⚠️ WARNING ⚠️ This Book Contains Matured Contents, reader's discretion is advised. ***EXTRACT*** “Do you have any idea how much I want to be inside you right now?” he asked, standing to his feet. “Then why aren’t you?” I responded, loving the feel of him pressed so close, my back to the mirror. But even still, in some far corner of my lust-fogged mind, I realized that we were still in a bathroom. Anyone could walk in and see us. The thought of getting discovered was scary and same time, erotic. “Oh, we're not done. Spread your legs a bit for me, Kitten." He commanded. I did as he instructed and he settled between my legs again. “Now close your eyes. And try not to move.” Dominic Rutherford murmured. I drew in a sharp breath as his fingers slipped into me with a silky, wet ease. First one. Then another. A feverish tide rose inside me, and I groaned. I jerked in response, causing me to unconsciously move my hips towards his teasing hand, seeking more. “Ohh—” My body trembled under his touch. “Please…” ****** Ruby escapes a stifling marriage filled with betrayal, eager to reclaim her freedom. At a masquerade ball, she meets Dominic, a mysterious older man always wearing a mask and has a complex past. Their intense attraction ignites a passionate and dangerous affair. Dominic, who was tasked by Ruby's unknown brother to find her, is captivated by her defiant spirit. As Ruby gets entangled in Dominic’s dark world and faces threats from her vengeful former husband and an enemy within, she struggles with her fear of love. Will Ruby and Dominic overcome their pasts and the secrets that threaten to tear them apart? Can Ruby submit to love even after the truth is revealed?
View MoreRuby’s POVThe courtroom was packed. Rows of spectators, journalists and legal professionals sat in stiff silence, waiting for the trial to begin. This was a big trial, after all, probably the biggest in the past five years. My father was a very rich and famous man in the state of Illinois. Being a trial to determine who killed him, everyone would want to be there.I sat between Dominic and Damien with my hands clasped together on my lap. Ariana and Lilac were seated behind us in silent support.At the front, Ambrose and Gabriel sat at the defendant’s table, dressed in clean black suits, as if their tailored clothing could cover the filth they had buried themselves in. I wondered to myself why the court had allowed them to dress so nicely, like they were going to walk out of here with their freedom.From where I sat, I couldn't see their faces. But I could see Ambrose's stuff, tensioned back. Gabriel on the other hand was twitching in his seat, his fingers tapping anxiously against th
Ruby’s POV"WOO HOO!" Ariana threw a shot of whiskey into her mouth and slammed the glass onto the bar with a victorious grin. "To Ruby, the queen of the DanCliffe empire!"Lilac raised her glass. "To Ruby!"I laughed, knocking back my own shot. The whiskey burned down my throat, but it felt better than anything else I've ever felt. It tasted like victory. I had spent years feeling powerless, watching from the sidelines as Ambrose took everything from me, not even realizing that I was being robbed right under my nose. But now the tables had turned. I was finally in control of my life."It feels so unreal, doesn’t it?" Lilac leaned against the bar, swirling the amber liquid in her next shot. "One signature and just like that, you own everything Ambrose tried to keep from you.""Yeah," I sighed. "It makes me so happy to know that man doesn't have any power over me anymore."Ariana smirked. "And now that you’re in charge, tell me, what’s the first wicked thing we’re doing to that slimy b
Ruby's POVI parked in front of Hawthorne & Adler and turned off the engine. My fingers curled around the steering wheel and took a moment to think. The past few days had been a blur, from finding the tungsten steel closet to giving my statement at the police station and now, preparing for this moment. Today, I was taking back what was mine, and for good too.My phone buzzed in the passenger seat. I glanced at it to see a FaceTime call from Damien. I picked up and saw him standing shirtless, a toothbrush in his mouth."Big day," he started. "Are you ready?"I glanced at the firm’s glass doors. "As I'll ever be, I guess."“Okay, you’re going to walk in there, sign those papers and end this battle once and for all.” There was no single doubt in his voice; he believed in me that much."Let’s hope it’s that simple." I replied and gave him a tentative smile. "Who knows what kind of twisted legal protection Ambrose made over our father's estate? I might never be able to regain it.""Don't s
Ruby’s POVI turned to Damien, and the moment his arms gathered me to himself, I broke down. A sob tore out of me before I could stop it. I pressed my face into his shoulder, gripping his jacket like it was the only thing keeping me from falling apart.It wasn’t just about the will or the album or the house that now felt like a graveyard. It was everything from Gabriel’s threats to Ambrose’s schemes. The months of watching my back, waiting for the next attack. Dominic pushing me away, then pulling me back in. My father’s secrets unloosening like a rope that had been around my throat for eleven years. I was exhausted.My father should have lived longer. If not for Ambrose and his wickedness, my father would still be alive.Damien rubbed my back, murmuring. “It's all good, Ruby. Everything is safe now.Safe.... I almost laughed at the word. Safety wasn’t something I believed in anymore. But sitting here with my brother’s arms around me, I let myself pretend that it was for a moment.Aft
Ruby’s POVI entered into my car and immediately dialed Damien’s number. He picked up on the second ring."Where the hell are you?" His voice was full of worry."I just drove three hours to Springfield," I replied him, shifting the car into drive. "I had a meeting with Dad’s lawyer.""You did WHAT?""I went to see Mr. Hawthorne," I repeated, keeping my tone even."You left Chicago alone?" Damien sounded pissed now. "Ruby, you just got out of the hospital, maybe ten days ago. And now you're driving halfway across the state to see a lawyer. What the hell are you thinking?""I’m thinking I’m fine," I said, rolling my eyes. "And I don’t need you acting like my babysitter.""You don’t need more stress right now!" He insisted."Then stop stressing me out," I shot back.Damien groaned heavily. "I always heard about younger sisters doing irrational things. I just never thought it would apply to you."I snorted. "You're such a big brother!""What did you find out from the lawyer?"I gripped th
Ruby’s POVThe next day after my meeting with Dominic, I took a drive from Chicago to Springfield. My mind was so occupied with thoughts of my father, the key and whatever secrets Hawthorne & Adler Law Firm might be holding. I couldn't stay still any longer.Damien had offered to come along. He even insisted, but I told him no. This was something I needed to do myself. I didn’t know what I was expecting to find, but whatever it was, I wanted to face it alone.Three hours and several GPS directions later, my car sat in front of their office building. The building was a tall, glass-paneled structure that looked expensive, the kind of place where powerful men in suits made million-dollar deals over coffee.I took a deep breath, adjusting the baseball cap on my head. I wore a black leather jacket, black pants and baseball hat pulled low, everything was an attempt to keep a low profile. My father had been a hotshot in the business world. Even years after his death, people still remembered
Ruby's POVThe condo still didn’t feel like mine. Three days of rearranging furniture, shopping for new décor and repainting a few walls, yet something was still off. Maybe it was because I had been gone for too long, or maybe because I myself had changed.I sat on the couch, my laptop perched on my lap as I tried to focus on an online business class. The words on the screen blurred together. My mind drifted, not to Gabriel or Ambrose this time but to Dominic. His blue eyes and his calm voice. The way he looked at me before I walked away.The doorbell rang suddenly. I glanced up, shutting the laptop. Setting it aside, I padded to the door. When I opened it, no one was there, just a small box resting on the threshold.My pulse kicked up as I remembered how a similar package had been sitting at my doorstep four months ago, from Gabriel. I calmed myself down by reminding myself that this box was much smaller, way too small for a booby trap.I bent down, picked it up and stepped back insi
Ruby's POVDamien's car hummed softly as he drove us away from The Basement. I didn’t say a word during the drive. I just stared out of the window, watching the city lights blur past. The wind from the moving car slipped through the crack in the window. It stirred my hair, blowing loose strands across my face. I didn’t bother pushing them away.My mind was still back there with Ambrose and Gabriel, kneeling in the dirt like the pathetic men they were. Gabriel had begged. Of course, he had. Always thinking about himself first. Not once did he even beg for Ambrose, just himself. He was greedy like that.He’d grabbed my jeans, pleaded for mercy, as if that erased everything he had done. As if I could forget Julia’s lifeless body floating in the river. As if I could forget the way he looked at me when he thought he had won, or the triumphant look in his eyes as he stalked me all over Chicago.I had wanted him dead. For a moment, I had wanted to rip him apart with my bare hands. But I wasn
Dominic's POVI slipped my hands into my pockets, watching the two bastards kneeling before me. Gabriel’s mouth was bloody but he still had enough energy to glare at me like he wanted to rip my throat out. Ambrose on the other hand just looked annoyed, like this whole thing was beneath him as a person.I stared at them in silence before I finally spoke. “Why’d you do it, Ambrose?” My voice was calm, but I was far from it. “Why send someone to kill me? Why take Rachael away?”Ambrose chuckled, shaking his head like I was the one being ridiculous. “Because I got her first,” he said. “We were together long before you came along. We grew up together. We were supposed to be together. And then you waltzed in and took her from me.”I snorted, shaking my head. “You never loved her.”He glared at me. "And you cannot prove that.”“You only wanted her because of her family.” I tilted my head. “Rachael was the governor’s daughter. The golden ticket.”Ambrose’s expression didn’t change, but I knew
RUBY'S POV"Thank you."I gave the Italian man a smile over the counter, accepting the hot cup of latte. I took a sip, the frothy sweetness coating my tongue, and felt a pang of satisfaction. Nothing like a cup of coffee after a long day at the gym. My mornings were sacred—my time to unwind, to shed the facade of "Mrs. Perfect Wife," and to just exist.As I settled back into my chair, I pulled out my phone and scrolled through my contacts, and finally froze on one. My so-called absentee husband.My thumb hovered over his name for a moment too long, debating if I really wanted to ruin this blissful moment. But boredom had been gnawing at me lately.I hit call.The phone rang twice before his voice came through, clipped and impatient. "What do you want, Ruby?""Good morning to you too, darling," I chirped, keeping my voice as sweet as the latte in my hand. "I was just calling to check on you. Is that a crime now?"He sighed. "I'm busy. Can we do this later?"I leaned back in my chair, ...
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