Chapter 13 NOT TONIGHT?

Chapter 13 NOT TONIGHT?
Her whole body trembled violently as another orgasm ripped through her, tearing her apart at the seams.

Their bodies lay tangled in the sheets, their breath still uneven, the silence filled only with the rhythm of their hearts. 

Ruby shifted against him, her cheek pressed to his chest, tracing lazy patterns across the ridges of his muscles. Her fingers wandered upward over his chest, to the strong line of his neck, and finally into his hair.

A smile curved her lips as she played with the curls, soft between her fingers. She whispered, almost like a secret, “I love your hair… It’s so soft and curly.”

Leslie hummed low in his throat, a sound that was half a sigh. His gaze flicked away, as if the compliment struck deeper than he intended to show.

Ruby caught his jaw gently and turned his face back toward her, her lips crashing into his before he could resist. The kiss was hungry but tender, her fingers threading deeper into his hair, tugging slightly.

Leslie kissed her back, his hands sliding down her sides, caressing the smooth curve of her thighs before cupping her ass, kneading firmly as he pulled her closer. Ruby’s breath hitched as she melted into the kiss, her fingers curling possessively in his hair.

But suddenly, Leslie caught her wrist, holding it still, breaking the kiss with a sharp pull of control. His eyes burned into hers, a warning in their heat.
“That’s enough,” he murmured, voice edged with command. “You should get some sleep. After you clean up.”

He shifted, starting to untangle their legs from the sheets, ready to rise. But Ruby’s hand shot out, catching his wrist, her grip felt softer than her expression.

“Are you busy?” she asked, her voice steady at first, but when he didn’t answer, her tone softened, almost pleading. “Can’t you stay the night with me?”

Leslie paused, then leaned down, his lips brushing her cheek in a lingering kiss that was more final than tender. His mouth pressed there, still and heavy, before he pulled back to catch her gaze.

“Not tonight,” he said quietly.

And with that, he stood, gathering his discarded clothes. The door shut behind him with a soft click, leaving the room heavier in his absence.

Ruby sat still for a moment, her jaw tightening, emotions twisting in her chest. She rolled her eyes, a sharp attempt to mask the sting, before pushing herself out of bed. Her bare feet touched the cool floor as she walked toward the bathroom, determined, her body aching but her mind sharper than before.

The shower came on and steam rose, as Ruby stepped under the water.

The next morning, Ruby’s eyes fluttered open to soft light spilling through the curtains. She reached instinctively to the other side of the bed, finding it empty and cold. A sigh slipped past her lips as reality settled in.

“I need to stop spending the night here too,” she muttered, pushing herself upright. The sheets fell from her shoulders.

Minutes later, freshly dressed and her bag slung over her shoulder, Ruby stepped out of the bedroom into the wide expanse of the living room and it was far too empty.

As she turned, she collided with someone.

“Loy!” Ruby gasped, pressing a hand to her chest. Her heart raced. “Your feet are very quiet… Can you stop sneaking up on me like that?”

The housekeeper lowered her eyes apologetically. “I’m sorry, Ms Allaire.”

Ruby nodded, brushing past the awkwardness. Her voice took on a clipped edge, sarcasm dripping. “Where is he? At work already?” She glanced around the empty space as though half-expecting Leslie to appear.

Loy smiled softly, shaking her head. “No. Mr Meyer wants to drive you to school… Once he finishes his call, he’ll—”

Ruby cut her off with a sharp laugh, bending down to grab her shoes. “Actually, no. I’ve got this on my own. Tell him not to bother.”

“Ms Allaire…” Loy hesitated, almost as though she wanted to say more. “I think you should tell—”

Ruby snapped upright, cutting her off again. “No, Loy. I’m not playing that trick with you. That’s your job. I don't care if you deliver the message.”

She said with a mix of irritation and defence. She quickly shoved her feet into her shoes and headed for the door without sparing her another glance and without another word.

The door shut with a firm click, her departure echoing through the hollow quiet of the apartment, leaving Loy standing alone in the silence.

A loud honk echoes, jarring Ruby out of her frustration. She groans, leaning forward against the steering wheel before pulling back with a chuckle, rolling her eyes like it was the millionth time she’d done it that evening.

“Not tonight?” she muttered bitterly, her voice dipped with sarcasm. “What the fuck does that even mean? I wasn’t asking for money or his life.” Her scoff came sharp, exasperated. “I just asked for a cuddle after sex. Isn’t that normal?”

She shook her head, her lips curling in disbelief as the traffic light blinked green. “No, he doesn’t sound or look normal. I guess it's a workload. Or he’s probably a sadist. Or maybe anxiety... students.”

Her hand twisted the ignition again. The car coughed and sputtered before dying out. Her eyes dropped to the dashboard.

“Huh? Come on, Fiona,” she pleaded, patting the wheel.

Another twist. The engine groaned, then cut off completely.

“Shit!” she hissed. “I haven’t even finished paying for this crap. You can’t die on me now. Come on. Start!”

She tried again, but the silence that followed made her slump back against the seat. With a groan, Ruby shoved her door open and stepped out, slamming it behind her. The night air felt colder somehow, or maybe it was just her temper rising. She popped the bonnet and leaned over, staring hopelessly at the tangled mess of wires and metal like they were mocking her.

Her watch glinted when she glanced at it, fifteen minutes late already. Her stomach sank.

“I can’t believe this shit,” she muttered, running both hands through her hair until it looked messier. “Maybe… maybe I should’ve just let him drive me.”

The sound of a voice cut through her panic.

“Ruby? Is that you?”

Her head snapped up, eyes wide. She turned toward the familiar sound. And there he was, Nick. He was stepping out of his car, his face a mixture of concern and recognition.

“What happened?” he asked, walking toward her.

Ruby exhaled, her arms dropping helplessly to her sides. “I don’t know… she just died on me.”

Nick leaned over the open bonnet, giving the car a quick look, his brows knitting. After a pause, he glanced back at her. “That looks pretty bad.”

“I know,” Ruby sighed, her voice small. “And I’m already late for lectures.”

Nick’s expression softened. He straightened up, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Why don’t I drop you? I’m going in that direction anyway.”

Her lips parted in surprise, then slowly curved into a grateful smile. “Really?”

“Of course.” His tone was easy, reassuring. “I’ll have them tow it to the mechanic afterwards. Don’t worry about it. And—” he hesitated, then added gently, “I can also pick you up if you don’t mind.”

Ruby’s smile widened, a little spark of warmth breaking through the frustration of the night. “Yeah. Thank you, Nick.”

"Great. Get in," Nick said, smiling as he helped her to the car.