Page 130 of Big Bad Wolf

He would not last long if they kept this up.

“In the dirt or up against the tree, brave girl?” he asked, rolling her nipple between his fingers. Her up and down motion on his dick slowed as she thought about it.

“Tree.”

He tugged her other cup down and sucked her nipple into his mouth before answering, “Good choice.” Any inclination he’d had to not fuck Ruby up against a tree like an animal had evaporated as soon as she asked to be chased. She wanted it like this and so did he.

He turned her around, maybe a little roughly, but his brave girl just whimpered with pleasure. “Put your hands on the tree and bend over.”

She did as he asked and he brushed kisses along her shoulders. He avoided her injury, the sight of it causing anger and guilt to coil in his gut, but he breathed it out. Let it go. He could do this. For Ruby he would do anything.

He ran his hands over her back and lifted her skirt. He tugged down her tights, her panties. She swayed toward him like she couldn’t wait any longer. Neither could he.

He slid his cock along her slick entrance and they both groaned.

“Please, Rafe.”

That word. That fucking word.

He slid into her, painfully slow, giving her time to adjust, to stop him, to come to her senses. But she just pushed back into him, until he was buried inside her. He held tight to her hip with one hand, his fingers digging into her flesh and reached around to grab her breast with his other. He held still for a moment longer, breathing her in. And then he started to move.

The sound that escaped from Ruby’s lips could only be described as a growl, and Rafe bit down on a smile even as he felt like his world was imploding, his entire life distilling down to this one moment. He pulled out and thrust in again. Ruby’s fingernails scraped along the tree bark.

“You okay?” The words were barely human. He was barely human. And for the first time in a long time, it felt good.

“Yes. Fuck, yes,” she panted. “Keep going.”

Who was he to argue? He was done doubting her. Ruby knew what she wanted. So he gave it to her.

Rafe fucked her hard against that tree, the sound of their bodies slamming together and their grunts and growls filling the small clearing. Not a single thought entered his brain. Nothing but the need to keep fucking Ruby until they both fell apart. Until the entire world fell apart.

He was practically lifting her off the ground now, the toes of her boots barely clinging to the earth. He moved a hand between her legs and stroked her clit as he moved inside her. And when he felt her clenching around him, when he felt his own world shattering, he did the only thing he could do. The only thing that made sense.

He leaned forward and sank his teeth into Ruby’s neck.

She screamed his name, claiming him as much as he claimed her.

Chapter Fifty-Six

Rafe scooped her up in his arms, grabbed her shirt from a nearby branch, and started walking home. Ruby considered protesting. She was perfectly capable of walking. But Rafe knew that and he was carrying her anyway.

Ruby snuggled against his chest and breathed his piney scent. For the first time in a long time, Ruby could rest. She could listen to Rafe’s steady heartbeat and not worry about bills or her sister’s episodes or her next shift at the bar. Not that those things wouldn’t still be waiting for her in the morning, but now she’d have someone by her side when she woke up to face it all again.

Being back with Rafe made her feel pieced together again. Her heart seemed to beat in sync with his, her breath matching his inhales and exhales. Being held by Rafe lit her up inside, filling in all the dark spaces.

They made it to his cabin just as the first drops of rain began to fall. Lightning lit up the trees around them, thundering crackling in its wake.

“Guess you’ll have to stay,” Rafe said, setting her down on the porch. “Think Lena will be okay?”

“She’s spending the night at Callie’s.”

Rafe pushed open the door. His home was small and cozy and far messier than Ruby would have expected, but Rafe didn’t give her much time to explore.

“Let’s get you cleaned up.” He tugged her into the bathroom and ran the hot water in the shower.

Ruby bit her bottom lip, happiness bubbling up so fast and fierce she thought it might spill out. “Okay, fine, but later I’m snooping through all your stuff.”

He gave her a shy smile. “Fine.”