by Virna DePaul
“To a new beginning,” Alec said, raising his glass for toast. “We so needed this.”
“We did.” She clinked her glass against his. The wine was the perfect accompaniment to the even more amazing steak dinner. And the roasted butternut squash! Everything was superb.
“And I so need you, Ruby.” He made sure to throw that one in there before digging into the meal. The idea wasn’t lost on her. She knew his full intentions. It was she who had to decide how serious to get with Alec. Was she ready for him to go from crush to serious BAE?
Maybe it was the delicious meal, the sweet soundtrack playing from a speaker somewhere in the house, or the wine that shaved the edge off her nerves, but she settled in. Alec was funny and sweet and soon, she had no idea why she’d judged him so harshly. He was nothing like a child—something she’d accused him of several times—and now she felt bad about it. If anything, he hadn’t had the chance to fully be a child. Instead, he’d been a boy caring for his mom, being a man way too soon.
“I’m sorry for giving you a hard time,” she said after dinner when Alec pulled her to his back patio to look at the city lights as the sun went down.
“Me? For what?” He waited as she polished off her wine then took the glass from her hand and set it down on a patio table.
“For calling you a child a few weeks ago. I thought it’d be a good way to light a fire under your butt, but now I see how unfair that was. You’ve worked hard to get where you are, and that doesn’t come by being immature. Forgive me?”
Alec looked at her a moment, scooped her off her feet, and placed her on a long chair where he curled himself around her. Here, under the stars, surrounded by the twinkling city lights of Savannah and the sound of crickets all around, she could easily fall asleep in his arms. Except the scent of his skin flooded her with warmth and sleep was the last thing on her mind.
His fingers caressed her hair, twisted it into a rope, and let it go again. “Listen, you were just doing your job. And a damn fine one, too. Don’t apologize. I had to hear that shit.”
“I can still be sorry.” Ruby closed her eyes. It felt good to be so close to him. So safe, protected, and cared for. But his body also warmed her from the inside out.
“The only thing you should be sorry for is not wearing your hair in a bun today.”
“What? Why?”
“Because I know your secret. I know when it’s up, you’re in business mode, and when it’s down like this…” Burying his face in her hair, he inhaled her scent, as his fingers traced a line down her jawline, tipping her chin up to him. “You’re more yourself. You’re ready to have a good time.”
“Why should I be sorry about that?”
“Because I can’t control myself when you’re like this, Ruby. You don’t understand. I want you all the damn time. So when you finally let me touch you…” With one arm holding her around the shoulders, and the other slipping around her waist, she felt captured and that was just fine with her. “It makes me a little crazy.”
“I can handle crazy right now.” Crazy was her life at the moment, and as the old saying went, If you can’t beat them, join them. She felt bold, brave. Maybe it was the wine. Or maybe she was ready. “I can handle you, Alec.”
It was as close to a declaration as she would ever get. And to make it even clearer, she slipped her hand around his neck and pulled him close. They met in a kiss that lasted longer than she’d ever kissed anyone before. No rush, no time limit, just the whole night ahead of them, heat—fast and furious—spreading through her body like wildfire.
His mouth and tongue explored hers, hungrily, blindly seeking her main source, sliding over her neck and down the curve of her breast. She arched into him, wishing she could get closer. The buzz of the wine heightened the sensations, and the stars seemed to shine just for them. With every kiss, every undulation, she felt him pressing closer, felt the size of him massive and impending. She felt drunk with lust and power over this highly wanted man, as he undressed her, removed her top, and slid his hand over her breasts.
He was hers, all hers.
“I want you to know,” he said as he caught his breath. He looked up at her with that penetrating gaze. “That these are…without a doubt…the most luscious tits I’ve ever sucked on.” He didn’t wait for a response, only slid down the long chair and nestled by her side to suckle on one, taut nipple then another, squeezing and playing with each, giving them equal attention.
She reeled, gripping the chair, his hair. To say her panties flooded with her juices was an understatement. All he had to do was keep suckling her tits this way and touch her when the moment was right, and she’d go off like a bottle rocket. And from the way she fought for breath, chest heaving, pushing into his mouth, and fighting for more and more of him, he knew it, too.
His hand slid between her thighs, two fingers pressing against her core through the denim. “So fucking sweet, Ruby. You don’t understand, you don’t understand…” he kept saying, as if Ruby wouldn’t know how much he’d been wanting her. Of course she knew. She’d been the same way, only more repressed about it.
As his mouth created a trail of fire down her body, past her navel to the edge of her jeans, she couldn’t hold it in anymore. “I’ve thought about you every night for months now,” she confessed. “Sometimes, I would touch myself thinking about it.” It was a bold assertion, and she’d never talked to any guy that way before, but she felt the need to start out right, start sharing her deepest confessions right away, so they might have a true and honest start.
He needed that after what had happened with Colleen, and she needed it, too.
“Did you now?” He sat up, slid down her jeans so they were around her ass, then pulled them off completely. Seeing his big, manly fingers pull off her panties as well nearly pushed her over the edge. He was all man, all Alec, and she was completely bare beneath him. Bare and vulnerable. “Well, we’re just going to have to do something about that, Red. Unless you want to go home and keep fantasizing.”
“No. I want the real thing. I want you.” Ruby braced for impact. She knew the moment Alec’s fingers and tongue touched her, she’d be in trouble. The best kind of trouble there was. She sucked in a sharp breath and moaned softly. For Ruby, surrendering wasn’t just hard—it was significant.
She trusted Alec. Now more than ever. She could do this.
She could do this every damn day.
He lowered himself so he was even with her aching pussy. God, she wanted him so badly. Risking a glance at him, knowing it would make her even wetter to see him between her legs, she opened her eyes to see the hazy, sexy gaze of a man who knew how to wield his power. His deep brown eyes devoured her, and slowly, his flat tongue pressed against her clit.
“Holy shit,” she moaned, gripping his hair.
He began to lick. Slowly. Testing, gauging how soft or hard she wanted it, watching her reactions closely, sliding his fingers down her cleft and dipping it into her pussy. “You taste so good, Ruby.”
She loved how he said her name. It sounded so lovely coming from his mouth. The mouth currently between her legs. So intimate. So happening at this moment. She tried not to focus on the obvious—it was Alec, Alec LeBrun, tight end of the Bootleggers—lapping up her folds. Her client, her crush, eating her pussy.
“I thought you might want dessert.” She bit her smile. Yes, she was being cheeky now, and it felt nice for a change.
“You thought right, babe. My favorite, too.”
She moaned in reply, as he softly flicked his tongue against her clit. Her fingers raked through his thick hair, pulling him closer, wanting to feel those shoulders, wishing she could rip his shirt off his back. Like he could hear her thoughts, he pulled it off in one swift movement without stopping his tongue for more than a second. Damn, he was good. His hand splayed across her belly, his thumb pulling up on her mound to give him better access, bury his face deep into her cunt.
Fiery breath against her skin sent prickles of heat up h
er legs, as he fingered her deeper, picking up rhythm as he went. She was close now. She’d been close to begin with. Without another thought, she ground her pussy against his face, holding his head in place, and giving him all of her. This was what he wanted—now he’d earned it.
“I’m going to come,” she told him, feeling too damn good. She didn’t care anymore about appearances, getting caught, getting found in the locker room, or anything. It was just her and Alec, Alec’s tongue and fingers giving her what she wanted and didn’t even know she needed.
“Give it to me,” he mumbled against her skin, pulling that fire out from deep inside of her.
Yes.
It felt so…fucking…good.
The patio, the lights of the city, the stars, the cool air, the wine, and Alec’s whole aura combined to create one vibrant painting to rival Starry Night. It swirled and swirled all around her, as she came, one wave after another, onto his tongue and his face. So intimate, so crazy, so right. Yes, it felt right to be with this man. She didn’t care about anything else at that moment, because they were all that existed. This blinding, peaking moment.
Seeing his expression when she finally opened her eyes and felt him resting against her inner thigh, she knew she could do anything and Alec LeBrun would adore her. Where had this attention come from? What had she done to deserve it? She didn’t know. All she knew was that he was at her mercy, and there was nothing sexier.
Once she came down from her high, she blinked up at the stars.
“Hi,” he said after a minute, sliding up to kiss her deeply. From the passion in his kiss and the hardness in his jeans, she knew he wanted to go on.
“Hi,” she said.
“Look at me.”
She looked at him. But it wasn’t easy. Just a few weeks ago, he’d been a fantasy to her, and now here he was. Here they were. And it was real. He was a real man with real feelings, sometimes with conflicting ideas, and that scared her half to death. But it was what it was—sensual, beautiful, and frightening as hell.
“What are you thinking?” he asked.
The million-dollar question. Ruby didn’t know how to answer. All she knew was that Alec made her want to take risks. He brought out the spontaneous in her, brought out the real and maybe even slightly reckless Ruby, the Ruby she’d never given herself the chance to know. “That I want to go on. I want this to continue,” she said.
“What we’re doing now, or…”
“Everything, Alec.” She breathed. “I want full in.”
“Full in. I like that.” He smiled.
And in that smile, she found a deeply devoted man. A rascal, too—one who knew he’d won for the moment. One who’d do anything to please her but now wanted his own pleasure in return. He brought out a sense of freedom in her, too. Yes, freedom. To be herself, finally, once and for all. “And right now, I want you to fuck me,” she said, ready—so ready—for round two.
His hands dug into her thighs, reached underneath her ass, and squeezed. “Go big or go home. Right, Ruby?”
“Yes, sir,” she felt compelled to say.
“Sir. I like that, too. Turn around for me, babe. And hold on to that chair.”
Chapter 10
Even though he was in a moment, as Ruby turned around in all her naked glory, Alec couldn’t help but stop, his mind spinning a web of improbabilities. Here she was—the woman he’d pined over for so long, finally giving into him. Not just emotionally but physically, and in the most submissive sense ever. Tight ass up, arms folded over the backrest of the chair, as enticing as a woman could possibly get.
The elusive Ruby O’Brien, the one who told him this couldn’t happen, because of their professional relationship, was poised and ready for his cock.
Was there anything more beautiful?
Had it been any other woman with her ass in the air, Alec would’ve grinned at this moment—yeah, finally got what I want. He’d admit it, other women were merely conquests. But with Ruby, he almost felt the need to bow down before her, literally kiss her ass. And so he did.
“This…” he said, placing his hands on either side of her butt and lowering to kiss one cheek, then the other, “is something I’ve dreamed about for so long.”
“You’ve dreamed of my ass?” She laughed.
“I’ve dreamed of you, giving yourself to me.” He smoothed out her ass, feeling the roundness and perfect velvety softness of her skin. Had he been eighteen, he would’ve plunged into her already with no patience whatsoever, but he had to stop and admire the view, the pure vulnerability of the moment.
All in, she’d said. She’d get her wish.
“I trust you,” Ruby said, glancing over her shoulder. He understood what she meant. She was talking about not using a condom. “You would tell me if you shouldn’t, right?”
“God damn right,” he said. “I’d never lead you astray.” And he wouldn’t. But he also wasn’t sure he was ready to be a father. Not because he didn’t love kids—he adored them—but because he wanted to do this right. He wanted to date Ruby first, then who knew? Marry her one day, then start a family. With Ruby, he wanted everything to be perfect. Because she was perfect in his eyes. “And you?”
“I’m on the pill. Just do it already, Alec.”
“Do what, Ruby?” he teased. He knew she could hear it in his voice.
“Fuck me.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t hear what you said. Can you repeat that?” Alec held his throbbing cock in one hand, pushing the head against her opening in big circles, teasing her entire cunt, feeling her twitch just beyond his reach.
She sighed slightly. “I said fuck me. Please.”
Now she was talking. There was that word again, ambrosia spilling from Ruby’s usually prim and proper mouth. “Oh, is it this you want?” He pushed in just a bit, hearing her moan with delight, then pushed in slowly some more. “Or this? Or maybe the whole thing…” He entered her all the way, a sword sheathing down to the hilt.
“Yessss…”
Good, she loved it. Her long, undulating moan made him so happy and fucking hot for her, he pulled out and this time, rammed her once. She cried out, fingers curling around the back of the chair, her back arching, wanting more. “You like it when I fuck you, Ruby?”
“Yes.”
“Yes, what? Tell me…”
“Yes, I love it.”
“Yes, you love it, what? What did you call me a minute ago?” he teased, holding his cock steady until she gave him what he wanted.
“Yes, sir.”
Bam—another thrust, ramming his balls against her pussy. She cried out. Did it matter they were outside and neighbors might possibly hear her from several yards away? He didn’t care. Part of him relished the thought. Look at me, world, I finally got the woman I wanted.
The woman I needed.
“Good girl,” he said. Yes, they were playing minor roles of submissive and dominant, but Ruby seemed to love it. It was no surprise. After working in a powerful, controlling career all day long, it was no wonder she relinquished so easily. Her hips felt good under his hands, her body like it was made for him. For a better traction, he placed a foot on the chair and fucked her even harder.
And she’d started touching herself, too, which meant she might come again if he kept it up. “I know how badly you’ve wanted my cock, Ruby, so here it is again.” He slammed against her again, pulling out and thrusting into her with purpose, each push sending a message. You’re mine. All mine.
She rubbed herself with renewed enthusiasm, pushing against his every jolt forward, even reaching back to hold on to his legs and drive him in harder. She wanted him, every inch of him. She wanted to feel his cock hit her deep inside, and the demand sent a tightness coiling up his body and into his balls. They fucked hard and long, working up their heat until they couldn’t take it anymore. Though he wanted so badly to let go, he wouldn’t until she’d come.
He needed to hear that sweet moan again.
Finally, Ruby shifted to th
e right, draping her head over the edge of the seat, so she could lie flat on her stomach, squeezing her thighs together, as her fingers worked at her clit. He shifted accordingly, driving his cock into her pussy so tightly, it almost felt like he was fucking her in her ass from this angle, and the thought nearly pushed him over the edge.
But then, Ruby cried out. And stiffened. And when he heard that beautiful sound and felt her muscles squeeze all around him, he knew it was time to let go. His climax came from the underbelly of his long, aching need, from a place of which he’d been dreaming for months now—since Ruby had come into his life. From the moment he met her and wanted to possess her. They held their breaths suspended in unison. He bent low so he could hear the cries escaping her mouth, hold her hair and neck in place.
“Are you still all in, babe?” he asked. If she didn’t want any part of this—because this was only the beginning of what she could expect if they were to be together—she should speak now or forever hold her peace.
“Yes,” she breathed low and long. Music to his ears.
“Then I’ll make it worth your while. More than worth your while.” When she was ready, he helped her flip over, curled up beside her, and covered her with his body, keeping her warm from the cooling night. Part of him wanted to finish by saying he loved her, but he knew she wouldn’t be ready to hear that.
In fact, he wasn’t sure he was ready for it either, considering all that had happened between him and Colleen. Trust would always be an issue with women, as much as he felt that Ruby would never keep secrets from him. Still, he held back. When the time is right, he thought.
He turned her cheek and kissed her gently. He could’ve kissed her all night.
But between the big, healthy meal and the massive outdoor sex, they fell asleep instantly, and by the time they woke up in the morning, covered in a blanket Alec assumed Ruby had gotten in the middle of the night, news had hit.
