Page 31 of Ruin

Sam laughed as he turned his attention to Arik, his eyes glimmering with subtle concern.

“All right.” Arik laughed. “Yes, I talk about you. Does that make you happy?”

“Oh, very much so,” I replied, bringing my hand to the top of my forehead to shield the direct sunlight that was making it hard to see Sam. “Sam, how long have you worked for Arik? What do you do?”

Sam’s eyes shot to Arik. “I have worked for Arik for about two years now, but my family has worked for him for a very long time.” He paused as Arik’s eyes drilled into him. “I do a little bit of everything. Personal assistant, logistics, house management.”

“Oh, well, I bet he keeps you busy.” I laughed.

Arik chimed in, grabbing my side and pulling me close next to him, “All right. Wonderful. Everyone has met. Let us continue with the tour.”

Sam nodded, giving me a reassuring smile before disappearing back to the side of the villa from which he came.

“After you,” Arik said smoothly into my ear as he held the door open, clearing my path.

A flight of stone steps greeted me just beyond the rustic wooden front doors. Light streamed from above as I climbed the steps, each one revealing more of the villa’s rustic beauty and the sparkling sea just beyond the terrace.

The main level was breathtaking: a grand chandelier hung above a long, dark wood dining table surrounded by a dozen wooden chairs with tufted black leather cushions. Beyond the dining area, leather couches were adorned with ruby-red throw pillows and dark faux fur throws. In the far corner, a large stone fireplace stood, its stack of freshly cut wood waiting for the cool evening while its fragrance filled the air.

I looked back at Arik as he was standing at the base of the stairs, as if he were waiting for me to process before joining me at my side again. I paused before the glass doors leading to the terrace, my heart fluttering with anticipation. Suddenly, Arik’s arm wrapped around my waist once more, his other hand tenderly brushing the hair from the side of my neck. His lips brushed against my skin, and I tilted my head back in bliss, biting my lower lip before I could stop myself.

“Are you ready for the best part of the villa?” he whispered in my ear, his arms pulling me tightly against him.

I nodded, unable to speak as Arik slid the glass doors open.

Before me lay a magnificent stone terrace, perfectly positioned to offer an unobstructed view of the sea. The sight took my breath away. Arik guided me past rattan couches with clean white cushions and led me to a glass partition overlooking a secluded beach.

“What is this place?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

“This is my villa,” Arik replied with a proud smile.

My mouth opened in shock as I gasped. “This is your house? You live here?”

Arik smiled as his hand rested against the glass partition in front of me, pulling himself closer against my back.

I leaned into the glass, taking in the view and letting the sea air fill my lungs. As I looked down, I noticed two men scattered around the property: one on the terrace to the far right and another on the beach to the left. They both bore a striking resemblance to Arik’s driver with their muscular builds and stone expressions.

“Who are all these men?” I questioned, a note of concern creeping into my voice.

Arik glanced around, his voice casual as he replied, “Oh, they work for me. Security assistants. They do a bit of everything. The formal term is conti.” His smile was charming, but I could sense he was hoping I wouldn’t probe too deeply based on the look in his eyes.

Sarah’s right. This guy is a mobster. Fuck!

I screamed, “Arik. Please tell me you’re not in the mob. Or…or doing anything illegal!”

Arik’s head fell back as his whole body laughed against mine. “Just good at business. Nothing illegal. Unless wine has become illegal since we entered the front door.”

I blinked rapidly, as the sound of my heartbeat filled my ears. “I have so many questions,” I said, my mind racing.

“Later,” Arik said with a sheepish laugh. “For now, we enjoy. And tonight, you are mine.” His voice slowly proclaimed with a smooth rumble as his mouth pressed into my neck, just below my ear.

With that, he pressed me with such firmness against the glass that I thought it might shatter. My head leaned back toward his face as his lips captured mine in a passionate kiss. I shifted my body to face him, letting my eyes close as I accepted the power he had over me. His body seemed to melt into mine as the glass rested against my back and wind from the sea swirled us into a mixture of desire and affection.

The villa, the view, and the enigmatic man beside me all seemed to blend into a surreal story that was now my reality.

Chapter Eleven

Arik