Page 14 of Scales and Seduction

After the dishesare left in the drying rack, I turn to see Ruby sitting on the couch, her legs tucked beneath her as she scowls at her phone. She purses her lips and knits her brows in frustration.

“What’s wrong?” I lean against the back of the island.

Ruby glances up at me sullenly. “It doesn’t work,” she mutters, holding up her phone like it’s a useless paperweight. “No bars, no signal. It’s just a useless slab of junk.”

The way her face scrunches up in annoyance is unexpectedly endearing, but I know she must feel totally isolated and concerned the people closest to her are worried.

“Unfortunately, I don’t believe your technology would play well with ours here.” I move closer to her as she sighs dramatically and flops her back against the cushions.

“I was hoping for a miracle. It’s just…my friends are probably freaking out right now. I forgot to text Quinn when I got home.” Her voice nearly trembles as she closes her eyes tightly before inhaling a steady breath.

Her words tug at that beast inside me that wants to protect her. I have done so well to suppress my sexual urges around her, but this makes me wish I could find whoever separated her from the people she loves, even at the cost of losing her. “I’m sorry. Iknow it must be hard being here and away from everything and everyone you know. If I knew of a way for you to contact her, I would let you.”

Ruby glances at me, her expression soft. “It’s not your fault. I know you didn’t plan for this to happen.”

Lowering myself to sit on the edge of the couch, I’m careful to keep some distance between us, even though I long to sit beside her. “Tomorrow I’ll reach out to my friend Loran. He’s one of the most intelligent and powerful people I know. If anyone can figure out how this app connected us…” I feel myself hesitating, but I continue my thought, “or how to send you home, it’s him.”

Ruby’s lips quirk up into a small smile. “Thanks, Gideon.”

For a moment, we sit there in silence. I watch her as she absently runs her fingers over the phone, her thick lashes casting shadows on her cheeks. She’s beautiful, and it’s driving me mad. “We should get some rest.”

“Oh, yeah, of course.” She smiles. “I’ll go get Noodles off your bed. He’s been there all night. I’m surprised he isn’t screaming for food.”

The logical part of me knows that sharing a bed will complicate things far too quickly, but the beast-like part of me knows she’s my mate, and it wants her wrapped up in my arms right away. There’s an energy between us that keeps me in a constant state of desire to touch her, to pull her toward me. It’s maddening. “The bed is yours.” I stand at my spot on the arm of the couch. “I’ll sleep on the couch.”

“The couch is half your size!” Ruby’s expression falters. It’s subtle, but her gaze shifts down to her knees. It’s enough to make me second-guess her intentions and mine, but I force myself down the hall away from her. I grab the pillows and blankets from the closet, ignoring the way I wish I could go against my better judgment.

“You don’t have to do that. There’s plenty of room in that gigantic bed—” She pauses as if she’s unsure if she wants to continue her train of thought as her cheeks flush pink. “You wouldn’t even notice me.”

Chuckling, I shake my head. “I would notice, Ruby.” God, would I notice. My voice dips lower than I intend, and the truth of my words hangs in the air between us, charged with energy. My body tingles at the thought of her beside me, aching to touch her soft skin. I know her lying with me in bed would make it difficult to remain a gentleman. My beast would take control, and I’d have to have her. I want to have her even now.

She shifts on her feet, uncomfortable, but the humor in her eyes betrays her. “Is this because of what we talked about last time?”

“Talked about when?” The moment the words leave my mouth. it dawns on me what she’s referring to. Ruby smirks as though she’s oh so proud of herself before she pokes her index finger against my chest playfully.

“That monsters are horny.” She snickers, and God, I want to kiss the smile off her lips. Before I think better of it, I pull her into an embrace. Ruby doesn’t tense as I expect her to; instead her arms slip around me, and I feel her relax against my chest. My tail flicks unconsciously behind me, the instinct inside me screaming to do more.

She fits perfectly in my arms, and her warmth seeps into my body, causing venom to fill my mouth as lust builds in my gut. I force myself to swallow it down in a bitter attempt to remind myself that I can’t fuck her. I can’t have her.

I let her go, brushing a strand of her hair away from her face as I lean down and press my lips to her forehead. It’s just enough to hear her breath hitch, and it sends a surge of electricity coursing through my body.

Her wide eyes meet mine as I pull back. “Get some rest,” I tell her, forcing my voice steady despite the thrum of my heart. “You’ve had a long day.”

Ruby hesitates; her gaze lingers on me for a moment before she nods. “Good night,” she says tightly.

I watch as she retreats down the hall with a faint blush tinting her cheeks. The bedroom door closes, and once it clicks, I drop into the couch with a heavy sigh. The couch might be too small, and I dread the pain I’ll feel tomorrow. I’ll have to take a bath and use more draughts for pain than usual, but it’s worth it.

Everything I do for her is worth it.

Iwake up drenched in sweat, my heart hammering in my ears. There’s a pillow between my thighs with an orgasm on the edge of release lurking beneath the surface. My body feels like a live wire. Everything feels primed and aching with need.

The room is suffocating, and for a second, I can’t remember where I am. My breathing is shallow as the edges of a dream I wish I could recall clings to my mind like cobwebs.

A sharp meow breaks through the haze, snapping me back to reality.

“Noodles?” I whisper, sitting up and brushing damp hair from my eyes.

He’s standing by the closed bedroom door, tail flicking like he’s annoyed at me. Even in this enormous bed, I wonder if my horny dreams woke him from his slumber. If I was anything like I feel now, I was probably a writhing mess in the sheets.

---