Page 53 of Saved By Love at Christmas
We rammed the overloaded spoons into our mouths. The flavours attacked my tastebuds, and the hit of sugar gave me a huge rush. I loved this tradition. Another thing we’d done since we were kids. Usually, Marie was there as well.
“Your sister is going to be so mad with us,” I said, licking my spoon before diving in for my second mouthful.
He chuckled. “She certainly will. That doesn’t matter, though, because it gives us an excuse to eat this again.”
Ben watched me as I put the third spoonful in my mouth. The flavours were so good that I couldn’t help my little moan of appreciation. His spoonful hovered midway to his mouth. While his eyes were on mine, I allowed my tongue to slowly lick the spoon clean.Go in for the kill. Take a chance, Rubes.After saying we needed to go slow, I was no longer certain that was what I wanted. Lowering my spoon to the tray, I leaned across, my mouth taking in his loaded spoon. Eyes still on his, I began to eat the dessert before licking his spoon clean.
His eyes clouded over, darkened with the heat of passion. He took the tray away and put it on the coffee table before pouncing on me and laying me out on the sofa. He blanketed my body with his as his lips covered my mouth and kissed me breathless. I writhed beneath him as he ground his erection against my pelvis. I wanted Ben, and I couldn’t wait any longer. I tugged his jumper and T-shirt up in a desperate attempt to get to his skin. He grunted, and with our lips still locked, did the same to my sweatshirt. As soon as his hands touched my stomach, a shiver of pleasure rippled through me.
I pulled my mouth from his. Ben’s eyes were wild, an expression I’d never seen before but one I hoped to see again and again.
“More, Ben. I want more,” I begged.
“More what, beautiful?” he whispered.
“I… I want to be naked with you… in your bed. Now, please.”
He stood and held his hand out to me. Then he cupped my face between his hands. “Are you sure about this? I mean, I want you so bad that it hurts. What I need to know is that you’re ready for this.”
I placed a fingertip to his lips. “I’ve waited years for this moment. I can’t wait any longer.”
He planted the gentlest of kisses to my lips and led me from the room. His home phone rang. “Shit. Shit. Shit. Ruby, I’m so sorry, I need to answer this. It could be the surgery.”
As much as I was frustrated, I understood he had to respond.
“It’s okay.”
I sat back down while he answered it. My mind was elsewhere as I heard him respond and then go silent while the other person spoke.
“And you’re sure the hire car is registered to him? Okay, Miss James is staying here the night.”
My skin went cold. Obviously, it wasn’t the vets, and I didn’t think I was going to like what came next.
He sat down and took my hands in his.
“What’s happened?”
“The car that almost ran us off the road was a rental. It was hired from Stansted Airport, by Jamie.”
My world imploded at Ben’s words. The room spun, and as I started to black out, I heard Ben call out to me.
* * *
BEN
I was so concerned when Ruby fainted after I told her about Jamie. Trust that man to be the cause of more stress for her. It wasn’t long before she started to come to. She moaned and whimpered. I gathered her up in my arms and just held her. She clung to me in an almost vice-like grip. My anger against this man almost consumed me, but I needed to remain calm for Ruby’s sake.
I pulled away and tilted her chin up to meet my eyes. Her face crumpled and she began to sob. Deep, gut-wrenching cries that made me want to cry right along with her. Again, I pulled her to me, stroking her hair and rocking her.
“It’s okay, Ruby. It’s going to be okay.”
I really hoped it was, because there was more of the conversation she needed to know about.
“What else did the police say?” she whispered, reading my facial expressions.
“The car was discovered abandoned. I guess he realised we’d have the car registration and decided to ditch it.”
She frowned. “That seems like extreme behaviour to just leave the car like that.”
