Ruby Rose Read online

  Evan swallowed hard. Ruby's long hair flowed more than halfway down her back. Her jeans hugged her body and she wore a pair of worn leather boots. Her magenta-colored blouse clasped around her neck, backless except for the bottom part that clung securely around the small of her tantalizing back. Ruby Rose… was anyone more captivating?

  Evan put the rim of the Jack bottle to his mouth, taking another small swig. He wanted to be careful not to drink too much. His friends, Gage and Adam, would make up for him when it came to the cocktail consumption. They always did. He wanted to make a good impression on Ruby. He found it hard enough to keep his senses intact around her as it was.

  Evan leaned into Adam’s ear to shout above the loud, booming music. “I’ll be back. There’s someone I need to go see.”

  Adam acknowledged him with a nod. “I’m going to go get a drink. You want one?”

  “I’m good, thanks.” Evan held up his bottle of Jack, still half full.

  Walking in Ruby’s direction, Evan recognized the short raven-haired girl holding a cocktail with Ruby as her friend from last night, Melanie.

  As he approached Ruby, he could feel his heart pick up tempo and his gut clench. Despite his efforts to quiet his nerves, he felt completely on edge. It surprised the hell out of him. Evan prided himself with his confidence with the ladies. Control at all times dictated his demeanor. One look at Ruby changed all of that.

  Evan walked around behind her and moved in closer. Ruby smelled wonderful, giving off a gentle flowing fragrance. Not suffocating or unbearable like some of the women’s perfume he was used to smelling. No stench of alcohol, no stale cigarette smoke, no sweaty-club-atmosphere-odor present. Everything about Ruby refreshed his senses. His old self had become stale, and she gave him a renewed awareness.

  He hungered to wrap his arms around Ruby’s tiny frame and hold on to her like she belonged to him. Instead, against his will, Evan eased closer and talked in her ear. “Hey, I’m glad you decided to come.”

  Ruby spun around, nearly spilling her drink all over him. Ruby’s expression went immediately from startled to embarrassed to welcoming. Her smile beckoned like a lighthouse. “Yeah, I’m glad, too. What a great place. I had no idea it would be so crowded.” Her smile continued to draw him in. “Melanie was really excited when I told her we were invited. Thank you.”

  Evan couldn’t get over how stunning she looked. If he stared at her every day of his life, it would never be enough. The word ‘captivating’ was created for this woman. “I had no idea your hair was so long. Last night you had it pulled up and… you have beautiful hair.”

  Ruby paused for a second. “Thank you.” Evan noticed she avoided eye contact again, reminding him of last night. Her eyelashes actually appeared to rest against her cheekbones, the blush rising underneath.

  Evan cast his eyes over Ruby's shoulder at the sex scene going on behind her and asked, “Are you liking what you see?”

  Ruby instantly looked into his eyes and then back down at the ground, clearly embarrassed by the question. “I uh, Melanie uh… I don't normally…”

  Evan realized the conversation made Ruby uncomfortable and he was afraid she would want to run off. He had no intentions of letting her run away again. Not this time. Evan glanced at her glass. “What are you drinking?”

  She smiled timidly. “I have no idea.”

  “What? You don’t know what you’re drinking?”

  She laughed. “No clue. Melanie handed it to me. It’s good, though.”

  Ruby’s smile somehow had a calming effect on him. “Well, would you like another drink of ‘I have no idea’, or would you like to try ‘beats me’?”

  She laughed even louder. “Ooh, I love ‘beats me’! That drink’s amazing.”

  He found her sense of humor refreshing, especially since she seemed so shy. The contrast only added to the spell this woman had on him. Whatever the magic was, Evan was spellbound.

  Evan quickly ordered the drink, never taking his eyes off of Ruby. He was happy that the bartender served him instantly so he could return to Ruby as quickly as possible. “Here you go.”

  Ruby reached for Melanie as she walked by. “I haven’t introduced you yet. This is my friend, Melanie. I just moved out here a few days ago from San Francisco and she’s been kind enough to let me stay with her.”

  Evan nodded. “Yes, I’ve seen Melanie around.”

  Melanie’s eyes widen slightly in surprise. “You have?”

  Evan nodded again. “Let’s just say you may have a secret admirer.”

  “What? Who?” Melanie reminded him of a little girl at Christmas.

  “Sorry. My lips are sealed.”

  Ruby gave a playful wink as she took a small sip of her drink. Melanie looked as if she were about to speak when another girl who had just made her way to where they stood pulled her away.

  Evan decided he had had enough of the Jack and placed the bottle on a table nearby. He watched Ruby intently. Her body was so small, but she looked so strong. Her perfect pout begged to be kissed… almost demanded. The demand was more powerful than any command a Dom could issue. Evan's loins constricted as he pictured himself kissing her. Obsession at its highest.

  “So, did you come here alone?” Ruby asked.

  Evan looked toward his friends in the center of the room. He had to. If he gazed at Ruby any longer, Evan feared he’d cause her to seek the next exit.

  “No, my friends are here somewhere, working the room, earning their money.” He turned back to Ruby. “Someone needs to earn our paycheck.”

  She sipped on her drink again. “It must be nice to get paid to party.” Ruby held Evan’s gaze for a moment and then smiled, making Evan’s heart skip.

  “Not really.”

  “You don’t like it?”

  Evan shrugged. “It pays the bills. It just really isn’t who I am.”

  Ruby smiled again. “Who are you, Evan?”

  He stood there, enthralled with every word and every move Ruby made, wondering how he could answer her question, when he felt a tap on his shoulder. It was Adam. “Hey, we're going to take off.”

  Evan looked at Ruby. She seemed so small and delicate and incredibly vulnerable. Or he was just going to use that as his excuse for wanting to stay with her. “I'm going to stick around. Her friend left and I don't want to leave her alone.”

  Ruby smiled at him. “Go ahead, I’m fine.”

  “I'm not going to leave you here by yourself. I'll stay with you until Melanie gets back.”

  Ruby grabbed Evan’s hand, and pulled him into the crowd of dancing bodies. “Come on, let’s go look for Melanie so you feel comfortable going with your friends.” Ruby smiled softly at him, making Evan's heart melt even more – if that was even possible.

  As they made their way across the dance floor, one of Maxine’s friends tried to stop him. “Hey, Evan, where’s Maxine? She was supposed to be here tonight. Didn’t she come here with you?” Her eyebrows arched and she peered at Ruby. Evan kept walking, pretending not to hear.

  “Is Maxine your girlfriend?” He could feel Ruby try to let go of his hand but Evan only tightened the grip.

  Evan shook his head. “No, not at all.”

  They continued to make their way through the club, no sign of Melanie appearing. Adam caught up with them, looking a little irritated.

  “Evan, come on. Let's get out of here,” Adam insisted.

  Ruby still held Evan’s hand. Evan looked at her apologetically, and then turned to Adam. “Give me a sec. She needs to find her friend before I'm comfortable leaving.”

  Ruby smiled, finally looking deep into his eyes. “I'll be fine. Go ahead. Don't make your friends wait because of me.”

  It took all Evan's willpower to not lean over and kiss her, but the last thing he wanted was for anything to happen tonight that would scare Ruby away. Ruby seemed timid, and as much as Evan found it sexy as hell, he didn't want to come off as too aggressive.

  “Oh, hey,” Evan said, addressing
Adam. “This is Ruby. Ruby, this is my friend, Adam.”

  Ruby blushed slightly and said hello in a tentative voice. Evan knew Adam assumed she was just some girl he’d picked up at the club for a quick hookup.

  They all made their way to the exit, where Gage stood with arms crossed, waiting. Ruby couldn't find Melanie at all. She had tried to send her some texts, as well as calling her several times, with no response.

  Ruby frowned at her phone. “Something wrong?” Evan asked.

  “Can we leave? Do you mind taking me home?”

  “What about Melanie?” Evan asked.

  “I'll send her a text letting her know I got a ride home. Melanie sometimes hooks up with a guy and forgets about who she came with.” Ruby shrugged. “I just don’t want to be here by myself. Can I get a ride with you?”

  Evan stared at her for a second, delighted to have more time with her. “That sounds like a good idea. You definitely shouldn't be here alone.”

  He finally let go of Ruby's hand. He placed his palm on Ruby's lower back and escorted her out of the club to their awaiting limo. He helped her into the seat and sat down next to her, reaching for her hand immediately. Both Adam and Gage studied his actions, no doubt shocked to see him give anyone affection, something he never did. They did… but not him.

  “Have the driver drop us off first,” Adam said, motioning toward Gage. “Then you can take Ruby home.”

  Evan smiled, relieved Adam made it easy for him to have some alone time with Ruby. He wasn’t ready to say goodnight to her yet. He could always count on Adam to help a guy out.

  Chapter 4

  Listening to the ringtone while she sat in the limo, heart pounding, Ruby waited for Melanie to answer.

  “Hello?”

  “Melanie?”

  “Ruby, I've been looking for you. Where are you?”

  “I’m with Evan. I couldn't find you, so I decided to get a ride home with him. Are you on your way home?”

  “No, I met a friend and we're going to go to another club. Do you need me to come get you? Do you want to come?” Melanie asked.

  “No, I'll have Evan take me home.”

  “I can't believe you are with Evan Steel! You're living the dream, girl.”

  Her words made Ruby’s heart beat even harder. She bit her lip.

  Ruby decided to ignore the comment. “I’ll see you when you get home. Be safe.”

  “Is he right there next to you?” Melanie whispered, as if Evan might hear her.

  Ruby giggled. “You have fun tonight.”

  “You have to hook up with him! And I want to hear all about it.”

  Ruby laughed nervously, her face suddenly warm. “Melanie!” she gasped. “I'll be fine. Bye.”

  “Let him spank you, too! Give it a shot, you might surprise yourself.”

  Ruby's pulse sped up. Melanie didn’t help her already strained nerves. “I gotta go. Have a good night.” She hung up the phone, trying not to notice Evan watching her.

  After dropping everyone off, Evan turned to her and smiled. That smile. It was unlike anything she had seen. It was soft, sensual, and alluring. Ruby shifted in her seat, trying not to appear anxious, but she found it nearly impossible to control her nervous energy. Why was she having such a hard time breathing now?

  “Are you hungry?” Evan asked.

  Ruby let out the breath she was holding and nodded.

  “Good, because I’m starving.” He leaned forward to the driver and muttered some instructions.

  They picked up some food at a small coffee shop and headed to the beach, eating along the way in the back seat. Ruby hadn’t realized how hungry she truly was until she bit into her sandwich. Everything about the meal and the company was perfect. Evan had a way of making her feel warm, comforted, and relaxed. She ate more than she would normally and talked more about herself than she would ever do. Ruby guarded her past, her present, and her future. She opened up to very few, and had found it was easier to survive that way. It was easier to protect herself. She did, however, open up slightly to Evan. She felt comfortable enough to discuss her likes and dislikes.

  Ruby took the last bite of her sandwich and leaned back against the leather of the limo seat. “I’m so full, I could explode!”

  Evan smiled warmly. “From the looks of it, you could gain a few pounds to that frame of yours.”

  Ruby blushed. “Yeah, I tend to skip meals. I get caught up in work and forget, I guess. I lose track of time.” When she'd write, hours would fly by.

  Evan raised an eyebrow. “Bartending?”

  Crap! She almost gave away that she's a writer. She just shrugged casually.

  A silent calm washed over them as they both just looked at each other. Evan’s eyes were soft and gentle. He casually had one arm slung over the back of the seat, giving off a sense of comfort and a sense of ease. Ruby realized they were both staring at each other and began to grow uneasy.

  “So where are we going?” she asked to change up the mood.

  Evan took a moment to continue to stare. “To one of my favorite places in the city. Believe it or not, the clubs are my least favorite part.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “They aren't me.”

  Ruby almost laughed. “You do realize you are Evan Steel, right? Your name alone represents these clubs.”

  Evan frowned. “I know, and I hate that.”

  Ruby smiled softly and straightened her back. “Then why do you do it?”

  Evan’s face grew serious. “That's a good question. I guess I'm searching.”

  She took a deep breath to attempt to soothe her nerves. “Searching?”

  Evan reached across the seat and lightly grabbed Ruby’s hand. He didn’t say anything, but his soft touch made Ruby feel calm and relaxed again. He gave a gentle squeeze before pulling his hand away.

  Ruby and Evan sat in silence again. Ruby noticed how easy it was for both of them to sit and be content in each other’s company. They both could stare into each other’s eyes, taking the time to observe. Ruby liked how Evan’s eyes would light up when he smiled. She liked how he was confident enough not to look away. She liked how he had a way of holding her stare, demanding her eyes stay connected with his. She liked… well, she liked Evan.

  “So Evan, tell me something about you. I feel you have the upper hand because you know so much about me. I feel like I haven’t stopped talking this whole drive.” This was Ruby's chance to start building her story.

  “I have no secrets. What would you like to ask?”

  “I can ask anything?”

  Evan smiled. “Yes, you can ask anything.”

  Ruby took a moment to think of a good question. She wasn’t sure if she would get this opportunity to ask anything of her liking again. Ruby also wanted to be careful not to come across as a reporter.

  “Okay, so why is a good-looking man, like you, not married?” She blushed at how forward she sounded but continued. “You have to give me honesty, nothing simple or general.”

  Evan smirked. “So saying I haven’t met the right woman is considered general?”

  “Yes.”

  Evan took a moment to just stare into Ruby’s eyes. His eyes narrowed a bit and his jaw tightened. “I’m domineering.”

  Ruby shook her head. “No, that was way too simple of an answer.”

  “I have certain expectations.”

  Ruby shook her head again. “Nope, that was too general.”

  “I’m old-fashioned.”

  Ruby pouted out her lip. “You can’t just give broad, elusive answers. Not fair!”

  Evan chuckled. “Okay, okay. You are pretty damn cute when you pout.” He took a deep breath and repositioned his body against the back seat. “Well, I believe in an old-fashioned marriage. I believe the man is the head of the household and I believe in Domestic Discipline.” He paused and studied Rudy intently for a moment. “Domestic Discipline is when the husband, or boyfriend, uses discipline, such as spanking, to correct behavior of the
wife or girlfriend.”

  “Why?” Ruby asked in a soft voice. She wanted to know for more than just her article.

  Evan thought for a moment. “Some people believe, as I do, that spanking is a way to solve conflicts. Rather than fighting or having resentment, a spanking is a way to take action, reestablish roles, and resolve the issue.”

  “So why would a woman agree to be spanked like a child?” Ruby asked, careful not to have any judgment in her voice.

  “A spanking is a way for the woman to feel feminine again, to allow the man to take charge. It’s a way to let the guilt and anger go. I don’t really know all the reasons why, but it’s a dynamic that I believe works. This isn’t a new concept, and has been practiced in households for centuries.” He paused and scanned Ruby's face. “I believe the divorce rate is as high as it is and relationships don’t work because the roles of femininity and masculinity are blending. Women are taught to be tougher and men are taught to be more sensitive. It's not that I don't think women are strong, it's just that I think we've lost a part of who we are naturally. I’ve also been told that a spanking is therapeutic to a female. It’s a release of negative feelings and negative thoughts.”

  “Which is why BDSM is becoming so popular?” Ruby asked.

  Evan shook his head. “Domestic Discipline and BDSM are very different. Same in many ways, but the core beliefs of DD do not mirror BDSM.”

  Ruby looked at Evan skeptically. “Then why do you represent the community? Why go to all the clubs and events?”

  “For some reason, it just happened that way. I guess because I spank. I discipline. I believe strongly in dominance and submission.”

  “And you don't feel this is abuse?”

  He shook his head. “If I did, I wouldn't do it. I would never do this against a woman's will. This is an agreement we go into. This is a decision made by the woman long before I would spank her. I respect women. I respect the word 'no'.”

  Ruby just sat and stared at Evan while he spoke. He had such passion and conviction in his voice. He seemed so centered and focused. Everything about Evan screamed strength and stability. She had never heard someone describe DD. She had read articles, but the information seemed so shallow compared to actually hearing it from Evan. She wasn’t appalled or shocked. Ruby didn’t think he was a wife beater, or abusive. She respected him for his beliefs. Now, she had to figure out how to make her readers feel the same.