House of Blood and Beasts

27. Spinning Minds

Ruhn lay awake, unable to quiet his mind. He'd done everything he could think of. Taking a hot, then cold shower, smoking more mirthroot, running in place, watching TV, reading a book... He'd even tried counting backwards, but nothing could silence his thoughts or help him fall asleep.

His head was spinning with all that had occurred today. Ruhn thought that perhaps he was just beginning to process it all. He hadn't let himself think about everything while Sarai was still at the house, and he certainly wasn't going to consider it in front of Flynn and Declan. This was the first time he was alone since Sarai had come over.

Thunder rumbled outside and rain continued to pelt his bedroom windows, but not even that was enough to drown out Ruhn's thoughts. The sticky heat in the air was a distraction however. It was hot enough that he'd forgone clothes tonight, and he was still uncomfortably warm. Ruhn clasped his hands atop his stomach with a sigh.

If I can't sleep, I might as well let my mind have its way, he thought. Why did I say those things to Sarai? Why do I keep saying them?

How many times had he warned himself to keep his mouth closed? To keep his thoughts to himself? They were work partners. They had only recently stopped hating each other, after years of rivalry. He was Fae. She was a Wolf. As soon as the investigation was over, she'd want nothing more to do with him. And for some reason, that thought drove a wedge of pain into his heart.

Ruhn swallowed hard, processing the pain and what it meant. At some point during their investigation, he had begun to care about Sarai. Her well being. Her happiness. Her safety. Those were things she wouldn't find in Blood Moon. She no longer had the option of finding them with the Devils. But maybe she could find them with him.

She had come to him, hadn't she? She had needed someone to listen and understand. She had needed a distraction, so she finally accepted his offer and came to the house. Ruhn hadn't expected her to stay as long as she did either. She'd stayed until the storm was upon them. Then, rather than risking Sabine's wrath by staying overnight, Sarai had returned to Moonwood.

But not before they'd lain on Ruhn's bed for over an hour, simply talking. Sarai had practically collapsed onto his bed after he chased her up the stairs. She'd then refused to get up, so he had joined her. And Sarai hadn't protested. In fact, she hadn't been protesting anything that he did lately.

She didn't protest when he touched her. She didn't protest when he held her hand. She didn't seem to mind when he rubbed her arms. When he smoothed her hair back. When he cupped her cheek in his palm. Sarai hadn't even protested when Ruhn's lips met her earlobe. If anything, she'd arched her neck a little more, enticing him to do it again. Luna spare him, but he had wanted to do it again, and more besides.

Heat pooled low in his stomach, the more he thought about it. Ruhn half closed his eyes, picturing his mouth on her neck, his tongue tracing her copper skin with every kiss. Her fingers threading through his hair, maybe tugging on it with a little less force than she had earlier, but enough that he could feel it. His hands clutching those beautiful thighs that he would beg to kiss. Her legs locked around his waist as he laid her back on his bed and...

"Gods," Ruhn breathed, blinking his eyes open. "She's right. I really am a horny pervert."

But even that admittance wasn't enough to dissuade him from reaching a hand just below his hips and bringing himself over the edge, though it did little to sate his raging instincts.

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Sarai stood outside of Rafe's apartment door once again, but this time, she knocked and waited. Minutes ticked by and at last, the door inched open. Rafe studied her warily, though there was no sign of his fangs or talons. "May I come in?" Sarai asked.