Ruby leaned toward him over the table and tapped his cheek. “Look, big guy, I get that you’re used to being king shit or whatever.” She shrugged, rolling her eyes again. Seriously, if she did have to spend time with this guy, she would probably have some kind of eye-rolling injury.
Maybe it’s because you know looking at him for too long might cause permanent damage to your retinas. He is so hot.
“I am not impressed,” she told him in the same breath as she reminded herself. “I don’t wanna date you. I don’t wanna fuck you either.”
His frown, which had not yet left his face … a face she had to admit was the kind a woman could easily get obsessed with … overtook his features. “Well, gee, lady. Nice to meet you too.”
“I just mean that we can pretend to be into each other for the sake of simplicity.” She nudged her chin toward Portia, who was now zeroed on a witch and a demon a few tables down. “But I just want to make things clear. We can pretend to be into it, but it won’t actually happen.”
“Itbeing …”
“Wild, sweaty, dirty, amazing sex, yes. I mean, no. That won’t happen.”
“There had to be a simpler way to say that,” he pointed out. His entire body was tense now, and Ruby didn’t have to wonder why. She was a succubus, after all. She could nearly smell his arousal.
Gross.
But also hot.
“There might have been simpler ways to make my point, but you do remember I’m a succubus, right? I’m designed for sex.”
Oh, for the love of condoms and IUDs. She really needed to get her lust under control if she was going to keep Tall, Dark, and Blue out of her lady business.
“I really don’t think this is a good idea,” Ethan said, pushing away from the table.
Before he could walk away, Portia appeared out of nowhere. “It hasn’t been thirty minutes yet. You must stay right where you are, sweetie.” She tapped his shoulder. “My, my. Aren’t you built well?” She giggled and shot her niece a meaningful look. “Sit down, Mr. Adair.”
“Fucking succubus,” Ruby muttered as Portia made her way to another couple.
“About that plan …” Ethan started. “Might be a good idea after all.”
Ruby wasn’t so sure anymore, but it beat the alternative.
FIVE
ETHAN
Ethan was at Hellscape Holiday Resort for one reason and one reason alone. It had nothing to do with finding love or whatever other reason Portia had in mind. The resort manager was pushy, but it was nothing compared to how beautiful her niece was.
He should have clued it immediately that the two were related. They had similar features, but it was the hair that was the dead giveaway. Obviously, if a shade like that didn’t come from a bottle, it had to come from a family link … and a connection to Hell.
The young woman was stunning.Ruby. Even her name was wonderful. It matched her completely. Her long red hair fell in waves around her shoulders, reaching down to her perfectly curvy waist. Ethan had the sudden urge to run his fingers through the strands. It was so powerful that he actually had to stuff his hands in his pockets.
What the hell is wrong with me?
His wolf laughed.You’re in Hellscape Holiday Resort. What doyouthink is wrong with you?
Yeah, so there was a lot wrong with him at that particular moment. If his life had been going well and according to plan, he never would have set foot in his resort. Now he wasn’t justinthe resort. He was participating in a singles’ event for fuck knows what reason. Oh, right. That reason was a succubus resort manager with powers of persuasion so sharp, he was sure she could convince a polar bear shifter to buy ice.
“You really think that we can fool your aunt into thinking we’re together?”
Ruby shook her head. “No, not together, but togetherish.”
“Ish,” he slowly repeated. “And just what does that mean?”
“She needs to see us together often enough that her sick, twisted, sexual mind fills in the blank.”
I’d like to fill your blank.Ethan shook his head, not really understanding where that thought had come from. He was a red-blooded man, and he noticed how good-looking Ruby was, but that didn’t give his head permission to be all naughty about it.