Page 24 of Ruin

Chapter Nine

Arik

Every second with Claire felt like a wound within me was healing. My long-held abyss of resentment had faded and been replaced with pool of magnetic force. Her skin against mine felt like a gasp of fresh air. Every time our bodies broke from one another, pain and despair filled my mind again.

She was my crutch, my painkiller.

I walked a very thin line between wanting to devour her and wanting to keep her safe. The better side of me wanted to put her on a shelf like a glass figurine, locking her away securely, and admiring her from a distance. The other part of me wanted to do things that would break her, leaving her with distinguished cracks that my love would repair, making her into a beautiful mosaic.

Do not scare her away.

My body buzzed with power as we approached the open doors of the hotel. I was returning to these grounds, no longer somber and decaying with years of resentment. I had watched the sun rise and set with unwavering patience. I fought battles for those who were not strong enough to fight on their own. And now, my world was at my side, giving me every bit of the life and vigor I lost so long ago. My fate is no longer a curse, but a blessing bestowed upon me.

Claire’s attention focused on the reception desk the moment we entered the lobby. Behind the gleaming desk was Lorenzo, of course, at his post on a busy Saturday night, as he should be. However, he had not seen me yet and his attention was not focused on work. His focus was instead on the woman wearing a skin-tight red dress, leaning onto the desk, laughing, and whipping her long raven strands across her shoulder.

I could already tell who this was based on Claire’s heightened breathing and the anxiety and uncertainty that radiated from her form.

Jennifer Mora.

The woman who should not even be here. Had Antonio not taken the liberty of inviting other distributors, Claire would not have been feeling this way.

A conversation for Monday.

I turned my face to Claire, giving her a reassuring nod. As I approached the desk, Claire paused, standing behind me instead of at my side, where she should be.

Wow. This woman really had a way of making Claire doubt herself. I will take care of that—in more ways than one.

“Lorenzo!” I said, slapping my hand against the solid desk, startling him.

I leaned against the desk casually, counter to Jennifer.

Lorenzo immediately straightened, his eyes wide in realization that he had been caught slacking on the job in front of the worst possible person. But this certainly was not the first time I had seen or heard of him getting flirtatious with guests…or the staff. He was a handsome young man. Tall, charming, clean cut. Hospitality was certainly an enjoyable industry for him.

“Yes, Sir,” he stammered, his eyes drilling into my own with twinges of fear. He had only worked here for around eight months. Long enough to know better, but not long enough to have the seniority one typically needs to save their ass when they fuck up.

“You have work to do, yes?” I asked, raising my chin toward him in demand of his answer.

“Yes, Sir,” he stated clearly before nodding to Jennifer. Lorenzo’s attention quickly moved to the computer screen.

“Mmm…” Jennifer purred. “Caught red-handed!” Her lips curled up into a smile as I watched her eyes scanning my body from head to toe. “A girl likes to have a bit of fun sometimes, you know?”

“Oh, I do!” I chuckled back reassuringly. “But Lorenzo is an impressionable young man. It is easy to distract them when they are young. They do not know better.”

Jennifer smiled, adjusting her dress to flaunt more of the deep neckline before throwing her hair over her shoulder to better expose her cleavage. “Well, I must admit, the young ones aren’t normally my type.”

I felt Claire behind me—she was upset.

Jennifer was flirting with me, very aggressively. She could be described as two things: easy and attention-seeking. The ultimate “pick-me” girl. Those types of women always have a way of making women of substance, like Claire, feel inadequate.

While I hated feeling her upset, the relief I felt knowing that she cared enough for me to be jealous and to feel everything she was feeling in this very moment…comparable to a hit of morphine. All I wanted to do was take her and pour my heart out. Give her everything I must give. My secrets. My shame. Leave it all there and walk away from it, with her.

“Well, there are many patrons staying here; I am sure you will find your fun,” I replied, as Jennifer’s expression immediately fell. “Ms. Mora. Have you met Claire?”

With that, Claire popped her beautiful face out from behind me, her eyes bewildered and cheeks flushed. I winked at her as her eyes met mine, seeking reassurance.

Jennifer opened her mouth to say whatever it was she thought would be clever before I cut in, “Claire is my very lovely girlfriend. I know, I am a fortunate man.”

I grabbed Claire’s waist again, kissing her on the cheek as she stood in shock. Jennifer’s head shook as her eyes darted between Claire and me; the Botox struggling to fight from within her forehead.