Page 115 of A Real Good Bad Thing

Hercharm.

“You said you thought it would look good with your birthstone,” I said.

She held it up to the sun, her lips parting in awe as she gently opened the treasure chest pendant, then gasped. “Jake,” she whispered reverently. “It’s gorgeous.”

Finding the necklace on the nightstand had seemed like the universe handing me an ace that I’d better not waste. I’d hustled over to Wayboard Street and bought a ruby from Montez, my favorite gemstone salesman. He’d set the stone quickly, with expert fingers.

So Ruby had her buried treasure after all.

The brilliant red gem sparkled, lit up from the sun.

“I love it,” she said.

Pride and happiness fought for dominance inside me. “Let me put it on you,” I said, and she lifted her hair. I unhooked the necklace then clasped it around her neck, letting it fall to her chest where I ran my fingers along the charm.

“Beautiful. Like you, sweetheart. Now, what do you say we spend the evening on the water? Charter a boat. Go for a sunset sail.” I lifted my brow suggestively, and she took the bait.

She ran her hand up my chest, grabbing the neck of my shirt. “Makeup sex on the boat?”

“What a brilliant idea,” I said.

“I’m all in,” she said, then came close for another kiss—a hot, deep kiss that sent a bolt of lust through my body, right there on the beach. I broke the kiss. Grinned. “Or maybe makeup sex now in the hotel room?”

In an instant, she was rushing to my car.

Screw diamonds. I had my Ruby.

57

SWEET DIRTY THINGS

Ruby

The second the hotel room door snicked shut, I backed up to the wall and yanked Jake against me. All the softness of our reunion vanished in this greedy kiss. Twenty-four hours without him was too much. I’d missed him. I’d missedthistoo—this connection I’d only ever felt with him.

Frenzied, desperate, and hungry.

This was the way it should be. The best lovers might hurt each other, but they’d find ways to move past it…together.

I was so glad he’d come back to me because I wanted the chance to explore all we could have. I’d been wary from the start, reluctant to give my heart. Jake wasn’t perfect, but I wasn’t either. What he was, though, was real, true, and committed. He was trustworthy. He was protective. He fought for what was right.

And he showed up for me.

“Show me,” he said as he pushed up the skirt of my sundress and tugged down my bikini bottoms. “Show me how much you’ve missed me,” he rasped in my ear, his fingers sliding between my legs.

I gasped, crying out from his fevered touch, savoring it. I indulged in his wicked fingers for a few delicious minutes.

Then, I couldn’t wait.

In a mad rush, I unzipped his shorts, he produced a condom, and then he was sliding into me.

Yes.

This.

I needed this. I neededhim.

He was deep inside me and pleasure sparked wildly all through my body. I looped my arms around his neck, and he took me like that, against the wall, delivering the best makeup sex ever. Soon, I was digging my nails into his back, biting down on his shoulder, and riding to the other side of bliss with him.