Page 70 of Keeping Knight

“You didn’t?”

“Absolutely not. I saw a couple of the guys in class eyeing you, and I knew I didn’t have the right to be jealous. But I was.”

Ruby’s hand comes to my cheek. “So we both wanted it. We just weren’t ready.”

“I guess we weren’t.” Lowering my head, I cover her mouth with mine. I trace the seam of her lips, and she opens for me, inviting me into her honeyed warmth. As we keep kissing, she twines her arms around my neck and rises onto her toes. She lets out a soft, sexy sigh that I capture with my mouth.

Always ready, my dick jumps to attention. Now? he asks. Is it time yet?

I”m not sure, I tell him. Just be patient. We don’t want to mess this up.

Yes, I’m holding silent conversations with myself. But I feel like I read somewhere that it’s a sign of intelligence. Or self-awareness. Something like that.

Anyway, someone has to tell the guy to calm down, and there’s no one else to do it.

Ruby drags her mouth from mine and kisses a trail down my neck. Her fingers tug at my hair. “I love how soft your skin is,” she murmurs. Her breath is a warm whisper. “Right here.” She kisses my neck again. “And you always smell so good.”

“Do I?” I stroke my hand down her back, then cup the sweet curve of her ass, pulling her even closer to me. “What do I smell like?”

“Oranges and lemons,” she replies. “And mint.” Her teeth graze my skin again. “It reminds me of summer. And happiness.”

“Happiness?” I touch her chin to tilt her head up to look at me. “I smell like happiness?”

The sweetest smile curves Ruby’s lips. “To me, you do. Because when I’m with you, I’m happy.”

“Rue.”

“It’s true.” She rests one hand on my chest. “Even when we were just friends. I looked forward to seeing you all week.”

“So did I.” Lifting Ruby in my arms, I carry her over to the kitchen island, then set her down on top of it. Spreading her legs apart, I step between them and kiss her again. “Do you know what you smell like?”

“Gardenia?” she asks. “That’s what my shampoo says. Gardenia and notes of amber.”

With a chuckle, I reply, “I don’t think I could identify a gardenia if my life depended on it. You smell like flowers and sunshine. And one of my very favorite things in the world is waking up with you in my arms, and before I even open my eyes, I can smell you. Feel you. I know I’m not describing it right. But it’s the best feeling.”

“Micah.” Emotion darkens her gaze. “I love waking up next to you, too. Not just because I feel safe with you, although I do. But it just feels right. Like I’m meant to be there.”

My heart flips over. There’s a tremendous tugging sensation in my chest.

Could this be love? I’ve never been in love before, so I can’t be sure. But I think it might.

Ruby’s hands come to the top button of my shirt, and she unfastens the top button. Then she moves on to the next. “Micah.” Her voice is rough. Sultry.

I reach beneath her sweater to stroke her stomach. “Yes?”

A third button comes undone. “You know how you said soon?”

My hand covers her breast, and I brush my thumb across her nipple, feeling it pebble into a hard peak. “What’s soon? Meeting your friends?”

“No.” She makes quick work of the remaining buttons and pulls my shirt open. “The other thing. Sex.”

“Oh.” All it takes is the very mention of sex for my body to react. “Yes. I remember that. But I’m not in a rush. I want to be sure⁠—”

“I’m ready.” Her honey-brown eyes meet mine. “I know why you wanted to wait. After my meltdowns… you were worried.”

“They weren’t meltdowns. They were completely normal reactions. But yes, I was worried about you.”

“I got that.” Ruby trails her finger down my chest, setting off tiny shivers in its wake. “But you don’t have to worry. Not about this. Unless—” Worry shadows her gaze. “If you don’t want to⁠—”