Ruby's Decision

Ruby leaned against the bar, her eyes fixed on the dim hallway in the corner of the club. The logical part of her mind told her the solution was simple: go to the restroom, find the ring, and leave. Yet, for reasons she couldn’t quite articulate, her body refused to move. Instead, she lingered, her drink untouched in front of her, while her thoughts spiraled.

Her gaze flicked back to the dance floor, and there he was—Jimmy. His cocky demeanor and invasive movements stirred something in her, but it wasn’t the simple anger she’d felt the night before. Her mind replayed how he’d spoken to Ethan, how he’d dismissed him with disrespectful words, and how he’d tried to assert dominance in the most degrading way. That memory made her blood boil, but it also brought another image to the forefront: Jimmy on the floor, defeated, yet still shamelessly hard.

She closed her eyes, exhaling slowly, but the memories came unbidden. The sight of him lying there, his erection straining against his pants, had stirred something primal and confusing in her. Now, as she watched him on the dance floor, those same feelings clawed their way back.

What’s wrong with me? she thought, her fingers tightening around the edge of the bar. But the intrusive thoughts pushed past her resistance. She imagined his hands—rough and firm—on her thighs, gripping her in a way that sent heat through her body. The thought of giving in, of letting him take control, sent a wave of unwanted arousal through her.

She bit her lip, her inner conflict intensifying. She wanted to shake the thought, to banish it entirely, but her mind wouldn’t let go. The curiosity she’d been harboring for so long, the desire to experience what it would be like to finally have sex, clawed at her resolve. If I wanted it, I could have it. Right here, right now. The thought was intrusive but honest. Jimmy was the kind of man who’d take her up on it without hesitation. He’d probably laugh, thinking he’d won.

Her body betrayed her, a faint heat pooling in her stomach as she pictured how it might feel to let him have her. She hated herself for even entertaining the idea. He was undeserving, she told herself—completely undeserving of her body or her attention. What he’d done to Ethan, what he’d tried to do to Tiffany, made him vile. And yet, the thought of him pressing into her, his rough hands exploring her, made her pulse quicken against her will.

Ruby opened her eyes, shaking her head slightly, as if to dislodge the thoughts from her mind. Get a grip, she scolded herself silently. This isn’t about him. This is about Tiffany and her ring. That’s it.

She managed to pull herself back from the edge, though the haze of arousal lingered stubbornly in the background. Her breathing steadied, and she straightened her posture. The decision was clear—she needed to act, one way or another. Ruby glanced toward the hallway again, her body tensing as she prepared to finally move.