want to keep them away from here.” She gestured toward the window. “Take Jack.”