Free Ruin by C.J. Scott Page A

him.
    "You woke up without your underwear?" he said. "What the hell happened to it?"
    I tried to contain my smile. My little tirade seemed ridiculous all of a sudden. "I don't know. I never found it. There's a good chance I wasn't wearing any in the first place."
    He laughed so loudly I worried he'd wake up Jane and Mrs. M. "Okay, I'll agree that you've got a few personality quirks. But I still think you're perfect."
    Tears stung my eyes. "Well," I said, breathing deeply. "I've never been rejected so nicely before. It sucks, by the way."
    "Hey," he murmured. "Are you crying?"
    "No." I bit my wobbly lip.
    "Look, I better go to bed."
    "It's early."
    "Yeah, but being here alone with you...I know I'll do something I'll regret."
    I watched him walk away, my blood throbbing in my veins. I didn't get it. I just didn't.
    There had to be something more to it than him giving my dad his word. And how did sleeping with me for one night constitute hurting me anyway? I was a goddamned willing partner.
    My head ached too much to think. I gathered up the glasses and washed them in the kitchen before heading upstairs too. Jane was breathing softly, and I could hear Ben's footsteps lightly padding across his floor next door.
    I read with the lamp on for a while then switched it off. I spent the next few hours tossing and turning, trying to get comfortable. Sleeping in a strange bed always takes time to get used to, but this was different. My senses were on heightened alert, aware that Ben was just on the other side of the wall. I could almost believe that I could hear him breathing, but that was crazy.
    Then I did hear something. Moaning? I sat up and pressed my ear to the wall.
    "No," he said. It was muffled, but I was sure that's what he'd said. "No!" he said again.
    Who was he talking to?
    I glanced at Jane, but she was still sound asleep. I got up and crept out of our room. I was about to knock on his door when he said "No" again. I opened the door and peered in.
    He lay on his side on top of the bedcovers in nothing but shorts, his arms folded over his bare chest. A tattoo of a small bird in flight decorated one shoulder. I drank in the magnificent sight of all that muscle and smooth skin, resisting the urge to trace the tattoo wings. My attention was quickly drawn to his face as he murmured something in his sleep. His eyes were squeezed shut and his mouth twisted as if in pain. He was having a nightmare.
    I couldn't let him endure it a moment longer. I gently touched his arm. "Ben, wake up."
    His eyes flew open, and he shoved my hand away. Then he seemed to relax as he registered who was with him. "Kate! Did you...what are you doing here?"
    "This." I kissed him.

Chapter 5
    I thought Ben would stop the kiss, but he didn't. He caught my arms and held tight, returning it with fierce urgency, like he needed it as much as he needed to breathe. I couldn't believe it. This hot guy who'd rejected me downstairs was kissing me like he couldn't get enough of me. Maybe he was still half asleep and not fully aware of what he was doing.
    I didn't care. I wasn't going to give him the chance to wake up properly and remember his morals. I climbed on top of him, not breaking the kiss. I could feel how much he wanted me. His cock was long and thick against my thigh. Heat radiated off him, fusing us together. It wasn't enough. I needed to be closer. I needed skin on skin.
    I sat up and a small sigh escaped his lips. His sleepy eyes opened as I started to remove my T-shirt, and his hand shot out, catching mine.
    "Kate," he murmured.
    "Shhhh." I took his face between my hands. I held his gaze with my own, tried to convey to him that this was meant to be, that I was okay with it and he should be too. "I just want this one night, Ben. Nothing bad will come of it. You'll see. I won't let it. Just one night."
    His fingers tightened around my hand. He was going to push me off, going to reject me again.
    Yet he didn't.
    "I know how you feel," I said before he