Page 42 of In Plain Sight

I went to the bathroom and drew a hot bath. Most wolf shifters hated artificial smells, or even just strong scents because of our sensitive noses, but there was this one smelly bath salt that Ruby loved. I dumped a handful into the water, then a second for good measure. I scrunched up my nose at the stench that assailed me as I stripped from my clothes and settled into the water.

Next, I grabbed my cell phone. Seating my earbuds in place, I cranked up some music to play as loudly as I could stand it. My hope was that if I couldn’t smell or hear Kelsey nearby, I could fight the urge to track and kill her.

The water was just starting to cool when my eyes shot open as Ruby slid into the tub to hover over me. I pushed up to kiss her. I couldn’t hear anything, and my senses were distorted from the overpowering smell of the bath salts, but I could see her, and my hands could feel her as they skimmed over her wet body.

I leaned forward enough to take one of her nipples into my mouth, as I teased it with my teeth and tongue. She wasted no time positioning herself over my stiff shaft and lowering herself onto me. She sat there for a moment as I continued to tease her until neither of us could stand it any longer, then began to move.

One thing I had learned was my sassy beauty liked to be on top, but she liked me to be in charge. My hands rested on her hips as I guided her body, setting the pace of her movements to the beat of the drum pounding through the song playing in my ears. I didn’t know a lot of things in life, but I knew exactly how to please my woman. As I felt myself swelling impossibly harder, I toyed with her in just the erotic places she responded to the fastest, and soon she threw her head back and I saw her body shake all over triggering my own orgasm, just as the song ended and a slower one began.

I wasn’t sure how long I’d been in the tub, or if it was safe to remove the earbuds, but I loved the sweet little noises of appreciation Ruby made after sex and decided it was worth the risk. Popping them out, I was greeted by the sounds of my very satisfied mate.

“I don’t know what brought that on, but I will leave work early every day if this is the reward I get,” I said in a husky voice that made her body quake.

“Mmm, I could be okay with that,” she finally said. “I’m almost sorry we don’t have the whole evening alone like this.”

“I could ditch Cole’s tonight and we could stay right here,” I offered.

“Lizzy stopped by and said to tell you that Cole needed to make another supply run tonight, so you have the night off. I invited Kelsey and Kyle over for dinner the second I heard. I know you’ve met Kyle already, and I’m certain you’re going to just love Kelsey to death.”

I tried to reign in my shock at her eerily appropriate terminology, when her phone rang. She growled in frustration but got out of the tub to retrieve it. I hated to see her leave, but I sure did enjoy the view, even in my state of shock.

“Hey Clara,” she said answering the phone. “What? Are you kidding? Is she okay? Okay, yeah, of course. If you guys need anything just let us know. I know she’s already in the best of care. Send her my love.”

Ruby hung up the phone and looked at it sadly.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“There was an accident on Kelsey and Kyle’s ride. The horse got spooked and threw her. She wasn’t prepared for it and broke her leg during the fall. Kyle carried her back to Clara’s. She was able to set it, and Kelsey will be fine, but obviously they aren’t coming tonight now.”

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. I know how much you were looking forward to it.”

Relief washed over me. Was it because Kelsey wasn’t coming? Or because I had only injured her? I suddenly realized I didn’t want to kill the witch. She meant too much to my mate, but it didn’t matter, because my Alpha still wanted her dead and I was bound by blood to see that through.

Ruby

Chapter 16

I felt terrible for Kelsey and the next morning I got up and went down to start my day, but instead of issuing orders and diving into work, I asked Clay to take over for me. He had really been stepping up to the plate lately and helping out. Bran was right. I didn’t have to do it all. We were a team and I would be a better leader if I started acting like it.

As my guys gathered around for daily assignments, instead of barking orders, I shocked them all.

“Clay,” I said.

“Yes, ma’am.”

I passed him the clipboard. “Please give out assignments and see that our milk supply runs on time today.”

“You sure?” he asked, hesitantly.

I smiled. “I have full confidence in you. I have a few personal things to take care of this morning,” I said. I think that surprised them even more. I never took personal time off, except for the days after Bran came into my life.

“But, Ruby, Bran already headed out for the day. I spoke to him a few minutes ago,” Austin said.

“Austin,” Clay said in a threatening tone that meant “Shut the hell up.”

I laughed. “I didn’t mean that kind of personal stuff. Kelsey and Kyle are visiting, and she was thrown from one of our horses last night, broke her leg. I’d like to go and check on my friend and I am confident in Clay’s leadership skills to hold down the fort here for a few hours.”

Austin grinned. “About damn time. That boy’s been working his ass off for a promotion.”

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