CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Ruby felt strong, large hands running down the curve of her waist. Warm, slim fingers trailed gently over every dip of her body as they went over her chest. She could feel her breathing quicken, her back arching up in pleasure as his hands glided up her bare thigh. He played her like a puppet, controlling every one of her movements with the flick of his fingers. They caressed everything: the skin above her hip, the smoothness of her back, and the swells of her chest. They lingered everywhere, leaving trails of heat wherever they went. And then she felt his lips. Lips that grazed over the skin of her neck, his warm, moist breath fanning over her flesh as he left kisses up her jaw. Ruby felt her breathing seize her throat when his hands slid up her dress. His intent is clear when his fingers brush the waistband of her underwear. Noah growled low in his throat. A sexy rumble that had her closing her legs tight in desire. His fingers, which hooked on her waistbands, tugged downward, pulling it off until it lay on the floor, forgotten. "Oh, Noah." Her voice was breathy as the pleasure from his touch kept building inside her. His hands returned to her neck before trailing upwards, brushing his thumb against her lip affectionately. He laid a kiss on her chin, the side of her face, the corner of her lip before placing his forehead on hers. "Ruby," his voice husky and as desperate as hers. "-my little mate." His lips hovered over hers, and Ruby wrapped her arms around his neck, urging him to lower himself. Her hands ran through his thick hair for him to understand what she wanted. She wanted his lips on hers. But he doesn't succumb to her instead. He stops touching her, which causes her to let out a dissatisfied moan. "Please, Noah." She pleaded as her gaze connected with his, but it wasn't his eyes that stared back at her, but another familiar blue eye. Ruby snapped awake. She blinked furiously, letting her eyes and mind focus on where she was. She realized she was in the office. She had fallen asleep on her arms, crossed on the desk. Craning her neck to the side, she groaned at how stiff she felt. Ruby didn't know when she had fallen asleep. A few weeks had passed since she started working with Noah, and she could only describe it in one word. Boring! She had nothing to do. Hestia overtook the task she was assigned for a reason to be closer to Noah. The thought caused a strange feeling to bubble in her mind. Even Noah had been preoccupied. She had seen very little of him. The thought of Noah made her remember the dream. The dream she had woken from just a few seconds ago. A dream where she shamelessly did things she knew she could never do. The dreams were becoming a daily occurrence. Ruby blamed the bond and the fact she hadn't seen him in a while. A blush made its way to her face as she recalled the scenario playing in her head. She blamed Noah for affecting her so much. She could still feel his hands on her, his lips, his scent. It felt so real. "Must have been a nice dream." Ruby stiffened in her seat. Her eyes widened as his voice penetrated the silence in the room. It was then she understood why his scent was so strong around her- his enthralling scent of musk and cologne. She swallowed and bit her lower lip as she turned in her chair. Her eyes fell on him standing at the door. His back was pressed on the wood, and his hands were stuffed in his pants' pockets. His black shirt was tucked into his pants, and a few buttons were left undone. She didn't even have the time to examine him as his voice broke the tension filling the room. "But do tell me what you meant by 'please, Noah. ' I'd love to know the full details." He smiled when her face reddened. Ruby shot out of her seat, still staring at him with wide eyes. Her heart pounded in her chest treacherously from excitement. She fought the urge to smile at the sight of him. She didn't want him to know how excited she was seeing him. He would probably think she was desperate for his attention if he knew. She couldn't believe her luck, or was it a coincidence? Ruby pinched her side discreetly to see if she was still dreaming. The pain shot up along with her awareness of him. He stood with his arms crossed, watching her with lazy eyes and a knowing grin. "What are you doing here?" Ruby started but soon reconsidered the question. "I mean, I thought you went to the mines. I didn't notice you were back." "I could tell," Noah pushed himself off the door. Ruby's breathing quickened as he approached. "I thought to stop by since work has deprived me of you." "W-Well, I understand you have been busy." "That dream of yours, was it…good?" Very. Ruby wanted to say. The excitement bubbled inside her, urging her to play along with him. "I wouldn't know," she said softly. Sparks of confidence flowed through her mind. Confidence she knew could get her in trouble. Noah raised an eyebrow at her response and tilted his head to the side. She watched his chest rise and fall as his eyes darkened. "And why is that?" Ruby swallowed the smile that threatened to spoil her fun as she walked around her desk, sitting at its edge. "I woke up before it got to the good part," she shrugged. In four strides, he was in front of her. Ruby's hands shook as she held the side of the desk. The smile that made his eye twinkle just a few seconds ago was wiped clean, and his blue eyes narrowed on hers. "And what part was that?" His voice was smooth, coaxing her to tell him. His presence wrapped around her like a bow, and she hoped his fingers would unwrap the cords binding her. Goosebumps rose on her arms as a small part of her mind begged her to stop, not having the strength to continue down the path she was taking. Ruby blinked, and the confidence that surged through her was gone in a flash. "I-it's nothing." Ruby's face panned herself inwardly. Noah grinned, leaning closer. Her breathing stopped altogether. "Are you sure? It sounded awfully suggestive," he whispered huskily as his lips grazed her earlobes. The contact made her knees go weak and buckle. Her fingers dug even deeper into the wooden desk in anticipation. "I think you heard wrong." Noah hummed. Bringing his lips to her cheeks, he kissed her. The kiss was soft, but the tingles were like shooting stars. "I can smell you." Her flamed cheek burned brighter. She had started the stupid game, but now he was showing her he was the master at making her a complete mess. His eyes glowed with mischief as he waited for her answer. The façade she had desperately tried to put forth broke, and Ruby opened her mouth but closed it immediately, not knowing what to say. Noah chuckled at her dumbfounded state. "Don't worry, love. I know exactly what your dream was. I have them, too," Noah pecked her nose. Ruby gaped at him. He had just admitted to having wet dreams, and he didn't look ashamed for it. A tint of the confidence that had dissipated from her completely veered its head once more. "What did you dream about?" Her eyes shifted to his lips. The same lips she had begged him to kiss her within her dream. She wondered if he would grant her wish if she insisted. Noah leaned closer after muttering I'll show you instead. Ruby's heart warmed, and she was hit with the urge to have him closer. Her hand on the desk boldly clutched his shirt, tugging him closer to her. Ruby didn't know what had come over her suddenly. But a part of her felt like it had woken up from a long slumber, starving for his touch. One kiss was all she needed. Noah, as if compelled by the same force that moved her, also lowered his head without hesitation or reluctance as his eyes were trained on her lips. The pounding of her heart was deafening as his hands clasped around her waist. His strong fingers rested on her hip. Using him as leverage, Ruby put her hands around his neck and watched with half-hooded eyes as his lips touched hers. It was gentle, warm, hesitant, and exhilarating. Sparks flew, and nothing felt more perfect as their lips moved together in sync- the kiss, a rhythmic dance consuming them both. It was a game of push and pull, of giving and taking. His lips moved slowly against hers. It felt passionate. The kind of passion that drowns your thoughts into a sheet of nothingness, and for the first time, Ruby felt whole. Noah cupped her neck with his hand, angling her head so he could have better access. Ruby gasped into his mouth as he nipped her bottom lips with his teeth. The ferocious beast she knew he kept hidden inside tried forcing its way out. She ran her hand through his thick locks just as she had imagined. It felt soft, and her fingers glided through it effortlessly. The kiss grew demanding, and still, Ruby didn't want to stop. She liked it too much. She pressed herself against him, and a groan echoed from the back of his throat. Excitement pumped in her veins as a moan escaped from her. His hand moved up her thigh, and with each second, it scaled higher. Anticipation bubbled inside her as she waited for him to reach the most intimate part of her. And then the door busted open, and Noah pulled away, pissed at whoever had interrupted their moment. "I'm sorry, Alpha, but a letter arrived for you," Hestia said with her head slightly bowed. Ruby scrambled to make herself more presentable as Noah snatched the printed paper from Hestia, still annoyed. She could feel Hestia's eyes drilling into her skull, making her turn in the woman's direction. To say Hestia was fuming was an understatement. She kept her face as neutral as possible, but Ruby could see the murderous glint in her eyes as she glowered at her. Ruby met her gaze head-on. Despite the embarrassment that flowed through her as she was caught in a compromising position, she wasn't going to let Hestia see that. Noah was hers, an unknown part of her concurred, and she wasn't going to show shyness for being with him. "It seems the chancellor is in the west region and is holding a gala," Noah said after reading the letter. Ruby tore her eyes away from Hestia. She knew about the chancellor. He was the Supreme head over every Alpha. Since the Were-world had been divided into regions, chancellors had been chosen to oversee two regions each because of how vast they were. The chancellor was someone whom an Alpha goes to when the rights to or safety of his pack are threatened. He is the vindicator. Declarer of war. "I've never been interested in these things, but I am in a good mood for some reason," Noah said, giving Ruby a grin. "He insisted all Alphas and their Luna attend, so get ready, love. We'll be going to the gala."