Five

True to his words, it was only by Ruby’s werewolf genes that she was able to walk. Kane had kept going all night and left her screaming. He had left after he was done without another word, and Ruby had sobbed to herself. Why was he so hard, so hard to see through, what made him so reluctant to show emotions? Was it past traumas or did he just decide to be that way? Was he born that way

She had never felt so exposed, raw, and vulnerable in her life. Kane had broken her last night, but she refused to be broken. Even through the ordeal, she stared at him right in the eye, maintaining eye contact. It had broken her to see those eyes that she thought held life look so dead.

Ruby managed to slide off the bed and stare at the mirror. Her hair was a mess where Kane had grabbed it. Her face was red, and her eyes were puffy from crying. It looked like someone had run her over with a car.

The door creaked open, and the maid from yesterday came in with her vacuum cleaner. She gave one look at Ruby, and her eyes softened. She sighed and rushed over.

“I should have warned you not to try and force Kane into believing he is soft,” she said, and Ruby sniffed.

“He is,” Ruby insisted, and the woman sighed. She stared at Ruby helplessly.

“You’ll get yourself killed. Kane is unpredictable as the sea; he is smiling one moment, the next, someone’s head is off their body. You don’t talk to him like that,” she said, and Ruby scowled.

“He’s just… flesh, blood, and bone,” Ruby cursed, and the older woman stared around cautiously.

“Kane has sharp ears; don’t say that out loud,” she chastised, and Ruby’s scowl deepened. She pulled the robe around her tighter.

“Let him hear. All he would do is come in here and do his thing, then leave,” Ruby retorted, and the older woman smiled despite herself.

“You are stubborn. You two would do well. You just need a bit of advice and training on how to make Kane want you and relax his guard,” she said, and Ruby was suddenly interested.

“Really?” she asked, and the woman nodded. She tossed Ruby some clothes.

“First, you don’t admit to any man that you saw his weaknesses. Especially not a dangerous person like Kane,” she said, and Ruby frowned.

“But I saw it… I mean, he did soften with me during our first time,” Ruby insisted, and the other woman shook her head.

“Yes, but you use what made him soften, not words. Use you, your body,” she explained, and Ruby sighed.

“As if he doesn’t know. He made it clear that I shouldn’t seduce him unless he starts it,” she said, and the maid grinned.

“See? He gave you an ‘unless,’ which means he would still like it if you did that. So just play by his rules, but also use your own games,” she said. She sat Ruby down before the mirror and started to comb her hair.

“Allow him to start it, but just don’t be a receiver. Use your womanly skills. It’s obvious he has a soft spot for you because he was supposed to have your head for telling him you saw his soft side. All he did was punish you, if you even call that a punishment,” she said, and Ruby shot her a glare.

“It was,” she said, and the maid laughed.

“Okay, okay.”

“He was rough, and he was doing it as if I was some sort of lifeless doll.”

“Oh dear,” the woman sighed. “That’s not good, but some women enjoy it too. Not saying you have to, but you could avoid that by knowing when to play your own cards.”

“Can you teach me?” Ruby asked, and the woman nodded.

“Of course. Just don’t annoy him again; this time, he might throw you in the dungeons for real, but I doubt that,” she said, and Ruby smiled.

“Nice to know you, um…”

“Gloria,” the maid said. “Call me Gloria.”

“Nice name” Ruby said, the older woman smiled and Ruby sniffed. Images of Kane’s angry green eyes kept playing in her head, she kept hearing the sound of his feral growls. It didn’t scare her before but now it did, and she knew this was just an iceberg of what he could truly be. Kane was a menace and can be ruthless when he wanted to be

“Don’t worry” Gloria consoled, “You can win this”

“How” Ruby asked frustrated, “Now it looks like he has a personal vendetta against me”

“Relax Ruby, Relax. That’s why I am here” she said.

“Relax?” Ruby eyes narrowed, she glared at Gloria. “How can I? I was banged like a dog yesterday, by someone I thought had a heart, it’s obvious he doesn’t”

“He has” Gloria put in and Ruby scowled.

“He doesn’t”

“Stab him with a knife and find out” Gloria said with a grin and Ruby eyes widened in surprise.

“For real?” She sounded concerned and Gloria let out a laugh.

“I am kidding of course, you would be dead before you even think of trying” she said and I smiled despite myself.

That’s how she made a new friend.