Dare to Believe: The Gray Court, Book 1

by Dana Marie Bell

  Ruby could feel herself blushing under Leo’s intense scrutiny and turned her face away to stare at the glass in her hand. It was like he was trying to read her mind. “I think she should have been allowed to be with her lover. It wasn’t fair of the faeries to decide he wasn’t good enough for her.” She pushed a lock of hair behind her ear and could have sworn she heard a soft groan. “Anyway, Cliona pretty much rules the place.” She looked up at him out of the corner of her eye. “Do you have any pets?”

  He nodded. “Actually, I have several. I have a cat named Clannad—”

  “Like the band?”

  He nodded. “I also have a dog named Eire, and horse named Mr. Ed.”

  It was her turn to choke on a sip of soda. “Mr. Ed?”

  He shrugged, looking a little sheepish and a whole lot sexy. “He likes to talk back.”

  She laughed. “My parents are still together, and living in Petersburg. Yours?”

  “Still very much in love. They have a farm out in Nebraska.”

  “You’re a Nebraska farm boy?” She could hear the disbelief in her voice and bit her lip, hoping he wouldn’t be offended and end one of the best nights she’d had in a long time.

  One dark brow rose cockily. “Want to see me hitch a plow and dig a furrow?”

  “Maybe later.” She blushed again and turned her gaze back down to her glass. Now what made me say that?

  She gave him big brownie points for holding back his laugh.

  He sipped the soda in his glass before putting the glass down on the coffee table. He leaned forward, folding his hands and leaning his elbows on his knees. “My parents emigrated from Ireland after my father met and fell in love with my mother.” She sensed rather than saw his shrug. “Funny, the way you feel about Cliona. My mom’s family…well, let’s say they’re a little upper-crusty. They considered my father beneath them, so when my mom decided to marry him they threatened to disown her.”

  She looked into his eyes and saw no pain or regret there. “Does your family see them at all?”

  He sighed. “My grandparents passed away. The rest of the clan only sees us occasionally, and it’s always a little awkward. Mom can’t forget the way they treated Dad, but Dad doesn’t hold a grudge. As far as he’s concerned, they only wanted what was best for their daughter.”

  “He sounds like a good man.”

  “He is.” There was a total conviction in his voice that betrayed the love and respect he had for his father. Ruby found herself revising her opinion slightly of her playboy boss. He sounded like someone whose family meant a great deal to him.

  “Do you have any brothers or sisters?” Ruby had neither, but loved hearing about other’s families.

  “I have a younger sister, Moira, and an older brother, Shane.”

  “The middle child, huh? How did you wind up with Leo?”

  He leaned back, his face full of laughter and memories. “Rock paper scissors.”

  “Huh?”

  “My parents played rock paper scissors to figure out what to name us. Best two out of three won. Dad won twice, Mom won once.”

  “And you were Leo?”

  “Yup. She said I roared like a lion from the day I was born.”

  She couldn’t help it. She had to laugh.

  “How’d your parents come to name you Ruby?”

  “My mom’s favorite soap opera character. She was so strong, and my mom wanted that for me. It’s sort of a good luck charm.”

  There was a brief contemplative silence, each of them trying to think of what to say or ask next. It was strange in that it didn’t feel awkward, the way such silences tended to be. There weren’t that many people she felt comfortable with. Surprising that Leo Dunne seemed to be one of them.

  “Are you hungry?”

  Her stomach rumbled loudly at the thought of food.

  “I’ll take that as a yes.” He grinned and handed her the room service menu. “Get whatever you want, it’s on me.”

  “Thanks.” And what a buffet that would be! Ruby shivered and looked down at the menu, trying not to picture how good he’d look coated in chocolate mousse.

  The meal was excellent, the beef tender, the potatoes just right, the wine not too sweet. Leo made sure he ordered a desert with whipped cream, just to watch her lick it off the spoon with those luscious, full lips and pink tongue. This was the best first date he’d ever been on. She was relaxed and laughing, telling stories about his accounting department that normally would have caused his hair to stand on end.

  Her eyes warmed to a delicious honey color when she was happy. He could stare into them for hours, and felt like he already had. He’d lit the candles on the table, trying to add a touch of romance to the meal. The light danced across her skin, creating intriguing shadows he was dying to explore. He could barely contain himself. He wanted to touch her so badly it actually hurt. His heart was thumping a mile a minute and his palms were sweating so badly he had to wipe them on his pants repeatedly. It was a wonder she didn’t think him a total moron. He had no idea what he’d said to her all through dinner.

  She was toying with her glass of wine, her expression soft and misty, the stories having finally run out. She reached up and pushed a lock of hair behind her ear, baring the side of her neck, and he opened his mouth, knowing something stupid would come out and wind up ending the best fucking night of his life.

  “May I kiss you?”

  He saw the way her breathing changed at his request, first hitching, then coming faster. It was all he could do not to yank her out of her chair and across his lap. Little sparkles of light leaped from his fingertips. He quickly pushed his hands under the table, hoping she hadn’t noticed. He’d never wanted someone so badly that he’d been unable to control his powers before. “I promised I wouldn’t touch you without your permission.” The urge to put her in his bed, tie her up, and never let her go was so strong he was shaking with it. He clenched his fists in his lap, getting his magic back under control with a surge of his will.

  When she licked her lips he nearly lost control again. “Yes.”

  The soft, nervous quality in her voice only added to her appeal. He wanted to take care of her, to let her know she would have nothing to fear, either from him or anyone else, ever again. He would protect her with everything he had, no matter the cost.

  He stood up and held out his hand. She took his offer and let him help her to her feet. He led her over to the sofa and helped her sit down, much to her visible confusion. Apparently she’d been expecting him to kiss her standing up. He’d much rather be comfortable, and the sofa was plush and inviting, rather like the woman sitting on it. He sat down next to her and cupped her cheek in his hand. She leaned into his palm unconsciously, a move that spoke of a trust he hadn’t yet earned, but was determined to prove was not misplaced. Very slowly he leaned forward and placed his lips over hers.

  She tasted like chocolate and wine, sweet and rich, with that underlying hint of woman that drove him nearly insane. He couldn’t wait to see what the rest of her tasted like. The air was filled with her scent, making his head spin with need. He placed his hands on her shoulders and held her in place while he began a leisurely exploration of her mouth that had them both gasping for breath.

  Ruby felt her breasts lift up in a silent plea for his hands. His kiss was easily the most erotic thing she’d ever felt in her entire life. She leaned into him, raising her hands to stroke his bare chest. His skin felt incredible, hot silk over hard muscles, a light smattering of hair around his dark brown nipples narrowing down to disappear into his tight leather pants. She’d been watching his naked chest all during dinner, dying to get her hands on it, and now she indulged herself, sliding them up and down, her fingers clenching slightly in pleasure at the incredible feel of him. She was rewarded for her efforts by his shudder.

  Oh, yeah, let my fingers do the walking!

  His kiss became hungrier, one of his hands moving up to her hair, his fingers twining in it to grasp the back of
her head and tilt it. He began to ravish her mouth, his tongue thrusting in and out in a promise of what he wanted to do to her. Just tipsy enough to go with the flow, but not so tipsy she didn’t know exactly what she was about to do, she drew her hands down his chest until her fingers lightly brushed his nipples. She played with them to her heart’s content, tweaking them into hard little points, her reward the groan he couldn’t hold back.

  When he pushed her back against the arm of the sofa she went willingly, her panties already soaked through with her juices. He kept one hand buried in her hair, holding her in place. With the other he eased down the front of the red satin corset to reveal her breasts to the cool air of the room. His actions were slow enough that she could have stopped him at any moment, but she had no desire to. Her nipples, already hard and aching, brushed against his chest, sending jolts of pleasure straight to her clit. Unconsciously she began to move her hips up against him, silently pleading for his hands, his tongue, any touch he was willing to give her. She’d never felt this kind of fire for a man before. Its strength was frightening, but the thought of pulling away was even scarier.

  Breaking from the kiss, he began nibbling his way down, lingering in the sensitive juncture of her neck and shoulder until she was shuddering with need. One of her hands went up to the back of his head and held him to her. He licked and sucked, his teeth scraping along her skin before latching on. From the strong suction of his mouth she just knew he was leaving his mark on her. She arched into him, sucking on her bottom lip at the incredible sensations shooting from his mouth straight to her nipples and clit.

  Abruptly he sat up, his breathing harsh in the silence of the room. “Damn, Ruby. Better tell me now if you want me to stop or not. I’m about to hit the point of no return, here.”

  She watched his throat move as he swallowed convulsively. She could see how affected he was. He sucked in deep breaths, staring at her naked breasts, hunger and something more written all over his face. When he licked his lips she hissed, her body arching slightly towards his in a subconscious plea for more. She’d never felt like this before, like she would die if she didn’t have him right now.

  He clenched his fists at his sides to keep from touching her, his legs straddling her thighs, quivering with obvious need held firmly in check. “Choose.”

  She could see the strain not touching her put on him. He held himself steady, watching her, his whole body tight with need. He trembled, waiting for her answer, and she knew if she denied him he’d let her go. It would probably kill them both in the process, but he’d do it.

  It said a lot about him that he’d kept his word that he wouldn’t touch her without her permission.

  She looked up at him through eyes gone heavy with lust and threw seven years of caution to the winds. When am I ever going to have a chance like this again? Men like Leo didn’t usually go for women like her, but for tonight, there was no doubt in her mind that he did. “Do it.”

  One brow arched. “Do what, Ruby?”

  She licked her lips, suddenly nervous. “Do me.”

  Emotion flashed across his face, gone too quickly for her to see what it was. Surprise, maybe? Pleasure glittered there now, mixing in with the lust. “Do what to you, Ruby?” The slightest hint of a brogue only increased his incredible sexiness. One hand reached down to tweak her nipple. The other hand began a lazy massage of his cock behind his zipper. Her eyes were drawn to the sight almost unwillingly before they turned towards his.

  “Make love to me.” She looked up at him, her voice pleading and heavy with desire. “Please.”

  “My pleasure.”

  Chapter Three

  Leo nearly came in his pants. It took all of his self control to stop the magic from getting away from him. If she looked anywhere but at him she’d probably see little fireflies of light darting around the room, something that hadn’t happened to him before. He’d never lost it this badly. There was a catch in her voice, a plea he’d rarely heard, the cry of a woman who didn’t think she was pleasing but wanting something she couldn’t name.

  Leo decided that from now on he’d see to it that she never doubted her appeal again.

  With that in mind, he moved the hand fondling his cock down to her skirt. With a wicked grin on his face he began inching it up, exposing the thigh-high stockings and red thong panties she wore to his admiring gaze.

  “Damn, kitten. I like your taste in underwear.” He petted her covered mound, earning a hiss of pleasure. He turned his hand and cupped her, easing the fabric aside enough to allow them to stroke through her drenched slit. He looked down and shuddered with need.

  She was completely bald. “So fucking sexy.” He couldn’t wait to see her uncovered, but first he wanted to see her come. He strummed her clit, watching her reactions closely, trying to see what made her crazy with want. She arched into his hand with a soft cry, her breath hitching. “Right there, kitten?”

  He cupped her breast with his free hand, stroking the soft skin around her areola before moving to the brown nipple. His fingers stroked in circles to match the rhythm he was using on her clit. “Beautiful. So fucking beautiful.”

  She hunched up against him, her hands stroking his chest, her eyes closed in pleasure. He began to stroke her to climax, dying to see her face in ecstasy.

  “Please. God, please!” she pleaded breathlessly.

  He leaned down and took one pebbled nipple into his mouth. He sucked and licked as hard as he dared. He slipped two of his fingers into her hot, wet sheath, matching the tugging pull of his mouth to the stroking of his fingers. He kept his gaze on her face, gauging her reactions by the expressions flitting across it. From what he could see it wouldn’t be much longer before she tumbled over the edge.

  He bit down, letting her just feel the edge of his teeth. She came with a cry, her muscles clenching down over his fingers like a vise. Before she finished, he eased down her panties and sucked her clit into his mouth, prolonging her orgasm.

  She came down from the orgasm, her breathing ragged. He moved from sucking her clit to licking her slit, trying to ease her down without losing that little touch of arousal he planned on using to go even further. “God, that was so good.” There was a note of surprise in her voice.

  He laughed, happy that he’d pleased her. He spared a brief thought to the lovers she’d had who’d failed to, but decided the losers weren’t worth more than that. After all, it was their loss and very much his gain. “Don’t worry, kitten, the night’s young. It’ll get much, much better.”

  “Much better than that, and you’re going to be explaining my death-by-orgasm to the county coroner.”

  The breathless laughter in her voice warmed him. He rewarded her with another long, slow lick.

  “Oh. Oh, my. Leo, what are you doing?”

  “Eating you, my dear,” he breathed against her wet, inflamed flesh. He couldn’t help himself. It was the sweetest looking pussy he’d ever seen. He nibbled at her clit and she rewarded him with a breathless moan.

  “Oh. Okay.”

  Leo held back another laugh. He’d never had a lover who made him want to laugh in bed before. He found that he loved that about her. He began to tongue her clit, lapping at it like a cat at a bowl of cream. He inserted two fingers into her and began languidly thrusting them in and out. Her thighs quivered. Looking up at her over her satin clad mound he saw her playing with her nipples, bringing them to hard peaks once more. His cock became rock hard behind his tight leather pants at the sight of her enjoying her body.

  If he didn’t fuck her soon he was going to explode.

  She was moaning and panting with need, her body arching against the burgundy velvet of the couch, her gorgeous tits cupped in her hands. She began to ride the wave towards another orgasm, her expression exquisitely painful. “Please, please, please,” she muttered breathlessly.

  “Say my name,” he whispered, lapping at her pussy.

  “Leo.”

  “Again.” He took her clit between his lip
s and hummed, using just enough of his magic to send the vibrations skyrocketing through her.

  “Leo!” She came on a scream, his name ringing out through the hotel room, her body bowed up off the sofa, her arms flying up above her head, fingers digging into the cushions. One of his hands grasped her hip, keeping her from throwing them both off the sofa with the force of her orgasm.

  She whimpered, coming down from what sounded like one hell of an orgasm. He continued to lap at her, removing his fingers from her to tug at the zipper of his leather pants, so damn hard he hurt.

  She opened dazed eyes and looked down at him. His tongue reached out and touched her soaking wet slit and she shivered in response. His hot gaze meeting hers, his hand moved down to his pants. She imagined him lowering the zipper one set of teeth at a time. She tried to sit up, only to have him hold her down.

  “Stay there.” His command was dark and ragged. He stood and pulled his rock hard cock out of his pants, stroking it lightly. She couldn’t take her eyes off it. He slid one leg over her to partially kneel on the sofa over her chest, one foot on the floor keeping him steady. He held the purple head to her lips, a demanding expression on his face. He stayed perfectly still, waiting to see what she’d do.

  Ruby had never given anyone a blow job before, but after giving her two mind-blowing orgasms with his tongue and lips, she figured she owed him one. Besides, how hard could it be? She was intelligent. She’d read some really steamy novels. She knew the mechanics.

  Remembering some things Mandy had told her and others she’d read, she licked gently at the head of his cock, breathing in his musky, male scent. The drop of liquid at the tip was both salty and sweet, and he groaned when she delicately lapped it up. She felt her body coming to life once again, her nipples standing at attention. He reached down and toyed with one, sending sharp pleasure straight to her pussy. His other hand moved into her hair to hold her head steady. She opened her lips and he slipped the head of his cock inside, the warm weight strange on her tongue.