Page 48 of From Wink to Kink

"Easier for who?" I ask, stepping closer. "And your not being there is what woke me,” I reply.

She presses her lips together but says nothing.

“Ruby, from where I'm standing, it looks like you're running away. I don’t call that easy. Not for you and not for me. Why don’t you stay?”"

She bristles, her chin lifting in that defiant way I've come to recognize when no one can tell her a goddamn thing. "I'm not running away. I'm going home. Where I should have been all along." She looks away like she’s afraid I’m going to change her mind.

Which, of course, I am. Hopefully.

I draw a breath while I’m organizing my thoughts. Why do I want her to stay so badly? It's not just about having company. It's about her. About us.

"Look," I say. "I get it. This whole situation is crazy. We came here under false pretenses, got thrown into some pretty awkward situations, and now... now I don't know what this is. But I do know one thing."

She looks at me, her expression guarded. "What?"

"I know that against all odds, we've been getting along. Hell, I'd even go as far as to say we've been having fun. So why not stick around a little longer? Enjoy the place, now that we know what we're in for. Ya know?"

She bites her lip, her resolve wavering. "I... I can't. The shuttle to the airport will be here in a few minutes. I have to go."

“Has your time with me been that bad?” I ask.

She laughs a little, still avoiding my gaze. “It hasn’t been bad, silly. Not at all.”

“Let’s enjoy the place then,” I say. “Let loose and have some fun.”

“Fun with you wasn’t on the list, Chuck. I don’t mean that in a bad way, but it’s hard for me to do spontaneous. Plus, the last guy I had fun with . . . well, it really wasn’t a lot of fun and the way it ended was worse. Plus, you’re . . . well, you’re Tyler’s friend and teammate. I don’t want to cause any friction there either.”

“Tyler and I are adults,” I point out. “We can handle this. And if you don’t want to tell him, then we won’t. It can be our Costa Rica adventure, if you like. I don’t know anything about this other guy, but I can tell you I’m not like him, not if he hurt you. Come on, Ruby.”

She looks at me, biting her lip, indecision swirling in her eyes.

I look at her, really look at her. Her hair is slightly mussed from sleep, her eyes wide and conflicted. She's the most beautiful I’ve ever seen her.

Without a word, I reach down and take her suitcase. She doesn't resist. Then, slowly, giving her every chance to pull away, I take her hand in mine.

“I don’t know…” she says, her voice quiet.

"Trust me. Just... trust me. Stay, Ruby."

And then I'm leading her back to our bungalow, her hand warm in mine, a kind of elation flooding me that I’ve rarely known off the ice. Neither of us speaks while we catch the amused gazes of a couple people who probably assume we had a lover’s quarrel.

The weight of unspoken words hangs between us. Electric. Full of… possibility.

Intimidating as fuck. But I can handle it.

When we reach our door, I pause, turning to face her. "Ruby, if you really want to leave, I won't stop you. But I think... I think there is something here. Something worth exploring. Ya know? If you’re down with that."

Her eyes search mine. For what, I'm not sure. Sincerity? Desire? Fear? Whatever she's looking for, she finds it. Next thing I know, she's up on her tiptoes pressing her lips to mine.

This kiss is different. Nothing like our little peck after the massage. This one’s intentional, passionate, loaded with all the tension that's been building between us. My free hand comes up to touch her face, and her fingers tangle in my hair.

When we finally break apart, her cheeks are flushed, her lips full and red.

"Whoa,” I manage.

Yeah, I’m tongue-tied.

Ruby laughs, a breathless sound that makes my heart thump. "Yeah.”

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