Ruin (Rhodes #1) by Rina Kent

                             I navigate through cameras until the small bathroom comes into view.

                             Mae releases a long breath. ‘Oh, all I had to do was push?’ She pats herself on the shoulder. ‘Great job, Mae.’

                             What the...?

                             My chest reverberates as a deep laugh leaves my lips, the sound echoing in my empty surrounding.

                             If I knew it would be so entertaining to watch her up close, I would’ve taken her the night I met her.

                             Mae gasps when she sees her reflection in the mirror. A grimace of disgust forms on her soft features before she glares at the chaotic version of herself. She combs her hair with her fingers then washes her face.

                             Her gaze falls on the shower and her lips pout— again. She works on the faucet and grins when water drenches her palm.

                             How can an insignificant thing make her eyes shine with happiness?

                             How can someone who’s easily satisfied paint that darkness?

                             It made no sense.

                             She tucks her hair to the side, exposing a bare delicate back. Her hand shoots to pull the zipper of her provocative dress.

                             My nerve endings tingle as my hand tightens around the phone, gaze concentrated on the slow strip show.

                             One that’s not meant for me.

                             When the little zipper’s halfway down, Mae halts her movements— as if feeling my eyes on her. She dashes to the door and closes it. Her gaze roams the bathroom, probably looking for a camera. One that’s hidden beyond recognition.

                             “I knew you would be here.” Lowell’s wife’s voice sounds from behind me.

                             I thrust the phone back into my pocket. “My Lady.”

                             She leans close until her strong cherry perfume chokes me.

                             “No one is here, Aaron.” She purrs and bites her lower lip. “You can lose the honorifics.”

                             What was her name again? All I remember is that it starts with P. She’s a blonde with blue eyes, too. Her body a perfect hour glass. She’s beautiful. Even more so than Mae – objectively speaking.

                             Yet, beside irritation, she brings no emotion whatsoever.

                             None of them do. Women for me are either a one-night thing or targets I can manipulate. Nothing more. Nothing less.

                             Why is Mae different? Why in the gates of hell’s name do I want to throw P-something from the balcony so I could go back to watching the kitten?

                             “Well, that’s the thing. Your name isn’t important enough for me to remember.”

                             I walk past her, but she clutches my arm. My glare falls to her fingers, then back to her face. She licks her lips and my hand twitches to break her arm or choke her. No one touches me unless I allow them to.