Ruby Shadows (Born to Darkness #3)(10)

Laish sat back with a sigh and rested his forearms on the sides of the tub wearily. I noticed that he was dressed in an immaculately tailored black jacket and crisp white shirt—both of which were completely drenched. His perfect inky-black hair was all rumpled and mussed too. In short, he looked more human than I had ever seen him. Well, except for the burning ruby eyes.

“That was close,” he remarked, shaking his head. “I always forget how fragile you mortals are. You nearly died, Gwendolyn. Twice.”

“I know,” I said and burst into tears.

I hate to sound like a girly-girl because most of the time I’m pretty tough. But I had just been through a lot. Between being pulled down a sinkhole by a demon’s tongue and having a puking reaction to the disgusting slime which nearly ate through my skin like acid, it wasn’t exactly the most peaceful night I’d ever spent. And I’d been forced to call Laish for help and he had seen me at my absolute worst. Not that I cared what he thought of me, I told myself, but still…

“Oh, Gwendolyn…It’s all right. Everything will be all right.” Heedless of his expensive clothes, he leaned into the tub and drew me against him. “Cry if you need to, mon ange,” he murmured. “It’s all right. Cry if it helps.”

Perversely, his whispered words of comfort made me stop crying and straighten up.

“I’m fine,” I said, pulling away from him and swiping at my streaming eyes. “I’m just…fine. Really I am.”

“Certainly you are,” he said dryly. “You just escaped death not once but twice after having to call on one you despise to save you.”

“I don’t despise you,” I said uneasily. “I just don’t like you very much. Not that I’m not grateful you came to save me,” I added quickly.

“You don’t like me because I challenge you,” he said. “You challenge me as well, Gwendolyn which is exactly the reason I do like you. Very much. Especially as you are now…wet and half naked.”

“I’m not half naked,” I protested, feeling my cheeks get hot.

“Oh, no?” His ruby eyes swept over my body, reminding me that I was wearing nothing but a thin white t-shirt and panties, both of which were soaked and clinging to me. I became abruptly aware that my nipples were so hard they hurt—both sensitive peaks clearly visible against the nearly transparent fabric of my t-shirt.

“No,” I said defiantly, while at the same time trying casually to cover my breasts with one arm.

“I would beg to differ,” he murmured, his deep voice low and teasing. “You are half naked, mostly wet, and completely beautiful, Gwendolyn.”


I felt a rush of heat go down my spine at the way he was still looking at me but I shook it off impatiently.

“Five minutes ago I was covered in slime and puking my guts up and now I’m sure I look like a drowned rat,” I said, frowning. “Either you need glasses or you had a lot to drink just before you came to save me.”

“I have perfect vision and alcohol does not affect me,” he murmured, still giving me that look. “Come, let us get you out of that tub.”

He helped me to my feet and out of the tub. While I stood dripping on Grams’ best blue bathmat, Laish grabbed a towel. But when I reached for it, he pulled it back.

“Not just yet, mon ange. First I must examine you.”

“Examine me? What are you talking about?” I demanded.

Laish didn’t answer in words. Instead he dropped to his knees before me and began running his big, warm hands all over my trembling legs.

“What are you doing?” I tried to step away from him but he held me firmly.

“Making sure all the Hellspawn slime is gone. If you have so much as a speck left on you, it can eat its way inside.”

My breath seemed to catch in my throat. “It…it can?”

He nodded. “I am afraid so.”

“What would happen then?” I was looking down anxiously at my legs myself now.

“Eventually it would find your heart and rot you from the inside out.” He looked up at me. “So you will pardon me for being thorough.”

“All right,” I grumbled uneasily. “But no funny business.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.” He smiled at me charmingly as he ran his long fingers up my inner thigh. “If you wouldn’t mind parting your legs just a little…?”

I did as he said, feeling a hot blush creep into my cheeks. I was well aware that my panties were completely soaked and the white cotton was see-through. I was glad that I’d just had a wax the other day…and then angry with myself for being glad. What did I care what Laish thought of what Grams calls my “ladybusiness”?

I could feel his hot breath against my inner thighs and I couldn’t help thinking I’d never had a guy so close down there before. My skin broke out in a rash of chillbumps and my heart started to speed up as I waited for him to make some kind of a move…or at least make a lascivious comment.

But Laish surprised me. He simply examined me thoroughly and then nodded, as though in satisfaction.

“All right. You’re clean.” He stood in one smooth motion and wrapped the towel around me.

“What—that’s it?” I couldn’t help asking.