Rising (Blue Phoenix, #4)(29)

“On your own?” I ask.

“Clearly. Who would be here?” Her words slur at the edges.

“The rest of the band.”

Ruby wrinkles her nose. “I don’t invite guests to your house.”

“I never said you couldn’t.”

“Right.” She elongates the word. “So I can bring random people to Jem Jones’s house?”

“I trust your judgement.”

The aroma of fresh coffee subdues the smell of alcohol and Ruby pulls out two cups. “Coffee, Jem Jones?”

“Why do you always say my name like that?”

“Like what?”

“Like you’re taking the piss.”

“Sorry, I’d have thought you’d like people around you to be reverential.”

She rubs her lips together and focuses on my mouth, before touching my naked chest. I step back, someone’s fingers on my skin is unusual recently and sends a shock through my body. Ruby traces the outline of the stars tattooed on my bicep.

“Your ink’s cool. I have some. Do you want to see my favourite?” Ruby switches to fumbling with her baggy black top, pulling the side up so the edge of her lace-covered tit is visible above her ribs.

f-uck.

“Yeah, nice.” I take the merest glance at the black words tattooed below the lace and look away. “I’m going for a shower.”

“I have more!” she giggles again. “Secret ones.”

As she bunches her skirt higher up her thighs, I grab her arm. “Stop.”

“Don’t you want to see?” Ruby stumbles closer.

“You’re drunk. Sort yourself out. And I don’t want to see, no.”

“Do you want to kiss me?” she whispers, moving her mouth close to mine.

“What the f-uck, Ruby?” I hold her shoulders and stretch my arms so Ruby’s as far from me as possible, so those lips are out of temptation’s way.

“I feel like you want to. I’ve seen that you do.” She moistens her lips and touches my arm. “Jem Jones looks at me like he wants me.”

Jem Jones. Ruby has a perception of who he is and despite over a week living here, and several weeks of knowing me, she still sees me as Jem Jones and not Jem. Yeah, several months ago and in the same intoxicated state, I’d be f-ucking her on the kitchen counter by now. I can’t control my dick’s reaction to her, but I can control what I do with it.

“Move away,” I say in a low voice. “You’re pissing me off.”

“But you’re so good to me; I want to do something good for you.” Ruby’s attempt at a seductive look is tempered by her inability to focus properly.

“Is that what you do? You think a guy wants something in return for helping you? Because by doing this you’re comparing me with that piece of shit you left.”

She scoffs at me. “Like Jem Jones knows how to treat girls. Remember the second night I met you and you had some girl’s mouth wrapped around your dick? Classy.”

My shoulders stiffen. “Stop talking. Make your coffee and go to bed.”

Ruby lowers her eyes to my crotch. “Is that the problem? You don’t do kissing? I can do other things.”

When her fingers go to the waistband of my sweatpants, I grab Ruby’s arms and push her away. “Get the f-uck off me, Ruby!”

Ruby slumps against the counter then slides slowly to the floor, rubbing her face. This girl is a f*cked up mess. Bryn’s right, she’s several steps removed from Liv, and I’m trying to help. Again.

Before any more damage is caused, I leave.

Time for a rethink.

I don’t think I can have Ruby living in my house.



****



There’s a pile of girl on the white leather sofa the next morning, tangled red hair obscuring her face, and an untouched mug of coffee on the floor next to her. My anger from last night fades to pity. Leaving her alone, I mooch around the house and plan my day. Maybe I should step away from all this, go to the States for a bit, spend some time in my Manhattan lifestyle, and look up some old friends. Too late, I’m committed to helping these guys on tour now and that kicks off in a few days.

I call Jax to check if he’s arranged the band’s accommodation yet and he sounds as disconnected from the world as Ruby currently is. “Is she okay?” Jax asks as soon as he answers.

“Ruby? She’s passed out on my sofa.”

A girl’s voice in the background asks Jax something and he covers the mouthpiece for a muffled response. “‘Kay. Just worried a bit when she got the text from Dan.”

“Dan? When?”

“Not sure. Ruby started knocking back the drinks and I was umm… busy with a chick. When I came back Ruby was really drunk. She waved her phone at me and there was a text from Dan saying he wanted to see her. Then she started freaking out big style, so I put her in a taxi.”

My intention to ask Ruby to leave and go live with the rest of the band evaporates. Why the f-uck didn’t she say something last night?

“You there? Jem? What were you calling for?”

“Oh, yeah. Meeting. I need to catch up with you to finalise the dates.” I’m zoned out now, and I walk through to look at Ruby asleep on the sofa. “Listen, I’ll call back later.”