“I promise I won’t watch,” I say, lifting my hands in surrender. “Jeez, who do you think I am?”
“Honestly, I’ve no idea,” she mutters, much to my amusement.
“Please, explain,” I ask politely.
“I’m pretty sure that you already know you’re an asshole.”
I can’t help but chuckle. “Yeah, little one. I’m aware.”
“So why do it then?”
“Because...” I pause for a bit as my anger resurfaces. Most days it’s like a living beast inside of me, but since being in this car with Ruby, for some reason, I’ve been able to breathe a little easier, like it’s not sucking the air straight from my lungs. “Because it’s so much fun.” I wink at her and she huffs out in frustration.
“Well, I’m glad ruining my life amuses you so.”
“How exactly am I ruining your life?”
“By moving into the room next door to mine, your music, your presence, just... you.”
“Wow, I really do affect you, huh?”
She growls in response and my body instantly reacts.
“Do you lie in bed at night thinking about me?”
“Of how to kill you, yeah?”
“So you’re not remembering just how it felt when I licked your—”
“Ashton,” she barks, cutting off my words.
“Oh come on, you can’t tell me that you didn’t enjoy it, little one. I know for a fact—”
“Over there,” she squeals, cutting off what I was saying and the memories of that night that were happily flooding my brain. She was so fucking sweet. “The lights are on.”
Forcing myself out of my own head, I drive over to where she’s pointing to find a Chinese takeout. It must be the only place open in this little town.
Killing the engine, I climb out. Ruby is already halfway there in her need for the bathroom.
“Hi, good evening, is there any chance I could use your bathroom really quick?”
I step inside the small waiting area just in time to see the middle-aged guy run his eyes down Ruby’s body. A smile curls at his lips as he does so and it immediately puts me on alert, the hairs on the back of my neck standing.
“Sure thing, sweetheart. But I’m going to need something in return.”
“Don’t worry, we want food too,” she says happily, totally ignoring the look in the guy’s eyes. She sounds so much like her oblivious mother with that statement, I almost roll my eyes at her.
“Okay, well the bathroom is through here,” he says, lifting the hatch to allow her through the counter. “It’s right this way.” He goes to follow her.
“Just give us the directions, no need for you to stop what you’re doing,” I say, stepping up behind Ruby and wrapping my hand around her waist. She tenses in my hold and I squeeze tight, hoping that it’ll warn her about arguing.
“Down the hall, second door on the right.” His eyes remain locked on Ruby as we make our way down the hall as instructed.
“What the hell is your problem?” Ruby hisses, twisting out of my hold.
“That guy is my problem.”
“He was just being nice.”
“No, Ruby. He really wasn’t.”
“Like you care,” she mutters, coming to a stop at the final door.
“You think I don’t care if you get attacked by the creep from this dead-ass town?”
She shrugs, pulling the door open and stepping inside.
“What are you doing?” She sulks when I follow her in and lock the door behind me.
“Just pee, Ruby, so we can get the hell out of here.”
“With you watching?”
“I’m not fucking watching.” I make a show of turning around so I’m facing the door that’s not seen a lick of paint for far too many years.
“Just... wait outside, please?”
“No.” I shove my hand in my pockets and wait.
After a few seconds, her need to pee wins out because the sound of rustling fabric fills my ears.
“You’re a pain in my fucking ass, Ashton,” she grumbles.
“Oh little one, is that an invitation?”
“Is it, fuck? You’re not getting anywhere near me ever again.”
The toilet flushes and when I glance over my shoulder, she’s standing at the sink ready to wash her hands.
“Is that right?” I ask, stalking over to her, not stopping until my front is pressed against her back. She gasps, telling me everything I need to know about her previous statement. Dropping my lips to her ear, I make sure they brush her skin as I speak. “Because from where I’m standing, I think you like having me close.”
“Ashton.” I think it’s meant to be a warning, but it comes out as a needy whimper.
“You’re really lucky, you know?”
“Lucky?” she spits, her eyes lifting to the dirty mirror before us and holding mine.
“Yeah. If we were anywhere but this disgusting bathroom with that creep probably watching on a hidden camera then I’d prove just how much of a liar you are, little one.”
“Liar... I’m not a liar.”
“Sure thing.” My fingers twitch to reach out to her, to touch her, but I resist. Instead, I walk backward so she can wash up and I can make use of the toilet.
“Just because you insisted on being in here, it doesn’t mean I want to watch you.”
I don’t look back, but I know she’s got her hand on the door and about to walk out.
“You’ll regret it if you walk out of that door, little one. I can assure you.”
She huffs. “He’s not going to do anything with you here.”
“I wasn’t warning you about him this time.”
“O-oh.”
I finish up, wash my hands and in a heartbeat, we’re standing back at the asshole’s counter ordering some dinner. I’m not entirely sure how I feel about eating his food, but since we’ve munched through our snacks and nothing else is open in this town, we’ve got little choice.
The second he passes the bag over, I take it along with Ruby’s hand and march from the building.
“Get off me,” she hisses, pulling herself from my grip the second we’re out of the door.
I let her go but catch up with her before she gets a chance to open the car door. Placing the bag on the roof, I cage her against it.
“What now?” she spits.
“Stop being a pain in the ass.”
“Me? Jesus, Ashton. What do you want from me? I came on this little fucked-up trip. I’ve slept in the back of the car and driven through the night for you. What else do you want?”
15
Ruby
His eyes narrow on me as my breathing increases to an embarrassing speed. I can’t help it. He’s got me caged against the car with his big body mere inches from mine and his scent filling my nose. How the hell he smells so good after the number of hours we’ve spent in this car, God only knows. I sure don’t feel all that fresh.
I can practically see the wicked thoughts flicking through his mind as our stare holds. His breath—also annoyingly fresh—fans my face and I can’t help my mouth watering for a taste of him.