Loving Ruby: The Riverstone Series Book 2 - Standalone

by Roya Carmen

  Following a long, disconcerting silence, she speaks. “I’m sure you’ve noticed I’m not wearing the Louboutins as you requested.”

  I smile. “Yes.”

  She reaches into her briefcase and pulls out one of the shoes in question. She holds the small work of art in both hands, an index finger pressed against the back. “I could put them on if you’d like, Mr. Hyde,” she says playfully.

  I’m instantly erect. I’m not sure if it’s the heels or the smooth-as-silk tone of her voice or those luscious pouty lips, but I am as hard as a man can get. And she knows it. She knows she’s arousing me, and the little vixen revels in it.

  “Uh…” I stammer like a buffoon. “Yes, I would love that, Miss Riverstone.”

  She bites a smile down. “Well, I’d be happy to put them on for you… but you need to do something for me as well.”

  “Yes, anything,” I spit out. I would do anything to see her in those shoes one last time.

  “I’d like to wear them outside, and I’d like you to come with me.”

  My breath hitches. I know what she’s up to. She wants to drag me outside, out of my comfort zone. I would do almost anything to see her in those heels, but…

  “We wouldn’t have to go far at all. Just a few steps out on the porch.”

  I’m so taken aback by her suggestion I can’t utter a single word.

  “I will not put on the heels unless you come to the porch with me,” she deadpans. “Take it or leave it.”

  I study the heel in her hands, her delicate fingers still leisurely tracing the curve of its back. I desperately want to see her in those shoes. Perhaps with her by my side as a distraction, I could attempt another outing. Perhaps it might not be a complete failure. I’ll never know unless I try.

  “Yes,” I say quietly, still unsure.

  Her smile reaches her eyes. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her so happy. “Let’s go! Let’s do it right now.”

  I feel my eyes grow wide. “Now?”

  She jerks up from her chair. “No time like the present, as they say.”

  I follow her reluctantly, staring at my slipper-covered feet taking me somewhere I don’t want to go. When we step into the entry hall and reach the front door, my pulse starts to race. I’m not sure I can do this. Yet for the first time, I want to do it not only for myself but for someone else too. I can see how excited she is, and I don’t want to disappoint her. I remind myself to breathe and focus on her, on her beauty, on the lovely shoes.

  She presses her back against the front door, turning to me. “Are you nervous?”

  I nod, but I also smile. I can do this. I close the distance between us. I want to be near her.

  She reaches for the clip in her hair and lets her gorgeous mane cascade over her shoulders in a myriad of shiny tendrils. It’s a lovely sight, one of the most sensual things I’ve witnessed in a long time. “You like my hair down, don’t you?”

  All I can do is nod. I instantly reach for her hair, but she grabs my wrist and stops me.

  “Maybe I’ll let you touch my hair once we’re outside.”

  I let out a soft low growl. The woman is driving me to insanity.

  With a smile, she presses her delicate hand on the door handle. “Well, here goes nothing.”

  I follow her through the door, my gaze focused on the smooth curve of her backside. My heart races, but I can control its rhythm by focusing on Ruby. We make it to the end of the porch, and I feel the sun on my face.

  I take in my surroundings, a sight I haven’t seen in ages. It’s all so magical. Under the sun, the snow sparkles as if thousands of diamonds cover its surface. We stand under the awning, but the sun still manages to make its way to us. The trees in the distance are crystallized, covered in ice like a scene straight out of Narnia.

  She turns to me and smiles. She hugs herself tightly. “It’s freezing. You’re kind of lucky you’re a homebound recluse and don’t need to drive in this.”

  I smile, my heart still racing. I’m still frightened, but I can power through it, like a kid who goes on a big roller coaster to show his friends he’s one of the big guys. In the end, all I can see is her.

  With one hand, she wipes the snow off one of the wicker chairs. “Oh God, that’s cold.” She sucks in a breath and sits down, shoes in hand.

  I smile at the sight of her.

  “It’s freezing out here,” she points out. “What are you waiting for? Put on the shoes already.”

  My breath hitches at her words. I instantly fall to my knees at her feet.

  The beat of my heart slows as I peel off her slippers and slide one shoe along her perfect tiny foot. I’m filled with arousal at the sight, and when I repeat the gesture with her other foot, my excitement grows. She sits in front of me, wearing a sweet smile. “You’re lucky. I can’t go too far in these heels in these conditions. If I step down those stairs, I’ll probably fall on my face.”

  She is breathtaking. My heart has all but stopped as I take in every single inch of her. I can’t feel an ounce panic or anxiety – just pure awe. My gaze is greedy as it travels from her eyes and her shiny hair, down the curve of her flushed cheeks, to her lips, along the line of her delicate neck, past the perky breasts hidden under a sheer feminine blouse, down the snug flirty skirt and those perfect curvy legs and finally… the shoes. Perhaps it’s the lighting that makes her so beautiful. As a photographer, I know the right angle and light can completely transform a subject. I long to take her in my arms, stroke her hair, and kiss her feet.

  The porch is cold and wet under my knees, but I’m a puddle. I reach for her leg and run the tip of my finger down the length of her calf. I look up. She is slack-jawed, stunned by my behaviour. She clearly did not expect this reaction.

  She whispers, “Aug-August…” Her eyes and her trembling voice are telling. She’s just as aroused as I am.

  I don’t want to waste even a fraction of a second. I want to kiss her right then, but she must be freezing. I stand and pull her up to me. “Let’s go inside.”

  She gathers her slippers without a word.

  As soon as I slam the door behind us, I press her against it. I need to kiss her. All my justifications fly out the window. How can I hurt her with just a kiss? Her dark eyes look up at me, anticipating. I lean into her and press my mouth against hers, savouring the feel of her lips. Quiet moans escape her as my teeth and tongue coax her mouth open. She seems as hesitant as I am. The both of us know we shouldn’t be doing this, but we absolutely need to.

  She smells of vanilla and spring. I pull at her hair as I deepen the kiss. I can’t seem to get deep enough, close enough. I’m not quite sure where this kiss is going, but it feels so damn good. The whimpers trailing the edges of her lips tell me that she loves it as much as I do. My cock hardens even more at the thought of her arousal. My mind is running ahead of me, imagining all the things I want to do to her: suck her neck, bite the flesh of her ass, lick a slow line from the edge of her shoe all the way to her wet pussy, nip at the lace when I reach my destination. I need to touch her panties, to see them. My hands shoot down to her legs, and I softly kiss her neck as my body curves to fit into hers. I pull up the hem of her skirt.

  A cruel hand wrapped firmly around my wrist stops me dead in my tracks, and I finally come to my senses.

  “August,” she whispers, “you’re moving too fast.”

  I pull away from her, and it pains me to do so. “I’m sorry. Yes, you’re right… we can’t do this.”

  No matter how much I crave her, how much I want to make her mine, I can’t play with her. I have nothing more to offer than sex. Although I’m convinced the sex would be amazing, it could never be enough for someone like Ruby.

  She shakes her head and peeks at me through her long lashes. Her eyes are mischievous. I get the sense we’re not done playing. My cock stands to attention, awaiting orders. She grabs a handful of my sweater and pulls me to her again, then she stretches toward my ear.

  “Yes, we absolute
ly can,” she says softly. “Just not right here.”

  She’s right. We cannot be carrying on against the front door. If we were alone in the house, it might be a different story, but Millie is somewhere around, most likely in the kitchen. I study Ruby as she stands beneath me. She seems so small, so vulnerable. I just want to be sure of one thing before we move the proceedings.

  “Ruby…”

  She fixes me with dark blue eyes.

  “You know I can’t offer you more than this,” I say quietly. “This… sex is all I can give you. If you anticipate that to be a problem… if you want more, we should just stop right now.”

  She bites her bottom lip. “I’m not the good girl you seem to think I am.” Her voice is as sweet as honey. “You are a beautiful, exquisite man. I want to touch every inch of you. I want you to touch me.” She closes her eyes and bites her lip. “I… I want you to lick my pussy…”

  I swallow thickly, trying to hold myself together. I want to take her right there, but I can’t. We need to move the show, but my feet are frozen, glued to the marble floor. My eyes are stuck on her lips, every delicious word coming out of that incredible mouth of hers only making me harder.

  “I want you to fuck me,” she says softly. “Any way you want. You’ll see… I’m not as sweet as I look.”

  Damn, Ruby. I close my eyes. Any way you want. I can’t even begin to imagine how I want to take her.

  “But,” she adds, “you only get to do so under my terms.”

  I stand to attention. Where is she heading with this? Under what terms?

  “Do you have a car?” she asks, surprising me.

  I study her, trying to decipher what she is up to. “Yes, I have two. Obviously I haven’t driven either of them in over two years.”

  She bites down a roguish smile – tempting little devil. “Tell me something – do you like to fuck in cars?”

  Ruby

  Entice. Tempt. Seduce.

  I can’t believe I’m standing here pressed against my boss and telling him I want him to lick my pussy. Despite how I’m trying to come off as sultry and sexy, the plain truth is that I’ve never done this before. I’ve never been so wanton, so aroused, so outspoken, so filthy. I’ve never wanted so badly to be fucked.

  I know I can’t let him fuck me just yet. We need to play a little more first. I need to make him want me so badly he can’t stand it anymore. I need to build his desire slowly, until it’s stronger than anything else, including any fears he might be clinging to.

  “Where do you keep your cars?” I ask. “In the garage?”

  He nods, his gaze clinging to my face, studying me, awaiting my next words. “The garage is just at the back.”

  I smile. “Let’s go.”

  I follow him to the garage. When he opens the door, I’m surprised by how impeccable, bright, and state-of-the-art the space is. It’s obviously a recent addition to the house. Like prized jewels displayed in shiny cases, his two gorgeous vehicles sit there awaiting adventure.

  I’m slack-jawed at the sight of a striking robin’s-egg-blue car. It’s a vintage Mercedes-Benz and looks pricey. “Wow, that’s a nice car.”

  He smiles. “Yes, it’s a 1958 300 SL Roadster. Worth a small fortune.”

  I scurry down the steps to take a closer look. I slide the tip of my finger against the sleek shiny surface, taking in the curves, design, and shiny chrome details. I peek inside at the red leather interior with one of those large, leather-covered vintage steering wheels. Everything about this car is cool. “I guess you don’t drive this much.”

  He stares at the floor, hands in pockets and shoulders slumped. “I used to.”

  “What a shame. A beautiful car like this…” I let my words trail off as I watch him.

  He studies the car like a heartbroken lover. He misses it – that much is obvious. I wonder what else he misses. This car… this is why I need to help him. I want him to be able to feel the breeze in his hair when he rides down country roads. I want him to feel the sun on his skin.

  Back to the plan.

  I turn toward the black Escalade next to the Mercedes. “You sure have some nice cars. Too bad you can’t drive them.”

  He nods again, looking absolutely shattered. I don’t think I’m doing him any favours by bringing him here.

  “Does the Escalade still run? Has it been sitting there for two years?”

  He smiles. “Millie drives it sometimes. She keeps it going.”

  “Yes, all those Costco runs,” I quip. “That is a fine vehicle. Makes my little Echo look like a toy.”

  He laughs. “Your Echo’s probably a little easier to park.”

  I smile playfully. “Can we check out the inside?”

  An impish grin traces his lips. “You bet.”

  “I need the keys.”

  He cocks a brow. “What in the heavens for?”

  I smile. “I want to drive it.”

  He steps back, wide-eyed. “Where?”

  I can see he’s panicking. I need to keep him calm and distracted. “Not far. Just to the end of drive. I just want to see what it feels like to drive a big beast like this.”

  He smiles. “Let me guess – you want me to tag along.”

  I bite my lip. “Of course. We can have some fun in there.”

  I close the distance between us, grab a handful of his sweater, and drag him to the car. I don’t take my eyes off his as I open the back door and climb inside, bringing him along with me. He slams the door as we find refuge on the backseat.

  The leather is cold against my pencil skirt and sheer blouse, but I’m all fire inside. August looks comfy in his sweater, and as his hot mouth presses on mine, I snuggle up to him – he’s like a cozy teddy bear. His breathing is ragged. His soft, warm hands are tangled in my hair and mine in his. His tongue twirls playfully around mine and licks my lips before he pulls them between his teeth. Damn, the man is a good kisser, slow and smooth. I’ve kissed enough princes and frogs to know an exceptional kisser when I see one.

  I pull away just long enough to ask, “Where the hell did you learn to kiss like that?”

  His smile presses against my mouth when he mutters, “I don’t know. It’s natural. It’s because I’m half French…”

  I laugh. “Really?”

  His mouth travels to my neck, and his five o’clock shadow feels amazing against my sensitive skin. God, I really don’t know if I’ll be able to stop this when the time comes.

  “My mother is French,” he says before he mutters something in French I don’t understand, but it sounds so damn sexy.

  I take his mouth again and revel in his sweet kiss. I open my eyes to watch him as we kiss. He’s beautiful. I crave his warmth, and my hands seek out his skin, pulling frantically at his sweater. When I finally make contact, he stiffens a bit. I relish his hot skin as I trail my finger around his belly button. God, I want to make long, sweet love to him in a giant bed. But this is what we have now, and it’s pretty fun.

  I also need to stick to the plan. We need to go a little further, get worked up just a bit more.

  He pulls at my skirt. His mouth still pressed against mine, I prop my rear up as he hikes the skirt up over my hips. God, I don’t think I’m going to be able to do this – to hold back. I want him inside me and all over me.

  He pulls his mouth from mine. “You…” His breathing sounds completely unhinged. “You wanted… me to lick your pussy…” He lowers his head to my thighs.

  Oh damn… When I’d first worked out this little plan in my head, I had not anticipated how freaking turned on I would be. I close my eyes and let myself enjoy him… for just a minute.

  He trails his tongue along the inside of my thigh, and my sex swells as it begs for his mouth. He does get there, and even though the fabric of my panties separates his mouth from my flesh, when I spread my legs and press against him, he licks the fabric slowly. His mouth is hot and heavy, and I almost come.

  “I want to taste you…” he mumbles, his words a
lmost lost against my sex.

  Damn, I need to stop this.

  August

  Ruby smells so amazing, I can only imagine how delicious she will taste. In that moment, all I can see, feel, taste, hear, and smell is her. Nothing else in the world matters. There are no worries, no anxiety, and no regrets. Just pure, present-moment bliss. And I want it to last forever.

  My head is buried between her soft legs when she abruptly pushes me away. At first, I’m stunned. I wonder if I’ve done something wrong, but I cannot for the life of me imagine what that could be. Up until then, she seemed to be enjoying every second of our little tryst – her adorable moans and whimpers of pleasure echoing off the interior of my Escalade. I’m torn, left hanging. I want to taste her so badly. I want to hear the sound of her climax again.

  She is flushed and puffy-lipped, breathless when she finally manages, “I… you” – she straightens her back and pulls her skirt down – “you… can finish off in a bit.”

  I’m flabbergasted, speechless.

  “I want to drive your car first,” she explains. “I want to drive it as far as you’ll let me.”

  My heart races, my breath caught in my chest. She wants us to take the Escalade out. “Um… yes, you can take it, but I think I’ll stay here.”

  She shakes her head as she presses a firm hand against my stomach. “No. The deal is you come with me.”

  “Ruby…”

  “If you want to continue our little escapade in the Escalade,” she says playfully, “if you want to taste me, if you want to fuck me, you need to come with me.”

  I desperately want all those things… to taste her, to fuck her. This whole scene is ridiculous, but I know she’s completely serious. If I want to have her, I have to play by her rules. I blow out a long breath and concede. How bad could it be? I’ll be comfortably protected inside my car. It can be my new haven for a short amount of time. I can do this. “Sure…”