I didn’t do dicks. I liked sliding into warm, tight wetness.
That’s what arseholes are for. With added lube.
Jesus, shut up, brain.
Yes, anal was good, but a vag was better because along with it, there were curves, breasts, hair. Okay, the dude before me had hair. Long, dark hair that was draped around his shoulders. When did he take it out from the tie?
Nope. I didn’t care. Where the fuck was I going with that thought?
Wolf kissed Mimi’s temple again and moved to make himself a drink. “If you like threats, Ruin, I can give you some.”
Shit, where was he going with this? My gut twisted again.
He smirked. “Depends how kinky you are—”
Groaning, I announced, “I’m out.” I put my glass on the bar, making my way towards the door. Both those fuckers behind me laughed.
“I’m only teasing, Ruin. Come back.”
I shook my head. “Nope. I need sleep anyway.” As soon as I said it, I winced.
“Is that an invite?” Wolf asked.
I shot the middle finger over my shoulder.
“Very well, I get the hint. Mimi dear, Mother has been asking for you.”
I stopped at the door and looked back. I caught Mimi’s gaze. “You good?”
She smiled and nodded. “I am, thanks. Get some rest. Wolf will go with me.”
“I will.”
I gave them a chin lift and walked out the library before Wolf could say anything more.
When I’d first met him, he’d seemed closed off, cold. I never would have expected a goddamn flirt lay underneath. The things he’d said… Christ, I didn’t know how to take them, and you’d think I would, since I was brought up around Julian.
Julian was an over-the-top flamboyant gay man related to the Marcus family by being Zara’s brother’s man. The things that would come out of his mouth were surprising but fucking funny. Especially when he’d give the old brothers in the club hell. He meant nothing by it, because he was completely devoted to Mattie, and they had a daughter together. So maybe Wolf was like Julian, though not as flamboyant, but all talk and no action, meaning he didn’t mean anything he said to me.
Yeah, that was it.
He was just messing with me.
Hell, I could let the flirting happen and think nothing of it. If only my gut would quit twisting in a way I didn’t understand every time he said something or looked at me with interest. Shit, was I a homophobic prick? Well, not in general, because I didn’t care where people got their love from, as long as they were happy. Like Beast and Knife, Julian and Mattie. Even Pick and Billy who were with Josie; but was my gut reacting in a way where it didn’t like what Wolf was doing?
Scrubbing a hand over my face, I groaned because I didn’t have a fucking clue.
Guess I’d see with time.
Then again, we may not be around for much longer, so I wouldn’t see Wolf again. Probably for the best. The guy was all right enough, ran his family well, but there was still something about him I wasn’t sure about.
His dark eyes flashed into my mind. Was that it? Something in them I didn’t trust?
Opening the door to my bedroom, I beelined for the bed and stripped out of my clothes. I needed sleep, desperately. Maybe my head would be clearer in the morning, and Wolf’s ways wouldn’t get to me so much.
Chapter Five
Ruin
Early in the morning a few days later, I stood outside the door to the master suite. Mimi had been woken to see her father while he was lucid. If I had my way, I wouldn’t be there, but Mimi had barged into my room and asked me to come along, to wait until she spoke with him. She needed support, and I would give it to her. I’d give her anything she asked for because I’d come to care for her like a sister. Wolf was with her, along with their mother. She had her family at her back, but I could understand wanting more from me. If I was in her situation, I’d want a person around who I was used to.
Since I’d fucked up, we weren’t that close, but I was her comfort blanket from home, and she did see Ballarat as her home. I knew that much.
Voices rose from behind the closed door, and I fisted my hands when I heard roared, “You disgust me. You are no child of mine.”
Fuck.
Other voices intervened, and the tone went lower where I couldn’t hear what was being said. Still, I wanted to march in there and tell this fucker to stop being a bitch to his own daughter. Mimi didn’t need this. Not the hate when all she wanted to do was reconcile things before he died.
I caught the guards’ gazes from across the hallway. Five of them. Ryo, who waited for Wolf as his personal guard, another one was there to watch over the dad, and two waited for Wolf’s mum and Mimi. The last I’d seen around a lot when I’d wandered around the place because he’d been not far behind me every time I moved out of my room. When I asked about the guard on the walk to the room, Wolf informed me that Botan was my personal guard while I stayed under his roof.
Through clenched teeth, I’d informed him, “I can take care of myself.”
Wolf had winked and said, “He’s there as a just-in-case scenario. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you from someone on my side.”
“Again, I can take care of myself.”
When his gaze scanned my body, my gut had twisted. Wolf then smirked. “I know.” And that was all he said before we stopped outside the suite and they went in.
Botan stared back now, and I wanted to ask him if he was there to protect me—scoff—or to keep an eye on me because they didn’t trust me. If it was the second thing, I couldn’t blame him. I was a stranger in their house at a time when even I wouldn’t want an outsider around. Although, if it was because he didn’t trust me, why not just say it instead of implying I couldn’t take care of myself?
Fuck me.
I was overthinking again.
Whatever it was, I couldn’t complain because it wasn’t my place. I was there for Mimi, to protect her, and I really wanted to protect her against her father as his voice rose once again with more harsh words.
When I turned towards the door, Ryo called, “Don’t.”
Facing him, I crossed my arms over my chest. “Why the fuck not?” I waved a hand at the door. “He’s cutting her with each fuckin’ word. I’m here to protect her, even from shit like that.”
It was then Wolf’s voice rose from within the suite. “Silence. If this is the last time you speak with your own daughter, is this how you want her to remember you? A heartless bastard ruled by work?”
“That is why,” Ryo said. “You are an outsider. Walking in there would have been the worst you could have done for Mimi. You don’t know him enough, but Wolf will protect his sister, even from her father and his words.”
“He took his damn time,” I grumbled because I didn’t want to see Wolf as a good guy.
“He knows when to intervene. He did not rule this family because of inheritance. Even his father saw how cutthroat he could be. He plays it smart when needed.”
“He is a good sama,” Botan commented with a glare my way.
The doors behind me opened with a rush, and in the next second, I had a crying woman in my arms.