Exposed: New Adult Sport Romance (The Boys of Winter Book 5) (27 page)

After I put out a few more fires, I’m on my way back to the hospital. My stomach growls as I glance at the picnic on my front seat. Mathias explained, in great detail, what’s inside, and I exerted great willpower to keep myself from telling him to hurry up and not eating everything the moment I got in my car.

I call Neal to let him know I’m on my way. When he answers, I say, “How do you manage to look so good all the time? I’m sweating, and I might have a bald spot from pulling out my hair.”

“It doesn’t seem so crazy when you do it all the time.”

“Yeah, well, I’m never going to complain about being bored in my shop without customers ever again, because the pace you keep is insane.”

“I would be insane if I had to be in a quiet shop all day, that’s why we’re such great partners. We each have our strengths.”

“I guess. Anyway, I’m calling because I have something yummy from Mathias for you. I’m on my way with a picnic.”

“Hallelujah. I was about to order takeout.”

I chuckle and imagine he’s not joking. “I’ll be there soon. Someone’s beeping in.”

As it turns out, I end up dropping off lunch for Neal and racing back to Breckenridge to deal with another crisis. I get the call to pick him up early in the evening, and when he comes to me with a picnic basket in his hand, I pray food is left over, because I haven’t eaten anything other than the apple I swiped earlier.

I wrap my arms around his waist and inhale the slightly ripe odor of Neal. “Being you today was overwhelming.” I glance up at him. “I’m not cut out for this much interaction with people. I don’t think I really like them.”

Neal grins down at me. “Tell me all about it.”

In the car on the way home, I catch him up on the day’s happenings. I want to groan when I think about having to do this for a few more days, but he swears today was unusually crazy.

Neal’s warm hand is holding mine as we walk slowly up the steps to his apartment. “You may not like my job, but you handled it really well. You’re resourceful.”

“Growing up it was only me and my mom, and she had to work to support us. Over the years, I learned how to do things around the house that needed to be done instead of depending on her. She nurtured it in me.”

He pulls me into his apartment. “Remind me to thank Rachael again for raising you so well.”

I think about the sweet things Neal does for me that could easily go unnoticed. I stand on my tiptoes to kiss him and say, “Remind me to do the same when I meet your parents, because they raised you well, too.”

Chapter 40

T
he doctor suggested Neal not be alone tonight and that I should watch him for an unusual behavior beyond general concussion symptoms. But there’s nothing unusual about the way he’s kissing me. He’s still in a towel from his shower, and the spiced soapy scent that I associate with him is tempting me to do more. His warm fingers move up my back to remove my shirt, and I remember the doctor’s instructions to avoid heavy physical activity.

I push him away. “You’re not supposed to exert yourself.”

There’s a twinkle in his eyes when he says, “I also shouldn’t experience extreme stress, and if I can’t be with you tonight that will be extremely stressful.”

Neal grabs the hem of my shirt and yanks it over my head. I lift my arms to let him. “Then perhaps I should do the heavy lifting.”

His eyes widen, and I let out a deep breath as I scan his body with my gaze. “You should let me seduce you.” I place my hand on his chest and push him gently backward toward his bedroom.

“Yes, I think you’re right. The first step is for you to get out of those clothes.”

“Uh-uh, I’m the seducer, you’re the seducee. Shut up.”

He tightens his mouth, as if he’s holding back a secret.

I nod with my head, and the button on my jeans is warm in my fingers as I work on taking them off. “Go sit on the bed.”

He scrambles on it like a child in trouble, and it makes me snicker. Moving my pants down over my hips slowly I make sure to bend and give him a nice view of my cleavage. Stepping out of them, I lift a bra strap off my shoulder and move closer. I turn around and ask, “Unhook me please?”

Neal’s breath against my skin makes a small shiver run through me as he leans forward to brush his lips over my shoulder blades. I sigh and then catch myself. “Oh, no you don’t.” I whip around in mock anger.

His eyes get big in pretend fear as he plays along. I slither out of my bra and toss it behind me. “Lie down.”

Neal moves himself back on the bed and does as I command. I place a knee on either side of his thighs and slide my finger under the towel still around his waist. His stomach trembles at my touch. “This really must go.”

I yank at the thick fabric and lay it open, revealing his long, hard cock. “Oh, my.” Licking my lips slowly, I let out a low sound and bite my lower lip. “The things I can do to you.”

Neal reaches down to touch himself, and I bark out, “No. Nobody touches what’s mine.”

His eyebrows rise up. “Mine?”

I grip his hardness. “Uh-huh, mine.” And I lower my mouth to drag my tongue along the length. He hisses in response, and I take as much of him as I can. Neal’s hips buck up as I suck and move up and down to please him.

I glance up to find his eyes on me, and he says, “So good, love. So good.”

When his hands push at my head to stop me, I rise up. He asks, “Let me touch you.”

The power I have over him right now is a heady sensation, and I reply, “Not yet.”

I stand with my feet sinking into the plush velour comforter near his chest. Tugging my panties over my hips, I ask, “Do you have any idea what I do when I’m alone in my bed at night?”

“Do you think about me?”

Flinging the small scrap of lace across the room I speak in a breathy voice. “Yes.”

I rub my finger into my folds and find my clit. Neal’s eyes are dark with lust, and his hands clench the bedspread. “I imagine us.” I let out a small moan. “I make myself come the way you do.”

“Hell, Ruby, you’re so hot right now.”

I barely whisper as I lower to my knees. “I know, and wet too.” I slide a finger inside myself, and a slick sucking sounds as I pump it. “Do you want to feel this?”

Neal is quivering with need. “Yes. God, yes.”

I climb over his face to reach in the nightstand for a condom. He’s inches from my sex but doesn’t move. While I think he wants to taste me, I don’t want that tonight. I move down to place myself over his cock. Tearing open the package with my teeth, I remove the filmy latex and roll it on him. I slide the head of his dick over my slit. “Tell me what you want. Talk dirty to me.”

“Fuck me. Fuck me hard and make me scream.”

I grin. “With pleasure.” I gasp as I slide onto him all the way. His hands grip my hips, and he rises to meet my thrusting movements. I stop commanding him and let our bodies react to each other.

Taking what I want, I move in a way that gives me exactly what I need. My inhibitions are gone knowing I’m with a man that wants only who I am. Neal isn’t telling me how to move, or directing us, and I ride him with frantic pumping motions. I arch back as my orgasm approaches and let friction hit my g-spot. When I do, it sends me over the edge, and I convulse over Neal. I keep moving for him, and he comes soon after.

I lie on his chest as our breathing returns to normal, and he says, “You’ve embraced this power thing a little too easily. I may not have a job to return to.”

I snort and trace the hair below his navel down to where it thickens. “I don’t think you have to worry about that.”

“I like what you said earlier.” He lifts a lock of my hair and twists it around his finger. “I want to be yours.” He tugs gently. “Forever.”

My mind immediately tells me it’s the concussion talking, but I don’t believe it. I turn off my inner voice and say, “Then I plan to keep you, Neal Morgan. And I will tell you what to do sometimes. Get used to it.”

He flips me onto my back and hovers over me. “Ruby Raines, getting used to you is easy. Move in with me.”

Whoa. While this seems too soon, the warmth that spreads through my being keeps me from hesitating, and I answer, “Okay.”

“Really? Am I still confused with my concussion? Did you just say yes without thinking about it first?”

“Considering you shouldn’t make any big decisions in your state, you’ll need to ask me again in a few days.” I outline his mouth with my finger. “But the answer will still be yes. I’m here almost every night as it is, and when I’m not I want to be. It’s an easy decision for me.”

“I love you so much.”

Neal’s kiss reaches deep inside me, and I show him just how much I love him too.

Chapter 41

My
pencil scratches against the paper of my sketchpad as I shade the side of Neal’s nose. He’s on his laptop working on numbers, while I’m supposed to be working on my new menswear line. But I can’t resist the opportunity to draw him when he isn’t aware.

So many people work for me now that I have a clothing-manufacturing studio on the second floor above Rhinestone Cowgirl and Ruby Raines. It’s allowed me the time to design instead of sew. Opening a shop in Vail didn’t happen this February because of Neal’s accident, but we’ll be ready in April, and in June we’ll open Ruby Raines in Aspen. My boyfriend talks about expanding to other ski areas beyond the Rockies. I’m content with what we have now but entertain his thoughts to make him happy.

He surprises me with a quick move that has him towering over me and peering at my paper. “Ha! I knew it. I could feel you staring at me.”

“What can I say? You’re the most enticing thing in this room, and I couldn’t resist.” I lift the drawing so he can see it right side up. “Aren’t you the hottest male specimen you’ve seen in a long time?”

He yanks me up by my hand so I’m standing. “Don’t you have enough sketches of me? Even I don’t want to look at myself that much.”

I tap his chin with the eraser end of my pencil. “I’ll never get enough of you. How many couples can say that about the man they love and work with?”

“True, we’re a rare breed.”

“I think we were made for each other.” Neal kisses me, and I’m about to forget my name when a rapping on the door sounds. There’s only one other person that has a key to the street door, and it has to be Bianca.

Neal yells, “Come in!”

She breezes through the door and heads straight toward me. “Thank God you’re here. I need help.” Bianca is holding two pieces of fabric that are bunched up along a single seam, like a sewing project gone badly.

She says, “I’m trying to make a pillow. It seemed simple enough, but look.” She thrusts the thick upholstery toward me.

I finger the wad of tangled-up thread. “Hmmm, the tension on your machine is probably wrong for the weight of the fabric. Would you like me to show you how to adjust it?”

Neal is chuckling, and I shoot him a dirty look.

“Yes, please.”

Neal asks, “Do I happen to know the guy that is causing this sudden interest in sewing?”

Bianca flushes and squints at him. “You really are a shit sometimes.”

I ask, “Is this about Garrett?”

She sighs, “Yeah, I told him I could sew, too. It just came out of my mouth when he was talking about working for you, and then I realized I should probably prove it when he comes over for dinner tomorrow night.”

I’m aware of Garret’s crush on her, but I won’t betray our friendship and keep my information to myself. Bianca bites her lip as she ignores Neal. “In case you can’t tell, I don’t know the first thing about how to make a pillow. I bought an old sewing machine at the thrift store thinking—how hard can this be?” Big brown eyes look at me. “I’m screwed, aren’t I?”

Neal says, “He’s been hanging out at your bar, Bianca. He was a sure thing.”

I reach out and touch her arm, ignoring Neal, too. “No, you’re not. I’ll teach you how to make a pillow.”

“Really? Oh, my God, you’re the best.”

Neal cuts me a sideways glance, and I assume what he’s thinking, so I say, “But you might want to mention you only dabble in it. Or, perhaps tell him the truth because what you’re doing is kind of adorable.”

She snorts. “Lying and getting you to bail me out?”