Ruby Rose (18 page)

Maxine crumpled to the floor and looked up at Ruby in disbelief. “Fuck you!” she screamed.

Ruby mimicked classic prissy smile. “Tisk, tisk… such language from a lady. Maybe you should run off and find someone to give you a spanking.” Ruby spun on her heels and left.

The fight was over, and, even though Ruby had lost control, she felt great. She was happy Evan didn’t witness her temper because she was sure it didn’t show her in the best light. But it was about time Maxine got taught a thing or two.

Getting ready to leave, her eyes locked with Evan's. For a long moment, they simply stared at one another, the days spent apart falling away as though they'd never happened.

Evan’s face seemed to soften, giving Ruby the courage to approach him. Maybe she was crazy, but she had to try. She had to talk and explain. She would apologize a thousand times if that’s what it took. She missed and loved Evan more than she thought possible.

“Now’s not the time, Ruby,” Evan said, his voice barely heard over the music.

“Evan…” Her voice trailed away. “Can we talk? Please.”

Evan’s face hardened, losing its momentary softness. “There’s nothing left to say. I’ve heard your apologies, your constant messages begging for forgiveness. I’m over it, Ruby.”

“I don’t know what to do to make this right! I love you, and…”

Evan had already started shaking his head before Ruby could finish speaking.

Ruby wiped away the tears from her cheeks, but she saw the uncertainty in Evan’s eyes before he looked away. Ruby felt as though her entire world fell apart around her. She forced a smile shakily past the tears and nodded her head, finally accepting defeat. Evan was over her for good.

Exhaling a long, shaky breath, fighting back the emotions, Ruby shot out, “I didn’t realize our relationship was so fragile.”

Tension in Evan’s jaw and the glistening of tears in his eyes indicated that she'd hit a nerve. She had managed to chip away at the wall Evan created around his heart.

Evan stood up and advanced on her, not stopping until he stood so close Ruby could smell the unique scent that seemed to belong to him alone. She closed her eyes, taking an involuntary deep breath, sparking the familiar desire that melted her and devastated her at the same time.

Ruby's gaze dipped to Evan's mouth – full, perfect, and inviting. What would Evan do if she kissed him? Would he push her away? Maybe it was worth the risk.

Ruby’s eyes trailed lower, down the line of his throat, to the simple V-neck black tee Evan wore beneath his jacket. His chest beckoned to be touched.

“Don’t you dare turn this around on me,” Evan hissed only inches from Ruby’s face. “I’m not the one who destroyed us. You are.”

“Then let me fix us,” Ruby pleaded.

“Fix us?” he asked, laughing harshly. “There’s no ‘us’ anymore.”

Ruby decided to take a huge risk and brought her hand up to Evan’s face, trailing her fingers along the flush that stained his cheek, left behind from his anger. Evan jerked his head away angrily and his chin hitched up, but Ruby saw the flare of emotion in his eyes before he turned away from her.

Ruby’s face inches from his, she ran her gaze over Evan, watching the wall crumble even further. She didn’t want to stop. It was a temptation she couldn't resist. Ruby kissed him.

The minute her mouth made contact with Evan’s, Ruby released a low moan, her body reacting as though it had been an eternity since they last touched. She pressed closer against Evan’s body, forgetting they were in a busy nightclub.

Evan didn't just kiss her, he consumed her. Evan’s tongue stroked across the seam of her lips, demanding an entry she desperately wanted to give.

In a rushed movement, Evan grabbed Ruby by the hand and led her out the doors into the parking lot. Without saying a word, Evan grasped her butt and lifted her up, placing her on the hood of a car, before pulling her thighs apart and settling within her spread legs.

When the velvet smoothness of Evan’s tongue stroked inside her mouth, Ruby opened her mouth wider, meeting Evan’s tongue with her own in a hot, desperate dueling match.

“Evan…” she whispered against his mouth when Evan broke the kiss, running his tongue over Ruby’s lips. She moaned as Evan’s hand tunneled beneath her skirt, cupping her moistened panties.

Evan’s hand slid under the fabric and stroked over her mound, dipping past her silken folds. Pressing past her entrance, Evan thrust his finger in and out without breaking the passionate kiss.

Feverish, Ruby brought her hands to cup Evan’s erection, her eyes fluttering closed as Evan’s finger pumped deeper within. Ruby couldn't get close enough to Evan, couldn't get enough of his kiss, enough of his finger pulling the passion from her body.

God, she thought she had lost this. Lost the chance to make love to him. Her heart beat so fast she could barely catch her breath. She had Evan back. Evan was in her arms again.

Ruby wrapped her legs around Evan’s lean waist, her body on fire from Evan’s touch. Ruby attacked Evan’s mouth with carnal ferocity, her tongue pushing past his lips to breach the cavern of his mouth.

Ruby released a ragged moan, one that came from deep within her soul, from her broken heart. She had missed Evan so much, his touch, his kisses, but more importantly… his love.

With a low growl, Evan pushed away, turning his back to her, striding a short distance away, enough space to cool the heat between them.

“Evan?”

Evan kept his back to Ruby, standing there in silence. Very slowly, he faced her. “At least it’s clear what you’ve always wanted. I guess I was a fool to think you were more than just a groupie.”

Evan’s statement felt like ice thrown on the heat of passion that had threatened to consume her only moments ago. She eased herself off the hood of the car, heat covering her entire body as she met his cold, emotionless stare. Fighting back the flood of tears, she desperately searched Evan’s eyes for explanation. The sudden need to escape made her heart pound even harder against her chest.

“What are you talking about, Evan? Are you treating me like a groupie?” She could barely say the words.

What she saw in Evan’s eyes now brought a pang to her heart. Anger reached out and nearly strangled Ruby in its intensity. Anger for lying, for keeping her reason of moving here a secret, for not trusting in their love. Anger for destroying the relationship they had built in such a short time.

“If you act like a groupie, you get treated like one. An emotionless hookup,” Evan stated quietly, his voice carefully matter-of-fact.

“Evan, please don’t be cruel. It kills me—”

“I’ve been used more times than I can count. People I think love me, or even like me, for me, are just using me for a connection. I had no idea you were doing that. I was blind!” he snapped, his words like a knife, carving into Ruby.

“It wasn't like that, Evan. You have to know that,” Ruby said, taking a step toward Evan before stopping, wiping at the streaming tears coursing down her face. “No matter what you now believe, I… I love you.”

“Love me?” He laughed with venom. “You experimented with me,” he said, anger tightening his features. “You wanted the inside scoop on Domestic Discipline. You explored with me. And you fucked with me!” Fire burned in his eyes.

Unable to stand seeing the pain in Evan’s eyes, Ruby turned. Her voice low, she said, “I was insecure. I was afraid that any wrong step I made would mean losing you. I didn’t have enough faith in us as a couple. I guess I didn’t have enough trust in you. I should have told you the truth. It was the stupidest thing I could have done.” Ruby stopped, taking a deep breath as a sob choked her. “I—I was acting like a stupid love-struck child. I created drama that didn’t need to exist.”

Ruby stopped, her throat clogged with grief, blinking rapidly in an attempt to stop the tears burning her eyes. Afraid if she kept crying, she'd never be able to stop. She fought to keep it together, forcing herself to go on.

“I'm sorry, Evan. I owed you the truth about what I do for a living and this stupid article. I just didn't know what to do as the lie grew each time I let you believe otherwise,” she said, offering a helpless shake of her head. “I made it a bigger deal than it was.” Ruby paused and drew in a breath. “And it was probably the biggest mistake I've ever made. I didn't mean to hurt you.” Ruby paused before continuing. “I wasn't using you. I wasn't faking my desire to be submissive to you. I wanted what you wanted, but I don’t expect you to believe me. I know I lost that trust. I'm so sorry.” She merely whispered her last words.

As if a miracle just happened, Evan strode over to her, dragging Ruby into his arms, holding her close. “Ruby, didn't you know how
much
I loved you?” he asked, pulling away enough to stare into her face. “That if you had just told me the truth, I would have understood? I wouldn’t have acted like an asshole. I would have trusted in our love. You were my world, Ruby,” he said as he brushed his fingertips over Ruby’s tear-stained cheeks, cupping her face with his palms.

“I loved you. I pictured building a life with you. When you got caught in the lie, my entire world crumbled. All those dreams I had, they were dreams of us, places I wanted to go… with you.” Evan glared. “I wanted to be with you. Didn't you know that?”

Ruby saw tenderness and hurt mingled in Evan’s eyes. She also saw lingering anger, an anger she deserved.

“I'm sorry.” That was all Ruby could verbalize right then. So many conflicting emotions coursed throughout her body that she felt almost sagged down by the weight of them as she moved her hand slowly to Evan's. Tears pooled in her eyes, burning them. But she willed herself to hold them back for once.

“I know you are,” Evan finally whispered.

“I'll do whatever it takes to make this right with you,” Ruby said, seeming to find her voice. “I want to earn back your trust. Do you want me to stop writing this article?” Even though Ruby made the offer, deep down she didn't know if she would be able to follow through with that. She was under contract.

Evan shook his head, his voice even as he spoke. “I don't expect you to do that. I would never ask that of you.” He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, his eyes moving heavenward for a moment. “I guess I've known that you never really used me. It was just a lie, but I know, deep down, that your heart has been in the right place.”

“I know that none of this would have happened if I just trusted you would understand,” Ruby murmured. “This shouldn't have been an issue.” The tears she had held back finally gave way. “I embarrassed you in front of your friends.”

Evan shook his head. “You don't need to worry about them. They've seen a lot more drama than that.”

“I don't want them to ever doubt my love for you. I don't want
you
to ever doubt my love, either.”

“That's a tough one,” Evan murmured in a voice so quiet Ruby almost didn't hear him. But she did, and the tears fell faster.

“You cared about me once, Evan,” she said as she wiped at her moist face. “Maybe you could learn to care about me again – someday?” She sounded like a little girl desperate for affection and she hated it, but she needed Evan. She wanted Evan. Not just because he made her feel appreciated and cared for, but because when she was in Evan's arms, she felt complete. And she loved Evan and hoped their love deserved another chance.

“I didn't stop caring about you. I'll always care about you and want what's best for you.”

“
You
are what is best for me.”

Evan shook his head. “I wish I could say I one hundred percent believed that. Because you stole my heart the day I saw you in the club.” Evan smiled a bit. “But that was… like a dream, Ruby. We lived this fast and furious love affair that maybe was always bound to come crashing down.”

“Don't say that, Evan,” Ruby pleaded. “Don't give up on us. Please.”

“I think I'm just facing reality.”

“Do you love me enough to stay with me?” Ruby asked as more tears slid down her face.

“I love you. I have since I met you. The whole issue with this story and Harold reminded me that you still have a life in San Francisco. You still plan on going back and building your career. As much as I want to be selfish and just take you in my arms and make love to you and promise you everything will be all right, I can't. I know that long-distance relationships don't work out.”

“I decided long ago, long before this whole mess, that I was staying here… with you,” Ruby cried.

Evan looked moved by her admission and slowly pulled Ruby close to his chest. Ruby closed her eyes for a brief moment as she felt a whisper of a touch on her face as Evan began to dab at her tears with the pads of his warm, gentle fingertips.

“I think you need to move back,” he said in a hushed voice as Ruby opened her eyes and stared at Evan in shock. “I can't do this.”

In one swift motion, Evan turned around and walked back in the club without saying another word, leaving Ruby standing there stunned.

“You don't know who you fucking messed with!” Ruby jumped at the wicked declaration suddenly right behind her. She turned around to see Maxine standing with a knife pointed in her direction. Her dilated eyes revealed an evil inside. Drugs, alcohol, hatred, and a weapon made a deadly mix. Ruby's heart stopped as Maxine charged.

Ruby’s head whipped back from the force of the blow. Blood shot from the corner of her mouth as Maxine’s knuckles made contact with her lower lip. The evil in her eyes shone in the dim light of the parking lot. The stench of her breath only added to the demon-like figure before her.

Swiping her fingertips over her mouth, Ruby struggled to her feet, but Maxine was suddenly on top of her, Maxine's fishnet-clad thighs straddling her chest, pinning her to the cold asphalt below. Ruby tried not to focus on the crazed face looming over her. Maxine's face showed a fury that made Ruby realize she would indeed try to kill her.

Ruby had knocked the knife out of Maxine's hand when she unexpectedly lunged at her. But the knife remained within her reach. If only she could stretch out her arm and—

“Stop fighting me, bitch! I'm going to show you what happens when you mess with me. Do you know who I am? How dare you punch me in the club! You'll pay for that now!”