Page 52 of Hungry Hearts

He lowers his mouth to mine and moans. He keeps the kiss tame, but leans in, pressing his lips more firmly against mine. I feel the tip of his tongue before he retracts.

“Christ, I can’t control myself around you.” He sucks my bottom lip between his and sits back in his chair.

I’m flustered, turned on, and my panties are soaked. All from a simple kiss. Wrong. I’ve been this way since we stepped out of the car. He’s spent more time interacting and talking with Ruby tonight than me, and it’s made me want him even more.

The waitress returns and he hands her his credit card. “Sneaky. Was that kiss meant to distract me from paying the bill?”

“No. It was to get you wet and wanting me.”

“Hm.” I lift my shoulder and pick up my glass, taking a sip of my water. “The kiss came a little too late. I’ve been wet and wanting you since we first got here.”

“Fuck.” Ryder leans across the table again when a flash of tutu and pigtails comes out of the bathroom. He sits back again with a sulk.

“Can we go to the park, Mommy? I want to show Ryder how high I can go on the swings.”

Since it’s on our way home, I don’t mind. “You’ll have to ask Ryder if he would like to go. He may have places he needs to be.”

“Ryder, do you want to watch me play at the park?”

“Not particularly,” he says, surprising us both.

Ruby’s lower lip sticks out in a pout, and I’m about to chastise him for being rude. I don’t expect him to want to go, but I’m surprised at how he said it.

“It’s okay, Ruby—” I start.

“I don’t want to watch. I want to playwithyou. I’m pretty badass...mazing on the swings myself.”

A grin as wide as the Atlantic erupts on my little girl’s face. “I can swing really, really high.”

“Me too, Princess. It’s on like Donkey Kong.”

“What is Donkey Kong?”

He tweaks her nose and helps her off her chair. “Just a silly video game.”

Ruby reaches for his hand and he takes it in his, walking her through the restaurant. I’m not the least bit upset or offended that I’m left on my own to follow behind. My heart is full as I watch them, hand in hand. Ruby’s pigtails bounce and her free hand works hard not to drop her two dolls.

When Barbie falls, Ryder scoops her up and carries her, not the least worried about his man card. Little does he know, his man card just filled up so full I’m afraid no other man will ever measure up to him.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Ihaven’t had sex in three weeks, yet I couldn’t be happier. Well, I could be. Having Maia naked and climaxing under me would be the whipped cream to my hot fudge sundae. Damn. Now I can’t get the image of drizzling hot fudge over her tits out of my head.

Even with euphoric images filling my head on the daily, I still don’t regret the way our relationship is budding. Since my first dinner date with Princess Ruby, we’ve met for coffee four times that ended in some steamy curbside make out sessions—yeah, I’m keeping track—and have had three dinners. While I’d love to take her out for a romantic dinner for two, Ruby makes an adorable third wheel.

Not gonna lie, I have fun with the kid. There are times when she draws me in so deep to her games that I almost—almost—forget Maia is with us. She’s joked about being the third wheel during our dinner dates, but I don’t think she minds.

If anything, I’m scoring more points by making little Rubes my new BFF. Not that I’m using her to score with Maia. I can be an asshole, but I’m not a douchebag. I genuinely like the little sprout. She’s spunky, quirky, hilarious, and sassy. Just like her smokin’ hot mom.

“Ruby Cube, you’ve got more ice cream on your face and dripping down your arm than you do in your mouth.” I hand her a napkin, which she takes and wipes her face, completely missing the half that’s pink with strawberry ice cream.

My view this evening is pretty phenomenal. Next to the princess bathing in strawberry ice cream is Maia, wearing a light-gray zip hoodie, jeans, and sneakers. She’s fucking stunning. I love that she doesn’t feel the need to dress up to impress me. I text her a million times before we meet for dinner, begging her to wear something that won’t make me hard in front of her daughter. And every time after our date-plus-the-princess, I reprimand her for teasing me.

Tonight is more of the same. She licks her cherry chocolate chip cone and her tongue digs into the ice cream, curling around a piece of chocolate. My dick pushes against my zipper and I clench my back molars to filter my comments. With her hair pulled back in a high ponytail and minimal makeup, I want to bend her over the picnic table, wrap her mane of hair around my fist, and pound into her like—

“Your ice cream is melting too.” Ruby points at my hand and giggles.

“Your mother was distracting me.”

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