Page 47 of Conflicted
Chapter Twelve
After not only cancelling their night at Club Indigo and their Sunday dinner with Jewel and Luke, Will hadn’t showed up for over a week. His messages had been short, and her calls had gone straight to voicemail. Although he couldn’t share details, Will texted them he was working on a big case and he was ‘off the grid’ until further notice. Ruby missed him more than she thought she would.
Alone in Nathan’s home, Ruby settled on the couch with The Snow Tiger by Desmond Bagley. She raided Nathan’s bookshelves and settled on the old thriller. When she packed her suitcase, she forgot to take her kindle with her. This traveling from her place to Nathan’s was tiresome. She dropped her head against the backrest of the couch.
She felt lonely. Nathan wasn’t home yet because there was some issue with a supplier and Will probably wouldn’t come at all. Maybe I should head to my studio instead? Call everything off? She wasn’t sure pursuing a triad was a good idea anymore. Is being in a relationship with two men the right decision? Maybe I’m not cut out to be a relationship person. What do I know about relationships after all?
But leaving the men? She didn’t want that either. A chill shot up her spine, and she huddled deeper into her sweater. Frustrated with the situation and herself, she dropped her head back and scowled at the book. She always liked thrillers, and Bagley had been a master writer. Pity, he’d only written about a dozen, and she’d read them all before. Decidedly, she opened the book and began reading. It didn’t take long before she became firmly invested in Ian Ballard and the fictional town of Huka in New Zealand. The thirty-something protagonist was a normal guy in an extraordinary situation. He was a great hero, both resourceful and tough but essentially a decent guy. Something she could admire in a man, either a book lover or a real one.
––––––––
Nathan strode into the living room where Ruby was reading one of his books. He devoured her with his gaze. Isn’t she a sight for sore eyes after a long dragging day at work? His groin stirred.
She looked at him and licked her lips. Is she as hungry for me as I am for her? The pink tip tantalized him, and the flash of the silver barbell reminded him how wicked her piercing could be. He went from half-mast to steel. But sex was much more than fucking.
He knew she was missing Tolbert, but maybe this was a sign the big detective wasn’t as invested in their relationship after all. Yes, a big case could swamp a man, but still—who wouldn’t want to come home to this gorgeous woman.
His eyes roamed over her body. Tattoos and piercings adorned her creamy flesh, and she bundled her colorful mane at the nape of her neck. Her bare shoulders made his mouth water. Where her sweater had slipped off, delicate white flesh and a hint of a tattoo from her back showed. How can she be sexier in an oversized sweater than any other woman in revealing lingerie?
Her eyes followed his movement as he stalked through the room. Nathan walked behind her and grabbed her ponytail. He closed his eyes as he inhaled her strawberry scent. Teasing himself as much as her with the slow movement, he lowered his face. A shudder went through her as he pressed his lips on her shoulder. She cocked her head to give him access as he made love to her skin. With a firm grip to her ponytail to keep her at the angle he liked, Nathan used his free hand to slip her sweater lower on her arm and made room for his caresses. He took a moment to admire the difference between his dark skin and her almost translucent coloring. He rubbed his chin on her skin, giving her the contrast between her softness and his beard stubble.
Ruby gasped, and he grinned against her skin. His dick hardened in eager anticipation, but before he allowed himself to sink deep inside, he wanted her as desperately for him as he was for her.
Latching on to her again, he firmed his hold. Nathan moved from the rounded edge of her shoulder and licked, nibbled, and sucked his way to her ear. Alternating sweet licks with harsh bites to keep her off balance. By now, she was writhing in pleasure, but she wasn’t going anywhere. He didn’t need rope or cuffs to dominate her.
A soft moan left her as he sucked on her earlobe. She tried to move away, reacting as hotly to his ministrations here as she would no doubt do later when he suckled on other sensitive places. But she hadn’t earned that. Yet.
He licked a path from her ear to the junction of her shoulder. Her feminine smell was stronger here. He bit on the big muscle where her neck and shoulder met. Not hard, but enough to make her shudder.
Ruby twitched. “Stop teasing.”
His lip curled upward against her skin. Nope, not there yet.
He pushed her sweater further down, ignoring the ripping sound, and latched onto her earlobe again. She was shuddering and moving her head.
Too much movement.
He curled his left arm around her torso and fondled the rounded globe of her breast. Ruby had small B-cups, the perfect size for her body, and Nathan loved how sensitive they were. Nathan lost some of his composure and had to reign in his desire for the woman. His movements became urgent and possessive. He laced his fingers in her strands and pulled her head back. Ruby opened in a silent invitation—her mouth supple and pliant. Despite that, he didn’t devour her in the way they both wanted.
He hovered inches from her lips and whispered, “You aren’t ready.” She needs to be putty in my hands—otherwise, she’ll be topping from the bottom.
He moved away and caught her pout. Nathan grinned and removed the scrunchy from her hair. With unhurried, deliberate movements, he massaged her scalp, running his hands through her locks before gripping her again and forcing her to tip her face upwards.
She groaned and went slack. Good enough! Nathan slanted his mouth over hers. He savored the taste of mint and strawberry with a hint of white chocolate. Her hand came up to cup his cheek, and she gave all back. She shared her air and her tongue with him, gave him access and control, all the while making the most sinful sounds.
With a sensual smile, he pulled away and ran his fingers over her scalp. He gathered her mane in a high ponytail and manipulated her position for another voracious kiss. He enjoyed the tangle of their tongues, carefully controlling their speed. When she tried to deepen their connection, he pulled back and feathered pecks over her cheeks. A hair caught in his mouth, and she smiled as he paused to remove it.
Cheeky little dragonfly!
His free hand roamed over her upper body. Loving how her nipples pebbled at his touch. He teased the tiny buds and pulled on them. Ruby groaned but pushed into his hand. His dragonfly wasn’t a masochist, but she enjoyed a fair amount of erotic pain, and it thrilled him to give it to her.
