Page 9 of Scarred Ruin

A slight twitch appeared in the corner of his mouth. He could obviously gather my reaction, amused that I remained tense with my shoulders pulled back tightly.

As I steadied my breath, I allowed my gaze to travel down the length of his massive body. He was at least six foot four, tall enough he towered over nearly everyone else in the room. His presence was completely dominating, but he wasn’t interested in asserting his power because he didn’t need to.

He was a man who simply acted on whatever suited his desires without hesitation.

While he wore a tuxedo like every other man in the room, he did so with flair, his black shirt somehow managing to contrast the dark material of his suit.

He was ungodly handsome, sensual in a way almost every man would pay for with all the money in their bank accounts.

When my eyes returned to his face, I moved from indulging myself with lurid thoughts of kissing his soft lips to a shadow the shimmering light had allowed on one side of his face.

A stark memory flashed into my mind of the night only a week before of the man whose life I’d saved. Before I knew what I was doing, I walked closer, holding my breath as I did.

And without thinking about my actions, I lifted my hand with full intention of touching his scarred cheek.

The dark stranger didn’t flinch or even react in any way. He merely stood still, a quiet force of power in a room full of vulnerable men and women.

“Beautiful,” I whispered, not for anyone to hear, but as a reminder that I’d seen him before.

No one else heard the single word.

Except for one person.

The handsome man who’d captured my attention.

James chose at that moment to interfere, standing halfway between us. “As I was saying, Isabel, we should further discuss the upcoming project. I understand the person heading the trust fund is a son of a bitch.”

It dawned on me what a tremendous and very stupid comment James had just made as the man standing in front of me was none other than Maxsim Aristov.

I cocked my head, offering a suggestive look and more than curious to see how Maxsim handled the situation.

He took a deep breath, his nostrils flaring mere seconds before he shifted his gaze from my face to James. “I believe the lady told you to walk away. I suggest you do so now.”

When James snapped his head in Maxsim’s direction, I was unable to see an exchange, but knew instantly whatever the Russian’s expression, James had not only been put in his place.

He was utterly terrified.

CHAPTER 3

Maxsim

Wanting a woman, even craving to taste, touch, and fuck a woman wasn’t new.

I’d indulged in my darkest desires a few times over the last four years, yet there hadn’t been a single time when I’d endured a single lingering thought regarding the event. Whatever woman selected for the moment had been a means of physical satisfaction, driving me from the abysmal shadows I’d usually preferred.

When I’d settled on needing a physical fix, I’d found women eager and willing to surrender without so much as trying to discover any details about their lives.

Why bother?

After a couple of hours, every detailed memory of her would fade.

What struck me about tonight and the obvious difference was that days before I’d learned more about the woman standing in front of me than I had collectively about the others.

The reasoning had been more about necessity than desire.

At least at first.

Now, seeing her in such a stunning dress, the vivid hue of ruby accenting her golden halo of blonde hair carefully pinned high on her head while appearing elegantly haphazard, heightened a full spectrum of electric sensations.