Authors: Cathleen Ross
Ruby wobbled on her feet as a wave of anxiety hit her.
Jake wrapped his arm around her waist and propelled her towards his bedroom. âDon't put yourself at risk again. You stay with me from now on. I'm guarding you twenty-four seven.'
âWhat? Where am I sleeping?'
âIn my bed.'
âWith you?'
He raised his eyebrows.
âFrom the way you're looking at me, I don't think I'll be getting much sleep.'
âSleeps overrated.'
From the doorway, Ruby looked around Jake's bedroom. Like the lounge area, the room had all the cornices removed, was freshly painted in an eggshell colour and had a nude abstract painting hanging above the bed. The bed itself was the focus of the room, big with crisp designer linen she recognised but could never have afforded to buy.
Once in his bedroom, he pulled her close, wrapped one arm round her so that the heat of his body warmed her bare skin. He stroked her hair with his free hand and nuzzled her throat. âIt's okay to lean on me. I'm not like your father. You need to learn to trust me.'
His voice was so gentle, so compelling, that she put her arms around the back of his neck.
âYou don't know what it's like. Without Emerald, I feel so alone.'
âYou have me now.' He kissed the top of her head and stroked her back, his fingertips moving over the nodules of her spine.
âYou make me feel safe. Safer than I've ever felt before even in the midst of this craziness.' She stared into his eyes.
He bent and kissed along her collarbone. âI mean to make you feel more than that.'
Jake held her close, aware of her silky skin against his body. He'd frightened her. Great work. Yet she had to know the truth of the danger she was in because she was too cavalier with her safety. People who lived an everyday life didn't always comprehend the savagery that could happen. He did. He knew it all too well.
âYou're cold. You need to lie down,' he said, releasing her to sweep back the doona cover of his bed. Ruby did as he asked, sliding herself sinuously across his bed.
How did she get to be so perfect? He turned off the bedroom light and clicked on a bedside lamp, which gave the room a pleasant glow.
Jake undid the remaining buttons on his shirt and yanked at his belt. He couldn't get the memory of her dancing out of his mind. The way she moved, the sensual way she peeled off her clothes.
âI know it's bad. No normal person throws a brick through a window. I guess that part of me was secretly wishing it was a one off crazy person's action, even though I knew deep inside it's more. I haven't heard a word from my twin. That's not like her.' Her tongue was starting to run off on its own and she was shivering.
Jake kicked off his shoes, pulled off his jeans, boxers and shirt.
âYou're naked.' Ruby pushed her hair away from her face, her eyes wide and staring.
âSo are you.'
âI'm wearing something.'
âNot for much longer.'
Her smile reached her eyes. âYou going to seduce me?'
âRight now I'm trying to work out whether the tassels need to be pulled off or whether I have to lick them off.'
âIs this your method of distracting me?'
âIt worked last night.'
She let out a long sigh. âI'm glad you're here.'
âMe too.'
He lay down beside her and curled his body around hers. Reaching down, he grabbed the sheet and doona cover and pulled it over them. âSo you'll finally listen to me and let me protect you?'
âYou asking me or ordering me?'
âOrdering you seems to make you do the opposite.' He lay on his side running his hand down her side, stroking her arm, his fingers running over the curve of her waist and the roundness of her hip.
âIt's a family trait, stubbornness, but it was the only way I survived. Going it alone, making my own decisions, protecting Emerald.'
He rolled her onto her back and kissed her eyelids. âYou'll survive this too with me by your side.' He'd put his life on the line to make sure she did.
Relief flooded Ruby when Jake wrapped his body around hers. He smelled of soap and aftershave, his physique warm and hard. At the moment Jake seemed bulletproof and having him close calmed her nerves. When he brought his lips down on hers, she opened her mouth to receive him. His kiss was deep and possessive, his tongue trailing lightly over her teeth before mating with her tongue. He was hot and hard and she could feel his cock pressing against her flesh and she wiggled trying to position herself.
âImpatient, Ruby?'
âYou were satisfied earlier this evening.'
âIt's going to take a lot more time with you to satisfy me. That was only the beginning.'
What did he mean? Hadn't she already made it clear this was not a long term thing? The trouble was she couldn't think straight while he was caressing her with his hands, lips and tongue.
Ruby put her hand between his legs, running her fingers up and down his shaft. He was large, hard and ready. She wanted to open her legs there and then. She yearned for him. But he didn't give in to her signal.
Instead, his hand moved to the nipple tassels and he played with them, pulling slightly so that her breast rose. âI couldn't take my eyes off you when you were dancing. You seemed so familiar, but with that wig, it took me longer to get the disguise.' He bent and licked around the base of the tassel.
Ruby squirmed and giggled. âIt's not easy to fool you.'
âWonder if these can be licked off?'
âThe adhesive glue is non toxic. It said so on the packet.'
He edged his fingernail under the base and licked the skin.
âThat tickles and it's going straight between my legs.'
âIs that a complaint?'
âHardly.'
âGood.' He laved the skin of her breast until the adhesive side became wet and he slowly peeled the first tassel off her breast. He flicked the tassel over the side of the bed. âOne down, one to go.'
Ruby clenched her thighs together. The sensation of Jake's tongue was maddening. He laved around her second breast, slipping a fingernail beneath the rim of the base again.
She pressed her pelvis against his thigh as desire rushed through her though Jake seemed to enjoy taking his time.
He gently peeled off the second tassel and flicked his tongue over her nipple. âThis would have to be the sexiest outfit I've ever seen.'
âI thought you liked the Dom outfit.'
âI liked the look but I don't go for a woman with balls. I prefer you soft, sexy and sated.'
âI can do the soft and sexy.'
He laughed and she saw a flash of white teeth. His fingers slid under her g-string. âI'll work on the sated.'
âOh.' Her eyelids shuttered when he found her clitoris. âYou're good at that.'
âYou're completely waxed.' He began to stroke her up and down in a rhythmic fashion.
She didn't bother arguing with him. What he was doing to her felt too good.
When Jake inserted two of his fingers into her and ran the pad of his thumb over her nub, tension coiled in the small of her back. Her hips undulated to the rhythm of his fingers until a rush of heat built inside her. He was so gentle with her, so giving. He continued to caress between her legs while grazing his lips along her collarbone finding the place where it met her shoulder.
Her orgasm hit her and her whole body arched as she cried out, the sound guttural and deep to her ears. Finally he released her, leaving her dazed and panting as she tried to catch her breath.
Jake reached over to his bedside table drawer and pulled out a condom, ripped the packet open and rolled it on. He moved over her, pulled the g-string aside, positioned himself between her legs and eased himself into her, inch by swollen inch. She opened herself wide, rocking slowly, welcoming him in a way she never had before.
He groaned as he rolled his hips, grasped her knees then placed them over his shoulders. She was wide open to him allowing him to plunge in. Deep.
Ruby gasped.
Jake was large.
She could feel herself clenching around him, savouring every thrust. Her fingers clutched his back and she loved the feel of his rock-hard torso as he took her.
He shuddered and groaned. His hands moved to clench her bottom as he came deep inside her. Finally, his breathing slowed as he eased out of her. He rolled off her but one hand kept a grip of her waist.
She lay on her side watching him as he took in deep breaths. Sweat beaded on his temple but his body still had a stealthy quality about it as if he never rested. âThat's the first time I've enjoyed sex,' she said quietly.
He raised his hand and caressed her face watching her. âWhat stopped you before?'
âI don't know.'
âRuby?'
âIt just didn't feel so good. I thought it was me.'
âThere's nothing wrong with you. You're so responsive. Maybe you weren't in the right headspace.' His lips twisted in a grin. âOr you were with the wrong man.'
For a long moment she felt he was looking into her heart with more understanding about her than she had of herself.
Ruby rolled on her back and looked at the ceiling. âI held out losing my virginity until I was twenty-one and then I was disappointed. Sex wasn't what I thought it would be. I wanted passion, excitement like I'd read about.'
âAnd now you have it.' He stroked the curves of her body.
âYes.'
He leant forward and kissed her lips. âIt helps when you care about the person, Ruby. I'm going to make sure you keep enjoying it.'
How long did Jake think this relationship would go on? She'd made it clear, when Jake found out what was behind Emerald's disappearance and her twin was safe, she was planning to go back to the mountains. Although The Cross was fascinating, she couldn't live in a place that was so built up and full of vice.
âCome have a shower,' he said.
âIt's late. I'm tired.' She'd had a shower before she went to Abe's club and she liked the scent of him on her skin. She stretched and yawned, wanting to curl up into a ball next to Jake and fall asleep. It had been a long day and her nervousness from going into Abe's club seemed to slam her with exhaustion now it was over. The image of the man with the spider tattoo flashed before her eyes. Ruby tensed. Jake was right to tell her of his suspicions, but fear made her blood run cold.
âI haven't had my fill of you. I can't get your stripping routine out of my head. It was unbelievably sexy.' He opened the bedroom drawer and took out another condom.
She gulped and looked at his cock noticing it still seemed semi erect. It was exciting having a man like Jake, someone who desired her and couldn't get enough. She squeezed the muscles between her legs feeling pleasantly achy. âDo you want to do it again?'
Jake laughed. âOf course I do. Come join me, Princess,' he called as he padded from the room.
One thing was for certain, she could do with the distraction. There had to be some way to stop her mind returning to the events of last night. The flash of the knife, the smashed window and the warning note. Argh!
Stop thinking about it.
She pushed herself off the bed, wriggled out of her g-string and walked into the bathroom. When she saw his gaze riveted on her mons, she flicked the light off feeling slightly embarrassed, though there was just enough glow from the bedroom lamp for her to see the fine shape of his body.
Jake was already in the shower. âWhy did you turn the light off?'
âYou look like a hungry wolf.'
âI love watching you orgasm. Come in the shower, Red Riding Hood.'
A flush of embarrassment scorched her cheeks. She didn't miss the double entendre. âI can't see what's so exciting about it for you.' She knew her face would have been screwed up as she came, her body arching and rocking.
Jake opened the shower screen door and pulled her in. âWhen I touch you, your body responds like a finely turned instrument. You. Are. So. Sexy.'
âYou should talk. You should be selling expensive bed linen. That body was wasted on the army.'
Jake laughed. âTime to soap you down,' he murmured in her ear. Within moments his hands were all over her body, slipping and sliding and it was glorious. There was barely a part of her that didn't throb with desire.
Jake turned her around so that she faced the shower wall and soaped her back using the palm of his hand, his fingertips grazing her back. She pressed her hands against the wall and pushed back against his cock for leverage.
He leant against her back and she could feel his erection pressing hard against her buttocks. His hands moved to caress her breasts, his thumbs rotating over her nipples and she swore that a taut sexual string went from her breasts to her sex.
He slid his hands down her stomach to between her legs and splayed her open with his fingers. Putting his knee between her thighs, he edged them wider while strumming her clitoris. She was already so sensitive, she didn't know if she would come again. It was too much. It wasn't enough. He stroked her until she was on the edge, her breath coming in short, sharp gasps, then he moved his hands.
Ruby bit her bottom lip. Edgy. Desperate for release.
On turning her head, she saw him pick up the condom he'd placed on the soap dish and rip it open with his teeth. He rolled it on.
This time he slid straight into her.
She let in a sharp intake of breath.
âYou okay? I'm not going too fast for you, am I?'
âNo. It's great.'
âAnd it's always going to be this way.' He moved with a fluid rhythm while stroking her clitoris with soapy fingers.
âAlways?' She wanted to question him, to ask what he meant. What plans did he have for her? For them? How did he even know there was a future when she'd already told him she didn't intend to stay in the city? Two days was too short a time to decide on anything. How could he decide on these things so quickly? The thoughts disintegrated as he touched her. Already little flutters built up between her legs with the rhythmic movement until she squirmed and groaned as her orgasm built. He bent and bit her neck, not sharp enough to hurt but powerful enough to make her stiffen. His fingers stroked her expertly in time with his thrusting. The small of her back felt tight, her breasts swelled and her nipples became hard, little peaks. Her orgasm slammed into her, the rush leaving her writhing and gasping.