Sneak Peek: Ruben Ch8 (1)

**Note: Ch 7 is now out for all Firstmates. Deckhands and up will receive it on the 25th**

"You're still doing it wrong," he sighs tiredly.

"I don't have much flame to work with anyway. Have you ever thought that that may be the reason why?"

"You are a bird made of fire. You will always have a flame to work with."

"You don't understand."

"No, you just don't know what you're doing. Come here." Turning to him, he gives you no answer as to where exactly he wishes for you to be.

"Come where?"

"Wherever, just come here."

[[Sit in his lap.]]

With a frown, you stand and go to stand right in front of him. He doesn't expect your subsequent actions as you plop yourself in his lap, your back resting along his chest. Neither of you says anything, either far too shocked to let out a groan of protest or, on your part, one of satisfaction.

"You didn't specify," you finally say after Ruben's silence begins to tug and unravel balls of anxiety. 

"Well," he huffs, "I didn't think this was one of the options regardless."

"Then specify," you chide, quickly pushing yourself away from him and quieting the embarrassment that wishes to show itself. Before you can fully move off his lap, he grabs your waist and tugs you back down, grumbling something incomprehensible. You hadn't given yourself enough time to think about the consequences the first time you made his lap your seat. It was purely an act of defiance mixed with a silent yearning that teased your insides, pushing you to do the action and play it off as nothing but a joke. But Ruben pulling you right back down has caused you to be more aware of everything, his breath against your neck, the way his chest rises and falls, and how his frame seems to surround you like a vigilant shield.

"Are you listening?" Ruben questions and you shake your head, still hyper fixated on your current position. His following words make it worse, your body shivering as he whispers the question, and they slither across your skin. "Do you want to move?" There's no teasing sharpness in his voice, no hint of cockiness, or even an "I already know your answer" sort of tone. In all respects, it sounds like a genuine question, one that he hopes you answer no to.