Ruby Revenge

“I’m still making it up to the group for what happened up north.” I shrugged. “If this is what it takes, I’ll do it.”

“What if this was a mistake?” he mumbled, looking conflicted. “I’m stuck too. What if it’s like this for the rest of my life?”

I’d been wondering when he was going to bring that up. He’d gone to the group and to the elders, begging to be responsible for Sage. They had agreed. It wouldn’t look good for him if he went back and changed his mind. He needed to prove they were happy and would be the rest of their lives. Even if he didn’t care for Sage like he used to, it was expected of him to stay with her.

And that reasoning made me feel a bit less guilty about my recent thoughts.

“She’ll adjust,” I assured him. “Just give her some more time.”

With a nod, he focused on the game that was playing on TV as he leaned back and relaxed. I grabbed my bottle of water, freezing when I caught sight of Sage. She was standing in the hallway next to the bathroom door. Only wearing a towel. I glanced at Alex out of the corner of my eye, realizing that he couldn’t see her from his side of the couch.

My gaze raked over her still wet body. Her hair was a mess of unbrushed waves that tumbled over her shoulder. Raising an eyebrow, I met her stare. A devilish grin lit up her face, and I couldn’t tear my eyes from her as I tried to figure out what she was thinking. Remembering I was still holding my water bottle, I twisted off the cap, keeping my gaze on her as I lifted it to my lips. Tilting the bottle up, I took a sip right as she dropped the towel.

I nearly spit out the water and went into a fit of coughing. Leaning forward, I twisted the cap back onto the water bottle while attempting to control my sudden choking. Alex glanced over at me.

“Went down the wrong pipe,” I croaked out once my breathing returned.

Alex chuckled and went back to watching the game. My eyes flew back to the hallway where she was still standing. The towel was around her feet, and I kept my stare fixed on it. If I looked up, that would be it. The last thread of control I’d been holding would be severed. I had a feeling she knew that.

Her feet shifted, and I lost the battle I never had a chance at winning when I lifted my gaze. Her legs still had drops of water on them from the shower. My breath was caught in my throat as I drank in every inch of her naked body. My eyes went to her hand as she raised it to her breast. Her nipples were hard, and her back arched as she grazed her fingers over them.

Her body was as fucking beautiful as I knew it would be. My hand gripped the arm of the couch as I forced myself to stay sitting. I wanted to feel her soft skin against mine as I tasted her. All the dirty images I’d been burying rushed to the surface.

I was so fucked.

Finally meeting her eyes, I was taken aback by the heat in them. A look I hadn’t seen before from her. There were no nerves. No regret. No fear. She hadn’t had enough wine to forget Alex had come home. She knew he was on the couch. And she apparently didn’t give a shit. For the first time, she was putting her trust in me. In a way I never planned for. She was depending on me to make sure Alex didn’t catch her. And I would.

Grateful I’d chosen to wear jeans today, I shifted as my dick strained against my zipper. I subtly peeked at Alex, who was still engrossed in watching the game. When I looked back at her, she had her hand on her pussy. Bracing her other palm against the wall, she began touching her clit, and I sucked in a quick breath. She was just full of surprises today.

I didn’t move a muscle as my eyes darted between her hand and her face. The pleasure building on her face was intoxicating, and it took everything in me to stay on the couch. I wanted to be the one to draw that reaction from her. I wanted to explore the touch that would entice a scream from her lips.

Her eyelids fluttered the faster her fingers moved. Raising her other hand, she clamped it over her mouth as a tremor ran through her. My teeth slammed together as I nearly fucking lost it and bolted from my spot. She fell against the wall, not slowing down her assault on her clit. Her knees nearly buckled as her orgasm hit. Her body was shaking when she pulled her hand from her mouth.

Raising her eyes back to mine, she lifted her finger that had just been on her pussy and slid it between her lips. A second ago, I didn’t think my dick could get any harder. I was wrong. I was willing to bet she tasted more delicious than any dessert I’d ever eaten.

“Dad’s calling,” Alex said, glancing toward the hallway. He was far enough to the side that he couldn’t see where she stood, but it was obvious the shower had shut off a while ago. “I’m going to talk to him outside. We have a trip coming up.”

Sage had already slipped into her room and silently shut the door. I turned toward Alex and nodded. It was for the group. He didn’t want Sage overhearing.

“I know I don’t say it often. But thanks.” He grabbed my shoulder. “For helping me with her. I appreciate it, man.”

And the best brother award went to me. I was a piece of shit. But even his words couldn’t stop me from what I was going to do next.

“No problem,” I muttered.

With his phone to his ear, he strode across the living room and went outside. The second the screen door clicked shut, I was on my feet. My back rested against the hallway wall as I waited for her to come out of her room. She wouldn’t stay in there long. She had to show Alex she wanted to spend time with him. I wasn’t chancing going in. Alex might come back inside. And I couldn’t rely on my willpower of not touching her if we were alone in a room. Because I had absolutely none at the moment.

The door opened, and I straightened up, grabbing her wrist before she left the doorway. A cry of protest left her as I pushed her against the wall. Placing my forearm on the wall next to her head, I kept my words quiet.

“That’s the second time you had an orgasm while I only sat and watched,” I murmured, putting my fingers under her chin and tilting her face up. “There won’t be a fucking third time. Do you understand what I’m saying, Sage?”

Her eyes widened in surprise. Nerves filtered through her gaze, but her answer was crystal clear.

“Yes.”

That was the answer I needed. There would be no more skirting around the tension we’d built up since she’d gotten here. She’d bulldozed over that line with what she just did. Keeping my hands off her now would be impossible. I shouldn’t even be considering it. She wasn’t mine to touch. Her life had already been chosen. By the group—who I was supposed to listen to over everything else.

The problem was that right now, I didn’t fucking care.