Read Online Ruby's Fantasy by Cathleen Ross - Free Book Online Page A

brought his lips down on hers, full of hunger and raw anger at her accusation. She tried to close her lips but he bit on the fleshy curve until she surrendered, though her body remained tense. Blood thumped in his heart and sheer heat and the closeness of her made him hard, but this wasn’t about sex for him. She had to know he cared.
    His tongue licked her teeth, searching for a way into the intimate recess of her mouth. She tried to bite him but he pulled back.
    â€˜Stop fighting me,’ he ordered her.
    â€˜No!’
    Her tone was husky and he knew he was breaking down her resistance. Her lips looked red and swollen and he brought his mouth down on hers again. This time she didn’t resist. Instead, her tongue teased his, searching and intertwining. Her body moulded to his and she reached behind the back of his neck as she kissed him back.
    When he pulled away she was breathing fast. ‘I know you want me, but you need to know what I feel for you is not just about sex. If it were, I’d have taken you last night.’
    â€˜I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said you were like Abe. I’m worried about my sister. It’s making me crazy. Look, Jake, I’m not getting mixed up with Abe. I just want information. If I don’t put feelers out how am I supposed to find out anything?’
    â€˜You don’t go flaunting yourself dressed in next to nothing to a man like that. He’ll treat you like a hooker. You stay safe and let me ask around.’
    â€˜I can’t just rely on you. This is my twin. She needs me.’
    â€˜Emerald doesn’t need you dead. It’s time you learnt that I can look after you. We might be minutes away from the centre of Sydney but the law in this place is like the Wild West. No one’s ever been able to tame The Cross. The people who stay in business and alive here have cunning like you’ve never experienced.’
    Her hands went to her face. ‘Emerald and I don’t spend much time apart and I’m lost without her even if she does wild things that send me nuts.’
    â€˜I’ve already asked Abe if he knows a man with a spider tattoo on his face. I have a network that stretches through The Cross. You don’t need to talk to him.’
    â€˜How do you know it’s not Abe who frightened Emerald?’
    â€˜I was watching him when you told him your name was Emerald and I corrected it to Ruby. He didn’t seem to click that there are two of you. Didn’t seem interested. Besides if you annoy Abe, you’d know about it. He’s old school Kings Cross. You irritate him, he’ll get one of his bouncers to take care of it.’
    â€˜Nice.’
    â€˜It works for him. He’s spent years carving out his territory. Thugs around here understand the power of a fist and if they’re stupid enough to show disrespect to Abe, they feel it.’
    â€˜Whatever happened to calling in the cops?’ she asked.
    â€˜A lot of cops get kickbacks from the club owners. Keeps them from raiding the clubs too often. That’s how it works here and it always has,’ Jake said matter-of-factly. ‘So stay out of his way and don’t solicit his attention.’
    â€˜Are you always this over protective?’
    â€˜Yes.’
    â€˜But you hardly know me.’
    He took her in his arms and pulled her close. ‘So you keep saying, yet your body melds into mine like it’s meant to. When I said leave it to me, I meant it.’
    â€˜It’s too hard. I’m used to looking after myself,’ she said, looking up into his eyes.
    â€˜In this jungle, men have the power. This place runs on corruption and muscle. Women who have protectors stay safe otherwise the predators move in.’ He knew what she was going through missing her twin, more than she realised. Raw pain gripped his chest and he blotted out the thought of his younger brother gunned down in front of him. He’d sworn to