Page 42 of Derick

Her mouth opened and closed over and over before she shook her head, and then her arms wrapped around me and her lips smashed down on mine. Startled, I could honestly say I’dnever been more surprised in my life. I never thought she would do this in front of her brother. I’d take it though.

My arms came around her, and I held her as my mouth opened, and I let her stay in charge but made sure she knew I liked what she was doing. She eased away, and the smile that covered her face lit my whole world, and in that moment, I knew I would do anything for this woman. She was the sun to a night I didn’t know I’d been stuck in.

“You always know just what to say. I am so lucky to have you. Thank you for showing and making sure everyone knows I’m loved. I love you so much. No one has ever told me that other than Hope. So, thanks for saying it to me and even in front of people.”

“I have said that.” Toby spoke up.

I’d almost forgot we weren’t alone. Ruby consumed me.

“Um, no. No, you haven’t.” She nibbled on her bottom lip and looked anywhere but at her brother. “Ever,” she whispered before her voice rose. “I know you love me, but other than Hope, I have never heard anyone say that to or about me before.”

Holy shit! Maybe I should have just let the caveman side take over instead of fighting so hard to cage it. I was the most spoiled, selfish man in the world—no, the universe. I had never felt so ashamed of my privileged life. Not only was my family wealthy, but they also had power and loved each other so much no one in my family ever doubted it. Ruby more than deserved what I took for granted. I really must have done something bloody amazing in a past life to be given a woman like Ruby. How could she be the bright sunshine she was when all she’d ever had was darkness?

“You’re amazing,” I said. She turned her focus from her brother to me. I tilted her head back with my thumb. “I promise to tell you every day.” I pulled her into my embrace. “I love you.” I caressed her cheek. “I’m sorry you haven’t heard it before fromanyone, because you are beyond amazing. Since meeting you and learning everything I could about you, I have never been so impressed, so awed by someone. You are the easiest woman to love. I’ll tell you every day if I have to, so you know your worth.” Tears slid down her cheeks, and I wiped them away. “Don’t cry. My precious, precious woman. I’m not saying this to make you upset.”

“Oh, you silly man. I’m not crying because I’m sad, I’m crying because I’m so damn happy. I love you too, so much. I can’t believe you’re mine. You have given me more than I could ever even dreamed of. Thank you.” She brushed her lips over mine quickly. She tried to wiggle off me, but I stopped her and gathered her back to me, lifting her by her arse, my lips eager for hers again.

“For fuck’s sake, can you stop mauling my sister in front of me? I might be cool with you, but seeing you do that to my sister, I want to punch your smug face,” Toby growled.

Smiling, I ignored Toby, but my little princess demanded attention. “Daddddddyyy.” Before my lips even met Ruby’s, Hope pushed between us. “Isza wanna shows uncee Tobs my room.” I let go of Ruby’s arse, and she slid off me and sat beside me. Hope climbed into my lap. “Hes needs meet Sunny. My puppy.”

“They got her a fucking puppy?” Toby yelled. “How the fuck do I top that shit?”

“A little less swearing in front of her please,” Ruby hissed at him.

“Fine. I’m going to go see her room and then head home. I’ll come to the birthday party tomorrow.” He stood, then paused for a moment and ran his fingers through his hair, taking out his hairband before putting it back in again. He came over to Ruby and kissed her cheek. “I love you, Ruby rare. I’m sorry I never said it to you before today.”

Tears slid down Ruby’s cheek. “I love you too, Toby.”

He wiped her wet cheeks, sighed, and then held his hand out for Hope to take and lead him to her bedroom. She got off my lap and went with Toby.

Half an hour later, Toby left. We had spent the day with him. I knew he left safe in the knowledge that I would keep his sister and niece loved and safe. Meeting Toby had gone better than I thought it would. Hope had been the icebreaker, and I knew if I ever hurt either ladies, I’d wind up dead and buried in some inactive mineshaft. Oh, I knew where the bodies were buried. My family’s security was damn good at their jobs. I was a little disappointed I didn’t get to kill the fucking arseholes who hurt my woman, but knowing what was done to them soothed my anger a little.

I looked down at my family. They were snuggled against me, one on each side, and bloody hell, I wanted to give them everything. They deserved that. I wanted to make my family bigger. I could never in my life remember feeling this content. I wanted more of this. I wanted a house full. I intended to have it all. I was going to be greedy. I kissed Hope’s forehead, and she giggled and wiggled deeper against me as we watched the movie.

Smiling, I turned to Ruby, leaned down, and brushed my lips over hers. “I love you.”

Hope’s birthday party at Fun Palace had gone off without a hitch. Well, if you didn’t count Jaxson kidnapping Jasmine. Thankfully, that was toward the end of the party, because it would have made Hope very upset. No one messed with my princess’s happiness, especially on her birthday.

Tyson had come to set up the breathtaking cake. Ruby hadn’t even wanted to cut it as she thought it was a masterpiece. Tyson had been acting odd. He had been muttering about having to move away for a year or so and raving on about the curse. I would have to find out what the hell had happened.

But all in all, Hope had a ball, and that was all that mattered. She didn’t even make it home before she passed out, asleep on my shoulder, as we were making sure we got everything from the venue.

Yesterday had ended perfectly when Ruby had jumped me as soon as Hope was in her bed and we’d gone to our room. She thanked me for the perfect birthday for her daughter and had made love to me to show just how grateful she was. I’d told her she never had to thank me and that I hadn’t done anything, it had been all her and my mother.

My whole family was having dinner with us tonight for Hope’s family birthday, and to meet Ruby. Cassie was getting bigger every time I saw her, and my brother beamed like a loon.He thought knocking up Cassie with triplets was an amazing feat, but multiples were common in our family. I was a twin myself.

I couldn’t wait for Ruby and I to have more children. I kind of hoped she would be pregnant now. I hadn’t been using any protection. I knew I needed to talk with her about it, but I liked that I might be planting my seed. I had never had this kink before Ruby, but maybe it was the curse. Whatever it was, I was having fun embracing it.

This would be the first time Ruby would meet my extended family, not just my brothers and their wives. She’d met Ryder when he was with the SWAT team that rescued her and later when he helped set up the safe houses. Not all my cousins had met Hope either. I knew they would fall in love with Ruby and Hope just like my parents had.

My mother had bought so many clothes for Hope that I just knew she could wear a new outfit every day. She held back on toys though. Oh, Hope had a bunch of new toys, but if my mother was really allowed to let herself go, we’d have a toy store in our house. But because they knew Ruby wasn’t used to people spending so much money on her, my mother had held off. Her brother had provided for her before, but their father had been an arsehole and didn’t help or make it easy.

My Uncle Carl had had the first girl born that I knew of in our family in over a hundred and fifty or so years. So Hope was a big deal.

Ruby kept fiddling with her clothing, straightening them and removing imaginary lint. There was no denying she was fretting. She had nothing to worry about though. I knew my family would adore her.

“Stop. You look perfect. You’ve met my close family before.”

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