Vegas Ruby🥀 | Taennie ff |

Chapter 8

"The pain of love is often masked by the beauty of its darkness."

🖤₊˚ 🦢・₊✧

Taehyung

As always, I woke around six in the morning, on my back, staring at the ceiling. I had slept about two hours, which wasn't much worse than my average night. I turned my head toward the sound of soft breathing. Ruby was curled into herself, her face hidden under her wavy dark brown hair.

After her nightmare, she had slept soundly, and once I'd returned to the bedroom from my conversation with Jungkook, I had quickly found sleep as well. I had no trouble sleeping beside her, even if it had been years since I'd shared a bed with anyone; back then it had been with my brothers because we only had two beds.

I sat up, wanting to prepare everything for the presentation of the sheets—and Durant.

Ruby jerked awake, eyes wide and terrified as they settled on me.

Her body coiled tighter before she swallowed visibly and then finally relaxed. "Sorry."

"For what?" I asked. She said sorry a lot for her body's natural reactions. I wasn't sure why she thought her fear would offend me. After what she had been through, and considering who I was, it was natural for her to react the way she did. Killing her uncle and not laying claim on her body wouldn't change that.

She didn't say anything, and I couldn't read her expression. I swung my legs out of bed and stood.

Ruby gasped behind me. I glanced over my shoulder at her. I was naked because I preferred to sleep without clothes. "I'm going to take a shower. Does my nakedness bother you?"

She moved her head in a twitchy mix of nodding and shaking, looking down at the blankets.

"Is that a yes or a no?"

"You are my husband."

"I am. But that doesn't answer my question." I turned, fully facing her, to try and coerce a stronger reaction.

She swallowed, her cheeks turning red. "It doesn't bother me." I narrowed my eyes. "Being trustworthy means no lies, Ruby." Her eyes snapped up to my face, and she pursed her lips in ... frustration? "Okay. I lied. It bothers me very much. You scare me when you are naked. Happy?"

"I can't see how that would make me happy."

She shook her head. Then her eyes darted to my groin area, and she tensed again and looked away.

"My nakedness doesn't pose a risk to you. It doesn't make me more dangerous nor would clothes offer you any kind of protection. It's a matter of physical strength, not layers of clothing."

My words didn't have the intended effect. She slumped her shoulders, making herself smaller. Fear. I wasn't sure how to handle her.

My lack of emotions had never been much of a problem when dealing with my brothers or Namjoon; they weren't offended easily, and even harder to scare. With others, my lack of emotions had been a useful asset.

"Ruby," I softened my voice, something I had never done. Her hazel eyes flickered up to my face. "I'm stronger than you. That is fact. If I wanted to hurt you, nothing would stop me. That is also fact. But as I told you, I have no intention of hurting you. My being naked doesn't change that in any way. Nor would you being naked around me change it. I'm more than capable of controlling my urges just as any other man would."