Survivor

Chapter 24

Ruby whipped her head around and stared at Nikita for long moments.

But then she sighed and opened her purse. She didn't like the idea but she was too tired to start an argument. After they paid, she took the key and followed the corridor. The door unlocked with a faint click, and she immediately walked into the room, but froze in place when she saw what was inside.

"Are you fucking kidding me?"

"What? What is it?"

Nikita walked around her, stopping at her side. At the sight of the single queen-size bed, she snorted a laugh.

"You're really a magnet for bad luck, Ruby."

She pulled the black out curtains shut, keeping the bright sunlight out so they could sleep, and sat on the edge of the mattress to take her shoes off. Looking up, she saw Ruby still standing in the middle of the now dark room. She gestured to the other side of the bed, but then realised that Ruby probably couldn't see her.

"Come on, sit down. Don't you want to sleep?"

The words were tempting but Ruby still shook her head, before carefully finding her way to the bed. She took the pillow and the blanket, putting them on the floor. Hoping that it was clean she sat down on the hard ground and placed her handbag on the nightstand.

"I'm sleeping on the floor."

"Why?"

"I'm not going to sleep in the same bed as you!"

Ruby heard some rustling and a muttered "stubborn" before there was a quiet thump. Confused she looked up, but she could barely see the outline of her own hand before her eyes, let alone what was happening in the room.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm sleeping on the ground as well."

"What, why?"

"Either we're both sleeping in a bed or neither of us is. I slept on the ground for over four years, one more time doesn't count now, does it."

Angrily grinding her teeth together, Ruby pinched her nose. Nikita was totally guilt tripping her and to her annoyance, it worked.

"My goodness, okay. Get on the bed. I'm not letting you sleep on the ground."

Not having to hide her smile in the darkness, Nikita grinned at her words, before picking up her blanket and placing them back on the mattress. She watched Ruby blindly struggle with the double knot on her shoes for a few moments before getting up and walking around the bed.

"Let me help you."

"No, I can-", trying to pull away her foot, Ruby shook her head, but stilled immediately as she felt Nikita's grip tighten around her ankle.

"Let. me. help."

With wide eyes Ruby nodded, looking at the faint outline of Nikita's head in the dark. When she let go of her leg, turning her attention to the shoelace, Ruby let out a shaky breath. In the darkness she was overly aware of Nikita's presence in front of her. Aaron had told her that shapeshifter had a higher body temperature than humans and now she could feel the heat that was radiating from Nikita, her hands so close to her skin. Ruby jumped when her shoe landed on the ground with a thump. In an apologetic manner Nikita rubbed over Ruby's clothed shin, whispering a quiet "sorry" before moving to her other shoe. As she worked through the double knot, she looked up. Thanks to her enhanced night vision, even with human eyes, she took in Ruby's face. When Nikita lifted a hand and placed her fingertips against her skin under the hem of her trousers, Ruby's breath hitched. Smirking, Nikita placed her other shoe on the ground as well, making her jump again.