Chapter 277
"John," Ruby began, her voice strained, "Stop... I'm Lillian's aunt."
She couldn't meet my gaze; the former darling of Sevan City, the esteemed vice principal, was reduced to a flustered schoolgirl.
I swallowed, forcing myself to regain composure. "You were in a dangerous situation, Ruby. I was worried."
"I know, I know," she said, her cheeks flushed. "It was foolish of me. I'll be sure to warm up properly next time."
She'd meant to scold me, but my concern seemed to disarm her.
"You need to take better care of yourself," I sighed, my voice softening.
I knelt beside the bed, propping her injured leg on my knee. "How does it feel now?"
"A bit sore," she admitted.
"Did you aggravate the old injury when you cramped?"
"I think so."
"Ruby," I said, my voice firm, "if you don't start taking care of yourself, I'm not going to massage your leg anymore."
She looked at me then, a flicker of something unreadable in her eyes. "You're right," she said softly. "It won't happen again."
"You need to cherish your body. You may not be able to perform anymore, but you have your students."
"You make it sound so final," she said, a hint of sadness in her voice. "I can still teach."
"Verbally, maybe. But bending and stretching for hours on end? Not if you want to keep dancing at all."
"I don't want to give it up," she whispered, her gaze distant. "Dancing is my life."
"Then listen to me," I urged, my fingers gently kneading her calf. "Let your injury heal properly."
My gaze traveled up her leg, lingering on the curve of her hip, the smooth expanse of her thigh. Desire, sudden and fierce, coursed through me. I glimpsed the lace edge of her underwear, and my breath hitched.
"Injuries take time, Ruby," I said, my voice husky. "If you push yourself too soon, you'll only make it worse. All our hard work will be for nothing."
"You're right, of course," she said, a sigh escaping her lips. "I've achieved so much already. I've had a good run."
"You've been phenomenal, Ruby," I said earnestly. "You're an inspiration to dancers everywhere. You've accomplished more than most people could ever dream of."
Part of me wondered if she was clinging to the past, to the applause and the spotlight. Everything she'd done since her injury felt like a desperate attempt to recapture something lost.
"No one can dance forever," I said softly. "We all have to step off the stage eventually."
"Are you saying my injury will never heal?" she asked, her voice sharp.
"No, of course not," I said quickly. "I just want you to be happy, Ruby. I don't want you to be in pain."
A small smile touched her lips. "You sound like my savior, John."
Savior? Where had that come from?
"I just want to help," I said, my cheeks warming.
"Well, in that case," she said, her eyes twinkling, "shouldn't a savior be rewarded for his efforts?"
"What did you have in mind?" I asked, my heart pounding.
"What would you like?" she countered, her gaze holding mine.
"Whatever you're willing to give," I breathed, my voice rough with desire.
The air crackled between us, thick with unspoken longing. My hand moved instinctively, tracing the delicate curve of her ankle.
"It's getting hot in here," she murmured, suddenly flustered. She turned her head away, shielding her face with her hand.
"Ruby..." I began, my voice a low growl.
Emboldened by the moment, I reached for her hand. She didn't pull away. Her skin was warm beneath mine, her pulse racing like a hummingbird's wings.
I leaned closer, my gaze drawn to her lips. She seemed to sense what was coming, her head turning sharply away. "John, I..."
Every cell in my body thrummed with anticipation. This was it.
Cupping her cheek, I gently turned her face towards mine. Her skin was flushed, her eyes downcast. Her breath hitched in her throat, warm and sweet against my skin.
"This is your reward," I whispered, my lips brushing against hers.
And then I kissed her.
It was a kiss that stole my breath away, a kaleidoscope of emotions that left me reeling. Ruby, the untouchable icon, was kissing me back.
I could feel her nervousness in the way she held herself, the tentative touch of her hand on my arm. Her lips were soft and yielding beneath mine, her teeth grazing my bottom lip in a way that sent a jolt of desire straight to my groin.
I tasted sunshine and vanilla, a hint of something intoxicating that was uniquely Ruby. Time seemed to stop, the world outside fading away until there was only the two of us, suspended in a bubble of heat and longing.
The memory of our yoga session flashed through my mind, the way I'd ached to kiss her then but hadn't dared. Now, all those inhibitions vanished, consumed by the fire that raged between us.
She was tense at first, her body stiff with apprehension. But as the kiss deepened, I felt her surrender, her fingers threading through my hair, pulling me closer.
Then, she bit me.
It was a sharp, insistent nip that drew blood. I pulled back with a gasp, my tongue throbbing.
"John, what's wrong?" she asked, her eyes wide with concern. Then she saw the blood, and her face paled. "Oh my God, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to..."
"It's fine," I lied, the metallic tang of blood filling my mouth. The pain was already fading, replaced by a strange sense of exhilaration.
"Let me see," she said, reaching for my face.
"It's okay, really," I insisted, but she was already leaning in, her breath warm against my skin.
"Ruby," I said, a sudden thought striking me. "Have you... have you ever done this before?"
She froze, her cheeks turning a delicate shade of pink. "What do you mean?"
"You know..." I hesitated, unsure how to phrase it delicately. "Been in love? Kissed someone like that?"
She seemed to relax then, a mischievous glint entering her eyes. "Is that what you're worried about? That your tongue is going to fall off from lack of experience?"
I groaned, realizing I'd been played. "It really does hurt, you know."
"Oh, alright," she said, her lips twitching. "Let me have a look."
I stuck out my tongue, but she didn't fall for it this time. Instead, she laughed, a melodic sound that sent shivers down my spine.
In one swift movement, she pushed me back onto the bed, her body pinning mine against the soft mattress.
"What are you doing?" I asked, my voice breathless. "You already got your reward."
"And you got yours," she countered, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "But you're right, you're bleeding. We can't have that, can we?"
"I hear saliva has healing properties," I said, my gaze locking with hers. "Why don't we test that theory?"
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