Page 127 of Big Bad Wolf

God, yes, he felt it in every inch of his body. He ached with it.

She turned suddenly on the path and stared into the shadows. He could tell by the way she squinted that she couldn’t actually see him yet, but she spoke into the darkness anyway.

“Why are you doing this, Rafe?” Her voice broke and so did Rafe’s restraint. He stepped into the light and Ruby flinched, startled. But the smile that crossed her face at the sight of him set his heart racing. How could she still look at him like that? He didn’t deserve that smile but, God, he wanted to earn it.

“I thought you wouldn’t want me anymore after what I did.” His voice was raspy from a week of speaking to no one but the ghosts in his head.

Ruby’s eyes widened. “You thought I wouldn’t want you after you saved my life? My sister’s life?”

Rafe shook his head. “I don’t know. I just… I thought that wasn’t me anymore. I thought I could be…” He growled in frustration, his thoughts scrambling in Ruby’s presence. “I thought I could be more human for you.”

“Oh.” Ruby’s response was small and quiet in the expanse of the woods.

“But I can’t. That attack made it perfectly clear, Ruby. I’m still a beast.”

“And what if I want the beast?”

“We have to stop playing this game,” he ground out.

“It isn’t a game, and protecting people you care about isn’t a sin!”

God, he wanted to believe her. His body called for hers; keeping his hands clenched at his sides was taking all his strength.

“You didn’t leave,” Ruby continued before he could piece together an explanation, before he could collect the reasons for his self-hatred.

“What?”

“You said it was over, that we were over, but you’re still here.” She put her hands on her hips, ready to fight, and hope surged in Rafe’s chest.

“I can’t stay away. You know that.”

“Then why do you keep trying?” Ruby’s voice rose. “I don’t know how many more times I can tell you that I want you. Both sides of you. That I’m not scared of you. That I fucking love you!”

Her arms were across her chest and she was scowling at him, and her words were sharp and angry, but all Rafe heard was that she loved him. Ruby, his Ruby, loved him. And everything else faded into the background. Every doubt. Every fear. He’d be insane to turn her away now.

“Tell me again,” he demanded.

“What?” Ruby asked, brow furrowed, frown pulling down her red lips. She’d painted them to walk through the woods with him and he loved that. He loved her.

“Tell me again. And again. Please.” He stepped closer until he could feel her warmth. “I’ll try to hear you this time. I’ll keep trying.”

Her face crumpled and she leaned into his chest, her cheek pressed against his heart. “I love you, you big idiot. I love you and I want you and I need you.”

She needed him. Ruby, who tried so hard not to need anyone, had just admitted to needing him. Couldn’t he do the same? Couldn’t he leave all his bullshit behind for her?

“Ruby…” He wrapped his arms around her and pressed his lips to her hair. “I love you too. I’m sorry I’m so screwed up. I wanted to be something better for you.” He breathed her in, crushing her to his body. How had he thought for a second he could live without this? Why had he even tried?

“We’re all screwed up. And I don’t want you to be different. I want you to be you.” Her words were muffled as she spoke, nuzzled against his chest. “Just stay with me.”

Rafe grabbed her by the arms and pulled her away so she could see his face, so she could see how dead serious he was. He was going to do this. He could be the man she needed, the man she wanted. He could trust her like she trusted him.

“Always.” Knowing Ruby loved him burned down all his doubts. Nell was right. Ruby was different. This time was different.

“Even if my face is doing something weird?”

He chuckled. “Even if your face looks absolutely horrified. I won’t leave. You’re stuck with me.”

She grinned through her tears and he pulled her close again. He held her like that for a long time, lingering on the overgrown forest path. His fingers wove through her hair and down her back beneath her red cloak. He let them trail over the tempting curve of her ass and back again. Ruby sighed against him, and he thought he could stay here forever, listening to the owls and the distant thunder and the heartbeat of his beloved.