Chapter Twelve #2
She worked Celeste through it, gentling her touches as the aftershocks rolled through her, murmuring soft words against her skin.
“Holy shit,” Celeste breathed when she could speak again, her eyes dazed and wondering. “That was—I didn't know it could be—”
Ruby kissed her, swallowing whatever words were about to follow. Celeste's hands roamed her body with new confidence, mapping curves and valleys .
“Your turn,” she said, and the determination in her voice made Ruby's stomach flip.
Celeste might have been inexperienced, but what she lacked in technique she made up for in enthusiasm. She was a quick study, paying attention to Ruby's reactions and adjusting her touch based on what made Ruby's breath hitch and her hips buck.
And maybe it was the unexpectedness of it—the contrast between Celeste's usual reservation and this uninhibited exploration—but Ruby had never felt anything quite like this.
When Celeste's mouth replaced her fingers, Ruby nearly came apart on the spot.
“Is this okay?”
Celeste’s breath brushed against Ruby’s tight. The mix of uncertainty and undeniable desire was almost Ruby’s undoing.
“More than okay,” Ruby managed through the haze of pleasure. “Perfect. You're perfect.”
Celeste took her time, exploring with her tongue, her fingers, finding the combination that had Ruby gripping the headboard and biting back screams. The hotel had neighbors, but Ruby couldn't bring herself to care.
When the orgasm hit, it was like falling and flying at the same time, pleasure rolling through her in waves that seemed to go on forever. She pulled Celeste up for a kiss, tasting herself on Celeste's lips, and the flutter in her belly expanded dangerously.
“Where did you learn to do that?” Ruby asked when her brain started working again.
Celeste smiled, looking pleased with herself and thoroughly debauched. “I'm a quick learner. And very motivated.”
They made love again, slower this time, but no less intense. Ruby rolled them over so Celeste was straddling her, her hair falling like a curtain around their faces.
“I want to watch you. I want to see your face when you come one more time.”
Celeste's breath hitched, her pupils dilating. She leaned down to kiss Ruby, her tongue claiming, possessing, and Ruby groaned at the shift in dynamic.
When Celeste pulled back, her eyes were dark with desire. “Show me how to make you feel really good.”
Ruby guided Celeste's hand between her own legs, showing her the exact pressure and rhythm that worked best. “Like this. Just—oh God, yes, like that.”
Celeste found Ruby’s clit and circled it with the perfect amount of pressure, murmuring, “I love watching you like this and seeing how you react to every gesture.”
“You rouse every bit of desire in me. Everything.”
Ruby felt the pleasure building at the base of her spine, but she didn't want to come alone. She slipped her own hand between Celeste's thighs from behind, finding her wet and ready.
“Oh,” Celeste gasped, her rhythm faltering for a moment before she recovered. “Oh.”
“Together,” Ruby said, her fingers matching Celeste's pace. “I want to come with you.”
They moved in tandem, hands working each other, eyes locked, breathing in sync. The intimacy of it was almost unbearable—watching Celeste's face as pleasure built, feeling her shake above Ruby, knowing they were bringing each other to the edge together.
“I'm close,” Celeste managed to say, her free hand braced on the headboard above Ruby's head.
“Me too. Don't stop, please don't—” Ruby's words cut off in a moan as Celeste's fingers found exactly the right spot.
The orgasm built slowly this time, different from the first. Not the sharp burst of pleasure but something more sustained. Ruby felt it rolling through her in waves, and she could tell from the way Celeste's eyes went wide that she was feeling the same thing.
They came within seconds of each other, crying out in unison, bodies trembling with the force of it. Celeste collapsed onto Ruby, both of them overcome with aftershocks.
“That was…” Celeste started but couldn't seem to finish the sentence.
“Yeah. It really was.”
They were quiet for a while, the only sound their gradually slowing breathing. Celeste's hand stilled, and Ruby realized she was falling asleep.
Ruby should have been satisfied. This was exactly what she'd agreed to, one night of incredible sex with no strings attached. She'd gotten Celeste out of her system. Mission accomplished.
Except she hadn't. Not even close.
If anything, she felt more tangled up in Celeste than before. More drawn to her.
Ruby looked down at Celeste's sleeping face, peaceful and unguarded in a way she never was while awake, and felt her insides do a terrifying lurch.
She hadn't gotten Celeste out of her system. She'd gotten her deeper in.
She was becoming more enmeshed in the intoxicating enigma that was Celeste Russo than she'd been before they'd tumbled into bed, more captivated by the contradiction of her—the woman who lived so specifically but made love like she was in space and Ruby was oxygen. And she was eager, oh so eager.
Oh no, she thought. Oh no, this is bad.
Celeste had made it abundantly clear this could only ever be physical. She had a life and family waiting back home and was too afraid to be herself in the world.
Ruby had promised herself she'd never be someone's secret again. And here she was, lying in bed with a woman who'd just told her in no uncertain terms that this couldn't go anywhere.
But Celeste shifted in her sleep, curling closer, and Ruby's arm came around her automatically, pulling her in.
The city lights filtered through the curtains, painting patterns on the ceiling. Ruby lay awake, listening to Celeste breathe, and tried not to think about what would happen when morning came.
But her heart—traitorous, hopeful thing—was already thinking about tomorrow. And the day after. And all the tomorrows she wanted but couldn't have.
She pressed a kiss to Celeste's hair, so gentle it couldn't possibly wake her.
“This is rapidly unfurling in ways I never imagined,” she whispered into the darkness. “And I can’t help it.”
Celeste's only response was to snuggle closer, and Ruby held her like she was an ultimate lifeline.
Because she was.
And that was exactly the problem.
Ruby had thought one night would be enough to get Celeste out of her system. Instead, she'd become more desperate to unravel her secrets. More determined to be the person who could finally make Celeste feel safe enough to be herself.
One night hadn't been enough.
One night would never be enough.
And Ruby had absolutely no idea what she was going to do about that.