“Want something to drink?” I asked as I turned off the television Payton had left on.
Ruby’s gaze didn’t leave the windows. “No, thank you.”
Okay, now what? I went to a cabinet, pulled down a bottle of bourbon and a glass, got some ice, and poured myself two fingers’ worth. Normally, I drank my bourbon neat, but tonight I wanted my drink cold to contrast the hot woman before me.
“This is awkward,” she said, turning just enough to give me her profile. “Like, I know we’re supposed to get naked, but I’m suddenly not sure how to do that.”
As I sipped my whiskey, I gave a silent thank you. It was the ‘in’ I needed. My voice firmed up. “You let me worry about the how. Take off your boots.”
My command was a match being dragged against the striker strip of a matchbox, igniting the desire in us. Her eyes heated. Lust flared wildly.
She leaned over, grabbed a heel in a hand, and tugged the black boot off, followed by the other. I stood there, sipping my bourbon, but drinking her in more. She padded on her sock-covered feet to the laundry room and set her shoes inside, then looked at me expectantly, awaiting further instructions. Jesus. How did something so simple have such an impact on me?
I cast one long finger down the hall toward my bedroom, keeping my expression authoritative, and I watched her throat as she swallowed hard. Her brown hair swayed gently down her back as she went.
My bedroom wasn’t large, and the bed took up the majority of the space. I left the lights off, but the shades were open, so plenty of light from outside filtered in through the wall of windows to our right. It cast a large block of pale shadows over the wood floor and the thick white rug the bed was set on.
I’d thought this room was sexy before, but knowing what was going to happen here made it infinitely more so.
I rested my tumbler of bourbon on the dresser as Ruby turned in place to face me. When her lips parted to say something, I placed my finger over her mouth, stilling them. Her eyes were inquisitive and beautiful. I’d swear on a stack of Bibles she’d grown more stunning in the last five years.
I dragged my finger over her chin, drawing a slow line down her neck. She took in a deep breath, her gaze locked onto mine, and when I reached the neckline of her sweater, I splayed my fingers out, pressing my hand over the swell of her breasts.
Down my hand continued. It trailed painfully slow, inching toward her waist.
Her eyes flared with lust and she sighed when I slipped my fingertips beneath the hem of her top and skated them over her bare skin. Then I followed the path I’d drawn down her body, only this time in reverse, lifting her sweater as I went up.
Her arms rose without a command from me, and the bulky top was peeled away, revealing her plum colored bra. Her nipples strained against the lace, already begging for me to touch her. I cast her sweater aside, took in the sight of her in a bra and her skinny black pants for an appreciative moment, and then dipped my head down to bring our lips together. Her eyes fluttered shut for the impending kiss.
Oh, not yet, Ruby. I wanted to keep her guessing. Whatever we did tonight would set the tone for our partnership going forward.
I grasped her elbow abruptly and pulled her stumbling along, until we reached the window and I had her flattened to the glass with a loud bang. She gasped against it, and the sharp noise of surprise from her was a surge of adrenaline. I hooked my arm under her elbows, pulling her arms back and forcing her to arch into the glass. It left my other hand free to grab the back waistband of her pants and stretch them over her ass, yanking them down.
It took a second jerk until I was satisfied and the pants were left wadded at her knees, exposing her naked lower body. Excitement lit me up as I mentally prepared for what I was about to do.
I slapped my palm against her left cheek, and I didn’t hold back either. There was a loud crack, and she jolted with a grunt. A sweet mixture of discomfort and satisfaction.
“This fucking ass,” I said, striking her other cheek with the same intensity. “You want me to spank it raw?”
“Yes,” she breathed.
I pulled her elbows together tighter, hard and high, which had to be uncomfortable, but she didn’t ask me to stop. Her shallow, hurried breaths were wordless pleas to continue. I crushed my chest to her back, bringing my mouth beside her ear. “Yes, what?”
I traced the tip of my tongue over her neck and up, licking her all the way along the edge of her ear.
Did her whole body shudder? “Yes, please.”
I rewarded her with another spanking, only this time I left my hand against her heated skin. I pushed down, sliding my fingers between her legs and finding her pussy wet and hot.
“Oh, God,” she groaned. Her hips pushed back into my hand so she could grind on my fingers, but I wouldn’t have it. Her pleasure was mine to control. Mine to give.
I released her with a shove toward the floor, and my tone was dark. “On your hands and knees.”
She couldn’t seem to get to the floor fast enough, encumbered by her half-down pants, but her knees thudded to the rug, and she launched forward onto her hands. I bent and gripped the ankles of her leggings and yanked them off, leaving her naked except her delicate bra. She was all smooth, pale skin, pink between her legs, and my gaze swept over the exaggerated curves of her hourglass figure.
“Goddamn, Ruby,” I said when I leaned over and rubbed a circle on her damp clit.
She was so fucking wet, and it was like my touch was sending sparks along her body. She twitched and bowed. I half-expected her to purr with satisfaction. It was so hot, I began to sweat and reached for my drink.