Ford felt his heart pound in his chest. “No.”
“Yes. Like a good brother.”
“I’m not your brother.”
“You almost were! If you had married Pernetta, you would have been my brother-in-law.”
“In-law is very different from brother,” he said, staring down into her gray eyes.
“Fine, then. Brother-in-law. Kiss me good night.”
He quickly kissed her forehead. “Good night.”
“That’s not a kiss.”
“It was.”
“No, it wasn’t. I want a real kiss.”
He kissed her temple. “Good night.”
“No. On my mouth.”
“Is that how a brother-in-law would kiss you?” He could feel the blood pounding in his ears.
“Yes.”
He touched her mouth with his in a brief kiss. He knew she was drunk. She was asking for things he shouldn’t give her. It was not right. He was not behaving as a gentleman should.
“Again.” She almost purred the word in his ear.
Against his better judgment, he touched his mouth to hers, and when he pulled away, she lifted her head, wanting more.
“Ruby.” His voice was so hoarse. “No more.”
“Just one more. Then I’ll go to bed.”
“Promise?”
She nodded.
His mouth touched hers, and he pressed his palms out to entangle his fingers with hers. She opened her mouth slightly, and her tongue pressed into his. He groaned. He could feel her legs trying to separate through the many layers of clothes to accommodate his body. She wanted him. He released her hands, and she arched against him.
Her arms encircled his neck, and he felt like he was drowning. His cock was hard, and he wanted nothing more than to lift up her skirts and feel her silky thighs wrap around his waist. When she moaned at the back of her throat, it sent him over the edge. His fingers were in her hair, and her own hands had moved from his neck to his lower back. Suddenly, she was pushing her hand between their bodies and pressing it against his throbbing cock.
“Ruby, don’t,” he said, breaking the kiss.
“No, don’t stop,” she said, almost begging. “Please.” She wiggled her body against his.
“Ruby. I can’t. You’re drunk.”
Ruby pouted like a little girl. “You don’t want me.”
“You know I do.”
“Then what?”
“It can’t be like this. Not when you’re saying things and behaving in a way you normally wouldn’t. Remember? I told you this would happen.”