Page 119 of Heart & Hope

With a growl, I snap my hands around her waist, picking her up and depositing her on the counter. She smiles playfully at me. But she has me so goddamn wound up, I can’t respond. With a rough hold, I pull her panties off and run two fingers through her wet center.

Fuck, she’s soaked. “Rubes.”

“Fuck me, Mr. Robbins.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

But not before she rides my face. Then she can come all over my cock. Not a second before. She giggles, tossing her head back. I spread her legs and drop to my knees. With the first run of my tongue through her delicious folds, I’m on the edge of coming all over the marble tiles. I sink two fingers into her and suckle her clit like a man dying of thirst, and she rides my face like I’ve wanted her to since I woke up this morning.

“Fuck, Reed.”

She whimpers as I coax out the last of her release. I push to my feet and rub my palm over the swollen head of my cock. Looking at her, wet and ready, is sending my head too high. She wriggles forward, her hands on my hips pulling me closer. I line up the head with her soaked center.

“Give me everything, please,” Ruby breathes.

I slide the tip in. She huffs out a small cry, and her face falls apart a little. When I don’t move, she opens her eyes, desperation lining them. I edge forward a half inch, tampering the smile that’s trying to pop up on my face.

“Reed,” she growls.

How this woman has my heart. Good Lord.

I give her another inch. Now she sits up off the counter and takes my face in her hands. “That’s just mean, Reed Rawlins.”

“Making it last, baby.”

Her eyes narrow. “Fine, your call. Tell me what you want.”

“I want you. Being inside you. Going excruciatingly slow. Seeing you fall apart. Seeing you desperate for me, Ruby.”

“I want that, too,” she whispers.

Emotion swells, warm and raw.

I smash my mouth to hers, and I’ll be damned if I have an inch of self-control after that little confession. I slam into her, up to the hilt. She cries out, and I swallow every last sweet sound she makes, thrusting into her hard. Pulling out so slow, it makes my head spin.

It only takes a few minutes before Ruby is trembling, legs wrapped around my waist. I pick up the pace, rubbing a thumb over her clit. When her stunning brown eyes lock on mine and she unravels beneath me, I make myself a promise.

To always love this woman. To always make her happy.

Whatever that means for me.

Chapter Thirty

RUBY

It’s magic.

Pure, glittering, wondrous magic.

The entire conference room has been transformed from drab beige and paneled walls with pastel carpet to a transcendent space. You could say the inn has had a glow up. It’s my best work yet.

Half of the room is under round dining tables. Tall centerpieces stud the centers, tea lights, crystal, and fine bone China adorning each place setting. The theme of white-on-white has washed out the outdated tones, creating something heavenly. Stunningly whimsical.

Servers with silver trays weave through the black-tie crowd. Reed slips his hand around mine, lacing his fingers through. “This is magnificent, beautiful.”

I cast my gaze about the room, doing a visual check of every element that was planned. String quartet, check. Abundance of flowers from the local florist, check. Bar flowing and hors d’oeuvres circulating, check. Guests spill in through the open double doors where Mary-Sue is greeting each one.

“I need to do the rounds and help Mary-Sue. Save me a seat?” I ask Reed.

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