by Virna DePaul
He pressed his thumb to her clit, slowly circling it as he fucked her. He watched as her clit emerged from its hood, tender and swollen. She was close. Her sheath tightened around him, and it took every ounce of his strength not to lose it right then.
“Come for me, baby. Come for me right now.” He rubbed her clit with more pressure, giving into her trembling muscles.
Ruby gasped, and as Alec filled her completely one last time, she started to come. Her body shook from head to toe, and as her pussy contracted around his cock, he lost it. He swore as he detonated inside of her, pumping and pumping, filling her, and he didn’t know how he didn’t manage to collapse on top of her, he was so spent.
My woman, my life. He’d given her all of him.
She’d let him into her life, into her whole being.
They were sweaty and disheveled as they tried to catch their breaths. Zings of pleasure continued to run up and down Alec’s spine. He rubbed Ruby’s back, and she clung to him, like she needed to hang onto something after the storm of pleasure that had wrecked her body.
Fuck the shower. They could do it tomorrow.
Because nothing—repeat, nothing—could replace the feeling of them collapsing onto the pillows and pulling up the comforter to cover their naked bodies, finding warmth in each other, arms and legs a tangled mess. He wanted to sleep all night this way, with her head against his chest, holding her…protecting her…
Loving her.
Chapter Fifteen
The trip to visit Alec’s mother had been eye-opening.
The trip home to Savannah? Not so much. Though Alec had done a good job driving, and for the most part, it was a beeline south down the highway without many turns, Ruby was carsick. At least she hoped it was carsickness and not a stomach bug the day before the big Sports Armour meeting. Because that would royally suck.
“You doing okay? You look green,” Alec said, bringing down a window to let in some fresh air for her.
“Better. I’m just nervous about tomorrow.” If all went through without a hitch, this would be the first major endorsement contract for one of her very own clients. She had to kill it. She had to impress her father and everyone at the firm, cementing the idea that she was worthy of being there, and each mile toward home reminded her the meeting was getting closer and closer.
“Babe, everything’s going to go fine. My ratings are back up. The agent has sent you the paperwork…”
“I know, but anything could happen, Alec,” Ruby reminded him. “You know how unpredictable these companies are. The smallest thing goes wrong, and they don’t want you representing their line anymore.” The more she thought about it, the more the knot in her stomach tightened.
The fact she’d taken time off to visit Alec’s mom hadn’t exactly helped either. She had to get home, finish her work, and come out tomorrow morning like a mad lion. Preferably a healthy, non-carsick one.
On Monday morning, it was game face time. Alec picked her up at her townhouse looking fine as hell in his snazzy silver suit. She wished they would’ve had time for a quickie to shave the edge off her nerves, but it was time to go.
“Look at you,” Alec said, taking her by the hand and leading her to his car. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. Granted, she wore her standard black suit, this time with a pink blouse, which went perfectly with her red, pinned-up hair, but she did look hot in a professional bitch sort of way.
Ruby giggled nervously. “Time to kill it, Alec.” She hated to even think it, but she was glad he hadn’t gotten into any trouble last night while she slept. How shitty would that have been to wake up this morning before the meeting and seen him splashed in the papers for something gone wrong.
No, Alec was in line, and it had been all because of her. Everything would go perfect today—she just knew it. Time to stop fearing and start accepting that things were going her way. Her career was going up, things with Alec were smooth as silk, and now a dream meeting.
When they arrived, they were treated like rock stars, shown into a large meeting room with stainless accents and red lacquered chairs. A basketball lamp hung from the ceiling surrounded by balls of other sports. Ruby took a seat beside Alec and folded her hands. Even though the company probably knew they were dating, she still wanted to keep things professional.
A tall, older man came in surrounded by other tall, older, handsome men. Apparently, this company was entirely run by former athletes. “Good morning, everyone. Miss O’Brien…Mr. LeBrun, thank you so much for being here.” Everyone took a seat, as a young woman closed the meeting room door. “We’re just going to cut to the chase. We’ve been delighted with the turnaround your public image has taken, Mr. LeBrun,” the man said, giving Alec a nod. “You’ve also done some wonderful things with kids’ charities lately. Do you like kids, Mr. LeBrun?” the CEO asked.
“I definitely do, sir.” Alec beamed, but Ruby could see his knee shaking a mile a minute. She touched it and it stopped moving.
“Do you think you might be having kids in the future?”
Ruby thought it a strange question at first, but then again, she realized where this was going and suddenly felt a surge of happiness. They were going to offer him a kids’ line after seeing his recent appeal with children.
Alec cocked his head and cringed a little. “I do, yes, but not at the moment.”
“That’s fine,” the CEO said. “The only reason we’re asking is because we want a long-term commitment, someone who will represent the brand for a while, someone who might be a father in the future. For the image of sports dad, you know. We’ve seen how you roughhouse with the little ones, how they jump all over your back.” The man laughed and looked around at his colleagues. “We love that shit.”
“Thank you, sir.” Alec looked at Ruby and smiled.
“It’s our hope that natural affinity for fatherhood will come through in advertising, in order to appeal to fathers and parents of sporty kids, in general. What do you think you can bring to the table, Alec?”
As the CEOs listened to Alec talk about his love of football, how he was raised by a hardworking mother, and always wished he’d had a father around, he brought a personal touch to his own sales pitch, and Ruby would’ve loved it if it weren’t for the sensation of air being completely sucked out of her lungs.
Relax, Ruby. Everything’s going to be fine, she told herself.
Her father would be calling right after the meeting to hear how everything went, and she couldn’t feel any more anxious about it. What if Alec fucked up again? What if things didn’t work out between them, for some reason, and he went on another rampage, stole another car, or made another scene in the end zone?
Her career would be over. Her father would fire her immediately. Everything came down to this moment, this meeting. As she looked around at all the faces, mainly male, she was reminded that being a woman in this industry was hard enough without your life falling apart around you.
“Well, of course I’m going to want to get married eventually,” she heard Alec saying. It sounded like he was talking from behind a glass wall.
“Good, because the playboy bad boy isn’t exactly the vibe we’re looking for,” someone else said.
Playboy bad boy. That’s what he’d been all this time, and Ruby had changed him, but could a tiger ever really change his stripes?
The meeting room felt like it was swirling, and Ruby had to stand and excuse herself. “Just need some fresh air, gentlemen. Be right back.” She gave her best smile, as worried looks surrounded her, including Alec’s, but she knew she had no intention of going back into the room.
She was sick as a dog and had to get out of there before she barfed all over the meeting table. Heading out of the building, she called a Lyft car to come and get her then texted Alec: Feeling terrible. I have to get to a medic center. Sorry, Alec.
God, this wasn’t happening. She wasn’t bailing right at the most critical moment. But one thing reassured her—Alec. He would know what to do, what to say
in front of those guys. He’d been doing a great job so far. Her presence in the meeting was only supplemental, to make sure he didn’t say anything stupid. No, she definitely had a stomach bug of some kind and needed treatment right away or risk fainting in the Sports Armour lobby.
A reply text came in. No worries, got this. Meet you there. Text me address once you’re there. Love you.
Love you.
Wow. That was the first time he’d ever said that so nonchalantly. As Ruby waited for her car, she stared at the words. He followed them up with a smiley face. She could wrap her head around that. In love with Alec was how she’d felt for a long time now, but being the responsible girl she was, she wanted to make sure everything was right in place before declaring it.
Just as the car arrived, Ruby leaned over and threw up all over the sidewalk. The driver, a woman with black hair and a pretty smile, leaned her head across the front seat and said, “You okay? I swear, I’m a good driver.”
Ruby fought to smile then told her to take her to the nearest urgent care center. No amount of anxiety had ever made her feel this sick before. What shitty timing. Her father would undoubtedly be upset that she left the meeting. Knowing him, he would’ve wanted her to stay, stick it out, even through being deathly ill, but that had always been one difference between her and her father—Ruby was the sensible one.
Five minutes later, Ruby checked into the medic center, provided all documentation, then sat in the waiting room with a plastic bag by her side. Another text from Alec came in telling her they were on a break and everything was going well. Part two of the meeting would be going over of contracts.
She hated the thought that there would be contract perusal without her. Don’t sign anything until I see it. We can always reschedule, she texted Alec.
The thumbs-up emoji came in, just in time, as a nurse came out to get her. “Ruby O’Brien? Come this way.”
Ruby fought to stand, fought not to lose her balance, as she followed the young nurse down a hallway and into a curtained examination room. After the customary questions, she was left alone with a pee cup and a paper bag.
She wasn’t sure why, but all of a sudden, it felt like the world was coming down around her. Like she’d failed Alec by leaving the meeting, failed her father, and failed herself. She’d prepared for this meeting and had felt so positive about it, despite the nerves, but now if things went wrong, she couldn’t help but feel like it’d be her fault.
Maybe they could give her a shot of something to calm her stomach and still make it back in time before the meeting ended? She would ask the doctor as soon as they came in. But for now, all she had was this nurse popping her head into the room.
“When did you say your last period was?” the nurse asked with a tilt of the head.
Ruby thought back. “October…twentieth?” Was that right? No, it couldn’t have been. Had it really been two months since she’d last gotten her period? She didn’t like what the nurse was silently suggesting. After all, she was on the pill, but oh, God…that would explain so much.
A chill ran through Ruby’s back, chilling her to the bone.
The nurse shrugged. “Because you’re not sick, sweetie,” she said. “You’re pregnant.”
Chapter Sixteen
Ruby wouldn’t answer his texts.
Wouldn’t answer his calls.
Wouldn’t let him through the gate when he arrived at her townhouse complex.
For days, he had no contact with her and wondered what the fuck had happened to her. All he got, her last communication to him, had been a text while he was still in the meeting with Sports Armour. He’d asked if everything was okay at the doctor, to which she’d replied: Fine. Leave me alone for a while. Need time.
Time for what?
Had she sat in that meeting hearing them talk about babies and having a family in the future, and she’d suddenly decided she didn’t want to be with him anymore? A wake-up call of sorts? She’d started feeling sick in the car after leaving his mother’s house. Had it been too soon to bring her to meet Mom?
Ruby was skittish about them being together, but now he wondered if maybe he’d pushed all this on her too soon. Insisting they date, insisting she let him make her happy, insisting she come to meet his mother. Yes, something must’ve clicked in her mind and now he was paying the price.
He hadn’t signed the contract, just like she’d said. He’d spoken to Phil, Ruby’s dad, who advised him to do exactly what Ruby had said and to give her a few days, because she was more than likely sick and needed time alone. Alec had conceded, but now after practice two days later, he had to see her.
If something was wrong with Ruby, he had to make it right. Correct his fuck-up, whatever it was. Getting into his car after practice, Alec drove by a local bakery to pick up some soup and bread before driving over to Ruby’s. He didn’t care if she didn’t want to see him. Tough—he wasn’t going to let her go without a fight.
Whatever it was, they could talk this through.
Besides, if he waited too long, she might accuse him of not caring about her, and only the opposite was true—he did care, deeply. But he also didn’t want to be pushy, if that was the case. If that had been the root of this problem to begin with. If he examined his feelings too closely, he’d discover things he wasn’t ready to accept quite yet—just how deeply that care and concern for Ruby went. But one thing was for certain: he was determined to get her back.
At the townhouse gate, he marked her number but nobody replied. He picked up her phone to call her. The call went to voicemail. He decided to text her instead. “Ruby, I have your laptop bag that you left in the meeting. You can’t avoid me forever,” he spoke into the dictation field. “Please let me in. I have soup.”
Those must’ve been the magic words, because the gate buzzed open suddenly.
“Thank you,” he dictated into the text. Alec blew out a breath and drove in, curving around the bend to reach her townhouse near the back.
When he saw her car in her driveway, he let out a sigh of relief. He hadn’t been sure she really was sick and had imagined her driving off, away from Savannah, far, far from him. He got out of the car, hauling her laptop bag, soup, and the bread all in one hand, his keys and things in the other.
Be ready for anything, he told himself.
Whatever it was, he’d fix it.
When she finally opened the door after his second knock, he immediately felt guilty for thinking she might not be sick. The woman looked practically green, which clashed with her fiery red hair, now a tangled mess around her face. Without any makeup and dressed in oversized flannel pajamas, she didn’t look anything like the perfectly assembled woman he knew so well. But this version of Ruby was just as beautiful to him—maybe more so. It was a side of her she didn’t show other people.
“What are you doing here?” she croaked. She didn’t move to let him inside.
“I brought you soup.” He held up the offering. “And your laptop bag.” He turned to show her the bag splayed across his back. “Let me inside for a little while. I promise I won’t harass you.”
She hesitated, but with a sigh, she opened the door to let him in. He instantly made her go sit down while he poured the soup into a bowl and brought it to her, along with a slice of bread and a spoon. Although she insisted that she wasn’t hungry, he told her he wouldn’t leave until she ate something.
With a scowl, she finally started eating the soup.
“What do you have? The flu?” He scooted his chair close to the table, watching her with utmost concern. “You never told me what the doctor at the urgent care center said.”
“Because it doesn’t matter.”
“What doesn’t matter, Ruby?”
She looked like she would engage in discussion with him, but she only shook her head. “Don’t worry about it.”
“I do worry about it. I’m worried about you, Red. About us.” He laid his hand on top of hers. “What’s going on?”
She wouldn’
t look at him, instead seemed focused on the bowl of soup in front of her. “It’s not the flu. And don’t worry, it’s not contagious.”
“Not that I’d care. Do you have a fever? Nausea, vomiting?” He leaned over and placed his hand over her forehead, but she pulled away. Something was definitely wrong besides just being sick. “You seem warm. Want me to go find a thermometer?”
She sighed in exasperation. “No. Look, I appreciate you coming out here, Alec, but you didn’t need to. I’ll be okay.”
Alec wanted to ask, What about us? Are we okay?
She looked so pathetic that he didn’t have the heart to upset her. Right as he was about to get up to leave, though, she paled and, jumping up, ran from the room. Concerned, he followed her, only to hear the bathroom door slam before the unmistakable sounds of vomiting echoed from the bathroom.
“Ruby? Are you all right?” He knocked lightly on the door.
“Oh, God,” she groaned. “Go away. Please.”
He wasn’t about to go anywhere when she was this sick, but he went back downstairs to give her privacy. After a bit, she returned, glass of water in her hand. She sat down gingerly, and he couldn’t help but notice that she seemed thinner, gaunt, and definitely going through something.
“How long have you been vomiting?” Alec asked, sitting on the opposite end of the couch from her.
“It’s nothing.”
“That doesn’t seem like nothing to me.”
“It is nothing.” She shot him a glare. “I usually only vomit in the morning…”
The way she said it…morning…vomiting. Her face paled again, and it was then that Alec knew what was wrong. “Wait. Are you pregnant?” His eyes narrowed. She looked like she was going to faint. He instantly rushed to her side and gripped her by her upper arms. “Ruby, are you? Pregnant?” He could barely get the word out.
