‘I’m not having unprotected sex and filling your ten-bedroom house with babies.’ Her legs snapped shut clamping him between them so he could feel her sex with the head of his cock. Slowly, he began to rotate his hips, rubbing himself against her clitoris.
Her eyelids shuttered. ‘Oh, that feels good.’ Supporting herself on her elbows, she leant down and kissed him. He parted his lips for her, savouring the intense contact and the way she delicately teased his tongue with hers. He knotted his hands in her hair, not wanting her to stop, kissing her back. Dammit, he didn’t want to use a condom anymore. He wanted to be unsheathed and feel her, no one else but her.
But it was too soon to go there. Even he knew that. Instead he pressed down on her lower back and continued to push his hips up, his cock sliding against her wetness, its head rubbing again and again against her clitoris until she arched, rolling her hips.
He lay back, keeping his movement even until her own pace picked up.
Ruby pressed her hands against his chest and arched her back, grinding herself against him. She groaned deep in her throat, her whole body shuddering as she came. His own movements became jerky. His leg muscles tensed as he fought the desperate urge to ease off a little and ram himself deeply into her.
Ruby slumped, her warm breath fanning his face. She lay covering him with her body now liquid, pliant and warm.
Jake reached over for his wallet and pulled out a condom. He bit into the edge to tear the foil, moved her off him gently and slid on the condom. ‘Now will you sit on me?’
‘You’re asking me, not ordering me,’ she said, seeming pleased.
‘I can order you if you like?’
Ruby pressed her hands against his chest to push herself up to a sitting position. ‘No. I like the new you. You’re more relaxed out of The Cross.’ She widened her legs and positioned herself over the head of his cock.
In the bright light of day, he could see she was glistening and wet. Just the sight of her arousal, the smell of her scent almost caused a rush to his head. His stomach muscles tensed as she slid down sheathing him and began to rotate her hips.
Jake shuttered his eyelids, savouring the sun as it backlit Ruby, the most beautiful woman, loving him. She was tight and he wondered how long he could hold on because he didn’t want to disappoint her. They really had something here. Surely after this, she wouldn’t want to go back to her life in the mountains?
She made him happy and it had been a long time since he’d felt joy. He gripped her hips and thrust up into her, watching as she closed her eyes and rode him, matching his rhythm thrust for thrust. He could feel her sex muscles clenching around his hips so he reached between her legs and massaged her clitoris with his thumb. Ruby cried out again, clenching and shuddering until he too, lost it. Finally when she slumped over him, he eased out of her and pulled off the condom. She shifted, and he climbed to his feet and walked into the cabin, wrapping and discarding the condom in the garbage bin. All he could hear was the clink of the boat on its mooring, the lap of the water and the light buzz of the traffic crossing the bridge. Peace and quiet and Ruby. That was what filled his heart. Striding over to the yacht’s bathroom, he took a quick shower and dressed in some shorts. When he returned, Ruby was still lying supine, her beach towel draped across her body, staring out at the view of the bridge and Opera House.
‘You’re right, Jake. It’s beautiful here. Special. The colours are brighter than I’ve ever seen them. The water’s like crystal. It almost hurts my eyes to look at it. I’m so glad I experienced this. We’re fifteen minutes drive from The Cross and yet here I’m surrounded by beauty. It’s stunning.’
‘It sure is.’ He waved his hand around at the mansions that surrounded the harbour for as far as he could see. ‘You’re looking at some of the most expensive real estate in Australia.’
Ruby pushed herself into a sitting position. She shrugged. ‘Yes, the houses are amazing too, but I was talking about the harbour itself.’
He reached out and touched her cheek, caressing his fingers over the soft skin. The thing he liked about Ruby was that she wasn’t a gold digger like some of the women he’d met who lived in the Eastern Suburbs who were on the hunt for a wallet to keep them. Sure, she was slow to make a decision and her cautiousness frustrated him, but he had a feeling if he could win her heart, he’d have it forever.
He turned from her and reached into the storage facility at the side of the stern, clicked open a hatch and took out a fresh towel. ‘Shower? I want to take you to lunch. You’ll like Watson’s Bay. There’s a nice beach there in front of the restaurant.’
Jake cleared the glasses and secured anything that seemed loose in preparation to cross the harbour and motor into Watson’s Bay. Ten minutes later, Ruby joined him in the galley. She was wearing a sunny-coloured day dress, but it wasn’t the bright colour that got his attention, it was the huge smile on her face. She was holding her mobile phone out in front of her. ‘Guess what? Emerald rang while I was in the shower. I’m so glad I answered my phone. I nearly didn’t.’ Her voice was high with excitement.
‘Where is she? Did you tell her how crazy with worry you’ve been?’
‘She was worried about me, too. She left several messages on my mobile yesterday and she’s been trying to phone me at my mountain house. I told her Tattoo Face is locked up.’
‘Bet she was happy about that.’ Would Ruby stay or would she want to return back to her home?
‘Delighted. She’s been lying low with a friend in Lithgow but she’s going to meet me in The Cross tomorrow. I’m so relieved that she’s all right. Everything is going to be great now.’ Her smile beamed from ear to ear.
Jake reached around her waist, leant down and kissed her. ‘You look like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders.’
‘I feel like that thanks to you.’ She stared up into his eyes. ‘I want to say thank you, for all you’ve done and I’ve been thinking, maybe I could find some way to work between my two businesses.’
‘Are you saying you want to spend more time in Sydney?’
‘I’m saying I want to be with you.’
He stroked her hair and curled a lock around his fingers. ‘You falling in love with me, Ruby?’ He wanted to hear her say the words because he knew if she did, it would be forever.
Ruby’s whole body jerked back. ‘Jake, don’t push. This isn’t easy for me. I’m scared to even say the word.’
‘I know, sweetheart.’ He leant down and kissed her, claiming her lips, breathing in her scent. She. Was. His.
Cupping his face between her hands, she looked up at him with tenderness in her eyes. ‘I’ve never dared rely on a man before and even depending on you was a tough thing for me to do. But you’ve been so great. I’d never have been able to get to the bottom of this if it weren’t for you.’
He felt his lips curl up in a smile. Ruby had once said she didn’t think happy families could happen to her. He’d known what that felt like after Remmy’s death—to think nothing could ever be good again. Just the gratitude in her sky-blue eyes made him realise Ruby had turned his life around, even though she didn’t know it.
‘You’re safe with me and now Tattoo Face is locked up your twin will be safe too.’
She wrinkled her nose as if thinking about something. ‘You know, I forgot to ask what Emerald did to upset Mrs Smithers. I still don’t know why Tattoo Face threatened her. All she said was that he’s a crazy Russian who has an equally crazy Russian sister.’
‘She gave you no explanation after worrying you half to death?’ He’d like to have a quiet word with Emerald himself for her stupid behaviour, but he suspected it would upset Ruby, so he clamped his mouth shut.
In the distance, a ferry sounded its horn as it headed from the Quay to Taronga Zoo and the boat began to rock with the wash of the ferry. Ruby steadied herself by clutching the carved wooden rail that separated the dining area and the galley.
‘No. I was so excited to hear her voice, I didn’t
press her.’ She pushed her hair out of her face. ‘Why? What are you thinking?’
‘Nothing.’
‘No. You know something.’ She leant forward peering at him wearing a frown. ‘Your face has got that hard look like when you’re angry.’
‘Just leave it, Ruby.’ He turned and wiped up their glasses and secured them in their rail. Glancing around, he checked that everything was in its place. The last thing he needed was to have his day spoiled by discussing Emerald’s selfish behaviour. It was time Ruby started to look after herself and have her own life.
A seagull flew and landed on the deck. It screeched and the sound rent the air. When he turned he saw that Ruby had put her hands on her hips and was glaring at him, her sky-blue eyes sharp. ‘I won’t just leave it. I saw you look at Senior Constable Garner. What is it?’
‘I think you need to talk to your twin. How about I cast off now?’ He strode from the galley towards the deck. ‘I’ve booked a good table.’
‘Wait!’ Ruby ran forward and grabbed his arm. ‘Tell me. I mean it, Jake. You can be so damned secretive sometimes and it really gets to me.’
This was not going to be good. Ruby looked so happy about her twin’s return he didn’t want to discuss it anymore. Clearly, she hadn’t put two and two together, but if Jake knew one thing, the bearer of the bad news risked getting shot. ‘You’re not going to like what you hear, which is why it’s better if it comes from Emerald, if she cares to tell you.’
‘I’m not a child. I want to know why Tattoo Face sent a death threat. I think I deserve an answer seeing as I copped the threat. It’s going to come out anyway.’
Jake took in a deep lungful of air and silently cursed. ‘Emerald had an affair with Peter Smithers. His wife, the “crazy” Russian is just pregnant. When she found out she went nuts. That’s why she set her brother Tattoo Face on your twin. She wanted to scare her out of town.’
He watched as her breath hitched. ‘Emerald slept with Peter Smithers? She wouldn’t do that. She wouldn’t have sex with a married man.’
‘Look, Smithers has a bad reputation. Initially, I thought Tattoo Face was his bodyguard, but actually his sister, Mrs Smithers, makes him keep tabs on her husband to keep Smithers out of trouble. Turns out Tattoo Face was threatening some of the gold diggers to get rid of them. One of the girls reported it to the police. Seems Smithers is wealthy and he flashes his money around, which attracts the wrong sort of women.’
He watched the colour drain from her face. ‘Emerald would not sleep with Smithers for money if that’s what you’re implying.’
Jake grit his jaw. ‘I’m not saying that.’ He’d thought she’d put two and two together when the Smithers woman had lunged at her, but it hadn’t occurred to Ruby. Maybe he’d just seen too much of the seamy side of life when he’d started doing surveillance earlier. ‘I’m sorry, Ruby. I think you need to talk to your twin if you want the details. I’ve said more than enough.’
‘How do you know the nitty gritty and why didn’t you tell me earlier? How can you be so secretive? It drives me nuts.’
Jake shook his head. He didn’t like wallowing in other people’s mess. ‘Let’s just forget about it. I brought you here to chill out. You need to drop it down a notch after that panic attack or you’ll make yourself sick.’
Ruby swept her hair from her face and fashioned it into a bun. She walked over to the dining table where she’d deposited her handbag, unzipped it and pulled out some pins to secure her hair. When she’d finished, she turned and he could see her eyes were shiny as if she were close to tears. ‘That’s just it. I can’t drop it. I can’t put things in neat boxes like you do. I knew Emerald had done something stupid. She’s a terrible flirt. It just didn’t click. I mean I’ve never met Peter Smithers. It’s not as if he made the threat.’
‘Ruby! What your twin does is not my business. I don’t want to go over this, okay? I got involved because I wanted to keep you safe. End of story.’
Silence filled the air except for the sounds of music playing in the distance and the soft clink of the anchor chain. Damn, he wished Emerald hadn’t picked this time to contact her twin. He’d finally got Ruby all to himself and out of the environment of The Cross. It was the first time he’d seen her so happy. All he wanted to do was focus on Ruby and not her trouble-making twin. Jake put his hands on her shoulders. ‘Hopefully, your sister will learn from it after all the problems she’s caused.’ He tried to pull her in but her mouth tightened and she twisted out of his arms. Jake grit his jaw. Why couldn’t she just let it go for now?
Ruby picked up her mobile phone where she’d left it on the table and scrolled through it. Finally, she looked up into his face. ‘Emerald made five calls to me when I was with you the night before last, but I didn’t hear them because my phone was switched to silent.’
‘I switched it to silent along with my own because I don’t like phone calls interrupting at meal time.’ He saw her shoulders rise and fall as if she were trying to contain her anger.
‘That’s not okay with me. You don’t have the right to be so controlling. You knew how worried I was about my twin,’ she said, her words coming out in a staccato of anger.
‘You were so uptight. You needed a break.’
‘That’s for me to decide, not you. Look, Jake, you can’t switch my phone off without telling me. I had the panic attack because I was so worried. Have you any idea what it’s like to have someone disappear out of your life and not come back?’
He knew. He knew it all too well. Remmy was a recurring nightmare that didn’t go away unless she was close. Ruby gave him peace. He didn’t know why. He just knew that protecting her and feeling her warmth kept the horror of his brother’s death away. Jake put his arms around her trying to calm her but her body was rigid. ‘Turning your phone to silent is hardly a crime.’
She tilted her chin up, the expression in her eyes brittle. ‘I really care about you. I think I’m falling in love, but you’re overbearing. You want to control me and I can’t live like that. I have to be free to make my own choices.’
‘I’ve been trying to protect you!’ he said, exasperated. ‘Give us a chance to be together without all this pressure. Let Emerald mind the shop and let’s go away.’
‘I can’t just leave Emerald.’ Her eyes widened as if he’d suggested leaving a newborn child without food or water. No wonder her twin did what she wanted, caused problems and then ran off leaving Ruby to mop up the mess. Ruby encouraged her to do it by pandering to her every need.
‘Your sister is an adult. It’s time she learnt to fix up her own mistakes. Maybe she’d stop making them if you quit babying her.’
Ruby stomped her foot and glared at him. ‘This is exactly what I mean about you being domineering. You don’t get to make decisions about whom I help and whom I don’t. We only have each other.’
Jake put his arms around her pulling her in tight, refusing to let her wiggle out. ‘You have me.’
She butted her hands up against his chest. ‘Only if you get to order me around and make all the decisions whether I like them or not.’
Jake shook his head as frustration flared. ‘Ruby, you’re so damaged, you don’t know what love is. You can’t tell the difference between protection and abuse. I didn’t know how dangerous Tattoo Face was. I had to protect you until I eliminated the problem.’ Oh hell, she looked like he’d just hit her.
‘Take me home. Now! This was a mistake. I should have known better than to trust you.’
She struggled but he clamped his arms around her refusing to let go. ‘I love you. I refuse to give up on you. We’re good together.’
He heard a huge gulp of pain that started deep in her throat.
Raw pain.
‘No, we’re not. We’re finished.’ Ruby shoved him away from her.
He knew he was over the top protective because he’d failed Remmy. He wanted to tell her but the words wouldn’t come. His brother’s face flashed in front of him. Blood. Too much p
umping out. No way to stop it. Hell! He shielded his face for a moment forcing himself to breathe. When he looked back at Ruby he saw she was too hurt, too miserable. She didn’t need his stuff dumped on her.
If he could get the words out of his mouth.
‘Ruby, don’t do this.’ He looked at her as the light died in her eyes and knew he’d pushed her too far.
Chapter 10
‘Come back to The Cross. I need you!’ Emerald wailed through the phone. ‘I can’t manage the shop without you. Jake’s party’s tonight. I’m frantic. Customers have been flooding in all week.’ Ruby had spent the morning with Emerald when her twin had returned, before she’d left determined not to stay a moment longer than she’d needed to. Jake wanted her back, but she was too hurt to think sensibly in the frenetic pace of the shop.
‘I can’t. I’ve been catching up on my own workload since you came back.’ And she didn’t want to see Jake.
‘You have to come. The party’s tonight.’
‘I’m not going.’ Ruby bit her fingernail and stared out into her native bush garden in Blackheath in the Blue Mountains. She had nurtured a little kangaroo when it had been an abandoned baby and now it was feeding on her lawn. Although the cottage she had bought was tiny, she adored the view from her study of the tree-covered mountains and the sharp, sandstone ridges. Normally, it calmed her, made her feel safe, but even here, misery rode her hard. Nothing but an ache resided in her chest, although it had been four days since Jake had told her she was too damaged to love. It hurt. It hurt so much, she’d cried buckets. Even now as she paced up and down with the phone in her hand, she couldn’t find peace.
‘You have to come. Every person at Jake’s party will be wearing one of my costumes. Do you have any idea how this will grow the business? That man’s been a godsend to us.’
‘Wait a minute. This is the man you said was an arsehole.’
‘That’s because he chased up the terrace price in the auction. I’ve changed my mind now. I’m so excited, I’ve had two journalists call me to interview me. Jake’s contacts. They’re sending a photographer. We could get a mention in the Herald. Come down and join me. Your clients can wait. They’re all boring anyway.’
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