Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
RUBY
When I was a kid, I blurted out anything that came to mind. As the baby girl of the family, I could get away with anything.
There was never any punishment.
But yesterday, the vibrator incident with Declan, I wish someone had told me to quit talking.
Especially when I said that I’d be thinking of him in his sweatpants.
Of course I would be.
Look at the man.
I’m not blind, but I’m clearly horny. First, I dry hump him in the living room, and then I’m telling him I use both vibrators at once.
God. I even had time to calm down from the discussion and still came back to it.
I swear. Me. Declan. Alone. Brain malfunction.
Not to mention, I don’t actually use them at the same time. Just the idea of that confuses me.
Fuck.
Why would I even say that?
I groan, glancing at the clock.
Five a.m.
I guarantee that no one else is awake right now.
With our flights leaving tomorrow morning for Vegas, I won’t have any alone time for a while.
My eyes move to the top drawer of my nightstand.
No one would know.
I reach in and grab the one he assumed is my favorite.
I close my eyes and slip my hands under the covers.
My sleep shorts are loose enough that I can leave them on, and the fact that I don’t wear underwear to bed is convenient right now.
A vision of Declan and I in the living room takes over. The memory of how hard he felt underneath me feels as if it were happening again right now.
I press the tip of the vibrator to my core, and it slips inside. I didn’t need to add gel. No, just thoughts of the man living downstairs has me wet enough to do this right now.
My back bows a little as I slide it farther and a new image pops into my head: he and I standing in the kitchen with the vibrators in my hand.
I imagine him stepping closer to me until the back of my legs hit the table. He’d pick me up, strip my pants off, then spread my legs to eat me right there because he has no self-control, and I'd let him because I don’t either.
And since no one has ever done that to me, I want to know what it feels like.
He’d flick his tongue over me, over and over, dirty words coming from his mouth between each one, just the way I read them in books.
You’re so wet.
This is all for me.
I can’t wait to be inside of you.
This pussy is perfect.
Then I’d beg him to just put it in and fuck me.
I don’t need sweet foreplay to drag this out. I need to get off.
I slide the vibrator as far as it can go, the smaller end touching my clit. Then I turn it on, and my entire body starts to shake with the vibrations.
I come quickly with Declan on my mind, and I let myself ride it out until the tingle that courses through my veins fades.
I slide the vibrator out and begin to catch my breath.
Oh, God.
What did I just do?
I’ve never been so thankful for being busy before. Cleaning, laundry, and packing have been more enjoyable than ever before.
“Your dad will be here soon, so let’s make sure your bag is packed and ready,” I say to Max when he steps inside from the backyard where he was playing soccer with Susie.
“Yes! I can’t wait to see him.” He runs to his room.
As if he knew we were talking about him, a horn honks out front. Colt.
“He's here, Max!” I shout just as Declan appears at the top of the stairs.
His eyes meet mine, and I look away instantly.
Guilt from this morning hits me hard, but my heart pounds harder.
I’ve been avoiding him all day because of it.
Like, I have this need to tell him so that I can be free of it, but I know that will never happen because I’d be mortified.
I move to rush out of the kitchen to greet Colt just as Declan steps into it. I turn to shuffle sideways, but my body still brushes against his.
His hand lingers, his fingers grazing my stomach as we pass each other.
I freeze, my skin hot under his touch.
His head is down, and his eyes are closed.
Relief floods me. I don’t know what would happen if his gaze locked onto mine. Would he read my mind? Would I blurt out something embarrassing?
The sound of a car door slamming pulls me from the moment.
I dash out the front door and don’t look back.
“You made it!” I say, meeting Colt halfway down the driveway and wrapping him in a hug.
He hugs me back.
“I’ve been here many times, Ruby. I’m not going to get lost.”
I swat his shoulder and step back.
Colt’s eyes are on the front porch.
Declan.
“Look, I know we talked about this, but is everything going okay? Do you still think it’s a good move? You weren’t too sure about it before.”
I tilt my head as if to say are you being serious? and then I sigh, preparing myself to do something I don’t do often but am mature enough to know it’s the right move.
“He’s a good guy, Colt. He’s great with the kids, and Max looks up to him. It’s actually been nice having him here.”
Colt’s eyes flick to me, and then he grins. “Do you like him?”
“What? No.”
I roll my eyes to drive the point home. “It’s actually a little annoying, how nice he is. I mean, just watching him with his daughter is so freaking cute, it makes me want to puke sometimes.”
“Come on, Ruby.” He nudges me with his elbow. “Just because it didn't work between us doesn't mean I don’t know you. We lived together for seven years, remember? This man gets a reaction out of you that I was never able to get. His choices leave him on your mind most of the day, don’t they?”
I know he isn’t saying this to make me feel guilty, but I think a part of me always will.
Colt tried to make it work with us. More so than me.
I accepted that we weren’t a match long before he could.
Image is important to his family, so their teenage son getting a woman pregnant and then she up and moved to some small town in Wyoming probably makes his mother cringe.
I have no doubt that my moving is why his father feels the need to check in on me with payment updates.
To be sure I didn’t leave thinking my debt would be waived, I’m sure.
I don’t know what Colt said to them after I left, but he and I decided together that raising Max here was best, that’s all that matters to me.
Sometimes, I think Colt wishes he lived a different life than the one dealt to him, so when the opportunity for me and Max to leave arose, he didn’t want us to miss it.
“Ruby?” Colt says softly and tilts his head to look at me. “All good?”
I nod.
“Yes, sorry. Just a little lost in thought.”
“I see that and I—”
Before he can get another word out, the front door opens, and Max and Susie run out in a flash.
Declan continues to stand on the porch, his gaze sweeping over Colt and me.
My entire body becomes alert, and as much as I hate to admit it, my nipples harden from the look Declan is giving me.
His gaze turns dark as he crosses his arms, still never breaking eye contact with me.
“Well,” Colt whispers with a teasing tone, “whatever you don’t feel, seems like he doesn’t feel it either.”
I don’t have time to reply before Max practically launches himself into Colt’s arms.
“Dad! You made it!”
“I missed you so much,” Colt says and then sets him down to ruffle his hair.
“Same. This is Susie,” Max says with the biggest grin on his face. “My best friend. She’s super cool.”
“Hi.” Susie waves and then shyly spins to run back to her dad.
“And that’s Declan. He told me not to call him Mr. Young.”
“That’s great. I better go meet him.”
Max grabs his dad’s hand and pulls him toward the front porch. I follow behind them, listening to the two of them chat. It’s hard not to.
“You’re going to like him. He’s extra smart. He’s into tech stuff, just like you.”
“That’s pretty neat.”
“Yeah, Mom’s computer crashed, and he fixed it, and then he bought her a new one.”
I don’t need to look up to feel Colt staring at me.
We hit the steps and Max starts to introduce them right away.
“Dad, this is Declan. Declan, this is my dad.”
My heart swells at how happy Max looks right now.
Colt and Declan shake hands.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Colt says.
“Likewise. Max talks about you a lot.”
“He’s mentioned you a couple of times, but I have to admit, I think I might know more about Susie at this point.”
Me, Declan, and Colt all laugh, and my gaze finds Declan’s again. It's like my insides turn to mush.
I turn for the door to avoid anyone being able to read my facial expression.
“Let’s go in; it’s hot. Max’s things are ready to go.”
“Where is Susie headed for the weekend?” Colt asks as we step inside.
Declan closes the door and comes to stand by me.
I sidestep to give us some distance.
Declan widens his stance and crosses his arms.
“My parents are driving up from Wind Valley. They should be here any moment.”
“Are they staying here?”
Declan nods.
“Then why are Max and I leaving?” Colt shifts his gaze to mine. “Why don’t I get a room at the lodge and stay here for the weekend? Max can still stay with me, but during the day, we can be here or by the water so the kids can play. We both know that would be a more enjoyable weekend for him.”
I smirk at Colt.
“What are you trying to get out of?”
“Nothing.”
His quick answer isn’t convincing.
“Honestly,” I start. “Max would love that, but it’s your call. They both already know they won’t spend the weekend together.”
“Do you think your parents would mind?” Colt asks Declan.
He doesn’t reply right away. Instead, he’s watching Colt, clearly thinking over his answer.
Finally, he says, “I think they would like that.”
Then he clears his throat, “Excuse me.”
He moves for the stairs and jogs down.
“Do you think I offended him?” Colt asks.
I shrug. “No. He would tell you. I don’t know what just happened. Do you want to stay for dinner?” I ask and then wave him toward the kitchen.
“Yeah, just let me step outside to call the lodge.”
Once he’s outside, I glance back at the stairs. My feet move toward it as if it’s the most natural thing in the world.
Something just happened that upset Declan, and I want to know what it was.
I need to know.
I take one step down and pause.