Page 76 of Freeing Ruby

She shakes her head. “No. Never.” She squeezes my hand. “But I want this, with you.”

My mind is racing. Go slow, don’t rush her, ease her into it. Make it good for her.

I kneel on the bed, looming over her, supporting myself on one hand while the other slides into her hair. The long strands fan out around her, like a halo of fire. God, she’s beautiful. I lean down to trail nibbling kisses along her neck, skimming lightly, teasing her. I smile when she shivers.

Take it slow.

I press my mouth to her pulse point and suck gently, although I’m careful not to leave a mark.

Not too fast.

I skim my lips upward to trail kisses along her jawline, up the side of her cheek to the sensitive spot behind her ear. She shivers.

My God, she’s so responsive.

More light kisses up to her temple, her forehead, and when she closes her eyes, I feather soft kisses on her eyelids.

Her hands latch tightly onto my arms. Then, and only then, do I allow myself to capture her mouth. Her lips part on a breathy sigh, and I deepen the kiss. I nudge her lips open wider and touch the tip of my tongue to hers. She startles a moment at the unfamiliar touch, but then she eases into it, stroking my tongue with hers.

She’s going to be the death of me.

Ruby releases my arms and slides her hands over my chest, stroking my heated skin. Her palms travel up to my shoulders, and she clutches them.

Slow, slow, slow… it’s like a mantra in my head. A reminder not to rush her.

Ease her into it.

But then she surprises me when she skims her soft fingers down my chest to my abs. She brushes the line of hair that runs from my navel to disappear beneath the waistband of my briefs. Oh, fuck!

Okay, it’s time to lose our clothes. I lean back and grasp the hem of her nightgown. “Let’s take this off, all right?” I wait for her to nod before I slowly start to lift it. She raises her hips, then sits up as I drag the garment up past her belly, then her waist, and finally to her breasts. My gaze fixes on her breasts—perfect little mounds of cream-colored flesh topped with pink nipples. Right before my eyes, those nipples begin to tighten into little buds. When I brush one nipple lightly with the tip of my index finger, she gasps.

I pull the nightgown off her and toss it aside. Her arms come up and cross over her chest, covering her breasts. She looks so nervous, so unsure.

“We can stop if you want to,” I tell her. “We don’t have to do this tonight. There’s no rush. We can take our time.”

“No!” She laughs at her own outburst. “I mean, no, that’s okay. I don’t want to wait. I’m nervous, that’s all. I don’t want to mess this up.”

I chuckle. “Honey, that’s my line.”

“I don’t want to make a fool of myself.”

“Ruby, if anyone’s going to do that, it’ll be me.”

She smiles. “You’re just being nice.”

“No, I’m being truthful.”

She drops her arms to her side then, revealing herself. I want to devour her. I’m desperate to go down on her, but I’m afraid that might be too much for her first time. There are other ways I can make her feel good.

I urge her to scoot across the bed, and I follow her. I lie beside her and kiss her sensitive throat. I already know she likes that. My hand skims down to her chest, and I cover one of her breasts, molding it to fit my palm. I brush her nipple gently, teasing the tight little bud, and she cries out. And while I’m keeping her occupied with my mouth on first one nipple, then the other, I slip my other hand down her soft belly to the sweet spot between her thighs.

When I touch her, she arches her hips and gasps, “Miguel!”

Hearing her say my name like that blows my mind. “Trust me, sweetheart. I’ll make this good for you, I swear.”

Chapter 28

Ruby

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