Chapter Ruby
Ruby
When she opened her eyes again, she felt rather sore—and lonely.
Morgan and Blue must have started their day already, so she stretched out her sore muscles and swung her legs to the floor.
She couldn’t help but blush and grin when she remembered the night before.
It had felt so good that she couldn’t wait to experience more.
Checking her phone to find a message from her parents, she walked to the kitchen where she could already smell coffee brewing.
Only there was no one there. She poured the two cups that were already sitting nearby and then pressed play on the video her parents had sent her.
The smile that curled her lips then was involuntary.
Her father had filmed the entrance and living space, with both his and her mom’s commentary.
Ever since she’d mentioned Morgan, they’d been nothing but supportive about her growing relationship.
The door opened then. “I was looking for you.”
“Someone kept smushing his wet, slobbery nose into my face,” Morgan grumbled.
“My parents sent me something for you.”
“They did?” he asked, rather surprised—maybe even a little intimidated.
“Mmhmm,” she agreed with the first sip of coffee warming her insides. She handed over her phone. “Here.”
Morgan pressed play and soon, the worry fled his features as her father’s voice filled the silence. “This is the entry, but we will make sure the shoes are out of the way.” The camera moved forward, scanning the hallway. “Oh, we’d better get those cobwebs too.”
“I’m not getting on the ladder!” her mom called from somewhere out of frame.
“Of course. Oh, and this is Percy.” Her father introduced their ginger cat. “But he will be up in our bedroom, so your dog doesn’t get disturbed.”
“Blue.”
“What?”
“His dog’s name is Blue,” her mother softly reminded, coming into the frame as the camera entered the shared kitchen and dining room.
Her dad proceeded to show every inch of the house, earning himself laughter from off camera as he even went into the guest bathroom.
“I think he’s a clever man who can find the bathroom all by himself.”
“Well… yes, but still.” The camera panned back to the living room, landing on the orange ball of fluff on the couch before the video ended.
“That’s very sweet of them,” Morgan said as he forwarded the video to himself and typed a quick thank you with his name attached.
“Yes, sweet but also awkward.”
“Is your mom good with flowers?”
“She loves them!”
“And what does your dad drink?”
“Alcohol. He likes to try all kinds of new things.”
Morgan nodded and took a sip of his coffee. “I’m sure I’ll find something.”
“Does that mean I have to get you a present too?”
“Oh please, like you don’t already have one wrapped up and hidden.”
“Maybe…”
Morgan pulled her in, lips finding her cheek with a soft kiss. “Will you let me walk you to work?”
“Only if you pick me up too.”
“Anything to please you.”
With a full belly and heart, she walked by Morgan’s side all the way to work and started her shift with curious questions from Clara about the handsome man Ruby had been able to snag.
Just as she’d asked, Morgan stood waiting for her at the end of her shift. There was a live concert in the square, and Morgan revealed that he’d reserved a table so they could enjoy dinner outside.
The square was overflowing, and the Christmas music was right up her alley.
“So tonight, is our last night together?” Morgan asked once their dinner sat in front of them.
“Don’t say it like that. Sounds like our relationship is over before it begins. But yes, I’ll head home tomorrow and I’ll see you on Christmas.”
“What a shame,” he pouted rather playfully.
“It only makes the reunion sweeter. Do you want me to pick you up?”
“No, I’ll come by after brunch.”
“Is Jack going to be with you guys?”
“I’m not sure. I believe he and Alexander are spending Christmas Eve with Jack’s family.”
“If we can get Manuel to settle down, we can go on triple dates.”
Morgan chuckled and shook his head. “He likes to have flings but never gets too serious.”
“Well maybe he’ll hurry up when he sees how much fun we have.”
“I like that you include them so easily.”
“You don’t think it’s odd? I mean, we only met a few weeks ago and I don’t want to come across as a freak.”
“If you’re serious about someone, why hold back? Wouldn’t it be a waste of everyone’s time if you included the family later on, only to realise you didn’t get along with them. I’m sure if you wouldn’t, you’d seriously consider me as your partner.”
“I would.”
“So, it’s better to get all these things out of the way at the beginning. A good match isn’t just between the two partners, but their whole social circles.”
“What about your parents? You said they lived in Dallas, right?”
“And we are on a need-to-know basis.”
“I’m sorry.”
He shrugged and took a sip of his cocktail.
“Part of my brothers being so bold about my blindness and not coddling me is them. Once my parents figured out I had impaired vision, they treated me differently. The older Manuel and Alexander got, the more they realised how much my parents were holding me back.”
“And it caused a riff?”
“Yes, over time. At some point, when we were becoming successful, they made comments about my attribution not being as valid as theirs. I was used to it, but both Manuel and Alexander exploded. Now we barely talk, and I’ve found that I have more peace without their belittling voices in the back of my mind. ”
“But you still talk, because you said on a need-to-know basis?”
Morgan nodded, eyes still sparkling but not nearly as much as before. “They are still my parents and if they aren’t doing well, I would want to know. They get cards for special occasions, and we talk on the phone from time to time.”
“Do your brothers know?”
“Yes and disapprove, but they’ve never made me feel bad about it.”
“How would your parents handle Alexander’s sexuality?”
“Dad would go off the rails.”
“I’m sorry.”
“How would your parents react to something like that?”
“With way too many inappropriate questions and suggestions for adoption agencies and surrogates.”
“Because they want grandchildren?”
“More than anything. I mean, they already have one but if you leave it up to them, they’ll have a whole football team.”
“And you?” he asked, turning his hand palm up to ask her to take it. “Do you want children?”
“I do—like the whole nine yards, with my dream being a stay-at-home mom.” She thought being honest and admitting that right away would be best. It had worked so far.
“I’d better keep you around then. I would spoil you and the littles rotten.”
“So, kids aren’t a turn off?”
“Not a chance. More like let’s get started.” He ran his thumb over hers. “I mean, not right away. First, I would like to enjoy us, but yes I would like mini me’s in the future.”
“Can I ask you something regarding that?”
“Anything.”
“Is your sight defect genetic?”
“You mean if I can pass it on?”
“Yes.”
“No. I was just unlucky. No one else in my family has it.”
“I wasn’t asking because it would change my mind about wanting to have children with you…”
“It’s just good to know.”
“Sorry.”
“There’s nothing to apologise for.”
She inhaled, soaked up the feeling of serenity in his presence and kissed his knuckles. “Talking to you about the serious things in life feels peaceful.”
“That’s how it’s supposed to be.”
She laid his palm against her cheek and leaned against it, his thumb tenderly caressing her. “I know. I’m happy we are working so well to make this safe. Part of me is just… waiting for the other shoe to drop, I guess.”
“And if it does, we stand by each other’s side. We conquer the problems together.”
Morgan’s words and warm touch sunk through her bones into her soul, and she found herself fighting back tears. “I’ll stand by your side.”
Emotionally drained, she fell asleep that night the moment her head hit the pillow.
As she stood in the kitchen with her hair still damp and a steaming cup of coffee in her hands, Morgan returned from taking Blue out for his morning potty break. She set her cup on the counter—well, a little louder than she usually would have—and earned herself a chuckle. “Subtle.”
“That obvious?”
“Yes, darlin’, but don’t stop. I like that you always let me know where you are.” He stepped closer and she took his wrist. “I love how you always make sure my needs are met without having me stand out.”
“I’m glad I can make you feel that way.”
Morgan clenched her jaw and claimed her lips in a knee-buckling kiss. When his fingers slid down her neck and wrapped around her throat, she fed him a moan. He didn’t stop there, taking her other hand and guiding it to the bulge in his sweatpants.
“This is what you do to me,” he groaned against her mouth, thumb rubbing over the pulse throbbing through her jugular. “Do you know how hard it is to control myself around you? Do you know what it takes not to bend you over and fuck you whenever you are your beautiful, gorgeous self?”
“You don’t have to,” she whimpered.
“Oh darlin’, your words have my knees weak and my cock aching to be back inside you.” She gasped, swept off her feet and placed on the counter. “Now lift your fine ass,” he demanded, stripping her from the waist down the moment she did so. “Hands out.”
She offered her hands, palms together, watching with a pounding heart and quivering thighs as he wrapped her lace panties around her wrists. “Morgan…”
“Don’t you dare move.”
He spun and she stared after him as he walked out of the room. Her body was shaking, palms growing clammy as she waited—rather impatiently—for his return. When he finally walked around the corner, she let out a sigh of relief.
“Don’t tell me you thought I would forget you.” He wasn’t mocking her. No, not with that sweet seductive murmur in his voice. He knocked her legs apart with his knee and ripped the condom open with his teeth. “Hands behind my neck.”
Again, she listened, bringing their mouths together as she did so.
He didn’t tease her this time, instead giving her exactly what she needed.
His sweats lowered, and his large hands curled around her thighs, squeezing hard enough to bruise as he yanked her to the edge of the marble.
She crossed her ankles behind his back, trapping him in place.
He took her slowly again, not that it was particularly needed.
She rolled her hips, stealing another inch.
“So fucking needy,” he groaned against her lips. “You want me to go faster, don’t you?”
“Yes! Yes, please.”
“But how would you be able to work all day,” he teased, slowing the pace of his hips.
“I’ll figure it out. Please, Morgan.”
“You know what drives me wild, darlin’?”
She shook her head, biting her lip and trying to squeeze her legs around him so he would sink back into her.
“You begging for me to fuck you.”
“Please, Morgan, fuck me like our first time.”
His lips curled into the most seductive of grins, hips retracting one more time before slamming into her pelvis. She let out a cry, head falling back and her back arching into him. Her toes curled and her thighs clenched, but they were no match for his rough thrusts.
“You better be looking at my cock slamming into you,” he panted between gritted teeth. “Does it look as beautiful as it sounds?”
“Oh god, yes! Yes, it does.”
His hand slipped between them, his thumb finding her clit and making her head spin. Her moans echoed through the narrow space and mixed with his grunts.
“More pressure,” she whimpered, feeling her climax growing closer, yet so far away at the same time.
“How could I deny you anything with such sweet moans.” The pressure instantly increased and so did his speed. “You’re doing so well telling me what you need.”
She melted from his praise, especially when he used that deep, husky tone and it was mixed with the erotic sound of their bodies slamming into each other.
Her vision blurred and although she was desperate to watch, her head lolled back, and her body fell limp.
She tingled all the way down to her toes and her mind filled with the pleasure of relief as her orgasm washed over her.
“Good, just like that, give yourself to me.”
She panted for air, her walls clenching around him as his cock swelled and pulsed. His nose nuzzled into her neck, his arms around her waist and pushing beneath her shirt.
“You are the most perfect woman in the world.” He held her tight until they both came down from their high before he tossed the condom and unfastened her wrists. “How was that, darlin’?”
“Breathtaking.”
He chuckled and slipped her panties back up her legs. “Quite literally.”
“I like how vocal you are.”
“As much as I love those gorgeous whimpers and begs of yours.” He took her chin between his thumb and forefinger and gave her the most heartwarming kiss. “Do you trust me?”
“I do.”
He helped her off the counter and weaved their fingers together. “Good.” He tugged her into the bathroom and turned to face the floor to ceiling mirror. “Ever since you told me that you’re relearning to love yourself, I’ve tried to figure out how I could make you see how gorgeous you are.”
“Morgan—”
“I can’t make you do anything, so I just want you to stand here, in my arms and repeat after me: ‘I am beautiful.’”
She took a shaky breath, barely able to look at herself. “I am beautiful.”
With his hands blanketing hers, he hugged her tightly. “‘I am strong.’”
She focused on the pressure of Morgan’s embrace. “I am strong.”
“’I will love myself.’”
She closed her eyes and when she opened them again, she forced herself to look at the woman before her. “I will love myself.”
His lips found her ear, the soft praise all the reward she could ask for. “You did so well.”
“You’re going to make me do this over and over, aren’t you?”
“I am.”