Page 67 of Dare to Dance
She smiled, her gaze moving slowly down to my lips.
My pulse jumped. Then her fingers came up to my mouth. I wanted nothing more than to have her lips on mine instead of those cold, soft fingers. She rubbed my bottom lip then the top as she licked her own.
Banishing any gentleman’s qualities, I hoisted her in my arms. Her legs went around my back, and her hands dove into my hair before her mouth crashed to mine, greedy, hungry, and wild. Electricity fused us together, sizzling hot as I opened for her on a strangled groan. My body burst into flames, my dick growing as hard as the gravestones.
Her tongue slowly slithered in, exploring lazily as though she was savoring the kiss. Hell, I was. Although I was on edge, wanting to take control, to devour her, to bury myself in her.Not yet.I wanted her to take the lead. If she did, then that meant she was ready. Not to mention, I was enjoying the feel of her nails scraping my scalp, the way she was tasting every part of my mouth, and the sexy purrs she spewed as she kissed me.
She took a breath, and a snowflake dropped on her nose. I carried her to the truck.
The snow was piling up, and my dick was straining against my zipper. She bounced in my arms as she held onto me with her head on my shoulder. God, if she didn’t feel like she belonged in my arms.
“Why didn’t you kiss me back?” she asked as I set her in the passenger seat. “Is it because of Penelope?”
“Hell, no. If I kissed you back, you would’ve been naked on the snow-covered ground.”
She blushed. My dick jumped
I closed her door, circled the truck to the driver’s side then hopped in.
My phone rang. I plucked it from my jacket. “Hey, what’s up?” I turned the ignition then blasted the heater.
“You good?” Kade asked. “Mom’s worried.”
“Ruby and I are fine. The snow is getting heavy, though. I’ll check in with you later.”
Ruby waved her hands in front of the vents. “I didn’t realize how cold I was until I got in.”
Her face held that flushed look, while I was burning up from all the emotions flickering through me, especially the way she’d felt against me, soft and perfect.
She blew into her hands. “Kross, I’d rather not go back to Boston tonight.”
I whipped my head around to look at her. Not that I didn’t want to spend the night with her up against me, tangled around me, kissing me, touching me. Sure, she’d kissed me.But is she ready for the next step? Am I ready for the next step?
“I haven’t slept in a soft, comfortable bed in ages. Alex’s couch is not a bed.” She sank her teeth into her bottom lip. “I have money for a hotel.” She averted her gaze.
That shy look of hers was enough to drive me insane.
Her seatbelt wasn’t on yet. So I tugged her to me as far as the console would allow. It was my turn to attack her sweet lips, to get lost in her. One hand went into her hair, and the other underneath her chin. I brushed my lips over hers. Her eyelids fluttered. Slowly, I slid my tongue into her mouth. Then I got lost in the sugary taste left over from the apple pie she’d had for dessert combined with the sweet taste that was just Ruby—the girl who was the mother of my child, the girl who was cracking open every part of my heart, the girl that still gave me that feeling of riding the tallest, scariest rollercoaster.
The cemetery vanished as she met each stroke of my tongue. I cupped the back of her head then pulled her closer to me as I continued to suck on her tongue, nibble on her lips, and breathe in her essence. When I broke the kiss to settle on her ear, she shivered then whimpered.
“I don’t think the hotel is a good idea,” I whispered huskily. “I wouldn’t be able to keep my hands off you.”
Her hand settled on my dick. “So? I want you, Kross, even if it’s just for you to hold me.” Her tone was seductive as she squeezed my erection.
I had to hold back until I found a hotel because I wanted a bed underneath us, and nothing else.
20
Ruby
Iwipedthe steam from the mirror in the hotel bathroom then dipped into my backpack and found my brush. As I untangled my wet hair, I sifted through the last few hours, and a host of emotions flitted through me. But one shined brighter than the sorrow, hurt, sadness, and despair that had consumed me in the cemetery—hope. Hope that Kross and I could build a relationship. Hope that we could live as a family and watch Raven grow up. Hope that he had the same feelings for me as I did for him. I wasn’t naïve enough to believe that he loved me. I did, however, believe he cared for me. I prayed it wasn’t just because of Raven, but because he wantedme.
A warm tingle started in my chest and worked its way down to my toes as I replayed Kross’s kiss. Electrical sparks ignited parts of me I hadn’t felt ever, not even when we were teenagers exploring each other or kissing for the first time. I’d been so consumed with him that I found myself playing with his huge, solid erection. My heart did a wild tap dance at that thought. I swallowed the dryness in my throat. I was equal parts excited and scared out of my mind. It was as though I was teetering on the edge of life’s cliff, hanging on by the tips of my fingers, and at any moment, I would fall so hard and fast. In the end, Kross and I would be together or he would walk away again.
“Through fear comes strength” was my mom’s favorite saying. I’d had my share of fear, and I was stronger for everything I’d been through. But when it came to my heart, I wasn’t sure I could test her wisdom.
Kross knocked on the door. “Ruby, are you coming out?”
