Page 49 of Saved By Love at Christmas
Her hand flew to her mouth. “Same here. Every woman you dated and introduced me to, I wanted to tell them to leave you alone. That you were mine…”
I thought she was going to say more, but she didn’t.
I placed a hand on her cheek. “This possessive side of you is very sexy.”
She drew in her bottom lip and eyed me with speculation, then regret darted in her expression.
“So many years, Ben. So much time lost,” she whispered.
“But now we know, we can make up for that lost time. Are you really sure about this, Rubes? Do you want to try the whole dating thing? It’s not too soon after what happened with Jamie, is it?”
“Yes, I’m sure. That man took enough from me. It’s time to move forward,” she replied without hesitation.
“Me too. I don’t want to lose any more time with you.” I breathed the words against her lips before I caught them up in a sweet, tender kiss.
* * *
RUBY
By the time we got back to Ben’s, I felt like the cat who’d got the cream. Not only did I have an amazing best friend, but we were now going to try out being a couple. Deep in my heart, I knew he’d be the only man for me. Our friendship was testament to that. We knew each other inside out, so being romantically involved was just another step in the evolution of our relationship.
When we returned to Ben’s, Fred was still a little excitable, but only because he knew it was time for his food. He didn’t stop his enthusiastic little barks until his food bowl had been placed on his mat.
Ben patted his head and smiled. “That should keep him quiet for a while.”
The sound of my stomach rumbling drew his attention.
“Chilli time?”
I grinned widely. “I thought you’d never ask. It’s just gone five, so that’s late enough for dinner.”
He kissed the top of my head. “I’ll get my homemade tortillas in the oven and put the chilli on low. Is microwavable rice okay for you?”
I tapped my chin, pretending to be deep in thought. “I’m sure that’ll be fine.”
“Oh.” He turned to me. “Don’t scream, but I have one of your favourite desserts.”
I jumped up and down and squealed anyway. “Rum and raisin ice cream. Have you got banana to chop up with it?”
He reached for his fruit bowl on the counter and waved two bananas at me like they were pistols.
“Yes,” I cheered.
“You’re easily pleased.”
I walked slowly towards him, ran my hands up his chest, and linked them behind his neck. I went up on tiptoe and shivered when he ran one hand through my hair and the other rested just above my ass.
“If you kiss me,” I murmured, “I’ll be even more pleased.
His eyes went half-mast. “Hmm, so will I.”
Our lips met. I loved how his mouth moved so slowly and gently over mine. His tongue slipped easily into my mouth, making me sigh my contentment. His stubble chafed my sensitive skin, but I loved the sensation. My body turned liquid against him as I felt the start of his erection. If he laid me out on the kitchen table and took me, I wouldn’t have complained.
He moved quickly away from me and slumped on one of the stools at the breakfast bar. I took the one next to his, both of us breathless.
“Well, that was intense.” He let out a gasp which sounded ragged.
“Yes, it really was. You must stop turning me on like that,” I panted.
