And going home to Missouri now could very well mess up what was happening—or what he hoped was happening—with Rubi.
MacKenzie stepped back, his expression as pissed-off as Wes felt. “I’ll let you guys handle the details.”
Wes glared at the man’s back as he disappeared into the production trailer.
“We’ve already reworked the next couple of days since we knew Bolton would be out,” Jax said. “Why don’t you finish up those scenes and head home?”
Because, fuck, he didn’t want to leave Rubi right now.
And… “I don’t have the rig ready.”
He wasn’t all that thrilled about facing his entire family without it. While he knew he could go home to see Wyatt without the rig, the thought of facing all twelve-thousand extended relatives who’d be coming in and out of town to see Wyatt and their parents made his gut tighten. He could hear the derogatory comments from the spattering of uncles, grandparents, and holier-than-thou cousins already.
“You’re almost thirty, Wes. When are you going to grow up?”
“Wesley, when are you going to stop fooling around and come home where you belong?”
“I just made partner. Pulling down seven figures. What’s new with you, Wes?”
On one level, Wes was secure and fulfilled enough with his life to tell them all to go fuck themselves. But on another, he yearned to make his parents proud. They’d always defended him in the family, despite their reservations with his decisions after college. And then there was Wyatt’s physical therapist—Melissa. The woman who’d left Wes after six years together and dissolved their marriage plans because he’d refused to spend his life in a cubicle at her father’s engineering firm.
“Have I mentioned how much I fucking hate Bolton?” Wes asked.
Jax rolled his eyes. “I recall—”
“And have I mentioned that I’ll never fucking double that bastard again?”
The growl of an engine drew their attention. Rubi pulled the Aston into a nearby lot, and Wes’s emotions twisted in a whole different direction. Damn, now he was in a pissy mood. Even her hopping out of the car in short jean cutoffs, loose lacy sweater exposing her belly, and spike-heeled boots barely lifted the new shadow. His body, however, responded like a champ. He would have reached down to reposition his “rig,” now standing at attention, but wanted to avoid another “keep your focus” lecture from Jax. As if Jax didn’t lose his own every time Lexi stepped on set.
Wes forced ease into his stance and turned his mouth in a smile. The last thing he wanted to do was ruin Rubi’s feisty mood. But halfway across the distance, Rubi’s expression grew serious, and by the time she reached them, she was frowning. It was difficult to get his mind around what might have caused that transition, because the simple act of watching Rubi walk rerouted his brain and sent those electric currents zinging through his cock.
Those long, lithe legs—legs that had been clamped around his waist just hours ago—flexed with each step. Her perfect breasts—breasts that had been in his hands and beneath his tongue—jiggled playfully in the V-neck opening of her sweater. The bounce of her long, dark, shiny waves—hair that had been fisted in his hands as he’d tasted her—spilled over her slender, shoulders.
An insane and urgent need consumed him, gnawing at him from the inside out. But the light, happy expression she’d come with was gone.
“Christ, Rubi,” Jax said. “I just told you not to come on set dressed like that.”
“I’m not staying.” Her gaze darted between Jax and Wes, then those gorgeous eyes held on Wes’s face. He might just be letting his imagination create what he so desperately wanted, but he swore there was something more intimate between them now. Some kind of intangible connection that jumbled Wes’s insides with a warm thrill. She reached out to lay her hand on his bicep with true worry in her expression. “What happened? What’s wrong?”
“Just some scheduling stuff,” Jax said. “Hey, would you mind stopping your work on the apps and funneling all the attention you can toward Wes’s rig?”
A flash of surprise eased her expression, then unmistakable humor. Humor she tried to hide by pressing her lips together. She released Wes’s arm and crossed hers, did a damn good impression of serious consideration
Finally, she lifted one shoulder as she met Wes’s eyes with a stern gaze. “Why aren’t you asking me to divert all my focus to your rig, Lawson? Do you want me to work on your precious toy or not?”
He couldn’t hold the grin back, but he did manage to quash the, Fuck yeah, I want you working on my rig.
“You’d have to make it worth my while,” she said. “I mean, the rig is fun, a challenge and all, but a girl has priorities.”
“Whatever,” Jax said. If he noticed the sexual electricity arcing between Wes and Rubi, he didn’t show it. “Sorry about the changes, bud. But this might end up working out for you. And thanks, Rubi. For helping Wes out and for whatever you said to Lexi.”
Jax turned and started toward the production trailer where MacKenzie had disappeared. Rubi’s gaze never left Wes’s, but her expression softened and heated and turned seductive.
“What’s this about Lexi?” Wes asked.
“She said yes to this house.”
Wes grinned. “Hot damn. That will make the boss happy.”
Rubi returned his smile. “What’s this urgent need to polish that rig of yours, Lawson?”
“Spillover from last night?”
“Yeah, I’ve been feeling that all morning. But I get the distinct impression Jax was having a parallel discussion to ours.”
“Oh hell,” Wes stuffed his hands in his pockets to keep himself from reaching for her. “I hope so.”
“Since I came to get my hands on that rig,” she said, sliding her gaze down his body and pausing on the crotch of his jeans. “Let’s get down to the details. Where shall we take—I mean…where is that sexy monster?”
Wes glanced toward the Renegades trailer, then back to Rubi, angst fighting excitement for space in his chest. “I can’t tell which mode we’re in—friends or sex.”
She linked her arm with his and leaned close. “Someone told me recently that it’s not an either-or situation. That we could have both. Now…I don’t know about that, but I’m…interested in looking into it a little more. So what do you say, you lead me to your rig, and we can figure it out from there?”
“Um…yes?” Was she saying what he thought she was saying? “Walk ahead of me to the trailer, and my personal rig will be fully engaged by the time we reach the door.”
Rubi released his arm and made a slow turn on her heels, much like those he’d seen her make when modeling one of Lexi’s dresses in the studio. She cast one of those sizzling come-and-get-it looks over her shoulder. “It already appears fully engaged. But if a rear view helps…”
She sauntered toward the trailer, the smooth length of her thighs making saliva pool in his mouth, the sway of her ass making him think of all kinds of other ways he’d like it swaying for him.
She turned her head, her lashes downcast, reminding Wes of the way she’d looked at him that night at Stilettos. “Is this working for you, Mr. Lawson?”
“Definitely.” They reached the steps, and Wes jumped a few to meet her at the top. He pressed his hand to the door before she could open it and bent his head to her ear. “But…bent over, feet spread would be even better.”
She turned her head, met his eyes. “I’ve discovered there’s nothing sexier than a sweet country boy turned naughty.”
She leaned in, eyes open, and ran her tongue along his bottom lip. Fire engulfed his belly, his hips, his thighs. His cock jerked hard against his jeans. Before he could respond, Rubi turned the knob, and the door opened in. Without the support, Wes fell forward, catching himself with a hand on the doorframe. When he looked up, Rubi faced him, one hand on the door, the other on her cocked hip, the line of her body lazy and sexy and filling the doorway.
“Get your sweet rig in here. I have work to do.”
Wes straightened and stepped through the door. He cast a glance toward Rachel’s desk and found her gone. The rest of the trailer was empty as well.
Thank God.
He rested his hands at his hips and turned to face Rubi just as she pressed her finger to the doorknob, locking it.
Wes lifted his hands in a stop gesture. “Ms. Russo,” he teased, darting a glance toward the desk in the corner. “The rig in question is over there.”
She stepped toward him and took fistfuls of his T-shirt, using them to swing him around and push him against the door. A shocked grunt exited his chest, a hot thrill taking its place. Rubi slid her hands down his chest as she lowered to her knees, a familiar move, but one that took on a whole different meaning without that contraption within reach.
“There’s some work I need to do with this exceptional rig before I take a look at the other.”
Her fingers worked smoothly, quickly on his button and zipper. Her small hands easily moved fabric aside to free his erection. Wes sucked in a breath of shocked pleasure at her touch. Electric jolts shorted out his brain and sang through his groin. His knees loosened, and he grabbed the door handle to hold himself up.
“Fuck… Rubi…”
“Yes. With my mouth. Now.” She gazed up at him and slowly licked the tip of his cock. The warm, wet, smooth streak shot another dose of pleasure into his blood. His cock twitched in her hands, making her grin. Her tongue darted out again. Wes’s fingers went white on the handle. Every muscle in his body tightened. All his blood rushed south. She tipped her head as her hands continued to stroke. “If, that is, you’re ready to let me focus all my attention on your personal rig, like Jax suggested.”
No witty reply came to him. His brain was swamped with the sight of her on her knees, his rigid cock held reverently in her hands, her striking eyes gazing up at him with lust.
“I’ve been starving for the taste of you.” Her expression slid into something intense, her voice deep and needy. “I’ve needed to feel you all morning.” She circled the ridge of his erection with a fingertip, tantalizing him to the edge of ecstasy. “Didn’t you say this was one of my benefits?”
His dry mouth managed a, “Yes.”
Her attention lowered to his cock again. “I’m so fucking hungry for you.”
And she closed her lips over his head.
Soft, wet heat surrounded the sensitive tip, and his cock surged with fire. Her eyes slid closed on a delicious hum. His knees gave again and he gripped the top of a bookshelf with his free hand. Completely against his will, his eyes closed and his head dropped back. A growl rolled from his throat, releasing a sliver of pent-up lust.
He forced his eyes open, his head down. He didn’t want to miss a second of this. Not only was it a white-hot sight that thickened his , one he’d never forget, but extra thrilling because Rubi had initiated it all. This was so much more than he’d expected and he heart expanded with hope and affection, which made the physical pleasure even more intense.