Ruin (Rhodes #1) by Rina Kent

                             Egotistical bastard.

                             He goes back to his papers as my fingers twitch to throw the heavy mathematics’ book straight at his head.

                             My insane thought is halted when his brows furrow at the document in front of him. The more he flips the pages, the deeper his scowl sets in. Whatever he’s reading doesn’t seem to delight him in the least. I would hate to be the one who wrote it. With a jerky movement, he picks a marker and highlights the hell out of the papers.

                             I twist my neck to the side, trying to get a glimpse. What type of document got him into such a sullen mood?

                             My lips open to ask him, but I’m wise enough to clasp them shut. If there’s anything I’ve learnt during my stay here is that I should avoid Aaron’s fury.

                             Yet, I abandon the dull book and stand. He doesn’t look up. I take the chance. With a snail’s speed, I walk towards him.

                             I smile when I’m at an arm’s length and Aaron continues highlighting the document. I’m actually good at this sneaking game.

                             Instead of stopping in front of him, I tiptoe behind him. I keep about a metre’s distance for safety and look over his shoulder. The writing is too small.

                             I inch closer until his cedar scent envelops me like warmth in winter. Oh. God. He smells so good it’s unfair.

                             My eyes are involuntarily drawn to his back muscles. He discarded his jacket and he’s only in a dark blue shirt. It flatters his wide shoulders to perfection. The memory of being thrown over one of them sends heat through my body. A forbidden fire courses me at his nearness.

                             And his hair. His damn jet-black thick hair begs me to run my fingers through it.

                             Oh. My. God.

                             What the hell are these thoughts? Why am I so hot and tingly and... drawn to him?

                             No. This is wrong. This is a million per cent wrong. Aaron is the last person I should be attracted to.

                             Stop! I told you to stop! I scream internally at my body. Yet, my feet keep approaching him. My hand extends to touch his hair.

                             Do I even want to stop?

                             I don’t get my answer. Before my fingers make contact with his hair, Aaron clutches my wrist. With a speedy tug and a twist, I end up sitting on something warm. I yelp, closing my eyes. When my eyelids flutter open, I’m greeted with a sardonic almost-smile. Oh no. The warmth is his lap. I’m sitting on his lap.

                             “Did you honestly think I failed to notice your obvious spying, kitten?” He’s close, so close that his amused words fan my face like an overwhelming breeze.

                             I twist my wrist in his relentless hold. “L-let me go.” My voice wavers, unconvincing. Do I want him to let go?

                             You’re well and truly going mad, Mae.

                             “You should have thought of that before you came up behind me. It’s a dangerous thing to do. Do not try it again.” He tightens his fingers around my wrist. It doesn’t hurt. Or maybe I don’t feel the pain due to the heated look in his black irises. I drown in the grey flecks, diving deeper and deeper until reality hushes in the background. Only Aaron and his low magnetic voice exist.