Lucky Baby (Crescent Cove 11)

“The last time I leaped, I—”

“No. Not his name here.” She still hadn’t admitted the rest about her brother’s best friend, but inside, I already knew. The muscles between my shoulder blades were so tight I was afraid they’d snap. “I’m not him.”

“I know. But all that shit got dredged up.” She twisted around in my arms to face me. “I can’t not feel like I’m in the middle of a hurricane when we’re together.”

“They say to get up against a big, sturdy wall w

hen they come through.”

Her eyebrow spiked. “I take it you’re the wall?”

“I can’t say I’ll never hurt you, Ruby. I just know I’ll never mean to.” I cupped her face, dragging my thumb across her cheek. “But I know I’ve never felt like this about anyone.”

Her gaze dropped to my chest.

Even without her spelling it all out, I suspected she’d loved someone else before. Maybe more than one person, though I had my doubts. “It doesn’t matter if I’m not the first.”

Her gaze snapped to mine. “First?”

“C’mon, Ruby. I’m gonna be the love of your goddamn life. At least from here on out.”

Her dark eyes widened. “Stop saying that. We barely know each other.”

“All it takes is a moment.” I drew her closer.

She slapped her hands on my chest, pushing back. “No, it doesn’t.”

I lowered my mouth to hers. “I’ll wait for you to catch up.” I kissed her before she could make another excuse.

I might not have been what she had in mind, but I was hers—whether she was ready or not.

Bending, I lifted her. At least her body knew she could count on me. She instinctively twined around me. Arms around my shoulders, legs around my waist.

God, she was magnificent. I didn’t have to worry that I’d break her. She was made for me, I was convinced of it.

I gripped her ass and stalked through the kitchen, out and around to the hallway that led to my bedroom.

“This doesn’t change anything,” she said against my mouth.

“Right.”

“It’s just sex.”

“Sure.” I kicked my bedroom door open and tossed her on the bed.

She bounced and fell back on her elbows. “Is this supposed to be a seduction scene?”

“This is supposed to be fun.” I grabbed her foot and flipped off her Converse sneaker. I dragged her down to the end of the bed and took care of the other foot. The Incredible Hulk socks made me laugh. “Mixing your comics.”

She rested her foot against my belly. “I’m a rebel.”

I reached under her pant leg and scrapped my nails over her calf as I dragged off her sock and tossed it over my shoulder. I repeated the move with the other leg.

She was trying so hard not to grin at me, but I knew this was exactly what we needed.

The truck had been overstimulation with a side of grief. My goal had been to take her mind off things. This was two adults learning what made sex fun for each other.

I had a feeling she didn’t allow herself to have too much fun these days. She was independent, headstrong, brilliant—a hell of a combination with art in the mix. Even if I’d bet my truck she didn’t see herself as an artist.