Page 69 of Stroked Long
“That’s not true, no one has licked my neck.”
“You know what I mean.” She pushes my thigh.
“You shouldn’t be embarrassed in front of me, Rubes.” It’s not the most eloquent thing to say but fuck, I’m bad at awkward situations like this. I’m usually good at making them awkward, but I’ve never been one to pull the conversation away from awkward and into normal. That’s what Ruby does.
“It’s about to get a whole lot more embarrassing.” She plays with the packaging of the Oreos, avoiding eye contact with me when she says, “I kind of need your help.”
Not liking this sullen Ruby, I grip her chin with my thumb and index finger and force her to look at me. “What do you need help with?”
Once again, her cheeks blush with embarrassment, and the crazy thought of kissing those pouty lips crosses my mind. Would she like that? I know I would fucking like it. Shit, I would more than fucking like it. I would love it, to feel her mouth on mine, to taste her sweet lips, to know what it’s like to connect on a more intimate level. Fuck, I crave it.
Pulling me out of my reverie, she says, “Um, there is this job as a seamstress that would be perfect for me. It would work with my hours at the club, and it pays well.”
“Okay, what do you need my help with?”
“I need a recommendation.”
“No problem,” I say without skipping a beat.
Her face twists as if she has something else to day. “It’s more of an ask than a recommendation. You see, the job is with Bellini Chambers . . .”
“You want me to ask Reese to put in a good word for you?”
Realization hits, as in, Reese, who she stalked and then sprayed with Coke in the grocery store, Reese. She wants me to talk to Reese King for her since they are supposedly dating. That makes sense. She looks so fucking nervous, sitting there, wide-eyed, almost trembling. Little does she know, I would do just about anything for her.
“Is that asking too much?” Her hands are twisting in her lap now. “I know you’re not the best of friends with Reese, but I figured it’s a shot. I could really use the money. If it’s too much, just tell me, I would totally understand. I mean, it’s a—”
I cut her off with my hand to her lips. “It’s not a problem at all. I will talk to him tomorrow. I’m pretty sure he and Hollis will be in the weight room when I’m there.”
“Really?” She sits up, a ray of hope in her eyes.
“Of course.”
Throwing her arms around my neck, she pulls her body into mine and hugs me with all her might, her hair floating across my nose, her breasts pressed up against my chest.Fuck, it feels good.
Reciprocating the hug, I encompass her small waist with my arms and revel in the way she feels in my embrace. I’ve hugged Lauren and Eva, even an occasional woman I’ve had sex with. It’sneverfelt like this before, like the world has stopped spinning and the only thing in existence is the connection I have with Ruby. With her it feels . . . safe. Right.
And that’s just a hug. What would it be like to kiss her? I guess having her lips pressed against mine would no doubt make me unsteady, wobbly, totally consumed by her.
“Thank you, Bodi. This means so much to me.”
“Sure,” I answer awkwardly and give her a pat on the back, totally breaking up the intimate mood we were sharing. Yup, leave it to me to fuck that up. Needing to break the tension, I ask, “What are you watching?”
Releasing her tight hold from around my neck, she sits down next to me—like, right fucking next to me so our arms are touching—and she says, “Gilmore Girls. Have you ever seen it?”
“Pretty sure Eva watched it at some point. I might have caught an episode.”
“You might have caught an episode? Bodi, this show is amazing. How can you not have watched it?”
I hold back the disgusted face that wants to peek out. “Maybe because it’s a girl show.”
A gasp escapes Ruby, followed by a dramatic hand to the mouth. She reeks with horror. “How dare you say such a thing?Gilmore Girlsis a show for everyone.” Reaching for the remote, she snuggles up next to me, her arm looped in mine and points to the screen. “See, that’s Luke, he is a role model for all men.”
I know about Luke. Eva had a crush on him. Yes, lesbians are allowed to crush on men. She would always swoon over him for some reason. Was it the flannel?
“He’s wearing a backward hat,” I point out.
“So, you wear a hat.” She flicks the bill and leans in closer.And this is what I’ve missed. This . . . comfort. Acceptance. Warmth.Shit, if watchingGilmore Girlsmeans cuddling with Ruby, I’m all in.
