Lahat ng Kabanata ng TAKE ME, RUIN ME (When Love Becomes Sin): Kabanata 21 - Kabanata 30

TAKE ME, RUIN ME CHAPTER 21Chapter 21: The Cold RealityThe sudden loss of his hands makes me flinch. One moment, the air was thick with heat and the heavy weight of his touch, and the next, he is gone. I am left kneeling there, breathing hard, my chest heaving as I try to find my bearings. I feel completely lost in the wake of the sensations that have finally departed from me. It’s like being plunged into ice water after standing too close to a fire.A part of me—a dark, shameless part—wants to reach out and call him back. My skin feels sensitive and lonely, craving the friction and the pressure he just took away. I feel the cool breeze of the room hit my damp skin, chilling my nipples, and suddenly the fog in my brain begins to clear. The shame returns with a vengeance, hitting me like a physical blow. I grab my bra from the sofa cushions, my fingers fumbling with the lace, and quickly try to slide it back on.But his hands stop me. He doesn't grab me roughly; he just places his fi

TAKE ME, RUIN ME CHAPTER 23Chapter 23: Out of the Frying Pan"I am so sorry to disappoint you, Selena, but playtime is over," I say into the phone, my voice flat and tired. I pace the length of the living room, my heels clicking softly on the expensive rug. "Look, he really did do a good job taking care of me. He treated my wounds and made sure I was okay, but nothing happened. Nothing. I didn't allow him to cross that line. So can you please, please stop playing this game with me? I really do not like it."There is a long, heavy silence on the other end of the line. I can almost picture Selena sitting on her couch, processing my words with a frown. Finally, I hear her let out a long, slow exhale."Okay. Fine. Sure," she says.She sounds more than a little disappointed, and honestly, I don't blame her. She is my best friend, and I know she only wants the best for me. She wants me to be happy, to be loved, and to be far away from the shadow of Daniel. But I really wish she—and Adrian

TAKE ME, RUIN ME CHAPTER 25CHAPTER 25. CENTER OF EVERYTHING ARIA'S POV I sit at the dining table, the steam from the meal Selena prepared rising to meet me. The food is wonderful—fragrant, perfectly spiced, and exactly the kind of comfort I should be craving—but the flavors feel dull on my tongue. My focus is elsewhere. My eyes keep drifting toward the living room, drawn like a magnet to the scene unfolding on the plush rug.Selena and Adrian are surrounded by a sea of white pages. Documents are spread across the center table like a disorganized map, and the two of them are buried deep in a discussion I can’t seem to decipher. I try to chew, but my jaw feels tight as I watch them. I track every movement, every shift in body language.I watch the way he looks at her—gracious, attentive, and entirely too close. My eyes narrow as they exchange a set of papers, their fingers brushing together for a second too long. Something sharp and cold tightens in my stomach, a knot of discomfort I

TAKE ME RUIN ME CHAPTER 27CHAPTER 27. A WHOLE LOT MORE COMPLICATEDARIA'S POV The realization of the game he is playing strikes me with such force that my entire body begins to tremble. It isn't just a game of power anymore; it’s a siege on my senses, and I am losing territory fast. I bite down hard on my bottom lip, the sharp sting of my teeth helping me find a shred of stubbornness. I reach behind me, my fingers fumbling as I grab his hand, trying to pry his fingers away from the junction of my thighs.He doesn't make it easy. He continues to trace slow, torturous circles against the fabric of my pants, and the friction sends a jolt through my system that makes my breath hitch. Something deep in my chest pulls and tightens, a knot of desire I can’t untie. My knees feel weak, and I hate it. I hate how easily he can dismantle me.I grit my teeth and look up, meeting those icy blue eyes. He is staring down at me with a smug, triumphant expression. He knows exactly what he’s doing. He

TAKE ME, RUIN ME CHAPTER 29CHAPTER 29. CHECKBOXARIA'S POV "Who the fuck does he think he is?"I mutter the words under my breath, scoffing as I stare down at the glowing screen of my phone. I shake my head in pure disbelief, the light from the display casting a pale, cold hue over my features. The message from Adrian feels like a weight I wasn't prepared to carry. My mind is spinning, but I force myself to make a decision. Sleeping early is absolutely the best thing I can do for myself right now. I need to just step inside that guest room, turn the heavy brass lock, and bury myself in anything—any thought, any task—that isn't him.I have to do everything in my power to ignore the burning sensation in my chest. It feels like Adrian has already planted a seed inside me, a tiny spark of something I can’t afford to name. I refuse to let it take root. If I allow myself to feel even a fragment of what he’s offering, the results will be catastrophic. I know how my world works. Only the go