Chapter 12

Chapter Twelve

P ope

As we approach her place after making love in the library, my body tenses, instincts kicking in. The streetlight by her sidewalk is out, casting the whole area in shadows. It's darker here than the rest of the neighborhood, and I don't like it. Not one bit.

She fumbles for her keys, and my patience wears thin. I'm on edge, every sense heightened, already thinking about how easy it would be for someone to lurk here unnoticed. When I huff and yank the door open—unlocked—I don't even try to hide my frustration. "So much for fucking safety."

She tries to reassure me, talking about how she'll bring it up with her landlord. But I'm not buying it. My hand tightens into a fist, and the words come out gruffer than I intend. "Maybe you should think about staying at my place."

The truth is, I don't want her here. Not in this dark, half-forgotten part of town. Not after what happened with her ex. But as we climb the stairs, I can feel her unease, and it stirs something protective in me—something more. Ruby is mine now, and I protect what's mine.

At the top of the landing, she's about to open her door, but I beat her to it, pushing it open with hardly any resistance. And then I see it.

The place is wrecked. Completely torn apart.

"I'm gonna kill him." The words are a growl, and my temper flares, heart pounding with anger and something darker: the need to protect her. The cushions are slashed, dishes smashed all over the place like someone had a damn field day in here. My blood is boiling.

"Oh my god," she whispers, her hand flying to cover her mouth as she takes it all in. I don't even hesitate.

"You're moving in with me."

I don't wait for a response. I'm already in motion, grabbing her hand, pulling her down the hallway. There's no negotiation. She's not staying here, not after this. I move through her bedroom, yanking clothes from the dresser and closet, stuffing them into whatever bags I can find. She's silent behind me, probably in shock, but I'm too worked up to care about anything but getting her out of here.

"Should I call the police?" she asks, her voice small. I stop for a second, look her dead in the eye.

"I'll take care of it." I clasp her hand again, not letting go. "Anything else you need here?"

My gaze darts around the room, taking in everything—the little details of the life she's built here, the pieces of her world that I'm about to rip her from. But she doesn't argue.

She seems lost in her head, so I snap her out of it. "Hey," I say, squeezing her hand. "You listen to me. Whoever did this will pay. We'll call the police to make a record, but this is personal. Nobody fucks with what's mine."

I watch as fear flashes in her eyes, and a part of me wonders if she's realizing just what I'm capable of. But it's necessary. I'm not going to let anything happen to her. Not while I'm around.

She shakes her head, like she's trying to push away the thoughts crowding her mind. I see her fingers trembling, and I just want to get her back to my place. Where it's safe. Where I can keep an eye on her. I don't trust anyone else to do it.

Without another word, I lead her back down the stairs, both of her heavy bags slung over my shoulder like they weigh nothing. My other hand doesn't leave hers. It's a silent promise—I won't let her go. Not now. Not ever.

We walk quickly, my strides longer than hers, but she keeps pace, her small hand locked in mine as we cross the town square. The library comes into view, and I exhale, a little of the tension leaving my shoulders. My place, my rules. She'll be safe here, with me.

For now.

But I know better than to think this is over. There's always something lurking in the shadows, waiting to pull her back. And I'll be damned if I let that happen again.

"I'm starving," she finally utters.

"Perfect, let's grab dinner. I could use a drink too." I lead her into the only place in town that's still open–Joe's Bar. She steps in with me and it's like time stops. Every head turns, but she's not looking at them. No, her eyes are on me. She moves like a damn vision. God, the sight of her is enough to make any man's dick hard, but it's the way she looks at me—like she knows exactly what's running through my mind—that sets me on fire.

The dress she's wearing clings to every curve, swaying just enough around her knees to keep me wanting more.

"Drink, precious?" I ask when we reach the bar.

"Please," she murmurs, her voice soft and full of promise. Her eyes are dark, filled with the same heat I'm feeling. Tonight, it's only her and me. The noise, the crowd—it's all just background. This woman is mine and I'm done proving it.

I nod to the waitress, signaling for another round, but my attention is locked on Ruby as she crosses her legs on the barstool. The hem of her dress rides up just enough for me to catch a glimpse of her smooth thighs. I shift again, trying to calm the erection that's already straining against my jeans. It's going to be a long night if she keeps looking at me like that. Hell, if I could I'd keep her locked up in my bed and drown her sweet body in orgasms all day long.

"You play?" I ask, nodding toward the pool table. It's a distraction, but barely.

"Sometimes," she says, her eyes moving over me slowly. I can feel her taking me in—my face, my torso, down to my boots resting on the rung of the stool. It's like she's assessing, teasing me with every glance. And damn, I'm hoping she's thinking about the same thing I am—her, spread out beneath me later tonight, that dress hiked up around her hips as I bury myself deep inside her in my bed. Correction. In our bed.

My thumb brushes against her cheek, and her eyes flutter closed, her lashes casting soft shadows on her flushed skin. Her hair is thick, the strands slipping through my fingers as I push my hand into the back of her head, tugging just enough to make her shiver.

I turn, clasping her hand in mine and leading her to the pool table. I pause, handing her a pool cue before lining up my shot. One stripe down, then another, but my focus isn't on the game. It's on her, standing there, watching me like I'm the only thing in this bar worth looking at.

"My turn?" she asks, her voice playful as she steps up beside me, downing her drink in one swift motion before setting it aside.

I hum in agreement, putting my hand on her hip as she moves around the table, her body brushing against mine. She bends over, lining up her shot, and the way her dress pulls tight across her ass has me gripping the edge of the pool table, my knuckles turning white with restraint.

She sinks the solid and straightens up, twisting the cue between her fingers as she throws me a wink, her lips curling into a smirk. "Guess I'm not as rusty as I thought."

Fuck me, she's the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. The way she holds herself, the confidence, the way she looks at me like she knows exactly what she's doing—it's driving me wild. Every part of me wants to pull her close, push her up against the wall, and kiss that smirk right off her ruby red lips.

But instead, I smile, stepping up behind her as she lines up another shot. My hand moves from her hip, sliding down her waist to rest just below her breast. She inhales sharply, her back arching into me, and I can feel her trembling, even though she's trying to keep her cool.

"Take your shot," I whisper, my lips brushing against her ear as my hand moves lower, fingers grazing the soft skin at the inside of her thigh. Her breath catches, but she doesn't move away. She stays there, bent over the table, the cue in her hand shaking slightly as she tries to focus.

She releases the shot just as my fingers inch higher, teasing the edge of her panties. The ball bounces off the table, missing its mark, and she spins around, glaring at me with a fire in her eyes that sends a bolt of heat straight to my cock.

"That's not fair," she pouts, but I can see the way her lips tremble with barely contained desire.

"Neither is underestimating your game," I reply, my voice rough as I step closer, our bodies almost touching. Her hands come up, resting on my chest as she looks up at me, those green eyes daring me to make a move.

"You're playing with fire, precious," I growl, my fingers pressing harder against her thigh, inching closer to the heat between her legs.

"Maybe I like the burn," she whispers back, her breath hot against my neck as her hands slide lower, down to the waistband of my jeans.

God, I'm in so deep with this woman.

Two more balls drop into the pockets. Ruby's on a roll. She's got that confident swagger as she lines up her next shot, and I can't help but admire the way she moves, completely in control. I step up behind her, close enough that I can feel the heat radiating off her body.

"You underestimated your experience," I murmur, my breath hot against her neck.

She doesn't miss a beat, pressing her ass back into me with a teasing smirk. "I've got a feeling you did too." Her words are a challenge, one I'm more than ready to meet.

I groan softly as my hand travels up her waist, stopping just near the curve of her breast. Her body reacts instantly, her breath hitching in her throat, but she doesn't pull away. "Never," I growl, and before she can respond, I dust my fingertip across her nipple through the fabric of her dress. I feel it harden under my touch, and she moans, leaning back into me.

"Take your shot," I whisper, pinching her nipple just hard enough to make her gasp. She pulls back the cue with trembling hands, but it's no use—the ball ricochets off the table, nowhere near its target.

Ruby spins around to face me, her bottom lip jutted out in the cutest pout. "That's not fair," she says, eyes flashing with playful defiance.

"Neither is underestimating your game," I shoot back, grinning at her as I lean closer.

She narrows her eyes but doesn't back down. "Oh, it's on now, playboy. You don't know who you're messing with." Before I can respond, her hand is sliding down the front of my jeans, palming my cock through the fabric. The pressure of her grip makes me suck in a sharp breath, the sensation nearly knocking me off balance. Damn, this girl knows exactly what she's doing.

I step back, needing a second to regain control. The way her wild hair falls in loose waves, the gleam in her eyes—it's all too much, and I know I'm in deeper than I thought. "Fuck me, precious," I mutter under my breath, eyeing the table as I circle around, trying to focus on the game.

I bend down to line up my shot, but as I do, her breasts come into view, barely hidden beneath that dress. My focus wavers. "Problem, playboy?" she taunts, licking her lips as she reaches up and tugs the neckline of her dress just a little lower, revealing more of her cleavage.

"Not at all," I grit out, determined to get through this shot. But then she trails her finger up her chest, slowly, teasingly, and that's it. My control snaps. My arm jerks, and the cue ball bounces off the table, completely missing its mark.

"Jesus," I groan, standing upright and hooking my thumb into the pocket of my jeans as I watch her. She's a vision—a damn sexy devil meant to test every ounce of my self-control. She knows it too, that smug smile playing on her lips as she straightens up and takes another sip of her drink. I don't know how I resisted her for so many weeks while we built the new library together. And then I remember: because she deserves it, and my only goal now is to be the man that she deserves.

"You're quite the distraction tonight," I say, moving in close again. This time, my hand slides up the inside of her thigh, pushing the fabric of her dress aside until my fingers find the soft satin of her panties.

"Mmm…" she hums, her hips instinctively shifting toward my touch.

We're in the back of the bar, not entirely private but tucked away enough that no one's paying attention. I block the view with my body, angling myself to shield her from anyone who might look over. "Next time I see you, I don't want you wearing these," I growl in her ear, tugging the satin to the side and feeling the slick heat of her arousal against my fingers.

"Doesn't seem to be a problem right now," she whispers, arching her back as I slide my fingers between her folds, teasing her.

"Imagine what I could do without this flimsy barrier." I thrust two fingers into her, moving slowly, savoring the way her body responds to me. She moans softly, her hips rocking in time with my movements. "Take your shot, sweetheart," I whisper, my lips brushing her ear. "Take your shot while my fingers are inside you."

Her breath is ragged, her hands trembling as she grips the cue, but she manages to aim and sink the solid. Barely. Her hands shake as she looks up, her eyes darting to the thinning crowd, as if she's checking to see if anyone's watching. She's on the edge, teetering between control and surrender, and it's driving me wild.

"You like this, don't you?" I press my thumb gently against her back entrance, feeling her body tense and then relax into me. "You're on the verge of cumming all over my hand."

"Yes…" she moans, her voice barely a whisper.

"Anyone ever touched you here before?" I growl.

She shakes her head, her hair brushing against my face as I inhale her sweet, floral scent. "No," she whispers.

"Good," I murmur. "I'm glad I'll be your first." I tease her for a moment longer, then pull away, straightening up and leaving her gasping against the table.

"Oh my God," she moans, dropping her head onto the green velvet surface in front of her.

"Later, baby. We've still got a game to finish." I step away, signaling for another drink, while she huffs in frustration, standing up and glaring at me.

"How do you do that?" she demands, clearly flustered.

"Do what?" I ask innocently, though the smirk on my face says I know exactly what she's talking about.

"Get me so close to exploding, and then just… stop?" She shifts nervously, her thighs rubbing together, her nipples hard beneath the fabric of her dress.

"Denial makes the reward that much sweeter," I explain, my voice low and teasing. "If I keep you just on the edge all night, imagine how hard you'll come when I finally take you when we get home."

Her throat bobs as she swallows, her eyes blazing with desire. She's hooked, and she knows it.

"And I like seeing that look on your face every time you think of me inside you," I add, lifting a finger to her lips. It's still wet with her juices, and to my surprise, she leans forward and sucks it into her mouth, her eyes fluttering closed as she licks herself clean.

Holy shit. This girl is something else. Innocent during the day, but in the dark, she's a wild thing—sexy as hell and ready to let loose.

"Follow me," I clasp her hand with mine. She follows me down the hallway until we reach the tiny single-room bathroom.

It's clear that Ruby enjoys being told what to do, whether it be in the bedroom or a public place like this bar we're currently in.

Her hair cascades down her back as I pull her dress off and unhook her bra, tossing it aside. I bring my lips to her neck, tasting and teasing as she squeals. My hand cups one of her breasts as I twist and tug at her nipple, causing her to squirm and moan.

I whisper for her to open her eyes and watch me touch her as I gaze at us in the bathroom mirror. Her eyes flutter open and lock onto our reflection, watching my hands on her body. "Do you like watching me touch you?" I ask with a low groan as my other hand slides down between her thighs.

"Yes…" she hisses.

I tease and finger her clit before plunging three fingers inside of her hard and fast. She rocks against my hand as I pump in and out of her relentlessly. But then an idea strikes me - I grab my phone from my pocket and aim it at the mirror.

She watches herself in the mirror as my fingers continue to pleasure her, and I capture it all on camera. "See how my fingers are pumping in and out of that sweet pussy?" I ask with a smirk. Ruby's eyes widen for a moment when she sees the camera, but then she gives into the sensations as she stands up and let's herself go, surrendering to the pleasure of my fingers inside of her.

I watch as my hand glides between the V of her thighs in the reflection. Her neck arches back in a graceful line, breasts thrusting high as she pants with every breath. I start taking photos, capturing the pleasure on her face. The dimly lit bathroom a soft backlight, highlighting the curves and shadows of her body: the swell of her breast, a hardened nipple, the angle of her jaw, a glimpse of her dark hair. She's a mix of a sex goddess and the girl next door, with freckles dusting across her nose and the sweetest full lips I've ever seen.

"Do you want me to take you here? You want me to fuck you in a bar bathroom?" I growl as our eyes lock in the mirror. I set my camera down next to us.

"Yes," she murmurs.

"Beg." I hold her gaze in the reflection, watching emotions flicker across her eyes. She narrows her green eyes on my blue ones as she processes my command.

"Beg, Ruby," I demand as I continue pumping my hand in and out of her pussy and hook my finger against her inner wall. "Tell me you want me to take you. Tell me you want my cock pounding into your greedy cunt," I growl as she whimpers and moves her hips on my lap, grinding against my straining cock.

"No," she moans mindlessly.

"Beg, Ruby. I won't fuck you with my cock until you beg for it," I whisper dangerously. Her eyes flick up to meet mine again.

"Mmm..." She runs one hand down her body and kneads at her breast. "I won't beg," she murmurs, maintaining eye contact as she twists her nipple and writhes against me.

"Not giving you my cock until you beg, precious." My lips curl into a cocky grin.

"I can play dirty too," she smirks before trailing her hand down her body and landing it on my hand moving in and out of her. She wraps her hand around my wrist and pulls my fingers out of her hot body, trailing them up her stomach and over her breasts, leaving a glistening trail of her juices behind, before pulling my fingertips up her neck and thrusting them into her mouth. She swirls and sucks, teasing my fingers with her tongue just as I know she'll do with my cock. A groan escapes my throat as she licks them clean.

"Fuck," I murmur as I lift my phone and switch it to video mode, training the camera on her soft body in the reflection. I zoom in on her tits, the pebbled nipples shimmering with her juices as she kneads one breast. Her eyes flutter closed on a soft moan as she wraps her rosy lips around my fingers and sucks.

The girl is relentless, constantly pushing the boundaries in public. I wonder if she enjoys watching herself getting filmed while getting fucked. A groan escapes my throat at the thought of us later watching this video together.

"Fuck, Pope. I want all of you," she demands as she pulls my fingers out of her mouth. I toss my phone aside and lift her up, unzipping my jeans and releasing my throbbing cock. With a swift movement, I thrust into her, causing her back to arch with pleasure.

A soft moan escapes her lips as her back bows towards me. I pull out and then push back into her slowly, feeling every muscle of her tight pussy clench around me.

"Harder. Fuck me harder, Pope," she moans. My nostrils flare and my eyes light up as I give it my all. One hand holds onto her waist for stability while the other remains tangled in her soft hair, thrusting as hard and fast as I can manage. Reaching the end of her, I grind my hips against her perfect ass. I grip onto her hip and knead the flesh as we continue our passionate romp. In the reflection, I can see how fucking hot we look – her wild hair flying, full breasts bouncing, nipples hard and begging for my tongue.

"Watch," I growl as I increase my pace. Her eyes flick open and meet mine as we fuck. Pulling out my phone again, I snap a few more pictures of our bodies intertwined in pleasure. Her hair is a wild mess, her breasts swaying back and forth, her eyes filled with lust, and her soft bottom lip held between her teeth in ecstasy. She's the hottest fucking thing I have ever seen.

"Oh my God, yes, Pope, harder, don't stop," she moans and whispers incoherently. Profanities continue to flow from her lips as I feel her pussy clench and pulse around my dick. My camera lands on the bar as I continue to pound relentlessly until my own release takes over. My balls smack against her ass and my head drops to her shoulder as I let go inside her.

"Shit," I mutter, realizing once again that we forgot to use protection. Why am I so careless with this woman?

She moves her hips in circles and grinds against me, causing another surge of pleasure to course through me and into her. I move slowly in and out of her, allowing the last of my climax to fade before resting my head on her shoulder.

"I knew you'd beg for it," I tease with a smirk, trying to catch my breath while our sweaty bodies press together. When she doesn't respond, I look up at her reflection in the mirror and see her glaring at me. It only makes me grin even more.

"You wish, Steele. You fucking wish." She squeezes her inner walls one last time around my softening cock.

"Ugh, you don't play fair, baby." I place a gentle kiss on her shoulder and then trail them up to her neck. But when she doesn't retort back quickly like she usually does, I search her eyes again in the mirror. They've softened and are watching me with something that takes my breath away. I can't read her thoughts.

Maybe she's worried about what I'll do with the pictures, or maybe that look in her eye has nothing to do with us at all.

I turn my head away, running a hand up her back before I quickly pull on my jeans. "I won't share the pictures," I state without making eye contact. Picking up her clothes from the floor, I hand them to her.

She nods as she takes the clothes, and we stand in tense silence as she gets dressed. The tension between us is suffocating, and I can feel it choking me. Finally, I can't take it anymore.

"Listen, Ruby, I-"

"I'm fine, Pope. Everything's fine. I'm just tired." She cuts me off. We move silently out of the bathroom. I nod at the waitress to put our drinks on my tab and then we leave, the thought of dinner long forgotten. We walk across the street to my truck and she slides in, slamming the door before I can say anything else.

Part of me feels like I broke through her tough exterior and saw glimpses of the real girl inside. But another part of me feels like she kicked me to the curb, with no chance of ever breaking down her walls again.

I slide behind the wheel, then gesture for her to slide across the cab so our thighs are touching. I grasp her knee and squeeze, keeping it there the entire drive to my cabin nestled at the base of Copper Mountain. The silence hangs heavy between us, but it's not uncomfortable.

"I can make us some dinner when we get to my place."

"I just want to sleep, it's been a long day," comes her gentle reply. She rests her hand on my thigh and smiles up at me sweetly.

"Ruby–" I start, but then pause, measuring my net words. "I want you to stay with me. Forever. I want you to feel safe, and the only way I can do that is if you're sleeping under my roof every night.

Her eyes gleam and twinkle up at me, her lips curling into a soft smile. "I would love that, Pope." She clamps her teeth into her bottom lip. "Cuddling with you every night sounds like Heaven."

"Good," I squeeze her thigh, "because the idea of waking up to your sweet smile every morning makes me the happiest I've ever been."