Page 51 of A Tempting Seduction

“Carla is nine years older than me. Beautiful, successful, everything I'm not. She's a natural blonde, size six, never had to work for anything in her life.” Ruby's voice was thick with unshed tears. “When I found them together, at least Lance looked embarrassed. But Carla...”

Ruby stopped, her whole body shaking with the memory.

“What did she say?”

“She told me I was lucky anyone wanted to marry me. That I shouldn't ruin this for the family.” Ruby's voice broke. “She said Lance was doing me a favor by pretending to be attracted to me, and I should be grateful instead of dramatic.”

Rage flooded my system. Pure, white-hot fury at the woman who'd devastated Ruby with such calculated cruelty. I watched Ruby almost relive the moment in her head, saw her shoulders curve inward as if she was trying to protect herself from blows that had already landed.

I couldn't stand to see her so forlorn.

I stood up and scooped Ruby into my arms, lifting her clean off her chair. She gasped in surprise, her hands automatically going to my shoulders for balance.

“You can't carry me,” she protested, her voice thick with tears. “I'm too heavy.”

I laughed, the sound rough with emotion.

“I just did.”

I carried her to the living room and settled onto the couch with Ruby on my lap. She felt perfect in my arms, soft and warm and exactly where she belonged. I pulled her closer, one hand stroking her hair while the other rubbed circles on her back.

“You don't have to say anything else,” I murmured against her temple. “I just want to hold you for a bit. And maybe you can hold me.”

Ruby pulled back to look at me, confusion written across her tear-stained face.

“You want me to hold you?” Her voice carried genuine bewilderment. “You need holding?”

The question stunned me. As if the idea of mutual comfort was completely foreign to her.

“Of course.” I cupped her face in my hands, thumbs brushing away the remaining tears. “I want to be with someone who I can be there for, and who can be there for me. That's what a real relationship looks like, Ruby. Two people taking care of each other.”

Something shifted in Ruby's expression. The confusion melted away, replaced by something intense and hungry. She leaned forward and pressed her lips to mine.

The kiss started soft, tentative, but quickly became something desperate and demanding. Ruby's hands fisted in my shirt, pulling me closer as her mouth opened under mine. She kissed me like she was drowning and I was air, like she'd been starving and I was food.

I let her lead for a moment, let her pour all her need and gratitude and want into the connection between us. But when she made that little whimpering sound that drove me crazy, I took control.

I deepened the kiss, my tongue sliding against hers with slow deliberation. Ruby melted against me, her body going soft and pliant in my arms. I could taste the sweetness of tres leches cake and something that was purely Ruby.

My hands found the hem of her dress, sliding underneath to stroke the smooth skin of her thighs. Ruby gasped against my mouth, her hips shifting restlessly on my lap.

“Ford,” she breathed, my name a prayer on her lips.

I kissed my way down her throat, finding the sensitive spot where her pulse fluttered wildly. Ruby rolled sideways, so that she was now snuggled up to the back of the sofa. Her head fell onto my shoulder, giving me better access. Her breathing was coming in short pants now, her body trembling with need.

“Let me take care of you,” I whispered against her skin.

My hand slipped higher, finding the edge of her panties. Ruby's breath caught, her fingers digging into my shoulders.

“Please,” she whispered.

That single word undid me completely. I eased aside the gusset of her panties and touched her gently and carefully. I traced the seam of her sex and found her already wet. Now didn’t that make me feel good to know that just a few kisses could arouse Ruby so much?

Her legs trembled and I felt her start to close her thighs, but I stopped her before she could. I pushed my knee between her legs so that she was forced to widen, allowing me to learn even more parts of her welcoming body.

I gathered up some of her silky arousal and used its slick essence to circle her clit with my work-roughened fingers.

“Ahhh,” she moaned.