Chapter Sixteen

R achel wasn't going to let Ruger push her away. She understood that her wait for some big declaration of his feelings wouldn't come. He wasn't a man who laid his heart out for anyone to see.

She swallowed the nerves. "Please don't push me away."

He gripped her waist, lifted her off him, and set her beside him on the sleeping bag. Once he no longer touched her, the cool night air washed over her. She crossed her arms over her bare breasts, rejected again.

Ruger pushed to his feet and leaned down, taking her hand. "Inside."

She hurried to keep up with his longer strides, glancing up at his face with every step. Had he silently agreed to be with her?

She held on tighter, not giving him a chance to change his mind.

Inside the house, he took her straight to the bedroom.

He stood by the bed, shrugged out of his vest, removed his pistol, peeled off his shirt, and unbuckled his belt, all while looking at her. She yanked off her joggers, not wanting to be the only one with clothes on.

Ruger sucked in his breath, looking at her breasts. She rotated her shoulder, and he touched her. He kissed the sensitive skin between her breasts while cupping the weight of her boobs. His thumbs strummed the tips until her nipples tightened into a rosy bead much like he had outside, and then he leaned his head and stroked her with his tongue. She gasped as he kissed the erect nipple, sealing his lips over the taut flesh. Rhythmic pulses arched through her body with each soft pull. She sunk her hands into his hair, holding him to her. The pleasure released a flood of emotions within her.

Emotions she kept hidden for weeks while living with him.

He moved upward and kissed her lips. She wrapped her arms around his neck. He straightened, lifting her off her feet, and took her to the bed.

Without breaking the kiss, he placed her on her back, following her down. She gasped at the weight of him. When he shifted to move off her, she pulled her mouth off his lips and grabbed two fistfuls of hair, prepared to keep him on the bed with her.

"I need to get a condom." His eyes darkened.

He returned, threw the protection on the bed, and then looked at her. She sat up. He shook his head and grabbed both her ankles, pulling her ass to the edge of the mattress. She lay there naked, stripped of more than her clothing, vulnerable and aroused, not knowing what he planned to do.

In the gentlest move, he leaned over and kissed her pubic bone, inhaling deeply. She clamped her legs together, embarrassed.

He let go of her ankles, slid his hands up her inner thighs, and pressed her legs to the side, opening her to his view. "You're beautiful."

Of all the things he wanted to talk about, that wasn't what she expected from him.

She groaned as his tongue landed on her pussy. His beard caressed her. Pleasure swirled throughout her, curling her toes.

Her heartbeat thumped against her chest. Blood whooshed through her veins, pounding in her ears. She squirmed, unable to stay still.

Ruger sprawled his hand on her lower stomach and held her down, keeping her on the bed. Moist strokes heightened her arousal. She grabbed the bed, looking for something to hold, and ended up thrusting her fingers in Ruger's hair and holding on to his head.

He continued applying the most pleasurable sensation to her. She squeezed her eyes closed and strained, trying not to orgasm.

He blew gently over her lower lips. She yanked his hair and then quickly caressed his head. It was hard to control herself.

She sucked in air, holding her breath. She couldn't breathe right around him.

He ran his tongue along her slit. The wet, sloppy sound filled the quietness of the bedroom. She arched. He captured the swollen nub, nibbling, sucking, licking it.

She moaned, exhaling her pent-up breath. "I-I can't stop..."

He trapped her hips in his arms and slid his hands underneath her ass. Imprisoned in his hold, all she could do was accept every delicious touch of his tongue. He circled, skimmed, and nipped the sensitive nerve endings. Her muscles spasmed, and she arched against his face. Warmth grew in her lower belly and spread through her lower region.

Ruger plunged his tongue inside her, stroking her from the inside. She quivered. None of her boyfriends had ever done that to her. Not to that degree. As if he loved the taste and smell of her.

It was wonderful and stimulating and special.

He sucked, licked, rubbed his face into her wetness. Deep inside of her coiled, tighter and tighter. She panted, never wanting these feelings to leave.

"Give it to me," he said against her.

His words vibrated against her. She lost control. Her body convulsed with each jolt of orgasm. Each beautiful wave of pleasure rendered her weak.

He moved up her body, taking her mouth. She kissed him back, her musky arousal heavy on his tongue. Out of breath, she turned her head and wrapped her arms around his neck, not ready for him to stop.

She orgasmed, but he hadn't. She still wanted him. She needed the closeness of having him inside of her.

He gazed down at her. "Can you take more?"

She slipped her hand down between their bodies and stroked his hardness. He was bigger than she'd imagined. A quiver rolled through her. She should've known all of him would be big. Ruger was tall and hefty.

He pushed up on his knees, leaned over, and grabbed the condom.

Her breath, still ragged from her orgasm, came out hoarse when she asked, "Can I?"

His hardness jutted out of his body, pounding with arousal. A milky drop hung from the head of his cock.

He opened the condom and handed it to her. She rolled on the condom, taking the time to stroke him.

Ruger palmed her sex. She sucked in her breath, still sensitive to his rough fingers.

He grabbed the base of his cock and rubbed the head along her slickness. She moaned. That was much better.

He held her gaze. His jaw clenched in determination. He pressed against her. She raised her knees, giving him more space.

His arms bulged. She could feel the muscles constricting under her hands. He was trying to go slow, for her sake.

"Ruger?" She drew his eyes to her face. "I'll be okay."

A small pinch and he slipped inside of her. Slow but steady, he plunged his length into her wetness. She stretched, spasmed, and held still as her body relaxed and accepted his size.

Buried deeply within her, he held himself steady. "I'm going to move."

"Y-yes." She hooked her ankles behind his thighs.

"You're tight." After a moment, he pulled back and then slid back in. "Fuck."

He eased back again in tormenting slowness. Then, plunged with determination, making her gasp. He shifted, leaning on his elbows and cradling her head. "I don't want to hurt you."

"You'd never hurt me." She gasped. "It feels...good."

He quickened his pace. She tentatively arched up to meet each thrust, becoming bolder as her body accepted his size. He shifted, and her body recovered from its earlier release. She grasped his face.

She exploded, squeezing his cock as she quivered. He grunted, holding himself still above her.

He growled, and it was that sound of satisfaction, of ownership, of pleasure that pierced her heart.

She panted, trying to slow her racing heart. Her chest pulsed against his.

He visibly tensed when he eased out of her. She moaned in disappointment, already missing his body in her.

He strolled naked into the bathroom. She curled onto her side and counted the seconds until he came back to her.

When he returned to her, he sat on the edge of the bed. She rubbed his back. He tensed under her touch.

"What's wrong?" she whispered.

"I should never have touched you." He braced his elbows on his knees and rubbed his hands over his face.

She sat up in bed. A chill went down her spine.

"Wh-what are you saying?" Her throat spasmed.

Did he regret what happened between them? She pressed her hand to her chest. Her heart pained her. She couldn't lose him.