Chapter 54 My Roman Empire
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
My Roman Empire
Ryker
Ruby and I waited out the front of the function centre with the guys and Tori. Evan had ordered a shuttle big enough to fit us all, but it was taking ages to get here.
The night air was crisp. Even with Ruby wrapped in my far-too-big jacket and my hands continuously rubbing up and down her arms, she was still shivering.
Though I wouldn’t admit it in front of the guys, I was fucking freezing too. My dick wasn’t loving it either, and he had a long night ahead. I didn’t want to piss him off.
“Forget it, man,” Brady called out, doing his best to keep Tori warm. “Let’s just order separate Ubers.”
“Chill,” Evan called back. “It’s here.”
Wanting to get Ruby out of the cold, I ushered her in first, which meant we were all the way at the back. At least the driver had the heat cranking. By the time Evan was sliding the shuttle door closed, colour had returned to Ruby’s cheeks.
I still couldn’t get over how beautiful she looked.
Even if she and Noah had still been together, I probably would have asked her to be my date tonight anyway.
Though the thought of sitting beside her platonically, or telling her how amazing she looked without following it up with a detailed list of the things I wanted to do to her, wasn’t a scenario I liked imagining.
We may have started this just for fun, but somewhere along the way, it had turned into more than that to me. The possibility of it ending and moving to opposite sides of the country hit harder than a helmet to the ribs.
I wanted to be with Ruby – fully. I wanted to call her my girlfriend – officially. I wanted her to be my date to every event – for the rest of my life. I wanted to admit I was in love with her – out loud.
When I looked forward to next week, it wasn’t the Draft that came to mind first – it was her. Sitting together on the plane. Sneaking into her hotel room. Ordering room service for breakfast. Taking her to a nice restaurant for dinner. Eating her for dessert.
I was in so fucking deep, and I was okay with it. What worried me was whether she felt the same way.
I’d once promised her that when this ended, we could go back to being friends, as if nothing had ever happened.
But deep down, I already knew I couldn’t.
If Ruby didn’t want me the way I wanted her, I’d have a hard time accepting it.
And there was no chance I could idly stand on the sidelines if she started seeing someone else.
Shaking off the infuriating thought, I forced myself to return to reality, focusing on Brady and Tori in the row in front of us. Tori was practically straddling my cousin as they ravaged one another.
Pat and Kyler were ahead of them, too busy talking to notice the make out session happening behind them, and Evan was all the way up front, attempting to convince the driver to change the radio station.
Realising this was my second to last night with them all bummed me out. The past four years had been nothing short of amazing. I wished I could slow it all down and have one more year of this.
“This thing is huge,” Ruby breathed, her fingertips grazing the trophy by my feet. “I doubt it’ll fit in the car on the way home. We might have to strap it to the roof.”
I was still in shock that they’d called my name – so surprised I hadn’t had a speech or anything prepared. I’d assumed Holloway had it in the bag.
“But as proud as I am, I didn’t love that it stole you away from me for the rest of the night,” Ruby went on, pouting slightly. “Dancing with Evan wasn’t the same.”
After the presentation wrapped up, it’s like all this media had appeared out of thin air.
While my friends got to return to the party, I’d been ushered into another room with the Dean and Coach and bombarded by cameras and questions. It was the perfect photo op for Phil-U. Nothing sold their sporting program quite like naming a soon-to-be NFL draftee as the Athlete of the Year.
“I’m sorry. I was thinking of you alone out there.”
“I wasn’t trying to make you feel bad,” Ruby grimaced, with a hint of an apology. “I can handle a party without you holding my hand. I just... missed you.”
My heart skipped a fucking beat like a love-struck teenager.
“I missed you too, Rubz. I hope Evan kept his hands to himself.”
She chuckled. “He was a perfect gentleman.”
He’d want to fucking hope so.
Trailing my fingers across Ruby’s throat, I let them drift along the curve of her cleavage and past the silk over her navel, before settling on the softness between her legs.
“Let me make it up to you.”
“At home?”
“Now,” I clarified, flickering my brows with emphasis.
She nervously glanced towards the front of the shuttle. We were in our own little world in the back seat – masked by darkness and hidden by the rows in front – and in that world, I wanted to make her come.
“Can you be quiet?”
She shook her head. “Not with you.”
Ruby always knew exactly what to say to send shockwaves straight to my cock. I didn’t often compare what we had to her and Noah, but I was confident she never would have said the same things to him.
I was beginning to realise that what Ruby and I shared was something neither of us had ever found with anyone else – and something I doubted we’d ever find again.
“Evan?” I called out.
“Yo?” he shouted back.
“Turn up the music.”
He did without question, which I owed him for.
As the volume increased, so did Ruby’s heartrate. She cautiously watched my hand, tracking it like it was a venomous animal preparing to strike.
Bending forward, I reached for the hem of her dress and gathered it in my fist. Her smooth legs seemed to go on forever in those heels.
I’d definitely be asking her to keep them on once we arrived back to my place.
Having them hang over my shoulders, digging into my back, played straight into one of my many Ruby fantasies.
As I trailed my fingertips across her warm skin, I had to summon all the patience I had. Knowing Ruby wasn’t wearing underwear was like giving a prison inmate a key to their freedom and telling them not to use it.
The fact I’d made it this far into the night was practically a victory. Though if the media hadn’t kept me occupied for the second half, I doubted I’d have lasted long before cracking and dragging her into the nearest bathroom.
I made sure to keep her dress covering her as I moved my hand between her legs. The wet heat I was met with caused me to growl. Thank fuck for Evan’s loud music.
I felt the vibration of Ruby’s moan as her head fell back and her eyes fluttered closed. Maybe this was a bad idea. Now I’d felt how keen she was, I wanted to go all the way. But unfortunately the back seat wasn’t private enough for her to ride me without the others noticing.
Ruby settled her leg over mine, granting me better access, before sliding lower in her seat. Working her up these past few weeks had been pure torture – though something told me it had gotten to her just as much.
With my lips parted, I watched in awe as pleasure made her its prey. If I could give my life to making Ruby feel good, I would.
As she jolted off the seat, I felt the moan building and pressed my lips to hers, muffling it so we wouldn’t give ourselves away.
Our tongues tangled as she rocked against my hand.
I inserted a deep finger for her to ride while my thumb dragged over her clit. Based on the way she rested her hand over mine, holding me steady, she liked it.
God knows how many songs had played or how close we were to home. All I could focus on was the girl next to me. Even as she began to lose control, I didn’t stop kissing her, not even to come up for air.
The perfect dose of pleasure and pain hit me when Ruby sank her teeth into my lower lip, attempting to drown out her cries. I couldn’t wait until we were alone and she didn’t have to hold back.
“Ryker,” she breathed, panting through each syllable. “I’m coming.”
Fuck yeah she was. Her pussy tightened around my finger at the same moment her clit pulsed against my thumb. The leg draped over mine started to quiver too, her muscles surrendering to the euphoric tremors.
Giving Ruby an orgasm was more satisfying than a perfect play. She was my favourite thing. My happy place. My Roman Empire. My purpose for existing.