Ruby

I moan as I wrap my legs around Zane's waist.

Despite my determination not to, I've been thinking about him ever since I ran out of Grandmother's place without a backwards glance. Even with everything that's happened, I just couldn't let go of him.

My heart wouldn't let me.

Dad got a better job so my parents are actually in a good place financially. They even moved into a much better apartment. And I got a scholarship to go to a good university. One even Grandmother wouldn't look down her nose at.

School is good. My grades are good.

Boys have hit on me, but I don't feel any interest. Not even a little. And something still felt missing in my life. A void that ached.

I've been ignoring the fact that I know exactly what's missing, hoping it will go away. But it hasn’t. It persisted, prodding at me, whispering at me. It wouldn't let me go.

I finally had to confront it, confront why I wasn't happy. With a cool head, I rethought everything that happened between us.

Yes, Zane wasn't honest. The fact that he was my first only amplified the sense of betrayal, the feeling of my vulnerability being exploited. And then finding out that there was another layer to the deception, that he wasn't even human but Singarti…

It was too much for me to process all at once at the time.

But that isn't the whole picture. No matter how much I tried to make it be.

He came to see me at Grandmother's to be honest. To lay everything out. To try to reconnect, fix what was wrong. But I'd been too hurt to accept it. Too raw to give him, us, another chance. And I paid the price.

Long, lonely nights.

The desire to hear his voice, see his smile. Hear him say something in that low tone, the wicked glint in his eye.

I slide my fingers into his hair as I kiss him, wanting more. Wanting everything. This is what's been missing. This is what's been nagging at me.

He pulls back, his hair mussed, lips swollen from that so necessary kiss. "I love you too," he says, his eyes scanning my face, like he's memorizing it. Like he still can't quite believe I'm there. I should have come weeks ago.

I smile, kissing him gently as the words run through me in a warm wave.

He loves me.

"That's great," I murmur. "But maybe you could show me instead of telling me," I tease against his lips.

He grins. "Ask and you shall receive," he says, his voice already husky.

Our clothes are off so quickly I have no idea where they went. And I don't care, not with his naked body in front of me.

"Come on," he says, taking my hand and leading me to his bedroom. It's just as modern and gorgeous as what I've seen so far. Clean lines, dark neutral colors, heavily cushioned furniture. It's definitely a bachelor pad. A very rich bachelor's pad.

"I'm sorry I didn't make your first time more special," he says as we stop in front of his massive bed, the clean white sheets and pillows inviting.

I look into his eyes and can see the regret he's voicing. I can feel it emanating from him. It's so unnecessary.

I shake my head, cupping his face. "I don't regret it at all," I whisper. "Well. Maybe your friend walking in on us I could have done without."

He chuckles, shaking his head. "He's not my friend anymore."

Oh. "Really?"

"We don't see eye to eye on things now," he says as he guides me down onto the bed. "But that doesn't matter right now." He comes down on top of me, his body hot and hard. Including one very particular part. "I only want to think about you."

I shake my head, determined not to cry. He's done so much to try to win me back. I don't suspect for a second that he's being insincere.

I want the physical, want to feel reconnected in that way. I reach down and take a hold of his thick erection, my eyes widening at how big it really is. I thought maybe I was remembering wrong. But before I can explore more, he pulls away.

"I want to make you feel good," he murmurs as he kisses my face, my neck, the upper slopes of my breasts. "And the show will be over too fast if you do too much of that."

I want to argue, but then his mouth is on my tight nipples, sucking, nibbling, his hands smoothing down my sides. I sigh, letting the sensations wash over me. I missed this. Missed him.

He leaves my breasts, shaping them with his hands before moving down, kissing my stomach. But he doesn't go where I want him. Where I need him.

At least right away.

He moves to the side, kisses down one leg. And then the other. He lays a gentle kiss on the arch of one foot, and then the other.

"Zane," I complain, shifting impatiently.

He chuckles, finally moving up where I really need him. "You're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen," he murmurs, his eyes meeting mine as his head lowers.

My heart immediately melts. But then his mouth is on me, his tongue lapping at my clitoris softly. My body melts too. At this rate, I'll just be a puddle, and I'm totally okay with that.

I close my eyes, sinking into the softness of the bed. Oh, yes. He's going slowly, almost delicately. The pleasure almost laps at me, building just as slowly as he's going. But it's rising, even at that pace. One slow lick after another.

I'm damp with sweat as I push my hips up against his mouth minutes later, needing more, needing something. He presses my hips back down with a forearm over across me, pushing me back down, holding me there.

And then sucks on me.

Hard.

I cry out, arching as the orgasm flows through me, deep and long because of the buildup. It flows through every inch of me, until my whole body tingles with it. Zane follows me through it, holding me down for his mouth, forcing me to ride it.

Finally, I come back down with a sigh, trying to catch my breath as Zane kisses me gently, sitting up. I open my eyes, seeing his flushed face, his glittering eyes. My own track down his chest with the tight points of his nipples, his abs, tensed. Right down to his erection, already dripping with his excitement.

I sit up and reach for it, determined. He doesn't stop me this time as I wrap my hand around him, squeezing gently.

"Lie down," I say, pushing him back on the bed.

He lets me, watching as I bend over him. I slowly lick up his length. He groans, his body flexing.

Mmm.

I lick him some more, cupping his testicles, exploring. I want him to feel as good as I do.

I take the tip of him in my mouth, licking, swirling my tongue, trying to mimic how he'd used his on me. And all hell breaks loose.

A growl and then I'm suddenly on my back with my legs over Zane's shoulders, his face tight as he guides his erection to me with a hand at his base. Then he's sliding in, both of us groaning at the tight fit.

"Zane," I gasp, arching up into him at the intensity of it.

"I need to be inside you," he mutters.

He moves slowly, steady thrusts that eventually have him bottoming out inside me. I pant, feeling so full, like I could never be empty again.

"Okay?" he asks, smoothing his hands down my legs, kissing my ankle softly.

I nod. "More."

"Hmm."

He starts thrusting, slow and steady, his body moving like a machine, his muscles clenching and rippling with each movement. I could watch him move like that forever.

He bends over, my legs sliding to either side of him as he leans down to kiss me. It's soft, gentle, just like his body in mine.

I break the kiss to suck in some air and he stays there, his forehead braced against mine as his body moves inside me.

And it feels amazing.

Perfect.

I slide my hands over his damp back, thrusting in time with him. It's even better than before. I can see in his eyes how much he loves me. In the care he takes with my body. He lets me see it, leaves himself completely vulnerable to me.

Even after I hurt him, rejected him so harshly. I'll never hurt him like that again. His openness is a gift I won't take for granted.

Our pace is slow and we take our time, savoring the moment. Savoring being together again. But the inexorable slide to orgasm can't wait forever.

I make a sound in the back of my throat, needing a release again. Zane pulls out of me and I look at him questioningly.

"Turn over," he orders, helping me onto my hands and knees. And then his body is covering mine again, and he's pushing back in, deeper and more overwhelming than before.

I throw my head back on a gasp as he reaches under me and starts to rub my clitoris. Not slow and soft anymore, but fast and purposeful as he picks up his thrusts.

Sweat drips onto my back and I try to muffle my groans as he drives me up fast and hard now. And it's just as perfect.

There. Right there…

I moan as I clench down on him, just as he groans above me, pushing all the way in. His erection jerks inside me as I come, both of us straining for the release. By the time it's over, I'm sliding down onto the bed, collapsing.

I feel wonderful. But completely done.

Zane slides right down on top of me, making sure to move to the side so I can breathe. We take a moment to catch our breaths, our heartbeats still fast even as our bodies start to cool.

He kisses my cheek, sliding his hand up to lace his fingers with mine. It’s another small gesture that betrays his caring.

"I love you, Red," he murmurs, nuzzling my neck.

I feel the glow of the aftermath combine with the warmth of those words. I feel utterly content. This is where I'm supposed to be.

Right here, with Zane.

"I love you too."