Page 47 of Unlocking Ruin

“Do what?”

“Look at me.”

“Now we have to add narcissist to your red flag list.”

“The fact that I have a list in your mind speaks volumes, Little Thief.”

“I’m only just beginning to trust you. Don’t blow it.”

He bows his head with the gravity of a loyal knight.

“Let’s cut the crap and state the facts,” I request. This was like a hack job; we managed to get inside the system. It was time we did what needed to be done. For me, it was finding out what Steffen knew. Steffen’s intent seemed to be to infiltrate me.

“I find you attractive, but I also find picking up one-night stands in cheap bars alluring,” I confess, while my eyes remain on his, watching him intently.

He sucks his bottom lip into his mouth and bites down. “Then why haven’t you participated in one lately? You haven’t fucked anyone since you met me in the library,” he says.

Steffen is glowing like a star. Asshole.

“What about you?”

He arches a brow. “You want details on my sex life?”

“It’s only fair.”

He leans back and crosses his legs, amusement floating over his lips. “I’ve only had you recently.”

“Had me?”

“In my dreams.” He shrugs. “I’m loyal. As soon as I looked at you, I knew.”

“As if you haven’t slept with someone since then.” I roll my eyes. A man like him likely needs his dick serviced twice a day.

He lifts a shoulder. “Believe what you want.”

“Did anyone ever tell you how infuriating you are?”

He smirks. For the next minute, we have a standoff with our eyes.

I lean forward, my stomach pressed into my thighs. “You know a lot about me, yet I know little about you.”

“You know I dream of you,” he states with delight. He opens his hands. “Ask me anything.”

Pushing back, I press my spine into the couch. I know what I’m going to do. I’m going to sandbox Steffen. It’s a term in cybersecurity where you create a safe, isolated space where you can run files or code. You can check their behavior and see what their purpose is.

Let’s take it out of the virtual setting and run a test right here, right now. In this cozy, safe sitting room.

How are you going to react, Steffen?

There was a risk when sandboxing. Some malware was smart. It knew it was inside a sandbox; it could stay quiet to hide its purpose.

Is your real purpose just lusting after me?

“I don’t trust a lot of people, Steffen,” I offer.

“I know; that’s why I want to tell you the truth and let you decide. I want to give you a choice when it comes to your future, Rylan.”

“You sound like a honeypot, a fake server. Why do you want me to think you’re so tempting?”