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Chapter 20

We’re just getting it out of our systems.It made sense. She repeated the words to herself like a mantra while she worked. She’d had the hots for Rafe since before she’d even seen him. How many nights had she fantasized about her stranger in the woods? How many times had she touched herself imagining him chasing her and everything she’d let him do once he caught her?

And then he’d emerged from the shadows like some big hulking sex god. How could any red-blooded woman be expected to concentrate with that type of energy around her? And she needed to concentrate. That much had become clear during their conversation with Eloise today. If the visions themselves didn’t kill Lena, someone else might. Ruby’s stomach rolled at the thought.

She glanced up to find Macy looking at her with a concerned furrow in her brow. Ruby gave her a tight smile and arranged the drinks evenly on her tray.

The bar was busy but Rafe hadn’t stuck around. He didn’t want to leave Lena alone for too long, so he had walked Ruby here and had left with warnings not to step outside the bar without him. For once, Ruby hadn’t bristled at his command. She had no desire to go anywhere alone.

As the hours wore on, fear and arousal twined together in her gut. It wasn’t a new emotion for her. She loved to make out during horror movies and was never hornier than after a walk through a haunted house. It was one of the few parts of her goth persona that wasn’t exaggerated. Fear got her off. But never before was it real. Never before was there an actual threat. But it turned out her body didn’t know the difference. She was so keyed up, she could feel the dampness on her thighs.

“You okay?” Macy was studying her again as she poured the drinks.

Ruby leaned her elbows on the bar. It was after eleven. Only a couple of hours to go. “I’m fine. Just a little tired.”

Macy’s purple braids skated across her shoulders as she lined up the drinks. “You sure? You look pinker than usual.”

Oh God, she really did need to get this out of her system if her boss could read it across her face.

“Nope. Everything’s fine.” She tried to make her smile convincing but what type of smile says, I’m not aroused by the fact that my life is in danger because I am a perfectly well-adjusted person? She smiled bigger and Macy narrowed her eyes.

“I’m fine, really.”

“Where’s Rafe tonight? I thought I saw him earlier.”

Ruby could feel the heat flooding her blood just at the mention of his name. “He … uh … he dropped me off.”

Macy continued her inspection of Ruby’s face like she could read everything Ruby planned to do to the man as soon as she was done here.

“So are you two a thing?”

How many drinks had this table ordered and why was it taking Macy so long to pour them? Sweat rolled down Ruby’s spine, making her tank top stick.

“It’s … um … it’s new.”

Macy smiled. “He’s a good guy, from what I can tell. Amazing wood-worker.”

Ruby nodded, eyes on the tap as Macy filled the last beer, a perfect head of foam on top.

“Not bad to look at either,” she added with a grin. “If I had any interest in people with penises, I’d be jealous.”

Ruby choked on her laughter. But it felt good to let some of the tension of the day go. Her shoulders relaxed until she had to lift the tray filled with drinks.

“Thanks, Macy,” she said with an awkward smile. “For uh … checking in.”

“No worries. And keep me posted on the Rafe situation.” She winked and Ruby found herself smiling as she weaved through the crowded bar. Maybe having people look out for her wasn’t the worst thing that could happen.

* * *

Rafe found her immediately through the dwindling crowd. His hungry stare tracked her movements like the predator that he was. He knew how he must look, his bulky shape hiding in the shadows of the bar, his eyes following Ruby as she rang up her last customer of the night. He looked like a threat. And he felt like one, but he couldn’t take his eyes off of her.

Her scent reached him even through the funk of spilled beers and fried food. It wrapped around his throat like a vice and squeezed. Any rational reason he had for sleeping with her had fled his mind as soon as he walked in the door and found her leaning over the edge of the bar, her short skirt skimming the backs of her thighs. He was an idiot to think he could ever get her out of his system. He knew that now, standing here, watching her laugh with Macy, noticing the way wisps of hair curled around her face. She was beautiful and fearless and sexy as hell. There would be no getting Ruby out of his system.

But maybe she could get him out of hers. She could live out whatever little fantasy she had about fucking a monster and be done with it. With him.

Rafe ignored the shards of glass in his throat as he swallowed that thought. He pushed off the wall and stalked toward Ruby. She turned, eyes wide in the dim bar.

“Ready?” he asked and her lips tipped up in a smile. She was ready. He could smell it and it nearly brought him to his knees.

“Ready.” She grabbed her things from the bar and waved goodbye to Macy who waggled her eyebrows in a suggestive way that Rafe decided to ignore.

The night air was thick, expectant. Rafe’s lungs felt tight. Silence hung between them as heavy as the humidity. Ruby’s body next to him was a thing of tortuous dreams. She was so close. Soon she would be even closer. Her plush body beneath his, her thighs cradling his hips. Shit. He was so hard already, putting one foot in front of the other was a struggle. Walking had become a foreign concept. He needed to run. He blew out a ragged sigh.

Ruby’s pinky brushed against his. Barely a touch but his body stood at attention, completely cued into hers. She slid her hand into his, their palms pressing together. She gave his fingers a squeeze and he felt it echo in his chest.

He was so screwed.

By the time they reached the house, Rafe could barely see straight. It was all a blur, the overgrown lawn, the crooked path to the door, the squeaky hinges as it opened.

The only thing that was clear was Ruby—her small hand in his, her cinnamon scent bathing everything around them, her blood red smile as she opened the door. Ruby, Ruby, Ruby. Her name was the only thought in his head.

Until she peered into the house, looking uncertain, and he remembered the sight that had greeted them last time. He forced himself to unhook his hand from hers.

“I’ll take a look around. Go check on your sister.” He nodded toward the stairs and Ruby hesitated, uncertainty written on her face. “I’ll meet you in your room,” he added and her features softened again. Had she really believed he could change his mind about this?

He hurried back outside and strode around the property, forcing himself to pay attention, to notice if anything was off kilter. Everything seemed normal. Quiet. He let his wolf senses spool out from him but all he could smell was fresh cut grass from the neighbors’ yard and the scent of an impending storm. No other wolves nearby tonight.

He walked the perimeter twice more to be sure he was right. And if he was honest, to calm down a bit before seeing Ruby again. The last thing he wanted to do was attack her like some beast as soon as he walked in the door. He sucked in a deep breath, forcing his body into submission. This was about giving Ruby what she needed and then backing off.

He could do this. Sex without feelings wasn’t exactly his strong suit, but he could do this.

By the time he’d walked back inside, up the stairs and opened Ruby’s door, he’d nearly convinced himself. But there she was. The full force of her struck him in the chest like a goddamn lightning bolt.

“Everything okay?” She was asking about the house, about the other wolves. She was asking about her safety, but all Rafe could feel was how not okay he was.

He swallowed hard and nodded. Ruby sat perched on the edge of her bed, still dressed except for her bare feet. Tension radiated from her body. She looked tired, her eye makeup smudged around the edges, but the idea of either of them sleeping right now was laughable. They’d come too far.

No, he had a choice. There was always a choice. And right now all he wanted was Ruby.

He crossed the room in two strides and dropped to his knees in front of her. She opened her thighs and made space for him to come closer. He let his hands fall to her hips, squeezed the flesh under her skirt. She ran her fingers through his hair, tugging at the ends until pinpricks of pain tingled against his scalp.

He leaned in, their faces so close now her breath fanned across his lips. “You sure this is what you want, Ruby?” he asked, his voice like gravel.

She nodded, her eyes on his.

“Say it,” he growled.

“I want this,” her voice was breathless but steady, sure. “I want you.”

It was too much. He slammed his lips down on hers and stole the words from her mouth. She doesn’t want me. She wants the idea of me. She wants the monster in the dark. So that’s what he’d give her.

He devoured her mouth, biting and sucking and teasing until her moans filled her tiny bedroom. His fingers dug into her hips, holding her in place even as she tried to rub against him. He kissed down the long column of her neck, letting his teeth scrape against her sensitive skin. She shivered beneath his touch.

Rafe pulled his mouth away for long enough to pull the tank top over her head revealing the lime green bra beneath. Her full tits spilled over the top of the cups and a groan tore from Rafe’s lips. She was fucking edible. He traced her curves with his tongue, dipping beneath the fabric. When his tongue grazed her nipple she gasped and arched toward him. Her fingers were tangled in his hair, pulling him closer.

He huffed a laugh against her overheated skin and dipped his tongue in again.

“Please,” she whispered. “Rafe, please.”

It wasn’t Rafe’s particular kink, to hear a woman beg, but goddamn, that word from Ruby’s mouth set fire to his blood. He unhooked the bra with a flick of his fingers. Ruby’s eyes met his in surprise.

He couldn’t help the smile on his face. “You don’t live hundreds of years and not learn how to unhook a bra.”

Ruby’s laugh tumbled out of her, low and bright, filling Rafe in ways he didn’t want to think about. Not now. Not with Ruby half naked and smiling in front of him. He reached up and gently undid the knot of her hair, letting it tumble down her back. He ran his fingers through it and Ruby closed her eyes on a sigh.

“That feels so good,” she breathed and Rafe wanted to do things that made her feel good over and over. Little things, big things, all the things. He leaned forward and took her nipple in his mouth. He swirled his tongue around it, savoring the hitch in Ruby’s breathing. He sucked hard and she moaned low in her throat, the vibration shooting straight to Rafe’s cock.

Ruby’s thighs fell wider apart and she wrapped her legs around his torso. Her heels digging into his lower back kept him anchored in the moment. He licked and sucked at each breast like he was worshiping at the feet of a goddess. Nothing else mattered but this. Nothing else existed except for Ruby’s lush body wrapped around him and her sighs and moans filling him and his name falling from her lips.

“Rafe, please.” She tugged at his hair, pulling him away. Her cheeks were pink and sweat dampened her hair line. Little curls had formed around her face. He’d left marks on her breasts and almost felt bad about it, but he liked seeing them there.

“Make me come.” She said the words while she held his stare, her chest heaving with every breath.

Rafe blinked, the world coming back into focus. Make me come. Those words. The look on Ruby’s face. Shit.

Rafe put a hand up Ruby’s skirt and tugged her underwear down over her ass. She wiggled out of them and reached for her skirt.

“Leave it on,” he growled, running his hands up her thighs, spreading her wider. He sat back on his heels to admire the view. Ruby’s perfect cunt was laid out in front of him. He ran a hand up her leg until he reached her center. She stilled, her breath catching. He palmed her thigh and let his thumb brush against her folds. She bucked, her hips meeting his hand involuntarily.

Ruby leaned back on her elbows, staring down at him, eyes glazed over with lust. She was so wet. He held her legs open with one hand and explored her with the other. His fingers traced over her, learning where she liked to be touched, watching for every intake of breath, every moan and whimper.

He could do this all night. All week. For the rest of his fucking life.

No, that’s not what this is.

He was on his knees again, kissing up her legs, nipping and biting, loving how Ruby responded to every little spark of pain against the pleasure. The wolf inside him growled low with desire, with the need to claim her.

But Rafe wasn’t a wolf right now. He was a human.

He ran his tongue through Ruby’s wetness and his world fractured. Human. He was human. He couldn’t hold on to it. To that thought. To his humanity. This taste. Ruby’s taste. It was everything. He licked her again and again, broad and flat and then teasing and swirling. Over and over until Ruby was grinding against his face, her scent and her taste nearly suffocating him.

He’d never felt anything like it in his life and as Ruby came against his tongue, trembling and screaming his name, he knew why. The realization stole his breath, stole his senses. It couldn’t be.

He stared up at Ruby while she trembled through the aftershocks, her dark hair streaming down her back like night itself, her lips red from kissing him instead of her lipstick. And he knew.

Ruby was his fucking Mate.

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