Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 122216 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 611(@200wpm)___ 489(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122216 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 611(@200wpm)___ 489(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
“I never would’ve pictured you as a cat person.” She looks up, her face lit by the sparkling Christmas tree in the living room.
“It’s not like I got the chance to choose. Greasy showed up one day and decided I was his human. He doesn’t allow takesies backsies, I can assure you. Not on treats, not on toys, and definitely not on me.”
“Well, he’s a kitty who knows what he wants.” She scratches under his chin, and he melts into a puddle in her lap. “You think you might be in the market for another human to add to your collection?”
He gives her a love nip on her arm for an answer.
My jealousy tries to kick in, which is ridiculous. Greasy is a cat—and my best friend. “Easy, Greasy. She’s not up for grabs.”
He purrs louder and rolls over, showing her his belly.
“Why you little—”
Ruby yawns again.
I take her arm and help her to her feet. “Your room is this way.”
“Oh, I thought I’d be crashing on the couch or something.” She glances at the living room.
“No, it’s a three bedroom. You have your own private bath, and I’ve stocked it with everything you might need.” I lead her down the hall and to the right. The room is beside mine, but I sure as hell wish she’d be staying in bed with me. But I can’t rush her. I feel like I’ve already done too much, which is a problem because I want to do so much more.
“Wow, you have such good taste. Well, to me anyway.” She runs her hand down the pink and purple quilt on the bed. “It’s just what I would pick if I were decorating a guest room.”
“I’m glad you like it.” I open the door to her bathroom. “Tub and separate shower, towels in the linen closet there. I’m right next door if you need anything.”
She stands in the bathroom doorway, then turns to me. “This is weird. It’s weird, right?”
“What’s weird?” I step toward her, invading her space despite my brain telling me to slow down.
“You and me. All this. You kissing me. It’s so … not what I thought coming home would be like.”
“What did you think it would be like?” I breathe her in and let myself fall even more in love with her. I can’t help it. I never could.
“Like high school, I guess. Where you and your fanboys and girls gave people like me the cold shoulder because our bank accounts were missing some zeroes at the end.” She sighs. “I didn’t think you’d be so …”
“Handsy?” I say.
She laughs, her eyes lighting up. “Well, yes. That was definitely not a possibility in my thought process. But you’re a mechanic who invests in local businesses and helps my grams at the shop—yeah, she told me about all the repairs you’ve done at no charge. You laid out Todd—a guy who worshipped the ground you walked on—just because he said something about me. None of this adds up. And I keep coming back to the same question.”
I cup her cheek, and she leans into my touch, seemingly despite herself. She’s warm and soft beneath my touch.
“Why?” She meets my gaze.
“Does it matter why?” I move closer, needing more from her.
“Of course it does. I come home from the city expecting a shit show, but here you are being so … so … so …”
“Handsome, thoughtful, sexy?” I supply.
“Yes!” Her cheeks turn a cute pink as shakes her head gently. “I mean no.”
“No?”
“Yes.” She sighs. “I don’t know.”
“You’re tired, Ruby.” I move even closer, my lips so close to hers. “You need to go to bed.” I kiss her, taking her mouth fully.
She makes a sound low in her throat and clings to me, her hands gripping the front of my shirt as I back her against the wall. I feel every bit of her, her round breasts, the curve of her thighs against mine. God, she’s all I’ve ever wanted, and she’s right in front of me.
I kiss the ever-loving shit out of her. I can’t stop. And when she rubs her thighs together and moans, I think something in my mind pops, and I’m carrying her to the bed and laying her down.
When I cover her with my body, I almost hiss at the heat between her thighs. Fuck, I need to be inside her, need to know what it feels like to be completely one with someone else for the first time. I’ve saved everything for Ruby; every last bit of me belongs only to her.
She wraps her arms around my neck as I tongue her sweet mouth, plundering her. Her grip on me is desperate, holding on to me as I move my hips against her, dry humping her through our clothes. My body is taut, my control hanging by the thinnest thread. And I’m so damn hot for her I might explode like a million fireworks and rain down nothing but sparks all over my shimmering Ruby.