Chapter 4 #2
“Go ahead,” I smirk. “Or you could come closer. Examine it properly. I’ll let you lick it instead. It’s much nicer. And unlike the floor, it will reward you much more satisfactorily.”
She flushes, mouth opening, shutting, then snapping closed like a trap.
She hates me. She wants me. She doesn’t know what the hell to do with herself.
Eventually she mutters, “Where’s your washroom?”
I point down the hall. Watch her stalk off.
Of course she tries climbing out the window. She’s adorably predictable.
And when she comes out ass first, I’m waiting outside before her sneaker even hits the sill. Arms folded. Expression flat.
When she catches me standing there, she freezes.
I swear she looks genuinely shocked. Like she can’t fathom why someone like me would chase her instead of letting her run.
Before I can explain, the front doors open and the sound of voices carry.
I step up to her before we’re interrupted. Again.
She backs away until her back touches the wall, eyes wide when she sees I’m deadly serious.
“I’m going to say this once so listen up, Ruby. I want you. I’m going to have you. You’re going to be a good girl and let me inside that beautiful, heavenly cunt that’s already driving me insane after smelling it just now.”
She opens her mouth. I hold up a hand.
“You’ll get your chance to speak, baby, but I’m not done.
I’m not an asshole. And I will respect your genuine no’s if you mean them.
And yes, I can fucking tell when you don’t.
Bluster won’t sway me when it comes to wanting you, fucking you, and protecting you.
It won’t sway me when you piss me off by letting some fucker look at you two seconds too long or, heaven forbid, come within a whisper of touching you.
Bluster won’t save you if you sass me and get your ass spanked for it.
It most definitely won’t save you if you try to run from me again. ”
I step closer, rub the tip of my nose over hers. “Now, you.”
“Where the fuck do you get off—”
“Bluster.”
Outrage lights her up.
“Listen you sonofabitch—”
“Bluster.”
“I will knee you in the balls if you say that word again, I swear to God.”
I don’t make a move to protect myself.
Crushed balls might help the raging hard-on that’s showing zero signs of quitting. “Tell me you don’t want me to fuck you nine hundred ways to next year, Ruby. Say it and mean it.”
She opens her mouth, terrifying the fuck out of me.
Luckily, Freddie strolls out with the rest of the band trailing behind him, leather and sweat and smirks.
Freddie’s gaze flicks to Ruby, then to me.
He jerks his chin, motioning me aside.
I eye the closest bodyguard it’s become necessary to have around on account of unhinged fans and I point to Ruby. “Watch her. She moves, tell me. You touch her, you’re fucking fired.”
“Jesus Christ,” she mutters under her breath.
We walk out of earshot but I keep my eyes firmly on her.
I can see my bandmates watching me like I’m mad.
Well…madder than usual. Don’t give a shit.
“She’s got a following,” Freddie murmurs, nodding at the tablet in his hand.
I have to frown a little to catch his meaning.
She’s scrambled my fucking brain, and I don’t even know her middle name.
“Little corner of the internet. Wattpad persona. Writes barista-meets-superhero fantasies, twists them into fairytales with bite. I read a couple. It’s raw.
Bleeding heart mixed with razor wire. It’s exactly the kind of hook you’ve been missing in your lyrics. ”
My pulse kicks. Of course she writes. Of course she bleeds onto the page.
I pluck the tablet from Freddie’s hand, scroll, and even before I’ve read the first ten lines I know. He’s right.
My girl is dirty, but she has an incredible, clever and versatile way with words. I peruse a particularly filthy excerpt and I swear there and then to make that scene happen with her.
“Noted.” I toss the tablet back to Freddie, slap him on the shoulder. “Appreciate you letting me know. You just earned yourself a hundred grand bonus.”
I stalk back to her. She’s braced, arms folded tighter, chin high like she’s daring me to mock her.
But she hasn’t moved.
Progress.
When I reach her, I search her face.
She opens her mouth. “Can I speak now? Or are you about to shut me down again just so you can hear yourself talk?”
“You can holler to the moon and back, baby. Right after I make you a new offer.”
“One million dollars.” I close the distance, lowering my voice. “To star in my music video. But the storyline? It’s yours to write.”
She blinks and she falters just for a second. Just long enough for me to see the hook slipping into place.
The band murmurs, distracting her. She swallows and flicks a glance at them.
“Everyone get the fuck out,” I growl without taking my eyes off her. “Now.”
Feet shuffle and the door slams a minute later.
Then it’s silence. Just her and me.
I step closer, pinning her with my stare.
“Here’s the second part,” I growl. “Every second of those three months you’re not on camera or on stage with me? You’ll spend in my bed.”
Her breath catches.
I know what I’ve found. Something real. Something feral. Something mine.
And three months won’t be nearly enough.
But she doesn’t need to know that yet.