Page 25 of Alien's Heart
“Then it is time they learned the consequences of having loose tongues.”
“What are you going to do? Break their noses?”
“That is one option.” He hadn’t thought beyond making the vicious whispers stop. He disliked the slump in Ruth’s shoulders. If she had a tail, it would hang limp behind her.
“How is starting a fight keeping a low profile?”
“We will have a simple conversation,” he said.
“Look, I don’t care what they say about me.”
“This is my purpose.” To protect her.
He disliked the sway Geral seemed to hold over the community. Ruth should care what others said about her. A malicious word in the wrong ear and she could find herself in danger. If Nox had to bash heads together, so be it. He’d brawl the entire damned town if needed.
“Let this go. Please.” She stared up at him with her wide, round eyes the color of warm honey.
She had a point about keeping a low profile. The tavern keeper would summon the local authorities the moment a fight broke out, judging from the male’s sour expression. Nox could not risk such attention. His fake identity would not hold up under scrutiny.
“Are you certain? Breaking their noses is no bother. It would be an improvement for the tall one.”
The tall one protested.
Ruth’s lips twitched in amusement. Ah, there was his ruthless one. “Yes, I’m certain.”
“It is good you have me. Your heart is too forgiving,” he said.
Her smile was like basking in the light of a supernova: powerful and explosive.
“Not that forgiving. I just can’t be bothered with their nonsense today,” she said, heading to the door.
Nox took the opportunity and tossed a knife into the center of the chattering male’s table. It landed with a solid thunk, the blade buried in the table and the handle vibrating from the force of the throw. Once he had their attention, he said, “You do not speak of her. You are not worthy of speaking her name. We understand one another?”
The males nodded in agreement.
Ruth watched from the doorway. “It’s Dr. Black Widow, by the way,” she proclaimed before leaving.
Pride swelled in Nox. He would follow her until the breath left his body. Feeling a touch smitten, he pulled the knife from the table and followed.
Ruth
So…that was tense.
Ruth squinted in the bright sunlight. Nox’s chest rose and fell like he had just run a mile. Claws extended from his fingertips.
Things had been tense since the kiss. They hadn’t discussed what it meant, what they were to each other, or their expectations. Nox hadn’t pressured her for more than she was willing to give. There had been a kiss and touches and heated looks.
Like now.
Nox watched her with his sharp eyes, looking like he was thirty seconds from dragging her to a dark alley to have his wicked way with her and Ruth was completely okay with that.
The aroma of fresh bread and sugar drifted on the breeze, making her stomach rumble.
Nox turned on her, his hands clenched. “One broken nose, kitten. I only ask for one. Those males need to be taught a lesson.”
Ruth patted him on the arm. “You know what we need?”
“Blood and vengeance,” he said with absolute certainty.
