Chapter 10

Chapter Ten

P ope

The sun is sinking behind the mountains, casting a warm, golden glow over everything but I can't seem to shake the tension running through my body. My hands still, resting on a beam as I watch Ruby approach. She's moving slowly, like she's carrying something heavy, but not physically. I can see it in the way her shoulders are drawn tight, her gaze slightly downcast. She's holding something back—again—but tonight, I can feel that it's different. She's ready to let it out.

The site is quiet, just the rustle of the wind through the trees and the occasional creak of wood settling around us. But it's the silence between us that holds the most weight, pressing down on me as Ruby steps closer, her fingers nervously twisting the edge of her notebook. My chest tightens. I've been waiting for this. She's finally going to let me in. Something about the way we worked together to cast off her ex has bonded us, but I'm not sure if it's in a good way.

I shift, crossing my arms, trying to keep myself calm, but my heart's pounding like a hammer against my ribs. She stops in front of me, close enough that I can see the way her hands tremble. Her eyes meet mine, and there's something raw in them—something I haven't seen before.

"I've been holding back," Ruby starts, her voice quiet but steady. She pauses, as if gathering her thoughts, then takes a deep breath. "I haven't been fair to you. And I'm sorry for that. You've been nothing but kind and generous to me."

Hearing her say those words hits me like a gut punch. I wasn't expecting her to apologize. Hell, I don't even think she owes me one. I uncross my arms and step forward, keeping my voice low, calm. "You don't owe me an apology, Ruby," I murmur, trying to ease the weight on her shoulders. "You've been through hell. I get it."

But she shakes her head, that dark intensity still in her eyes. "It's more than that," she says, her voice trembling slightly. "It's not just about what happened with him… it's about me. The way I shut people out, the way I convinced myself that I don't need anyone."

The way her words tumble out, it's like she's letting go of something she's held onto for far too long. She pauses, searching for the right words. "I was wrong, Pope. I do need someone. I need you."

Hearing those words from her, it's like everything inside me shifts. For so long, I've been fighting to break through those walls she built around herself, pushing to show her I'm different. And now, she's finally letting me in. That protective instinct I've always had around her flares up, but this time, it's not about shielding her from danger. It's about being there for her, helping her heal.

I step forward, closing the gap between us. My hands find her face, my thumbs brushing gently over her cheeks. "I'm here, Ruby," I murmur, my voice low and rough with emotion. "I've always been here. And I'm not going anywhere."

Her eyes well with tears, but she doesn't pull away. Instead, she leans into my touch, her fingers curling around my forearms like she's holding on for dear life. "I was so scared, Pope," she whispers, her voice shaking. "So scared that if I let you in, it would end up just like before. That you'd want to control me, that I'd lose myself again."

Her words twist something deep inside me, making my chest ache. I can see how deep those scars run, how much damage that bastard did to her. But I'm not him. I never will be.

"I'm not here to control you, Ruby," I say, my voice firm but tender. "I don't want to take anything from you. I just want to build something with you. Something real. Something that lasts."

The weight of everything we've been through hangs in the air between us, thick and heavy. But there's hope there too—a possibility for something new, something better. I lean down, pressing my forehead against hers, my voice dropping to a low rumble. "I'm in this, Ruby. All the way. I don't want half of you. I want all of you. Your heart, your trust, everything."

Ruby closes her eyes, a tear slipping down her cheek. "I want that too," she whispers, her voice barely audible. "I just… I didn't know how. I didn't know how to trust again."

Hearing her say that, it feels like a win—a small one, but a win nonetheless. I tighten my grip on her, pulling her against me, my arms wrapping around her waist. "You don't have to do it alone," I say, my voice soft but certain. "We'll figure it out together. You and me."

I lower my head, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to her forehead. It's not about passion or heat this time—it's about comfort, about showing her that I'm here, that I'm not going anywhere. My hands move gently, one resting on her lower back, the other sliding up to cup the back of her head, holding her close.

Ruby lets out a shaky breath, her hands gripping the front of my shirt as she leans into me. For the first time in a long time, she's letting herself be vulnerable, letting herself feel safe. Really, truly safe. It's a hell of a thing to witness, and it makes me want to hold her tighter, protect her from everything, even her own fears.

As we stand there, wrapped in each other's arms, I can feel the shift between us. It's subtle, but it's there—Ruby's walls coming down, her heart opening up to me. And I know, without a doubt, that I'm going to spend the rest of my life proving to her that she made the right choice.

"I know it's not going to be easy," I murmur, my lips brushing against her hair. "But I'm all in. I'm not just here for the good days. I'm here for all of it."

Ruby pulls back slightly, just enough to look up at me, her eyes filled with a mixture of gratitude and something deeper—something that feels a lot like love. "I know," she whispers, her voice thick with emotion. "And I'm ready. I'm ready to try."

I glance around the construction site, at the unfinished walls and beams surrounding us. "It's like this library," I say, nodding toward the structure. "We've been building it piece by piece, working through the hard parts. It's not perfect yet, but it's getting there. And when it's done, it's going to be strong. It's going to last."

Ruby smiles, a real smile this time, and it lights up her whole face. "Just like us," she says softly. "We're going to last too."

That hope, the possibility of something real and lasting, swells inside me. I lean down, pressing a kiss to her lips, slow and tender, filled with all the promises I don't even have to say out loud.

As we stand there, the sun setting behind us, I know one thing for sure: this is just the beginning. And with Ruby by my side, I'm ready to build something beautiful.

The scent of her fills my senses, intoxicating and alluring.

"I've spent countless nights beating myself up for that kiss between us." I unbutton my flannel and let it drop to the floor before pulling her close and lowering us both to the floor, her legs wrapping around my waist as I bury my hands in her hair. "And now here you are, tempting me like a vixen."

Her eyes never leave mine, the emotions pouring off of her in waves that send electric shocks straight to my core.

"You've kept me up so many nights," I confess.

A sly grin tugs at her lips. "So tell me, how many nights have you been thinking about me?"

"All of them," I reply, sucking in a breath of her heated skin before trailing my tongue along the curve of her neck.

She moans softly as I press my erection against her thigh, arousal pulsing through the fabric of our clothes.

"I want to feel you," she half-whispers, half-begs.

My cock throbs with need as she runs a hand over it, causing me to hiss and twitch.

"Be careful, baby. You're driving me mad with desire," I murmur before capturing her lips in a soft kiss.

Her hands work quickly to undo my pants and free me from their confines. I gasp for air, overcome with lust and every dirty thought I've had about her.

"Filthy and so precious, baby," I tease, watching as her eyes flare with desire.

"Looks like you have a thing for filthy, needy librarians," she taunts back, running her fingers over the cotton of my boxer briefs.

"God, being this close to you is torture," I groan, pulling her closer and pressing my cock against her heat. We continue to kiss and grind against each other, our soft moans the only sound in the cool darkness of the construction site.

"I can't stop thinking about what you'll taste like," she admits between breathless kisses.

My control wavers at her words. "Soon enough, baby. But first, I need you to ride my hand." I trail my lips down her neck, squeezing her breast through her dress. "And then I need you naked."

I don't give her a chance to respond. My hands impatiently fumble with the frilly lace hem of her dress, desperate to feel her soft skin against mine. She giggles as I tear the dress down her body, exposing her bare breasts for the first time. "You're so beautiful, it hurts to look at you, my precious angel," I whisper as I attach my lips to her pert little nipple.

Her body responds instantly, arching into me as we meld together in a delicious frenzy of hands and lips and creamy flesh. Each stroke and suck of my mouth sends her crashing over a new edge, her moans turning ragged and pleading. "I can't wait to taste you again, baby." With my other hand, I work my way between her thighs, playing her like an instrument. Her thighs begin to shake and her nails dig into my shoulder blades as she comes in waves of pleasure around my fingers. The way she moves and moans when she's in the throes of ecstasy is absolutely gorgeous, sending shockwaves of pleasure through my entire being.

Instinctively, I slip a hand under my waistband and grip my cock, tugging fiercely as tingles course through my body. Her intense eyes flick from mine to my hard length in hand, a soft smile spreading across her lips before she reaches out to touch me through the fabric of my boxer briefs. Just that brief contact is enough to send me over the edge, my release dampening the cotton and spreading against her skin. Our bodies trembling and breath shaky, we both come down from an intense release that surpasses any feeling I could have imagined before now. As our hot skin presses together, I can't help but marvel at how perfect we fit together. Still reeling from the intensity of our encounter, she peers up at me with wide innocent eyes.

"Does this make me your naughty librarian?" She grins.

"Absolutely, when my hand is down your pants and you look at me like that." Slowly, I pull my hands from between her legs, bringing them to my mouth to lick each finger clean, savoring the intoxicating taste of her. "When I'm bringing you pleasure, you look like a sweet, sweet angel."

She narrows her eyes playfully. "Sounds like you're trying to charm the pants off me."

My grin only deepens. "Newsflash, baby, I've already been there and done that." With that, I pull her into my arms and lift her up against the wall. Her ass rests on a wide horizontal ledge built into the side of the wall. She's almost completely revealed for me, and it's driving me wild with desire.

Her chest heaves and her nipples harden as my eyes roam over her. "I'll take care of myself," I answer, rubbing my hard cock through my briefs. "You're so beautiful, all wet and ready for me." She watches me intently as I pleasure myself through my pants.

"You should know," she says, licking her lips and gazing at the outline of my erection through my boxer briefs, "I'm a virgin."

I stop stroking myself.

Her eyes meet mine and I can see the desire in them. Her teeth sink into her lower lip, making me even more aroused.

"Well, precious," I hum, savoring the taste of her name on my tongue. "I've been celibate for over a decade now." I lean in and kiss her softly. "There hasn't been anyone for me since long before I met you. As soon as you came into my life, I knew it was you and no one else."

She responds eagerly to my kiss, her fingers tangling in my hair to pull me closer.

"I'm clean, baby," I assure her as I caress her thighs, inching closer to her wet pussy. "And I've been desperate for you."

My lips find their way to her dripping arousal, savoring the taste of her as I lick gentle circles around her sensitive folds. Her moans and cries fill my ears as she climbs towards another orgasm.

With a nip at her inner thigh, she squeals before I focus on sucking on her clit until she's trembling with pleasure. Multiple orgasms rock through her body as she pulls at my hair and moans my name.

"So precious. So sweet. All mine."

Her hopes move rhythmically against my hand. "Fuck me, Pope, please fuck me."

"Not yet, precious. Not yet. But soon."

A groan of frustration falls from her lips. I press our lips together in a tender kiss. "I lille having you as desperate for me as I've been for you." My eyes twinkle with mischief. "You look good when you're needy for my cock, precious."

She giggles, heat flaming her cheeks, and I think for the first time how much I fucking love her and that scares me and thrills me all in one breath. I need this woman, I've just got to make sure she feels the same before I let her in. Forever.