Chapter 261

Tessa’s POV

Ruby's eyes were red like fire when she finally opened them. Joseph was quickly by my side, pulling me against him out of fear of what Ruby would do. I didn’t think she could do much considering they cuffed her to the bed. She couldn’t get up even if she wanted to, but then again, I wasn’t sure how strong of a vampire she was.

Her face was still pale and bruised, but the bones that were once wedging out of her had healed over the last few days. Tears stained my cheeks as my body trembled against Joseph.

The nurse was trying to soothe her and check her vitals at the same time, but Ruby was making it pretty hard for her to do her job with her groaning and shaking. She didn’t want this nurse to touch her.

“We need Anna. She will be able to help,” the nurse said, peering up at Joseph who only nodded.

He looked at me, concern etched in his eyes.

“Come with me,” he told me gently.

I shook my head, not able to take my eyes off Ruby. She looked like she was in pain; she was groaning miserably, and red tears oozed out of her eyes. Was that blood? She was crying blood? I had never seen such a thing before. Then again, I had never seen a vampire waking up for the first time.

Was this normal?

I had so many questions, but I couldn’t get them out of my lips.

“Tessa—” Joseph tried again, I only shook my head, pulling out of his embrace and wrapping my arms around my body like I was trying to hold myself together.

Because I was holding myself together. I was falling apart; I was scared. I wanted my best friend back, and I wasn’t sure what was happening to her. Nobody was saying anything, and I could feel myself getting mental.

“I’m staying with her,” I whispered.

“I don’t want you in here by yourself,” Joseph said in a voice so low that I knew it was meant for my ears alone.

“I’m not alone,” I told him, still staring at Ruby who was breathing heavily; it looked like she was trying to talk, and the nurse was attempting to wipe the blood off her face. “I’m with the nurse. I’ll be fine. Get Anna and get the doctor.”

He sighed, defeated, but I knew he wasn’t going to argue. There was no time for arguments; Ruby needed help.

I looked up at Joseph and there was a crease between his brows as he looked down at me.

“Now, Joseph,” I said through my teeth, desperately trying not to shed any more tears.

“Keep your distance,” he ordered, kissing my dampened forehead before he rushed out the door.

I turned my attention back to Ruby who was trying to grab at the nurse; her entire body was trembling. From the crease of her brows, I could tell she was scared, and she needed someone to comfort her.

I stepped closer to the bed and her head whipped in my direction, her lips curling as she attempted to speak.

“Ruby, it’s me,” I said in a shaky voice. “You are going to be okay. I promise.”

A loud growl escaped from the depth of her throat, and I jumped back as she attempted to grab me with the hand that wasn’t cuffed to the bed. I heard the cracking of the bed frame and the nurse cursing under her breath as she attempted to keep the bed from breaking.

Ruby was strong and she was staring at me like I was her dinner.

“You need to leave!” The nurse yelled at me, panic in her voice. “It’s your blood. It’s too tempting.”

I hadn’t even thought about that. Why did I think it was a good idea to stay in here and tempt her like this?

The bedframe snapped and Ruby’s arm came free. I was frozen as I watched Ruby lunge at me, her fangs elongated and blood dripping from her eyes. I was too terrified and frozen to even scream but the nurse tackled Ruby to the ground, attempting to calm her. Ruby was too strong though and threw the nurse off her like she weighed nothing. The nurse flew across the room and hit the back wall with a thud, making me flinch.

Before I could grasp what was happening, I was being tackled to the ground. Ruby’s fangs out and ready. This time, I did let out a scream. I feared that my best friend was about to kill me. Looking into her red and blood-soaked eyes, I didn’t see my friend. She wasn’t there.

Just as her face lunged toward my neck, her fangs charged and ready, I heard yelling from the door, which drew her attention and then she was shoved off me and pinned to the ground. My entire body was trembling. I couldn’t move; I was frozen and terrified and so very heartbroken.

I wasn’t even sure who tackled Ruby and saved me, but whoever it was, they managed to calm her enough to stop growling.

A warm set of arms wrapped around me, and I felt the presence of Joseph without even seeing him. So, it wasn’t Joseph who tackled Ruby. He lifted me into his arms and cradled me like I was a small child.

“Carter, do you have everything handled here?” Joseph asked, still holding me tightly.

“Yeah,” Carter said, and he sounded close by.

It must have been Carter who saved me from Ruby. I couldn’t even speak to thank him; I was way too frozen.

“Bernard is getting her some blood and Anna is on her way,” Joseph told him. “I’ll be back later but I need to get Tessa out of here.”

Carter nodded and Joseph didn’t stick around any longer. He started toward the door with me still cradled in his arms.

“Hey, Joseph,” Carter said, stopping him at the door. He turned slightly to look at Carter. I got a glimpse of Ruby who was oddly enough calm in his arms. She rested her head against his chest and whimpered like she was in pain. It broke my heart to see her like this and it also made me think, maybe there was humanity left in her. “Thanks for the help,” Carter said to him.

Joseph nodded once and then we left the room.

I don’t remember getting back to Joseph’s house or falling asleep. But I woke up unsure about where I was or what time it was. I groaned as I stretched my arms and before I could get out of bed, Joseph was walking into the room, wearing nothing but a towel. Droplets of water were still on his chest and his flesh was slightly pink from the heat of his shower.

I bit my lower lip, staring at my handsome fiancé as he roamed around the room, trying to find clean clothes to wear. Silently cursing himself for not doing laundry yesterday and then he finally found a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt.

He turned and he froze when he saw me staring at him like a fucking creep. I flushed and chewed the inside of my cheek as my gaze wandered around my body. His eyes darkened when he took me in.

“You’re going to make me want to keep you here all night,” Joseph groaned.

I used my finger to jester him close to me and he went willingly, dropping the clothes he was holding. I grabbed his towel and loosened it until it fell around his feet and onto the ground. His manhood was already erect and ready for me. I licked my lips as I peeked up at him, his eyes never leaving my face and it turned me on so much.

I wrapped my lips around him, taking him in and loving the feeling of his manhood inside of my mouth. He moaned as he thrust his hips, causing him to go deeper into my throat. I used my tongue to tease his tip and make his juices ooze out of him. His breathing hitched as he moved his hips from side to side and I wrapped my arms around him, pulling him in deeper.

His cock twitched and swelled in my mouth, and I knew he was close. I wanted him; I wanted all of him. Soon, I tasted him as he exploded down my throat with a final thrust. His legs became weak, and he fell onto the bed, pushing me down with him and he buried his face in my neck, kissing every corner of me and nibbling on all my sweet spots.

I giggled but it was cut short when I felt him thrust inside of me. I hadn’t even realized I was naked until he was inside of me. I must have slept this way.

I didn’t have the strength or energy to think too much about it though. My head threw back and I loud moan escaped my lips as he quickened his pace. My core swelled around him, inviting him in deeper and he obliged to my silent orders.

It didn’t take long for me to be pushed over the edge and I felt him exploding again, leaving us both panting and breathless as he slid out of me and rolled over onto the bed beside me.

After a moment of pause, I whispered, “Sorry.”

This made Joseph laugh from his belly as he looked over at me.

“Don’t ever be sorry for that,” he said, wiggling his brows and kissing my lips. He then grew serious as he took me in. “How did you sleep?”

I shrugged.

“I don’t really remember. I can’t remember falling asleep. It was all a bit of a blur,” I admitted.

He nodded and moved a strand of hair out of my face, tucking it behind my ear.

“Do you remember anything that happened after Ruby woke up?” He asked with obvious concern in his voice.

“Ruby…” I whispered; and then, like a spell, all my memories slammed into me, making me flinch. “She…she tried to kill me…”