He let out a rough sound at the contact, his hands settling on her waist. Their lips moved together, exploring, touching. He ran his tongue over the seam of her lips, and she opened to him. He tasted sweet like champagne and cookie dough as their tongues danced together.
Ruby felt lightheaded. The movement of their capsule combined with the champagne and desire barreling through her veins had her spinning in the best possible way. She felt like she could float right off the floor, like she might fly away, tethered to reality only by the hot press of Flynn’s mouth against hers.
His fingers stroked up and down her jeans, leaving a warm trail over her hips that melted her all the way to her core, which ached with need.
“Whoa,” she murmured as her fingers clenched in the soft cotton of his shirt.
“Mm.” Flynn kissed his way down her jaw to her neck, nipping lightly at a tender spot below her ear that made goose bumps rise all over her body. The view was slightly disorienting as she tipped her head to the side, London laid out below them while Flynn placed hot, open-mouthed kisses over her chest. His hands swept up to palm her breasts through her T-shirt. “Perfect,” he whispered.
She pressed her body against his, seeking contact with any bit of him she could touch. Her breasts pressed against his chest as her thighs met his, hips unconsciously arching forward. Flynn gripped her butt, bringing their lips back together. They kissed, and they kissed, and they kissed, until she was gasping for breath, flushed from head to foot, and feeling more alive than she could remember feeling in years.
She was so caught up in their kiss that she didn’t even notice their ride was coming to an end until the capsule slid into the loading area and the doors whooshed open. She lifted her head, blinking, panting, grinning like a fool. “That was quite a ride.”
4
Flynn took Ruby’s hand as they stepped onto the platform. Her cheeks were flushed, lips pink and swollen, glasses slightly askew, and the sight was almost enough to bring him to his knees. Ruby’s fingers gripped his, her eyes going wide as she leaned against him. “Whoa. Haven’t gotten my land-legs back.”
“Dizzy?” he asked, resting a hand on her waist to steady her.
“Kind of feels like we’re still moving.”
He knew the feeling. His world was spinning too, although more from that kiss than the champagne or the London Eye. “Are you all right?”
Her head bobbed. “Yep. Just a little wobbly. Let’s walk it off.”
“Okay,” he agreed, keeping her hand in his as they left the platform, headed for the street beyond. A little exercise would be good for both of them. His head sure as hell needed clearing.
“So, what next?” Ruby asked, looking up at him.
They strolled through the crowd meandering toward the river. “Ready to go shopping?”
“Oh.” She seemed to think about this for a moment, pressing a hand against her stomach. “Yeah, I don’t feel like I’m bursting with cookie dough anymore.”
“All right, then. Let’s go.”
Thirty minutes later, he led her through the front door of one of the high-end shops on Oxford Street. He’d heard his sisters rave about this one and hoped Ruby would have a similar reaction. Her eyes widened behind her glasses as they stepped inside.
“I’m not sure I can afford anything in here, Flynn,” she whispered, stopping just inside the door. Her lips twisted into a frown.
“My treat,” he told her. “I insist.”
Her frown deepened. “I can’t let you do that, especially after you just paid for that private capsule on the Eye. I mean, we hardly know each other.”
“I’d really like to buy you a dress, Ruby,” he said, hoping he sounded as sincere as he felt. Sometimes, his family legacy and the money that came with it felt like a burden. But when he found something he wanted to spend it on, it felt good. “I’d like to buy you anything you want in here.”
Ruby’s eyes scanned the store, taking in the racks of clothing and the salesclerk already eyeing them, ready to be of assistance. She looked down at her hands and drew in a deep breath. She was going to politely bow out and leave rather than let him pay.
He swallowed his disappointment. But pride was important, and if this made her uncomfortable, then he’d take her somewhere else with more affordable clothes. The purpose of the day was for her to have fun, after all.
To his surprise, she squared her shoulders and took a step into the store. “You know what? I never splurge on myself, and I never would have set foot inside this place without you bringing me here. I came on this trip to push myself outside of my comfort zone, so let’s do this.”
Warmth spread through his chest, settling somewhere in the vicinity of his heart. It had been so long since he’d spent time with anyone as lovely as Ruby. Everything about her was so pure. Not innocent or naïve, just…genuine. Enchanting. He envied her ability to leap past her inhibitions. It was a shame they’d only have this one day together. “Excellent.”
She glanced over at him with a smirk. “I’m going to pay for it myself, though.”
“Ruby—”
“No, don’t,” she interrupted. “When I said I couldn’t afford anything in here, what I really meant is that I don’t usually consider clothes worth splurging on. I guess you could say I’m practical. Frugal, even. It probably won’t shock you to find out I keep a spreadsheet that budgets my spending for each month. But I’ve got money set aside for this trip, and a little bit of it is going toward buying myself something extravagant.”
