Revealing Ruby (Bound and Determined #1.5)(22)

Again.

He would last.

He concentrated again on rubbing against her, leaned forward and slipped a hand around, seeking that tender bundle of sensation.

She came apart under his hand, her body rising from the bed, straining toward him, her cuny convulsing about him, milking him.

And with a roar, he gave in.

Heat. Color. Intensity.

A kaleidoscope of color and woman.

Always woman.

Always Ruby.

—

She wasn’t sure she would ever move again. It had been hard to leave the bath, even with the water cooling rapidly about her, but the thought of even shifting on the plush mattress was nigh impossible. The thick down comforter seemed to rise about her, cushioning her in softness, tempting her to slumber.

The warmth from above seeped into her, each muscle soaking in heat and comfort. The captain should have been too heavy, but his weight was wonderful, trapping her in safety and protection.

“Are you purring?” The rumble of words sounded in her ear.

“I think I may be. Are we talking now? I was growing fond of the mysterious near silence.”

“I must admit a fondness for silence myself.” His weight shifted from her, but before she could complain, he was drawing her up and pulling the covers back, before reclining her against the pillows and sliding in beside her.

To sleep or talk? Sleep was so tempting, but when would she have a chance like this again? Sliding over to give his mammoth frame more room, she turned on her side and faced him.

“If we’re going to talk, let’s make it interesting. No small talk, no talk of weather, no discussing whose curricle can make it to Richmond and back in record time.”

He turned to her, his face solemn, staring deep into her eyes as the candles flickered on the mantel. “You expect me to tell you my secrets? I don’t know you. Why would I share such intimacies? Do you indulge in blackmail? Why else would you want to know such things?”

She had not handled that well, although how he could even question intimacy between them at such a moment she was not sure, unless he really did regard her as just a whore, a woman bought for a night’s pleasure. She had thought they had moved beyond that, but with no words spoken between them perhaps it was just her imagination that had moved into more tender territory. “I was not asking for your deep, dark secrets, assuming you have any. I merely wanted to know something interesting about you. It could be as simple as that you were the eldest of a dozen children and hope to never see another baby in your life.”

“Hmmm.” His response gave no indication of his thoughts.

“Let me start with something simple, that while not quite small talk will perhaps increase the intimacy of the moment.” She rose up on one arm, letting the sheet fall until it clung to the tips of her nipples. His eyes, as expected, dropped. “What is your name?” she asked.

“You know my name.”

“I know you are Captain Price. What is your Christian name? That I do not know.”

He was silent for a moment and she wondered if he would answer.

“Derek,” he replied, speaking the word slowly. “Derek David Price.”

She smiled, not a large one, but enough to turn up the corners of her mouth and show her pleasure. “And I am Emma.”

“Emma?”

“Oh, don’t worry about remembering or even trying to use it. I am not sure I would think to answer if someone did call me by it. I’ve rarely heard it spoken aloud in almost ten years.”

“Emma,” he said softly, raising his eyes to linger on her face and tousled curls. “It suits.”

“It used to. I am not sure it does anymore.” She lay back on the pillows, letting her gaze linger on the embroidered figures on the underside of the canopy. She’d never before looked at the multitude of nymphs and satyrs from this angle. If she hadn’t been so worn out already she might have suggested trying out some of their more interesting positions. She was definitely more Ruby than Emma these days—except on Sunday afternoons, but those were part of a different life and not to be shared here.

“You’ve grown quiet. Do you not want to know anything else interesting about me?” he asked.

“I thought it was you who did not wish to talk about secrets.”

“But you have assured me that we are not speaking of secrets.”

She turned to him again, to Derek, putting aside her momentary disquiet. “Tell me about the dragon then. How does a man come by such a thing? I have never seen its like and I have seen many things.”

“Peeping through your peepholes.”

“Yes, I peep. Now, are you going to tell me or is it secret?”

To her surprise he drew back the sheet, revealing the dragon to her gaze. He looked down upon it without any sign of emotion. “Not a secret, merely foolish. And I reckon you may never see another one. The pain involved was more than any sane man could bear.”

“Are you not sane then?”

“I am not sure I was at nineteen. I’d just experienced something…something rather distressing, and rather than head home to discuss it with my family, I jumped ship and headed to the Orient.”

“I thought it must have come from there.” Leaning forward, she ran a finger down the scaled chest of the creature, enjoying how his skin quivered beneath her touch.