by R S Burton
“You ready for this?” He murmured, placing his hand around mine.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
The driver opened the back door and Tobias slid out, pulling me with him. I stood up, out of the car and instantly we were ambushed by cameras. Tobias slid his arm around my waist and walked with me up the black carpet leading into the venue.
“Mr Clarke… Over here.” Various photographers shouted left right and center.
“In demand.” I mused.
“Believe me Ruby, It’s not all it's cracked up to be.” He replied dryly.
“Everyone loving you, wanting your attention… yeah sounds tough.” I teased.
“No one loves me Ruby.” Tobias replied, his voice cold. “They only love what they can get from me.”
He sounded despondent and sad. Did the forever closed off Tobias Clarke actually want love?
“I was joking, I know it can’t be easy.” I whispered. “But you’re wrong about no one loving you. I mean, I bet Josanna loves you.”
And despite the repeated rejection, I was beginning to think she wasn’t the only one.
Once we were inside the venue Tobias relaxed slightly. He used the function to network with me on his arm. I stood there, as he spoke to various business acquaintances and while we were at a function, it was obvious there was still a lot of business talk going on. Sometime later, After two pina coladas my bladder was suddenly on the verge of exploding, so I excused myself and found the bathroom. I was finishing up in the stall when I heard footsteps clip the floor as they entered the room, soon after the door closed their voices filled the room.
“You still have my lipstick in your purse hon?” one of the voices exclaimed. There was a slight pause. “Thanks.”
“Like oh my god. Did you see Tobias Clarke brought a date?” The other replied in disbelief.
“Don’t you mean bought , A nobody, in a designer dress, designer shoes and beauregard's infamous $4,000 masquerade mask.The pathetic prostitute is obviously having her pretty woman moment.” The woman cackled, while I felt like the air had been robbed from my lungs. Was I really that obviously out of place. While the sassy part of me wanted to walk out, embarrass them where they stood with my presence, I stayed put, I couldn’t handle the looks or laughs I’d get if I walked out.
“Bitchy…” the other woman laughed. “You sound jealous.”
“ I am . Everyone knows Tobias is an animal in the bedroom. All hot and primal. I’ve heard the stories. Don’t tell me you haven’t heard them too.”
I frowned, they were talking about him like he wasn’t a person but a sex toy. They didn’t know him at all.
“Oh I’ve heard them. Well, I’m sure if you strut your stuff in that dress, the moment he’s tossed that slut aside, he can have you… and me at the same time.” The girls both laughed.
“Oh you bad bad girl.”
The two women left the bathroom. I gasped, unaware I had been holding my breath. I stood up, flushed and walked to the basin. I wanted to run from the ball, I wanted to hide from judgement… My eyes filled with tears but I managed to will them away with the help of a tissue. I swallowed hard and walked out of the bathroom and over to Tobias, who was talking to another business associate. He looked at me, and frowned. He excused himself from whomever he was talking to and pulled me aside.
“Are you okay?”
“Mmmhmm.” I lied.
“You’re lying.” He murmured managing to see right through me. “Why?”
His eyes bored through mine, somehow he had me pegged, he knew something was wrong with me. I smiled and shook my head. I just wanted to forget about it. “Let's dance?”
Tobias frowned and looked down. “I don’t know how. I never learned.”
“Neither did I.” I admitted. “But I’m sure we can sway in time to the music.”
“ Sway .” Tobias exclaimed with a wry smile. “If you say so Ruby.”
I nodded and took his hand in mine, leading him out onto the dance floor. We stood there, awkwardly unsure how to go about whatever it was we were trying to do. Tobias sighed and placed his hands on my hips.
“Put your arms around my neck.” He murmured. “And sway.”
I listened, wrapping my arms around his neck. It brought us closer, our bodies were melted into one another, I rest my chin on his shoulder and we swayed to the music.
“Will you tell me now?” he said softly.
“Can we just forget it?” I whispered.
“You’re upset. I can tell.” He replied. “Please, just tell me.”
I sighed and spied a couple of girls watching me and Tobias from the bar. They were whispering, snickering and pointing in our direction. I wondered if they were the vile women in the bathroom.
“I think my presence here has people wondering if you bought me… You know, for the night.” I said slowly, pulling back so that I could look him in the eye. His eyes darkened and he lifted a hand from my hip to my face. His thumb brushed my cheek and he shook his head.
“It says more about me than it does about you.” He assured me sadly. “People generally don’t like being around me.”
Except they had wanted to bed him, and they’d spoken about it like it was nothing. I clenched my jaw and shook my head. “No, it says more about them than it does about either of us.”
We stopped swaying, Tobias smiled and bit his lip, his hand was still on my face and I had to admit the warmth was comforting. “Do you want to get out of here?”
“Yes. Please.”
Tobias led me across the dancefloor and through the crowds of people talking and drinking. We spilled out the doors and faced the onslaught of cameras once more. A few minutes later the limo pulled up and we climbed in.
“Would you like a night cap?” Tobias murmured
I looked at him, aware that saying no was obviously the right option. Aware that saying yes would inevitably lead to another moment that left me breathless, closely followed by another rejection.
Against my better judgement I nodded. I was a moth close to the flame, too curious to back away. Tobias called out to the driver and advised him to drive to his apartment then the car began to move. I slipped the mask off my face and held it out to Tobias. He slipped his own off and put them together on the chair with the box mine had come in.
We didn’t speak a word as we drove through the city streets. The car pulled into the parking garage of an apartment complex two blocks down from my place. We got out of the car and Tobias led me to an elevator.
“Thank you for tonight.” I whispered stepping into the elevator ahead of Tobias. He looked at me and tilted his head.
“Really. Being my date had you accused of being my prostitute.” He scoffed.
“Tobias, I was there because I wanted to be, not because you paid me to be there. I promise.”
“I strong armed you into coming.” He warned. “I basically gave you no choice.”
“And yet, I still wanted to go.” I assured him.
Tobias laughed, but it was a self deprecating laugh, like he didn’t believe a word I’d said. I sighed and folded my arm across my chest. “I never went to my senior prom.”
“Huh?”
“In high school, my prom. I never went.” I replied. “I never went to parties, pep rallies, dances. Nothing. I was curious, I wanted to see what all the glitz was like. I wanted to be there tonight Tobias. I really did.”
“But with me…” he laughed.
“Yes. With you. I had fun tonight and even though some stupid little girls who had to cut me down because they’re jealous they can’t have you said some nasty things, I wouldn’t change any of it.”
The door pinged open and I walked out. Tobias walked passed me, walking up to a door and swiping a card. He pushed the door open and walked inside. I closed it behind me. Tobias’ apartment was like mine on steroids. Except instead of the minimalist clean white lines, it was all dark, granite and blackened marble. He walked into his open plan kitchen an
d grabbed a bottle of what looked like scotch from a liquor cabinet. He took out two glasses and poured generous amounts in both before picking them up and walking back over to me.
He held one out, and once I’d taken it he drained his glass. He waited, impatiently tapping his italian shoes on the dark polished wood floor. I drank the drink and handed the glass back.
“Another?” He drawled walking back into the kitchen
“No.” I replied. “I think maybe I should head home.”
Tobias stopped, he placed the glasses down and looked up at me. “Do you want to leave?”
I frowned and bit my lip. “What I want doesn’t matter Tobias.”
“How do you figure that Ruby?” he replied lifting the scotch bottle up and pouring another glass.
“Because the other day in your office. I wanted more. Last night, I wanted more. Both times you left… you stopped like it was nothing. I am attracted to you Tobias. I can’t keep fighting it, I don’t want to… But it doesn’t matter, because you have to want it too.” I looked down and shrugged. I had nothing left to lose, I figured laying it all out meant I get the awkwardness out of the way now. “And you don’t.”
His glass hit the granite counter top with a thud. I closed my eyes, I’d pissed him off, which hadn’t been my intention. I walked backwards toward the door, eager to leave and escape the embarrassment of my admission. But before I could move much further, Tobias’ arms slid around my waist, his lips hit my neck, trailing kisses up the sensitive skin until his teeth nibbled on the lobe of my ear.
“I do want it.” he said lowly. “I want you.”
Chapter Ten
“What about the boundaries.” I whispered, my voice was barely there however.
“Tonight I don’t give a shit about boundaries Ruby. I want you, you want me.” He looked at me in the eyes and nodded. “No more fighting it.”
I was too weak to hold back, I nodded, giving him permission to do whatever he saw fit. His lips crashed against mine. It was so necessary, like our bodies knew what they craved and were running on autopilot. I was lost in him, every emotion inside me was exposed. Luckily he seemed too caught up in me to notice just how vulnerable I was.
One of his arms moved from my hip, up my back and behind my neck. He held me there, like I was made of porcelain, afraid I would break but unwilling to let me move at the same time. The other hand followed a similar trail, stopping at the back of my dress on the zip.
My heart thudded, I hadn’t been with a man in a long time, and he had hardly known what he was doing. I was scared I’d be useless, unable to please him. Tobias must have sensed my tension because he stopped and stepped away.
“You’ve changed your mind?” He winced. He seemed disappointed.
“No.” I whispered, my voice was little more than a meek whisper. “I just… I haven’t had much experience. I don’t want to be a disappointment.”
Tobias smiled, and it was a smile so wide it hit his eyes and lit them up like fourth of july. It was the truest smile he’d given me so far and it melted my insides like warm summer sun beaming down on ice. He stepped forward again, closing the gap between us and cupped my face in his large hands.
“You’ve got me all tied up in knots Ruby.” he exclaimed, his smile didn’t drop but I could hear the honesty in his words. “I don’t get like this. I don’t get distracted, I don’t find myself daydreaming about taking women on my desk at lunch time.”
He pressed his lips to mine, darting his tongue inside my mouth, grazing mine with it. “But lately you’ve had me doing all those things.”
So it wasn’t just me.
“I want this, with you… tonight. More than I’ve ever wanted anything.”
I knew it was just lust talking, but I was too wound up to care.
“Then have me.” I replied, reaching behind my dress. I pulled the zip down and felt it loosen around my shoulders. Tobias let his hands drop from my face onto the pale pink fabric, pulling it down slowly with his hands. His eyes were locked on mine, still glistening in the light. He pulled the dress down over my breasts, his thumbs moved over the soft pink fabric of my bra, over the top of my hardening nipples. I let out a strangled sigh as my knees began to buckle. Tobias let the dress drop to the floor, and then finally looked down. His eyes gazed over my breasts, down to my panties and then finally at the stilettos I still wore.
“You are killing me Ruby Moritz.” he groaned.
I stepped forward and placed my hands on his chest, shrugging his suit jacket off. I loosened the tie and began to work on the buttons, while Tobias placed his hands back on my now bare hips. He hooked his fingers under the elastic of my panties and tugged on them, pulling me even closer against him.
As I unbuttoned the last button on his shirt and pulled it down over his arms. Tobias’ skin was hot beneath my fingers, as I trailed my fingers over his smooth chest. He stiffened, and immediately I worried. I removed my hands immediately, but he lifted his own to mine and placed them back on his chest.
He leaned down, kissing me again. It was slow and sensual, sending bolts of lust directly to my pulsating center. I had never wanted someone this much before, never needed relief like I needed it right now. Tobias seemed to sense this, and lifted me up, straddling my legs around his waist. He kept kissing me as he walked with me through his apartment.
I didn’t have time to take in my surroundings, and truth be told I didn’t want to focus on anything but Tobias anyway. We somehow made it to a bedroom, Tobias felt around for the light, flicking it on as we walked through the door.
He lay me down on a bed, it was soft beneath me and warm. He smiled as he hovered above me, his eyes absorbed me until I could handle the lack of kissing him no longer. I lifted my head and brought my lips to his.
Tobias moved his hands from my waist and up my back, arching my body until I curved against him. He moved his mouth from mine, pressing it against my neck and collarbone. He looked down at my bare chest, and let out an unsteady breath against my skin, before peppering kisses over the rise of my left breast.
His mouth closed around the nipple, sucking gently at first. I moved beneath him, on fire from the sensations. His free hand mimicked his motions on the other breath doubling the pleasure spiking through me.
I moved my hand down beneath my legs, eager to give myself a slight slither of relief, but Tobias grabbed it with his hand and lifted his head up, locking on to my eyes.
“I want to own your climax tonight Ruby.” he murmured as he lifted my hand, placing it around his neck. “I want to be the one who gives that to you.”
His voice was quiet, but determined. I nodded, I wanted that too, I wanted to fall apart at his touch. He smiled then moved down the bed, once again hooking his fingers under the elastic of my panties. He pulled them down, sliding them over my thighs, knees and finally ankles. He let out a guttural groan as he tossed them to the side.
“You are beautiful.” he murmured. “In every way.”
I felt myself blush at his words, which was odd considering how very naked I was in front of him. His eyes glazed over, and he smiled before kissing the inside of my thigh. The tension was electric, pulsating throughout my body, sending waves of need out like an emergency beacon. I writhed on the bed, desperate for him to center his touch. After what seemed liked forever, he answered the call I was sending, placing his finger over my most sensitive spot. I arched, high against his touch, the pleasure was immediate.
“That’s right.” He whispered lowly as he moved his finger slow and steady. His lips kissed the inside of my thigh again, and then out of nowhere his mouth replaced his fingers. Any control I had over my body dissipated into nothing as I gave myself to him. I closed my eyes, focusing on the sensations surrounding me. His touch disarmed me, intensifying everything that was happening tenfold. I couldn’t hold back, and I didn’t want to. Like a fuse running out of rope I lost it, exploding spectacularly at his expert touch, He said something, but I was too far gone, lost
in a world of pleasure I had never known before. My climax ebbed, but I still needed more of him. I sat up, meeting him halfway, kissing him with unadulterated passion. I could taste myself, a fact that clearly turned him on. I reached down, thumbing over the button on his black suit pants. It popped open, like it had been straining for release anyway. I could already see the thick bulge in his tight dark grey cotton boxer shorts. Curious I touched, my fingers traced around his impressive girth. He sighed and let out a strangled groan. I looked up, Tobias let his head fall back and his eyes close. I had him now. I tugged on the waistband of his boxers, returning my gaze south. If I hadn’t believed him before, I surely believed him now, he wanted this… me. He was big naturally, but he was so engorged that it bounced out at me as I pulled the material of his boxers down further. With eager anticipation i wrapped my hand around his girth, he was hot to the touch, clearly most of the blood coursing through him had found it’s way to where the party was.
“Ruby.” He whispered through clenched teeth.
I leaned down, wrapping my mouth around his tip. He twitched as i moved down his length, sheathing my teeth with my lips. I moved up again, flicking around the head with my tongue. With my free hand I pushed Tobias down on to the bed, he followed my lead, and relaxed into the mattress.
“You need to stop.” he struggled to speak. “Unless you want me to come in your mouth.” he groaned. I didn’t want to stop, his skin tasted salty and sweet, impossibly hard and yet somehow soft it was everything, and I didn’t want it to end.
Tobias let me continue, but only for another minute. He sat up, placing his hands on the sides of my head, gently lifting me up. “I want to be inside you.” he said unapologetically.
I nodded, I wanted the same thing, I wanted us to become one, and for this night to never end. Tobias used his considerable strength to pull me up to him, he placed a kiss on my mouth, soft, slow and sensual before sliding his hand down my body, he touched me again at my center, rubbing over with little more force than before. I buckled beneath him, and he grinned.
