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I have the devil’s temptation in my house and I can’t let myself indulge.
This is going to be torture.
Chapter Five
Ruby
I pull the warm blankets up to my heart and cuddle them as I moan on the soft pillow. I don’t remember ever feeling more safe and secure than I do right now.
I know that Jack will look out for me. I know I’m in good hands.
He might be a little rough around the edges, but he’s going to look out for my safety. Crenshaw won’t stand a chance against a warrior like him.
A warm fluttering ripples through my chest as I think about him. The way he was looking at me with those light brown eyes, so full of… something. I don’t know what it was, but it’s making the heat in my chest flow down between my legs as I recall the intensity of it.
I’ve had a crush on him since I was a kid.
Even before I hit puberty, I remember pulling out my parents’ wedding album just to gaze at the pictures of Jack in his gray suit. His hair was shorter back then and he was clean-shaven, but I like the mountain man look he’s rocking now. It suits him well with the long silver fox hair and thick masculine beard. He’s the most manly man I’ve ever seen.
I can imagine Crenshaw stepping up to a man like Jack and trying to intimidate him. Crenshaw is nothing but a bully, whereas Jack is a true warrior. He wouldn’t be intimidated. He’d smack him down with those huge hands and send him fleeing with his tail between his legs.
I turn around in bed with a moan and look at the closed door, wishing he’d come in. I’m not sure what I want, but I know I want to be near him. I want him to lay down next to me and wrap those big strong protective arms around me. I want to feel his hands on me, his hot breath on me. I want to feel his heart pounding against my back and his hard desire pressed against me.
I want to know that he wants me as much as I want him.
He’s the only man I’ve ever wanted.
The only one who’s lit my fire.
But I know it’s never going to happen. He’s my father’s best friend.
He probably sees me as a dumb kid who screwed up and got herself into trouble.
I just hope he thinks I’m not a nuisance for being here.
I’ll have to figure this out quickly and find a new place to stay before I annoy him too much. Being a burden to him is the last thing in the world I want to be.
I’m staring at the faint crack of light at the bottom of the door when a shadow suddenly appears.
I hold my breath as I wait for the door handle to turn.
Is he going to come in?
I can’t breathe as I wait… and wait…
Finally, the shadow disappears and I’m left all alone once more.
What was I thinking? That he actually wanted me?
I let out the long breath I was holding and cling to the blankets as the heat and desire flooding my body goes cold.
At least I have his shirt to sleep in. At least that part of him is touching my body.
It’s not even close to what I want, but I’ll take what little part of him I can get.
Chapter Six
Ruby
It’s almost noon by the time I wake up. I stretch out in bed with a blissful moan, feeling so content after my good night’s sleep. There’s nothing like waking up refreshed after being exhausted for days.
I use the ensuite bathroom to wash up and put on the nicest outfit I have left—my favorite pair of jeans and an old Beastie Boys T-shirt.
I’m still yawning and rubbing my heavy eyes when I walk down the hall and see Jack at the stove. There are grocery bags everywhere and he’s cooking up a feast.
“Did you go grocery shopping?” I ask as I take a seat at the granite island.
“I didn’t know what you like,” he says as he starts the pot of coffee, “so, I got everything.”
I laugh. “I can see that. You didn’t have to do all of that on my account.”
He smiles shyly. “The fridge was pretty empty last night and you look like you needed a good meal, so… It’s nothing.”
I watch as he moves around the kitchen, flipping eggs and putting crusty bread into the toaster. He moves so quick and lithe for someone so big and muscular. Each movement is as graceful and agile as a large predator cat. It’s unreal.
He’s looking more put together today with a nice pair of jeans and a light blue collared shirt. The sleeves are rolled up his thick forearms and I swallow hard when I see the veins running up them. His long salt and pepper hair is pulled back nicely, but his face is still bruised and cut up. The bruise around his eye has turned a dark shade of purple.
