Page 19 of A Tempting Seduction (Protectors of Jasper Creek #5)

That single word undid me completely. I eased aside the gusset of her panties and touched her gently and carefully. I traced the seam of her sex and found her already wet. Now didn’t that make me feel good to know that just a few kisses could arouse Ruby so much?

Her legs trembled and I felt her start to close her thighs, but I stopped her before she could. I pushed my knee between her legs so that she was forced to widen, allowing me to learn even more parts of her welcoming body.

I gathered up some of her silky arousal and used its slick essence to circle her clit with my work-roughened fingers.

“Ahhh,” she moaned.

“I’ve got you.”

She twisted her head and hid her face in the crook of my shoulder, as if my intimate touches were too much for her to bear.

As if she needed to hide from the intimacy.

But if she thought what I was doing now was something, she’d better hold onto her hat, because I had much bigger things in store for her.

A few more times, I circled her needy bud with my thumb, then I moved one finger and found the entry to her channel and slowly slid inside.

Jesus, she’s tight.

“Ford!”

“Yep, it’s still me.” I smiled through gritted teeth. I was barely hanging on. Having Ruby lying beside me on this couch, her dress tangled above her waist, my hand between her legs and her making those beautiful sounds of need, was the hottest thing I’d ever experienced.

“Move.”

I stopped moving my hand.

Did she want me to get up off her sofa?

“No!” she commanded. “Why aren’t you moving?”

I grinned. I understood her now. I leaned in for another Ruby-and-cinnamon-soaked kiss, as I moved my finger deep into her channel, while continuing to circle her clit.

Her head began to thrash, all that red and gold silk sliding against me was just one more intoxicating thing that was close to making this an out of body experience for me.

Ruby clutched my ass. “More,” she gasped into my ear.

I pushed a second finger inside her body, then curled them both. Taking long moments to find that perfect spot within her. The hidden spot that would give her all the pleasure she deserved.

“Hmmm.”

She was humming something. If it was a word or just a hum, I had no idea.

All I knew is that I could spend eternity right here on this couch with Ruby Miller and die a happy man.

When she shrieked out my name, I knew I had found just the spot I’d been looking for.

She shuddered, her legs clenched onto me so tight I thought I might permanently lose circulation.

I continued to tease her clit, as I stroked against her g-spot. Every one of her moans, gasps and groans sounded like the most beautiful music on earth.

When she came apart in my arms, it was with a hoarse cry that went straight through me. Her body shook with the force of her release, and as I pulled her into my arms, I realized she was crying.

“Ruby?”

No answer.

“Sweetheart?”

“Mmmm?”

“Are you okay?”

She lifted her eyelids and smiled. She was glowing. “S’good.” She snuggled close and I held her, murmuring words of praise and comfort as she came back down to earth.

Finally, Ruby went completely limp against me, her breathing slowly returning to normal. Her eyes were heavy, almost sleepy with satisfaction.

“That was...” she started, then trailed off.

“Perfect,” I finished for her.

Ruby's eyelids were drooping. The emotional upheaval combined with physical release had left her exhausted. I could feel her fighting sleep, trying to stay present.

“Come on,” I said, standing up with her still in my arms. “Let's get you to bed.”

I carried her to the bedroom, setting her gently on the edge of the mattress. Ruby looked up at me with drowsy contentment.

“I'll take care of everything and lock up,” I told her. “Then I'll slip the key back under the door. Where do you keep a spare?”

“Junk drawer, next to the silverware drawer,” she mumbled, already half asleep.

I kissed her forehead gently.

“Get some rest. I'll call you tomorrow.”

Ruby was already curling up on the bed, not bothering to change out of her dress. I found a throw blanket and tucked it around her, then stood for a moment watching her sleep.

Beautiful. Vulnerable. Still hiding so much from me.

I made my way back to the kitchen and began the methodical process of cleaning up. Washing dishes, putting away leftovers, wiping down surfaces. The domestic routine gave my hands something to do while my mind processed everything that had happened tonight.

Ruby had finally opened up about her past, but I could tell there was still so much she wasn't telling me. The way she'd reacted to my suggestion about opening a restaurant. Her comment about not wanting attention. The careful way she deflected questions about her family.

There were secrets there, layers I was only beginning to understand. But as I dried the last plate and put it away, I realized something important.

It didn't matter.

Whatever Ruby was hiding, whatever had driven her to Jasper Creek, whatever walls she'd built around herself, none of it changed how I felt about her.

I was falling hard for the woman who made incredible coffee and took care of everyone around her.

The woman who visited elderly couples and quilted with church ladies.

The woman who could cook like an angel and kissed like sin.

I found the spare key in the junk drawer exactly where she'd said it would be. As I turned off the lights and locked the door behind me, I felt something settle deep in my chest.

I'd finally found her. The woman who'd knock me flat on my ass. The woman worth fighting for.

Ruby Miller, with all her secrets and walls and careful deflections, was the woman I wanted to build a life with.

I slipped the key under the door and walked to my truck, already counting the hours until I could see her again.