“I-I love you too.”
“Excellent” was all he could manage, as her hands were moving lower. She wrapped her fingers around his hard length, and he moaned. Forrest could not stop the thrust of his hips.
“I need you, Ruby.”
“Then take me.”
He eased her down on the rug before the fire and began kissing her. Starting with her lips, he moved down her body. She sighed as he tormented her breasts once more, and then moaned as he kissed the flat planes of her stomach before moving lower to touch the curls.
“You will like it,” he said as she stiffened. “Trust me.”
She looked down her body at him and then slowly opened her legs. He gave her the most intimate kiss of all. Her scent aroused him; her taste pushed him on. He loved this woman, and tonight she would be his. He would make sure she knew what would be between them in the future.
He felt the tension inside her climb as he licked her dewy folds and stroked his fingers inside her. Preparing her for what was to come. He was mindless with need by the time she arched up with her release. Only then did he move over her body, bracing himself above her.
“This will hurt, sweetheart.”
Below him Ruby nodded then tugged his head lower until their lips touched.Forrest pressed against her entrance, felt the moisture slick the head of his arousal. He then eased inside her, moving slowly, allowing her time to stretch to accommodate him.Ruby raised her hips, and soon he was sheathed deep. The sharp intake of her breath told him he’d hurt her.
“Ruby, are you all right?” His words sounded hoarse as he battled the urge to withdraw and drive into her again and again. “The pain will ease soon.” Dear Christ, he hoped it ended soon. He had only so much restraint, and being inside Ruby was testing that.
He took her lips in a gentle kiss which was at complete odds with the raging lust coursing through his body, begging him to find its release.
“Yes, I am well, Forrest,” she whispered. Her hands clung to his neck.
Forrest gave a sigh of relief.
The heat started to build as he withdrew and eased into her again. Ruby’s moans soon mingled with his as he increased the thrusts. Soon she was once again writhing beneath him.
Forrest rode the crest of passion, blinded to anything but the sensations they shared.No other woman had made him feel like this. Lifting himself onto his arms, he watched Ruby’s face as she found her release. He noted the surprise and delight as she softly moaned his name. Forrest thrust again and joined her, then collapsed beside her.
The only sound was the rasp of their breathing and flames in the grate. Forrest thought that lying there with Ruby gave him something he’d rarely had in his lifetime. Absolute peace. He’d given himself to her and she to him. With that came a calmness.
He’d never expected to feel this way. Never thought to love like this, but in that moment, he could honestly say that he felt as if he’d given some of himself to Ruby. For so long his focus in life was his daughter; that had not changed, it had simply grown to include Ruby, and yes, Adam. He was now part of his life too.
“I love you,” he whispered into her temple.
“And I love you. But I don’t know what that will mean.” She turned her face, their noses almost touching.
“It means you are mine and I am yours. It means that I want to spend my life with you. I want to look after you and Adam. Keep you safe.”
She sat up and wrapped her hands around her knees.
“What?” He rose too.
“I don’t know how to ask this question, and likely should have before we made love. Your touch robbed me of thought.”
“You can ask me anything.”
“What part will I play in your future?”
He frowned. “I don’t understand.”
She looked away from him to the fire.
“I once found my father in his marriage bed with another woman.”
“And you think I’d take you as my mistress?” The words made him angry, because it meant she did not see herself as worthy of being his wife.
