Hers 2 (Ruby Rose)

3| Cranberry Juice

^MATTHEW^

I CLOSED MY eyes as I submerged myself up to my chin into the bubbling water, letting out a content sigh. The heat felt amazing against my body, that still ached from the accident.

I reached my hand over to the side of the bathtub and picked up a wineglass that held cranberry juice.

"Careful," Ruby said from the other side of the tub, watching me, "you don't want to get too drunk." Her hair was slicked back with water, which exaggerated her features even further.

"Hilarious," I said through a smile before sipping the drink. When I put the glass down again, I noticed that she was still staring at me with the same expression. I raised an eyebrow.

"I'm just," she sighed contently, "I'm just so fucking proud of you." I wanted to melt, and it wasn't just because of the heat.

I didn't know how to reply, so I just poked her side with my foot. She flinched, making me laugh. I loved doing that to her. It always got the best reaction.

I went to do it again but she pushed forward, coming towards me. Without hesitation, she pressed her lips against mine, and I brought my fingers up to gently hold the back of her neck.

She pulled away and grabbed my hands underwater as she laid back, forcing us to switch positions. Now I was on top.

The water splashed up, hitting our ears. We didn't care, though.

As we continued kissing, hands ran down my back, skin extra smooth because of the water. She stopped at my waist, her hands squeezing.

I did my favourite thing to do to her and that was tugging on her bottom lip with my teeth. It always made her smile through the kiss, evidently turning her on.

Her fingers glided across my lower back, and then suddenly her body language changed. She stopped kissing back, and when I opened my eyes, I saw the look on her face. She appeared angry, with her eyebrows furrowed.

I felt her fingertips graze over the middle of my back again, and that's when I knew what she had felt. A large scar caused by a piece of glass. From the accident.

"It's okay," I said, my voice quieter than intended.

"I hate her." Ruby said, her voice hard.

"Hey, look at me." I made her tilt her chin up with my hand. "I'm perfectly fine." I gave her a reassuring smile.

"Ellis," Ruby hoisted herself out from underneath me. Water splashed overboard. "It's a miracle you survived. A miracle." I watched in disappointment as she stepped out of the bathtub, reaching for a towel. "No one else could have survived that. Your parents didn't even-"

She stopped herself, and my chest tightened at what her words would have become. She turned around to look at me, a sad look on her face. "I'm sorry..."

"No, I completely understand what you mean." I stood up as well, stepping out of the bathtub. "And you're right; it is a miracle. Therefore, we should be celebrating."

She wasn't prepared for me to tug her towel off her body. I dropped it on the floor. We both stood naked in front of each other, while I waited for her to make the next move.

It took her a few moments and an eyeful of my body, before she finally smiled again and crashed into me.

I LAY BY the poolside, accompanied by my girlfriend. I sipped my mango smoothie to cool down some more, having already been in the water.

Ruby was directly under the sun, her skin glistening with oil and her tattooed arm shielding her eyes. I never took her as the tanning type. I, on the other hand, remained under an umbrella.

I rolled over onto my side to face Ruby. She didn't look up from her phone, which she seemed attached to lately.

"Hey," I said, yet it took her several seconds to finally look at me, "what are you doing?"

She didn't respond, just staring at me instead. Then, she got up. "Nothing. I'll be right back." I watched her walk off, too confused to question her.

I couldn't help but wonder if she was talking to someone else. Why else would she be so secretive? And then it hit me.

What if she was dealing again?

As my brain suggested other reasons as to why she was suddenly acting strange, a broad figure appeared beside me, taking Ruby's place under the sun.

I didn't look straight away but did notice his bare, glistening chest as he lounged in the chair.

"Beautiful day," he suddenly said, and when I looked at him I realised his eyes were closed.

I fumbled with my words in my mind, unsure if he was talking to me. Then I realized there was nobody else around, unless he was speaking to someone using one of those Bluetooth earpieces.

He opened his eyes, squirming in my direction. "I wonder how the water feels." Okay, so he was talking to me.

"It's actually pretty cold," I replied casually.

He grunted with a smile. "Spencer's really outdone himself." He muttered.

"You know Spencer?"

"He's a close friend. He invited me to stay while..." he trailed off, and I remained quiet. "While I sort out a few things."

"Oh," I said, nodding in understanding, "we're here for a vacation."

"So I've heard," he said, and for some reason I felt chills down my spine.

"He's told you about us?"

"I mean, it's not everyday that this place has guests. Most people come here to do business."

"Business?" I repeated, wanting him to elaborate. "What kind of business?"

"I don't really know." He said, staring ahead.

We both fell silent, with him watching the pool and me trying to figure out what type of business he was talking about.

"I'm Matthew, by the way." He said, reaching a tanned arm out towards me.

I grabbed ahold of it. "Ellis," I said. He sent me a smile.

"Alice."

"Ellis," I repeated, holding in a laugh.

"Oh, Ellis." He chuckled. "The first Ellis I've ever met."

I smiled some more before relaxing back into the seat, drawing one knee up a little.

A/N

Short chapter, pls don't kill me 😭. Let me know what you think of Matthew. Do you trust him? Do you trust Ellis? I'm curious!

💗 Cambry