Page 110 of Holding You
“You didn’t have free time before you moved back?”
“Some, but I felt guilty every single time someone was watching Max just so I could do something I wanted alone. Like I was a bad mom for enjoying even a half hour without him.”
I reach for her hand, lacing my own with hers.
She allows it.
“I know it won’t help, but nothing about that is true. You’re a fantastic mom, Ruby. You deserve to still be you on top of being a mom.”
“I know, and I tell myself that all the time, but it just doesn't seem to click.”
“Are you feeling guilty now?”
She shrugs. “A little. Max would be over the moon for this pool.”
I chuckle. “Susie would, too.”
“We’ll have to bring them sometime because they would love everything about the lights on the Strip, too.”
“Bring them together?” I ask in a teasing tone.
“I —oh, I didn't mean it like … shoot.” She quickly swings her legs over the side of the lounger and pulls her hand from mine. “I don’t think, like, since you, you know, put your face between my legs that means we are together or anything. That would be silly, and I made a rule last night and you agreed to it, and I'm not crazy, but, I mean, if you want to do that again, I won't stop you, but oh my God, it’s not required, and why aren’t you cutting me off to stop this rambling?”
I mirror her position and cup the side of her face, my thumb brushing her bottom lip. She leans into it and glances up at me.
“I like when you ramble,” I admit to her. “I’m used to short quick quips from you, so hearing you talk more? I like it.”
She rolls her eyes. “If you’re just trying to say cute stuff to get me back into the bed we are sharing, you can stop. Even if I wanted to resist you, my body wouldn’t let me.”
“Is that so?”
She nods.
“Just your body?”
I lean a little closer, angling my head to kiss her.
“Yes.”
“Hmm.” I press a soft kiss to her lips.
This is what I wanted after we woke up. Just a small moment with her to tell me I’m not crazy. What happened between us, she felt it, too.
She pops back quickly, her focus darting over my shoulder.
I practically snap my neck to see who she is looking at, but I don’t see anyone we know.
I turn back around just in time for her to grab my face.
“It’s all clear.”
Then she presses her lips to mine, climbing into my lap. With one leg on each side of mine, she threads her hands in my hair and deepens the kiss.
The splashing of water reminds us where we are. I break the kiss, and she slinks back to her seat as if she’d forgotten, too.
“We could go get something to eat,” I suggest and Ruby hums.
“Burgers?”
