Chapter 38
Ruby
My entire walk to his office feels like a crime.
High heels clicking, heart sprinting, brain short-circuiting. I swear my pulse is loud enough to set off security alarms.
By the time I reach his floor, my palms are sweating.
I knock.
“Come in.”
His voice. Low. Warm. Too calm.
I open the door.
He’s standing by the windows this time, not behind his desk. Sunlight hits his shirt in a soft glow, outlining his shoulders, his chest, I forget how to breathe.
He turns.
And the look he gives me?
Possession wrapped in restraint.
My knees almost buckle.
“Close the door,” he says quietly.
I do.
I don’t look at him as I step forward, not because I don’t want to, but because looking at him feels dangerous.
“Ruby,” he says softly.
I look.
And everything in me tilts.
His eyes sweep down and back up, slow, thoughtful, almost gentle.
“Come here.”
I step closer. Just within reach.
He doesn’t touch me.
Not yet.
But the air thickens, warm and tense.
“You look nervous,” he says.
“I am.”
“Why?”
“You know why.”
He tilts his head.
“Tell me anyway.”
My throat tightens.
“Because… this feels… big.”
His expression softens. Just enough to undo me.
“Good,” he says quietly. “It feels big to me too.”
My breath stutters.
Then he moves, one smooth step, and lifts a hand to cup my jaw, thumb feathering along my cheek.
I melt instantly.
His lips brush mine once, soft and slow.
Then again, longer.
Then deeper, his hand sliding to the back of my neck, pulling me into him with quiet, controlled need.
My fingers clutch his shirt.
And then he kisses me fully.
Not rushed. Not hungry like last night.
This kiss is slower. Worse. Better. More dangerous.
This kiss means something.
He breaks only when I’m breathless.
His forehead rests against mine.
“Ruby,” he murmurs. “I’m not playing with you.”
My breath trembles. “I know.”
He brushes his thumb over my bottom lip.
“I want you,” he says. “Not just your body.”
Oh god.
My whole chest tightens.
“I… I didn’t expect this,” I whisper.
He leans in again, kissing the corner of my mouth, the edge of my jaw, my ear,
“You didn’t expect me,” he murmurs.
I shake. “Exactly.”
He smiles softly, dangerously.
“Good.”
Then his mouth finds mine again, this time deeper, longer, his other hand sliding around my waist, pulling me flush to his body.
I gasp.
He groans quietly.
And then,
A knock.
We freeze.
“Cole?” Evan’s voice says through the door. “You in there?”
My entire soul leaves my body.
Jaxon’s jaw tightens. He steps back, but not far, his hand stays at my waist.
“Come in,” Jaxon says coolly.
I nearly DIE.
Evan opens the door.
Sees us.
Sees how close we are. Sees Jaxon’s hand at my waist. Sees my flushed face.
His expression cracks.
“Oh,” he says sharply. “I didn’t realize..."
“You never do,” Jaxon says.
His voice is calm. Too calm. A warning wrapped in silk.
Evan looks at me, betrayal flickering in his eyes.
“Ruby,” he says quietly, “can we talk later?”
My lungs implode.
Jaxon’s thumb presses lightly at my waist, a silent message: No.
I swallow hard.
“I’m… busy,” I manage.
Evan nods once, tight. Then leaves.
Silence.
Jaxon doesn’t speak for a moment. He just watches the closed door.
Then he turns back to me.
“He needs to stay out of this,” he says softly.
My stomach flips.
“He’s my friend,” I whisper.
Jaxon steps closer. “Friends don’t look at you the way he just did.”
Heat floods my cheeks.
He cups my jaw again and kisses me once, slow, claiming, final.
“He’s not the problem,” he says against my lips. “I am.”
And god help me, I want him anyway.