Page 98 of Spark

I slide my fingers into my mouth to taste the liquid sweetness that squirted out of Ruby a moment ago, but when that taste of pure heaven shoves me dangerously close to the edge, I force myself to ignore my trophy for now so I won’t let her down again like I did in Reed’s laundry room. After taking several deep breaths to get myself under control, I push the dildo in again, if only slightly. And I’ll be damned, Ruby’s turned-on body receives Bruno’s latest entreaty like welcoming an old friend.

The vibrating toy is now in position to stay put inside herwhile I fuck her. And now that we’ve reached this milestone, I can’t wait another second, another breath, another heartbeat.

“I’m gonna fuck you now,” I gasp out, my voice strained and desperate. “Yes?”

“Yes. Fuck yes. Yes, yes, yes.”

Shaking, spasming, trembling with anticipation and greed, I crawl on top of her splayed body, find my target with my fingers, and slowly sink myself inside her extra-tight wetness. Thanks to Bruno, she’s throttling me as I enter her, practically strangling my dick, the deeper I get. And it feels so fucking good.

Ruby’s been moaning and groaning since my tip entered her. But once I’m all the way in, and she feels the sensation of her body being completely filled up in a whole new way, her body language makes it clear she’s in downright ecstasy. Euphoric. Enraptured. And that’s even before I’ve started fucking her.

When I start moving in and out of her, carefully, while concentrating hard onnotcoming through every stroke, Ruby lets out a growl that’s so unhinged and hot, so utterly wild and untethered, my aching balls tighten against my body in response, preparing to unleash their load.

“Kendrick,” Ruby gasps out. “Kendrick.Kendrick.” At least ten times, Ruby says my name, with each pronunciation becoming more and more ragged and frantic, until finally, she groans one final, frenzied time and comes so hard, warm fluid gushes out of her and around my cock. She came like this earlier, yes, but this time, she’s a dam breaking. A rushing river carving a new path. Emotionally. Physically. Metaphorically. In every way, she’s breaking free, like she’s crossed into some new dimension of pleasure. Either that, or that was some amazing weed, and I’m going to buy only that particular strain for the rest of my goddamned life.

Not surprisingly, I can’t hang on through her cataclysmicorgasm. Frankly, it’s a miracle I’ve lasted this long. As I release, my entire body jolts and flops; my vision blurs and fills with stars. I’ve done to myself what I promised to Ruby earlier: I’ve taken myself to a whole new place. One where I’m not only seeing God, I’m getting a high-five from him. No, a kiss. A medal of honor. The answers to all the mysteries of the universe.

But since all good things must come to an end, my ecstasy doesn’t last forever, and neither does Ruby’s. When we’re both finally still and quiet, other than our ragged, fitful breathing, I pull myself and Bruno out of her, crawl between her legs, and lick and suckle every drop of sweet fluid off her while she hums and coos and rambles incoherently about how amazing that felt. How supernatural and glorious.

“You’re a superhero, Kendrick,” she purrs, as I move from limb to limb, untying her. “A magician. A wizard. No, agod.”

Once she’s free, I lie down next to her, chuckling at her effusiveness, and pull her to me. For a long moment, I hold her without speaking, and she nuzzles into me like a kitten kneading a blanket.

“I had no idea any of that was possible for me,” she finally whispers. “Thank you, Kendrick. Thank you for taking me there and showing me what I can do. I’ll never be the same again.”

Neither will I,I think. But for different reasons. For me, this experience was transformative, too. But not necessarily in a good way, if this plan of mine to make Ruby fall in love with me doesn’t pan out in the end. Before now, my love for her was undeniable. My lust for her, too.

But now I know a startling truth: if Ruby doesn’t catch feelings for me by the end of this fling, if Ruby decides she meant every word she said about going back to normal, or, worse, if she gives a relationship with me a whirl, like she did with Cooper, and quickly decides that was a huge mistake,that we’re better off as friends, I’ll never recover. Never be able to enjoy sex with anyone else, ever again. Never fall in love. Never get married. Never have babies. Because she’s ruined me. Without Ruby, I might as well be a eunuch.

I close my eyes, banishing my worst-case scenario thoughts. If Savage were here, he’d slap me. Well, right after high-fiving me for what I just did to Ruby. But then, yes, he’d slap me and tell me to stop spiraling and stop making failure an option. “There’s only one option now,” he’d say. “You’re going to do whatever the fuck it takes to get her, KC. And that’s that. Nothing’s off-limits now. No holds barred. You’re gonna go after this woman, without her realizing it, like your very life depends on it.”

Ever since my football injury, I’ve been prone to worst-case scenario thinking. To imagining what I’d do if this or that dream doesn’t come true. And Savage is always the one who shakes me out of it and keeps the dream alive. Kai, too, actually. But this time, I don’t need them to shake off the ghosts of my past. This time, in the blink of an eye, I’m able to shake them off myself and get laser-focused and battle-ready.

“Kendrick?” Ruby whispers. “Are you okay?”

I swallow hard. “Yeah, I’m great. I think that melted my brain.”

Ruby giggles. “Mine, too. Also, my ovaries.”

I tip her face up by her chin and peck her gently. “I’m sorry your place is taking so long to get fixed. But I’m not sorry it means you’re staying with me longer than originally planned. I’m having so much fun with you.”

Her face lights up. “I’m having so much fun with you, too.”

I love you, Ruby. I love you, I love you, I love you.The words are on the tip of my tongue. Bursting to be set free. But the plan is going too well to blow it now. So, I simply smile, kiss her again, and pull her close.

28

RUBY

“Welcome to Mentor Day!” Sunshine bellows into the camera directly in front of her, her oddly perfect veneers on full display. And, of course, the hyped-up studio audience behind the judges’ table, along with all three judges and their guest mentors, applaud and cheer.

I flash a look at Laila sitting next to me that says, “I can’t believe this is happening!” and she winks and beams me a huge smile in reply. This is old hat for her by now. It’s her third season as a judge, and she’s done all sorts of other TV appearances, too. But I’m freaking out like the newbie I am. Not to mention, I’ve been a fan of this show since middle school. And now I’m onit? And with three of my closest friends? It’s beyond a dream come true: it’s a fairytale come to life.

“After all the jockeying, negotiating, and conniving our three judges did on Draft Day,” Sunshine says, “each of them has now assembled a stellar team that’s ready for battle. But before the judges send them off to compete, they must coach and guide their team, with a little help from a trusted, talentedadvisor.” Sunshine’s mega-watt smile broadens. “So, let’s meet the guest mentors!”

The audience cheers and applauds their effusive response.

“But before we do that,” Sunshine adds, “let’s watch this video package.”

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