Chapter 77
Jaxon didn’t move from his spot as he continued to hug her. Ruby didn’t either as she just let him because she didn’t want to push him away from her.
She closed her eyes and enjoyed his gentle petting. His hands were tangled in her hair and she liked the way he drew his fingers through it like a comb.
“It’s okay.” He whispered as he tried to comfort her, even if he didn’t know what she needed comforting from.
Her emotions were all over the place so she asked a question she normally wouldn’t have had the nerve to ask.
“Jaxon, do you care about me?” She said and all his petting seized. She turned to look at him and found him staring at her with evident surprise.
“Or do you pity me because I’m pathetic?” She added. She wiped her eyes with the front of her shirt while waiting patiently for his answer.
“Do you think I’m pathetic and weak? Finding me here on the floor crying my eyes out isn’t what you usually deal with huh,” Ruby rattled off like a drunk while tears rolled down her cheeks.
“You aren’t in the right state of mind Ruby” Jaxon spoke for the first time since he had gotten here.
Too bad he said something she didn’t want to hear. Jaxon stood and straightened to his full height and dragged Ruby up with him. She twisted her hands weakly to try to get him to let go but he wouldn’t let go.
“Let me go.” She whispered tiredly. She lets out a yawn as Jaxon guided her to her bed then turned to leave. She was tired but not too tired to get answers. She was definitely not letting him go.
“Do you care about me or do you just pity me? Answer me Jaxon,” I said firmly. This time I seemed to get a reaction out of him as an audible sigh escaped him.
“I do care about you Gem. And don’t think for one second that I’m here stroking your back because I pity you. Pitying you had never even crossed my mind.” He explained to her. She stared up at him through her lashes as she studied him. He sounded sincere and her heart wanted to believe it.
“If you care, then tell me the truth Jaxon. Stop hiding things from me.” I told him. He had gone silent again but Ruby was determined to get an answer out of him.
“Say something Jaxon, why won’t you tell me what you know about my attacks?” Her eyes were red rimmed and she looked like she was going to cry again.
Jaxon sat next to her in the bed and he stared at her ceiling before he glanced at her.
“My world is dangerous, Ruby, and I’m doing my best to protect you.” Jaxon said with a very still voice. Jaxon got up from the bed to leave once more but she hugged his waist stopping him.
“Stay a little longer.” She muttered.
Her words had come out muffled since her head was still around his waist. Jaxon sat down again and this time, the only space separating them was even palm sized.
“Ruby, Juniper is just my business partner, nothing else.” Jaxon said out of the blue. Ruby blinked, being the one surprised for the first time since he came. She had religiously avoided any and all thoughts of June because it hurt too much.
She had stayed quiet until Jaxon glanced down at her to make sure she was still awake.
“Gem?” He called softly. She blinked a couple of times before meeting his eyes fully.
“Did you hear what I said?” Jaxon asked.
“I know you weren’t happy when you saw Juniper but believe me when I say we had only talked about business.” He explained. She wanted to believe him, and she did. She knew Jaxon was a lot of things but a cheat wasn’t one of them. She has never seen him with a woman since they married.
“Okay.” She replied simply. Ruby waited for Jaxon to say something else but he appeared to be done with him. Just when she had given up on their conversation, he continued.
” I don’t have any woman in my life as I’d like to keep the bachelor card going a little while longer.”
Ruby wasn’t sure why he was telling her this. Her heart curled into knots in their chest as she thought about the fact that the man had grown to love didn’t even plan on her being a part of his life in any way.
She was looking straight to prevent any tears from being speared.
Ruby didn’t know how but she found herself questioning him about his life and relationships.
“Have you ever loved a woman?” She asked him. He turned to her with widened eyes.
“Why do you ask me that?” He said with a bewildered expression.
“I’m just curious.” She clarified to him. She wanted to know if he had ever been with anyone who made his heart race just like he did hers. If the answer was yes, she knew she would definitely be jealous.
“No. I told you before that I don’t do relationships so I have had a lack of actual talking and getting to know each other’s voice.” Her smile was plastered to her face as she tried to ignore the pain deep in her chest.
“Have you ever been attracted to one?”
“No.” That was a straight up lie from Jaxon. He was fucking attracted to Ruby. Something that he tried so hard countless times to ignore.
She asked him a few more random questions about relationships and the answer had always been the same. No.
She was grateful that he offered to explain things further without being asked to do so.
They sat in the silence, each enjoying the presence of one another. She glanced at him and noticed the way his jaw was set.
She didn’t know why but she had always had a thing for men with a strong jawline. She noticed his throat in a prominent video and couldn’t help staring.
She didn’t know what came over but all her attention was on his lips. She leaned closer to him and jammed her lips on his, startling him. She however was more surprised when she had gone through with it.