Ruby Rose

by Alta Hensley

  When Ruby walked back into the living room so quickly, Evan’s eyebrow went up. “So quick? Who was that?” he asked casually.

  “I missed the call. It was Harold.”

  Evan smiled and patted the empty space on the couch next to him. “What’s going on with him?”

  Ruby bit her lip, cringing, thankful that Evan focused on the game at the moment. Ruby had promised herself that the next time Evan asked about Harold she’d admit that he was her editor, but now didn’t quite seem like the right time. It shouldn’t be a big deal, and yet for some ridiculous reason, Ruby couldn’t get the courage to confess.

  Ruby walked over and sat down next to Evan again, picking up her glass of wine. Careful to not further the already growing lie, she thought carefully about her wording. “Harold was just saying hi. I’ll call later.”

  Evan’s eyes narrowed a little. “I don’t want to keep you from talking to him. I’m sure you really miss having him around.”

  “It's no big deal.”

  “Okay, I’m just making sure.” Evan wrapped his arm around Ruby’s shoulder and pulled her close. “I like having you all to myself, anyway.”

  Ruby was getting nervous about not admitting what she did for a living. She hated how this was turning into a huge lie right before her eyes.

  She nodded her head in agreement and snuggled in closer.

  Adam eyed them. “You guys really are sick. You know that?” he teased. “So who’s Harold?”

  Ruby took a long drink of her wine and looked at Gage and Adam. They were both eyeing her. “My best friend, from home.”

  “You should have him come up for a visit,” Gage offered.

  “We won’t scare him away. Promise,” Adam added with a soft chuckle. He got up and walked to the kitchen, grabbing another beer.

  Ruby sank in her seat. Her nightmare of a lie was getting even worse. Now she was deceiving Adam and Gage in addition to Evan.

  “He’s in San Francisco,” Evan said, getting up for more wings.

  Gage clapped his hands. “San Francisco, baby! Let’s go for a trip to see him! The BDSM scene is hot there.”

  Evan laughed, sitting back down next to Ruby. “Like you don’t party enough here. You don’t need San Francisco to corrupt you.”

  Gage shrugged and took a swig of his beer. “Don’t ever say I didn’t try to help.” He smiled and winked at Ruby.

  A fight broke out on the television that pulled everyone’s attention back toward the game. Ruby was grateful for the interruption and the distraction from the conversation, but she sat next to Evan feeling defeated.

  Evan rubbed her back before asking, “What’s wrong? Are you tired?”

  Ruby just shook her head and did everything she could to force a smile. She had allowed the whole Harold thing to get completely out of control. She had misled everyone, and she couldn’t sugarcoat what she was doing. She was holding back, and that was just the same as a lie. Ruby could lose Evan over this. Her deceit could end their relationship. She needed to come clean… but she was scared.

  Chapter 15

  After everyone left, an impulsive rush of courage hit Ruby, and she suddenly wanted to come clean with Evan. It was long overdue. “Evan?”

  He looked up in response.

  “I need to tell you something. And I really hope it doesn't change how you feel about me.”

  Evan sat in silence, raising one eyebrow.

  “I haven't been completely honest with you about what I did for a living in San Francisco.” She took a deep breath, suddenly wishing she hadn't started this conversation. “I write. I write for several different magazines, and I do some other freelance writing gigs. I also hope to have a book soon.”

  Evan's expression turned skeptical. “Why haven't you told me this? Aren't you proud of being a writer? I'd think that would be something you would love to share.”

  “Harold's my editor.”

  “I don’t understand. Why wouldn’t you tell me this? What’s the big deal?”

  Ruby shrugged. “I don’t know. I don’t know why I felt the need to… lie.”

  Evan sat in silence, his eyes darkening. “You lied to me?”

  Ruby's heart stopped. She couldn't bear the thought of losing him. She sat in place, paralyzed in fear. Evan’s voice sounded so serious. God, was he going to break it off with her for lying? The devastation began to take over, and the tears that had threatened since she had decided to tell the truth fell freely.

  Evan rushed over and put his arms around her. “Why are you crying?”

  Ruby tried to get the words out between sobs. “Please, Evan. I don’t want what you and I have to end. I love you.”

  Evan pulled away to look at her in surprise. “Why would you think we would be over? I love you, Ruby Rose. You need to understand that breaking up is never going to be an option for us. I might get mad. You might get mad. But ending what we have is not going to happen. Are we clear?”

  Ruby nodded. “Yes. I shouldn't have hid that part of me from you. I wanted to… I just didn't.”

  Evan embraced her and rubbed his hands on her back. “It's okay. We're still learning about each other. I don't like that you lied to me, but I wouldn't leave you for something so stupid.”

  Ruby realized he had no idea, and didn't assume she was working on a story that involved him. Looking at the man before her, she decided right then and there that she wouldn't tell him because she no longer planned to use his name. Maybe she'd still write about DD, but she wouldn't do it at Evan's expense.

  “Ruby…”

  She tensed in his arms and looked into his stern eyes. “What? Are you still mad at me?”

  “No I’m not mad anymore. But that doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. You kept a big part of your life secret, which is withholding the truth. And you instantly thought I was going to break up with you, which is not having faith in our love.” He grabbed Ruby's hand and led her to the couch. He sat down, pulling her next to him. “I also see how guilty you feel about it all.”

  He took a deep breath and continued. “Ruby, I’m going to spank you for everything I just mentioned. I’m going to spank you to show when I get angry, I won’t end our love. I'm going to spank you to show how I choose to handle conflict.” He paused again to look at her. “This is a punishment spanking. The first true step to DD. Are you going to be able to accept that?”

  Ruby's heart beat and fear pulsated through her. Deep down, she realized she only feared the unknown. Not the fact that Evan planned to spank her. He had spanked her before, but not as a punishment. This was different. She could feel a lump form in the back of her throat. Could she accept this? Ruby knew that she could, that she wanted to.

  “Yes,” she answered barely above a whisper.

  Evan rubbed his hands on her arms in a very soothing manner. He stared into her eyes as if he were searching her soul. Searching to see if she truly was all right with what was to come. There was a moment where it seemed as if he doubted his lifestyle, doubted if he wanted to continue. Ruby smiled softly and nodded. She knew he needed this from her. Ruby knew he needed to know that this wasn’t one-sided.

  “Ruby, I would like you to stand up and remove your clothing,” Evan commanded.

  She stood and obediently began to remove her clothing as quickly as she could. Her hands shook, and dizziness overtook her. All the different emotions flooding in confused her. How could she be scared and excited at the same time? How could she be nervous but aroused? How could she feel so much love as she undressed to get punished by Evan Steel? She had no idea what the answers were, but she did know she had secretly been waiting for this day.

  Ruby removed the last of her clothing and stood fully nude, waiting for Evan to direct her as to what to do next.

  “Come here and place your body over my lap,” Evan stated firmly.

  She walked over and, without pausing, did exactly as he asked. She felt a rush of arousal overcome her as she felt his muscled thighs press against her nu
de body. Evan positioned her so her bottom was perched high and on display. He nudged her legs apart and began to rub her bottom. Ruby was so turned on that she wanted to beg him to just take her right there. Chills went down her body, and moisture formed between her legs. Evan traced a finger down the seam of her ass and seductively dipped it into her pussy to collect the juices. He then moved his moistened finger to her exposed anus and pressed his finger past the tight entrance. Ruby moaned in pleasure, enjoying the submissive feeling coursing through her.

  Evan pressed his finger deeper before speaking. “I’m proud of you, Ruby. You aren’t putting up a fight or trying to resist me. It seems like you’re already in the mindset to be punished.”

  Evan pumped his finger twice very forcefully, making her moan at the sharp, erotic pain. He pulled his finger out, leaving Ruby with an empty void. It was instantly replaced with a sharp slap to her bottom. She flinched with surprise, not sure how to feel or how to act. Should she act like it hurt even though it only stung a bit? Should she moan and act like it turned her on? Should she beg him to stop, even though that wasn’t what she wanted? Ruby felt so awkward and inexperienced.

  But before she could process her emotions, the spanking continued. Evan’s spanks increased in intensity as he vigilantly covered all parts of her cheeks. She no longer wondered how to act or sound. Her thoughts focused on the increasing fire building on her ass.

  Evan slowed his hand as he spoke. “From now on, you open up to me about all things?” He swatted her five more times before asking again, “Understood?” He spanked harder while waiting for Ruby's reply.

  Ruby squeezed her eyes shut as each blow landed sharply on her fiery behind. “Y—yes, understood!” She tried to squirm away from each spank, which only had Evan firm up his grip. She gasped as he landed a blow under her ass in the sensitive sit spot. “Oww, Evan, that hurts!”

  Evan replied by simply spanking the other side. He spanked each sit spot two more times before talking again. “Not telling me something or withholding the truth is the same as a lie. If you lie to me again, this spanking will seem like love pats compared to the spanking a lie will get you!”

  Ruby couldn’t take it anymore. Each stinging slap on her already sensitive skin began to hurt far worse than she had imagined. Even though she was trying to be good, and trying to submit to the spanking, her body wanted to escape. She reached her hand behind her to shield her butt from the continued spanking. Without pause, Evan simply grabbed her hand and pinned it against her back. Panic sunk in when Ruby realized she couldn’t escape, and she was at the mercy of Evan. Ruby no longer cared about how she looked, or how she sounded, or how well she acted during the spanking. She began to involuntarily gasp and whimper every time Evan’s hand made contact to her stinging behind.

  Evan slowed his spanks again before speaking. “You will always have faith in our love! I want you to know I won’t leave you just because I get angry.” He continued to spank as he spoke. “I will spank you, but I will never leave you.”

  A flood of sensations rushed through her. Even though Ruby experienced pain from the spanking, her heart was full of love. Suddenly, tears began to form. It was partly from the spanking, but also because she felt safe enough to let down her wall. The fear of the relationship with Evan, the guilt, and the insecurity were released with the tears. She no longer could feel each single spank, but instead just felt a steady heat across her entire backside. Eventually a sense of compliance replaced the pain. Ruby no longer needed to be restrained, and she no longer squirmed.

  Evan spanked her a few more times and then stopped. He rubbed his warmed hand on her tender backside and asked, “Are we clear on what I expect from you? And what will happen if you lie or lose faith in what we have?”

  She sniffled and barely whispered, “Yes. I’m sorry.”

  Evan lowered his hand to her moist sex and softly stroked. He rubbed his finger along her slit, wetting it with the signs of her arousal. He moved his finger up the crack of her throbbing ass and, like before the spanking, pressed his finger into her tight back entrance. He moved his finger in and out while Ruby continued to lie splayed over his lap. She didn’t move or tense up. She completely surrendered to his probing. Ruby had never felt so calm and content in her life. Her backside still quivered in pain from the spanking, but she relished the femininity flowing through her.

  He removed his finger slowly. “We’re done. No more anger from me, and no more guilt from you. The issue is over and we can move on from here. I love you, Ruby,” Evan explained with a firm but forgiving tone.

  He pulled her up and wrapped his arms tightly around her. Ruby pressed her tear-stained face into his neck, taking in his masculine scent. He rubbed her back and caressed her head and flowing hair. No words were spoken, but she had never felt more comforted. She didn’t want to move or ever have Evan stop holding her. She could stay like this forever.

  For quite some time, Evan continued to hold her and occasionally would place soft kisses on her head. Even though her backside was hot beyond belief, the rest of her naked body was beginning to get cold. A small shiver worked its way up her spine, and Evan quickly reached for the throw blanket that covered the back of the couch. He softly placed it over her and reached for her chin to lift her face to look at his. He smiled tenderly and kissed her lips with the softest caress. Ruby responded by kissing back, harder and with more passion.

  Chapter 16

  The next morning, Ruby called Harold early to inform him she wasn’t going to do the exposé on Evan Steel. His name was off the table. Hopefully, Harold would understand. She’d just got done leaving a message on his voicemail when Melanie walked into the kitchen.

  “So, have you told Evan that you're working on a story yet?” She walked to the fridge, pulling out a container of juice.

  Ruby looked down at her feet, and shook her head.

  “You should tell him already, Ruby,” Melanie said. “Evan’s fallen for you. If you guys are really as strong as you keep saying you are, I’m sure he’ll understand.”

  “I know, I know,” Ruby said. “I admitted to him last night that I’m a writer, and I even told him that Harold is my editor. But I stopped there. He has no idea that I came here to write an article that involved him.”

  Melanie poured two glasses of orange juice. “You need to come clean before it gets worse.” She sat down across from Ruby. “Do you plan on writing an article that paints Evan in a bad light?”

  “No! I would never do that to Evan. There's nothing negative to say.”

  “Well, it doesn’t look that way, which is why you need to stop with these games. Evan deserves better.”

  “I decided I’m leaving Evan’s name out of any article I write… if I even write one at this point,” Ruby defended, feeling her irritation grow.

  Melanie rolled her eyes. “So you think you don’t have to tell Evan the rest of the truth. Come on, Ruby. Don’t try to fool yourself.”

  She winced. Melanie was right again. She knew that she owed Evan the entire truth. If the tables were turned, she wouldn’t be okay with Evan withholding any information. She knew she needed to fess up. She was in a true Domestic Discipline relationship now and things needed to change.

  But how could she do that? She also still had to figure out this whole article issue, and she had a book to write. Could she still write it without using Evan’s notoriety? Did she really have her heart in it at all? Harold had already questioned her a few days ago if she really thought she could go back to San Francisco and leave Evan behind. She had assured him she could, and that was still the plan. But in her heart she knew she would never be able to leave Evan. Her life was spinning.

  “I’m going to tell Evan the truth. There is nothing to be ashamed of, and I have no plans of upsetting him. This article is going to give Domestic Discipline the voice that's been lacking in the media.”

  “If you truly believed that, then you would’ve already told Evan.”

  She saw t
he disapproval in Melanie’s face. “I know all of this. It’s that I’m scared. I don’t want to upset Evan. Things are going so well.”

  Melanie got up and grabbed a box of cereal as she spoke. “It’s time. I may not know everything about relationships, but I know that you keeping on this way will make you lose Evan.”

  ****

  All day Ruby got a strange vibe from Evan. Something just felt a bit off. Her shame in keeping a secret had started to play with her mind, and the conversation she’d had with Melanie that morning didn’t help. She kept wondering if maybe Evan knew about her secret and just didn’t say anything. Maybe Evan was waiting to see how long it took for Ruby to come clean. Maybe his publicist had gotten wind of it, since Harold was already trying to shop the book, and it was about to blow up in her face. This lie made her sick to her stomach.

  After they finished having a quiet lunch at a café and got in his car, Evan leaned over and kissed her passionately, instantly putting Ruby’s mind at ease. This wasn’t an act of a jealous or angry boyfriend.

  “That was nice,” Ruby purred after the ravenous kiss. “I get the feeling that something is on your mind. You don’t seem yourself today.”

  “I have a surprise.” He smiled before leaning in and giving her another small peck on the cheek.

  Her mind raced, searching for clues in Evan’s facial expression. Thankfully, it didn’t appear as if he knew anything about her deception. So from this point on, it could be anything and Ruby would be happy.

  “What? I love surprises!” Ruby clapped her hands together like an excited little girl.

  “You’ll have to wait and see,” he said. “I want to take you there.”

  Ruby squinted her eyes and pushed out her lips in a pout. “Fine.” She buckled her seatbelt. “But you’re driving me crazy.”