Page 16 of Derick

“You’re tt…too good for m…me. I’m not clean,” she moaned.

My heart broke into a million pieces. How could she ever think that? What she endured and went through and the person she was amazed me. I really was in total awe of her.

“Ruby, you are out of my league. I’m the lucky one, to have been blessed with such a strong, courageous woman. I’m going to kiss you. If you don’t want this, say something now or forever hold your peace.”

She rose on her tiptoes. “I like that saying.” She beamed at me, and her eyes shone bright.

I leaned down and brushed my lips over hers a couple of times before I devoured her. Ruby tasted like pure sunshine.Her lips were eager against mine, and she followed my lead. Her tongue tangled with mine, and her hands slowly rose to run over my chest.

My whole body came alive, and my dick became painfully hard, and I knew I had to stop this before I did something that she wasn’t ready for, so I eased back. “Now, come on and let’s choose some much-needed new things for you or…” I wiggled my brows and reached over for a red, lacey g-string. “I’ll pick it all.”

Her giggle and swat of my hand with the g-string in it had me putting it back and circling her waist as I guided her further into the underwear section.

I’d never beena guy that enjoyed shopping, but today I’d had fun. I also realized how I took things for granted. I’d never had less than ten or so pairs of shoes. I had an abundance of underwear, socks, and clothes, and I’d always had everything I asked for. I knew I was privileged, but I never really thought that people could be in so much poverty in Australia. I’d learned how a lot of people lived when Jade, my brother’s wife, had come into our lives, and my cousin’s woman too, but Ruby had been worse than most of them.

Getting Ruby to agree to buy herself things was hard. I argued with her that she needed more than two bras and seven panties. She chose new joggers, but when I tried to get her some sandals, boots, and Uggs, she refused. When we went to the clothes, she picked the cheapest items. It wasn’t that I wanted her to buy the expensive, name-brand things, but she wouldn’t even try them on. I was going to have to get her used to spoiling herself. Everyone deserved to do that occasionally.

Maybe next time, if my mother was with her, she might agree to more. She hadn’t protested when we’d bought Hope clothes, shoes, toys, and bathing wear. We had a pool at the house. All my family had pools and spas, so Hope would need swimwear and to know how to swim.

“Can Hope swim?” I’d learned a lot, but that was something I hadn’t found out. I had a feeling with how tight money had been for Ruby, that Hope wouldn’t be able to swim.

Ruby turned from the TV we were sitting in front of relaxing, and sighed. “My b…brother Toby had started teaching her, bb…but no, not really.”

“Do you mind if I book her in for lessons?” I stared at her and watched as two blue, thick strands of hair fell forward over her eyes, and I threaded my fingers together to keep myself from reaching out and brushing them away.

The smile that spread over her face turned her eyes into a dandelion color that was so unique, it showed how delighted she was. “She would l…love that. I h…have some money saved. How much?”

I waved her money worries away and chuckled; she’d never have to worry about that again. I had a feeling it was going to take a while for Ruby to get used to that. I would never take money from her, and not because of who she was, but because she was my woman. I had plenty, more than I could spend in my lifetime. She could keep her own money. I didn’t need it, and if it helped her to know she always had it, I’d never, ever take a cent.

“How about it be Hope and my special activity. I heard they have daddy-daughter classes, or it may be better to have the teacher come here.”

“You c…can’t teach her?” She pressedpauseon the show.

“I could, but I think it would be best if she learned from a professional. My brothers and I did, and I think it’s safer.”

I zoned in as she nibbled on her bottom lip. She was so beautiful. “I feel bad you are p…paying for everything. What can I do to h…help?”

“Nothing.” I leaned over quickly and brushed my lips over her smooth skin as I kissed her cheek. “I want you to relax and enjoy your new life.”

She touched her cheek where my lips had touched and caressed it for a moment. “What is it about you that makes m…me instantly trust you with the most important th…thing in my life? I have no worry you would ev…ever hurt Hope, and with the men I’ve b…been around, I sh…should be. With you though, I…I don’t get any feeling that I need to worry.”

She crossed her arms under her chest, enhancing it. She didn’t have big breasts, but they were a good handful. I dreamed about those perky, round globes of perfection, and wondered if her nipples were large and pink, or small, pointy ones. I barely fought the urge to drool as I stared at her now thrust high tits.

I went over what she said, resisting the urge to lean down and kiss the rise and fall of her chest. “It’s the gift I told you about a little bit, but I think it’s you too. You’ve learned to trust your instinct. You’ve kept Hope safe when your world was surrounded by danger. I’m more than just impressed.”

She shook her head frantically. “No, if y…you onl?—”

I placed a finger over her lips, stopping what she was saying. I wasn’t going to let her put herself down. “From what I’ve learned, you’ve done an amazing Job. Hope is a beautiful child. You’ve done fantastically with the cards you were dealt. I have no doubt I will be impressed with everything else I learn.” I gathered her so she straddled my lap. Her shriek of surprise and push on my chest had me raising my hands in surrender. “I’m sorry. I’m so eager to touch you and feel our bodies together. I shouldn’t push you. I just can’t wait to know you and learn everything I can.”

I lowered my hands and liked that she didn’t pull away or get off me. We were taking this slow, or I was trying, because of her history, but she was my kryptonite, and my body was in a constant ache for her. I wanted to take my time with her. She deserved that. But I wanted—no, I needed to move our relationship on too.

“I thought you learned ev…everything you could about m…me?” Her left brow rose, and I stared into her dandelion gaze. She turned me breathless. I hated that I sounded like a fucking sappy girl, but she had me coming undone. Ruby sighed, loud and long. “You investigated m…me, but I only kn…know what there is out there through the m…media about you and what my brother t…told me. So, I feel like I don’t kn…know much about you at all.”

“Well, let’s start. I don’t know your favorite color, food, music, and so many other little, important things.” I could have learned them, but those were the things that were better talked about together.

“Blue.” She closed her eyes. “The clear, blue-sky kind is…is my favorite color.” Her eyes snapped open. “What’s yours?”

“I don’t really have a color that I like more than any other, but I wear a lot of black lately, but that’s not a color, so green.” I wasn’t sure if that was it either, I was becoming inclined to a green with a yellow tinge that looked almost like lightning. I always thought dandelions were weeds, but now I thought they were the best and most stunning flowers out there. Ruby’s eyes were so unique. I loved that she’d given the feature to her, I meanourdaughter. “Okay, so what about food. What do you like?”

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