RUBY'S POV
Dominic Rutherford's growl shocked me just as much as it shocked Julia. I sprang back, pressing myself against the corner of the bathroom. The water from the sink still burned against my throat, and I coughed and spluttered to get it all out. Julia froze, her hands trembling as she backed away from me. Her confidence seemed to crumble under his sharp glare, and for the first time since this nightmare began, I saw fear in her eyes. Dominic Rutherford stepped further inside, his presence consuming the room. “I asked you a question, woman, and for your own good, you'd better answer me." “I—I wasn’t—” Julia stammered, but Dominic Rutherford cut her off with a single, biting word. “Enough.” He turned to me then, his eyes locking into mine just enough to make my knees wobble. Before I could speak or even breathe properly, his strong hand wrapped around my arm, pulling me up with ease. The heat of his touch startled me, but it was his scent that undid me. A heady mix of dark amber and cedarwood, spiked with a hint of something smoky and dangerous. It was intoxicating, pulling me in even though I wanted to resist. No, no, no, no! My mind screamed. Why did it have to be him? Dominic Rutherford didn’t so much as glance at me as he positioned me behind him, shielding me from Julia as though I were some damsel in distress, which I wasn't. Why was this hulk of a man treating me like some baby? The thought grated on my nerves, but I couldn’t deny the slight comfort his towering frame brought. He fixed his gaze on Julia. His face was passive, but there was something burning in his eyes, and it scared even me. “Why were you demanding a key from her?” Julia opened her mouth, but no words came out. “I’m waiting,” he grunted. Julia swallowed hard. “It’s... n...none of your business!” “Wrong answer.” Dominic Rutherford took a step closer to her, his movements slow and deliberate, like a predator cornering its prey. “I’ll ask again: why were you trying to drown her? What’s so important about this key?” Julia stuttered. "Like I said, It Is none of your business." "I will make it my business if I want to." “It—it’s personal—" “Personal?” Dominic Rutherford echoed, his lips curling into a dangerous smirk. “You mean personal enough to commit attempted murder in a public place?” “I wasn’t trying to kill her!” Julia protested, her voice rising in desperation. Dominic Rutherford cocked an eyebrow. “Oh, so holding someone’s head under water is your idea of a joke? Forgive me if I don’t find it amusing.” Julia took a step back, her heel hitting the tiled floor with a faint squeak. He tilted his head, studying her with a cold intensity that made my skin prickle. “You do realize I know how to find you, don’t you? If you lie to me again, I will make sure you, and everybody related to you, regrets it.” Julia’s face went pale. “I—I didn’t mean to hurt her!” Dominic Rutherford’s laugh was humorless. “Funny. You looked pretty determined when I walked in.” I stood frozen behind him, watching the exchange like it was some twisted play. My throat still burned from the water I’d swallowed, but I couldn’t tear my eyes away from Dominic Rutherford. He was commanding, ruthless, and utterly terrifying—but he was also strangely captivating. Julia’s gaze darted to the door, and I saw the exact moment she decided to run. “Don’t you dare—” Dominic Rutherford started, but it was too late. Julia bolted toward the exit, shoving past him with surprising force. Dominic Rutherford moved fast, his reflexes sharper than I would’ve imagined for a man his size. He grabbed her arm, spinning her around with enough force to make her stumble. “Let me go!” she shrieked, clawing at his grip. Their struggle was chaotic, bodies twisting and colliding in the small space. Then, in the chaos, Julia’s hand shot up and caught the edge of his mask. The thick golden material tore away, clattering to the ground like a fallen leaf. And for the first time, I saw the man beneath the mask. The entire room seemed to go still. The music from the ballroom outside was muffled now, distant and irrelevant compared to what I was seeing. Dominic Rutherford froze and straightened, his hand still gripping Julia’s arm. His face was as striking as I’d imagined—but it was the left side that stole my breath. And there it was—a long line of serrated, jagged flesh, running down the left side of his face. Julia seized that opportunity to turn and dash out of the bathroom, but I didn't care anymore. My eyes were fixed on the man before me. Dominic Rutherford bent down swiftly, snatching the mask off the floor and placing it back over his face. His movements were sharp, deliberate, as though hiding his scar could erase the moment it was revealed. But I was already very curious. “What happened to your face?” I asked, taking a cautious step forward. His head whipped around, blue eyes blazing. “It’s none of your concern.” His tone was a warning, but I wasn’t one to back down easily. “I’m just asking a question. You don’t need to bite my head off,” I replied, folding my arms. "You can tell me." A muscle twitched in his jaw. “Stay out of things you don’t understand!” he snapped. That should have been the end of it. I should’ve shut up, turned around, and walked out of that bathroom. But the stubborn woman in me refused to let him have the last word. “Wow,” I said, with a bitter laugh. “You save someone’s life, bark orders at them, and then act like you’re God’s gift to the world? Hate to break it to you, but you’re not as intimidating as you think.” His eyes darkened instantly to an almost black colour. He took one step closer, and I stumbled backwards in surprise. “You don’t know when to stop, do you?” he growled, giving me a lazy once-over with his eyes. "You're a feisty woman." “Maybe if you weren’t such a control freak, people wouldn’t feel the need to push back,” I shot back at his face. That was it. The thread holding him together snapped. In a flash, he was in front of me, his movements a blur of speed. And before I knew what was happening, his hand was gripping my neck and pressing me against the wall.RUBY'S POV "You are such a stubborn woman!" He growled, his breath heating my face. "I like my women subservient—" "Then maybe you should leave me alone!" I spat. "—but there is something about you," he continued, as if he didn't hear me. His lips moved, trailing a heated line from my ear, down my neck and back. His hand was still around my neck, holding me in place. Excited goosebumps were spiralling down my body at this point. "You need to be punished." He said suddenly, letting go of my neck. The force of his words left me speechless for a second. "Punished?" I whispered. "Yes." He replied. "For being so feisty." And with one sweep of his arm, he lifted me in the air and placed me to sit on the sink. Kiss me! I screamed in my head with a strange, unfamiliar need, completely captivated by him. I was staring openly at Dominic Rutherford's Cupid's bow mouth now, utterly mesmerized, and he was looking down at me, his gaze hooded, his eyes darkening. I knew I shouldn't be doin
RUBY'S POVTaste. Those lips. That tongue. I didn’t need any more encouragement. My hands began to travel, over my neck, back over my breasts, pressing them together, my nipples peeking through my fingers. Dominic Rutherford leaned forward and ran his tongue over them, one peak and then the next. Lick, swirl, lick.My hands went to his hair. His name whispered from my lips.More licking, a delicate scrape of teeth, and then he leaned back. “Show me more. Where do you need me?"Oh, I needed him all right. The fingers of one hand slid seductively down my stomach, through my underwear and the triangle of curls above my clit. I touched myself, stroked my clit, slid my fingers into the wet heat dripping from my core. "Here," I said. “I need you here.”He pressed my legs wider and pushed my panties until they slid down my legs. Then his strong fingers brushed up and down my thighs, slow and seductive. His lashes lowered, head tilted as he watched me caress my sensitive flesh, until he cov
RUBY'S POV What the hell did I just do?I leaned against the cold sink in the bathroom, my hands trembling as I tried to steady myself. My reflection in the mirror looked just as lost as I felt. My red lipstick was smeared, my hair was a mess, and my dress clung to me in all the wrong ways. How had I let myself get carried away like that?Dominic Rutherford. His name echoed in my head like a curse. A stranger. A man I had barely known for all of five minutes, and yet I’d let him pull me into something reckless and stupid.Unprotected sex!This wasn’t me. I wasn’t the type to lose control, to throw caution to the wind. I was sharp, calculated, and independent. But somehow, around him, I became a version of myself I didn’t recognize—soft, pliant, and completely at his mercy. What had he done to me?I quickly adjusted my dress and reached for my mask, pulling it over my face. The voices outside the bathroom grew louder, and panic bubbled in my chest. I had to get out of here. I had to p
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,
RUBY'S POVI sat at the head of the table, facing the window, a single glass of red wine cradled between my fingers. The wait was almost over; I could barely contain my amusement. The silence was thick, broken only by the faint tick of the clock on the wall. No explanations, no theatrics—just a simple dinner.The door opened behind me, and I didn’t even bother to turn. Gabriel’s nervous shuffle was unmistakable, and the hurried clatter of heels behind him told me Julia was with him. My lips curved into a slow smile as they entered the room.They stopped at the table, neither daring to sit. Slowly, I turned.“Don’t be shy,” I cooed. “Take a seat. After all, you’re my guests tonight. You know, since we’re all... acquainted now.”Gabriel slowly took his seat, and Julia followed. “Ruby, I can explain—”“Don’t bother.” I set my glass down on the table, the soft clink silencing him. “I didn’t call you here for an explanation, Gabriel. I caught you red-handed already.”My so-called best frie
RUBY’S POV "YOU DIVORCED GABRIEL?!"Ariana’s voice tore through the pounding bass of the club, loud enough to make the heads of nearby patrons turn. Her bright blue eyes were wide with shock, her curly black hair bouncing as she leaned closer to me.“Yes, I divorced Gabriel,” I shouted back, rolling my eyes as I took a sip of my martini. “I told you this already!”“No, no, no,” Ariana insisted, waving her manicured hand. “You said you were thinking about it. You didn’t say you actually did it! When did this happen?”“Today!” I yelled, the thudding beat of the music forcing us to scream over it. “Oh, my God!” she shrieked, grabbing my arm. “Finally!”Lilac, sitting calmly across the table with her signature poised demeanor, sipped her wine and gave me a knowing smile. Her warm hazel eyes twinkled under the neon lights of the club. "About time, Ruby. I mean, the man was a walking red flag. I’m proud of you for leaving him.”“Thanks, Lilac,” I said, flashing her a grateful smile befor
RUBY'S POVIt was barely noon the next day, and Dominic Rutherford was already invading my thoughts again. I sat on the edge of my hotel bed, staring at the TV that I’d muted hours ago, fiddling with a loose thread on my robe and trying to push that accursed masked man out of my head.Why was I still thinking about him? It wasn’t like me to get caught up over a man, especially one I hadn’t even spoken to or seen exactly how he looks, except through the MASK. ESPECIALLY one who looked so dangerous. Yet his bright blue eyes, the commanding way he carried himself, and that stupid gold mask were all I could see.Before I could spiral further, my phone buzzed on the nightstand. I lunged for it, hoping for a distraction. Thank the Lord!“Ariana!” I called out, forcing a cheerful tone.“Well, well, someone’s up early after ditching us last night.” Her voice was teasing, but I could hear the curiosity behind it.“I didn’t ditch you,” I argued, leaning back against the headboard. “The club was
RUBY'S POV What the hell did I just do?I leaned against the cold sink in the bathroom, my hands trembling as I tried to steady myself. My reflection in the mirror looked just as lost as I felt. My red lipstick was smeared, my hair was a mess, and my dress clung to me in all the wrong ways. How had I let myself get carried away like that?Dominic Rutherford. His name echoed in my head like a curse. A stranger. A man I had barely known for all of five minutes, and yet I’d let him pull me into something reckless and stupid.Unprotected sex!This wasn’t me. I wasn’t the type to lose control, to throw caution to the wind. I was sharp, calculated, and independent. But somehow, around him, I became a version of myself I didn’t recognize—soft, pliant, and completely at his mercy. What had he done to me?I quickly adjusted my dress and reached for my mask, pulling it over my face. The voices outside the bathroom grew louder, and panic bubbled in my chest. I had to get out of here. I had to p
RUBY'S POVTaste. Those lips. That tongue. I didn’t need any more encouragement. My hands began to travel, over my neck, back over my breasts, pressing them together, my nipples peeking through my fingers. Dominic Rutherford leaned forward and ran his tongue over them, one peak and then the next. Lick, swirl, lick.My hands went to his hair. His name whispered from my lips.More licking, a delicate scrape of teeth, and then he leaned back. “Show me more. Where do you need me?"Oh, I needed him all right. The fingers of one hand slid seductively down my stomach, through my underwear and the triangle of curls above my clit. I touched myself, stroked my clit, slid my fingers into the wet heat dripping from my core. "Here," I said. “I need you here.”He pressed my legs wider and pushed my panties until they slid down my legs. Then his strong fingers brushed up and down my thighs, slow and seductive. His lashes lowered, head tilted as he watched me caress my sensitive flesh, until he cov
RUBY'S POV "You are such a stubborn woman!" He growled, his breath heating my face. "I like my women subservient—" "Then maybe you should leave me alone!" I spat. "—but there is something about you," he continued, as if he didn't hear me. His lips moved, trailing a heated line from my ear, down my neck and back. His hand was still around my neck, holding me in place. Excited goosebumps were spiralling down my body at this point. "You need to be punished." He said suddenly, letting go of my neck. The force of his words left me speechless for a second. "Punished?" I whispered. "Yes." He replied. "For being so feisty." And with one sweep of his arm, he lifted me in the air and placed me to sit on the sink. Kiss me! I screamed in my head with a strange, unfamiliar need, completely captivated by him. I was staring openly at Dominic Rutherford's Cupid's bow mouth now, utterly mesmerized, and he was looking down at me, his gaze hooded, his eyes darkening. I knew I shouldn't be doin
RUBY'S POVDominic Rutherford's growl shocked me just as much as it shocked Julia. I sprang back, pressing myself against the corner of the bathroom. The water from the sink still burned against my throat, and I coughed and spluttered to get it all out.Julia froze, her hands trembling as she backed away from me. Her confidence seemed to crumble under his sharp glare, and for the first time since this nightmare began, I saw fear in her eyes.Dominic Rutherford stepped further inside, his presence consuming the room. “I asked you a question, woman, and for your own good, you'd better answer me."“I—I wasn’t—” Julia stammered, but Dominic Rutherford cut her off with a single, biting word.“Enough.”He turned to me then, his eyes locking into mine just enough to make my knees wobble. Before I could speak or even breathe properly, his strong hand wrapped around my arm, pulling me up with ease.The heat of his touch startled me, but it was his scent that undid me. A heady mix of dark ambe
RUBY'S POVIt was barely noon the next day, and Dominic Rutherford was already invading my thoughts again. I sat on the edge of my hotel bed, staring at the TV that I’d muted hours ago, fiddling with a loose thread on my robe and trying to push that accursed masked man out of my head.Why was I still thinking about him? It wasn’t like me to get caught up over a man, especially one I hadn’t even spoken to or seen exactly how he looks, except through the MASK. ESPECIALLY one who looked so dangerous. Yet his bright blue eyes, the commanding way he carried himself, and that stupid gold mask were all I could see.Before I could spiral further, my phone buzzed on the nightstand. I lunged for it, hoping for a distraction. Thank the Lord!“Ariana!” I called out, forcing a cheerful tone.“Well, well, someone’s up early after ditching us last night.” Her voice was teasing, but I could hear the curiosity behind it.“I didn’t ditch you,” I argued, leaning back against the headboard. “The club was
RUBY’S POV "YOU DIVORCED GABRIEL?!"Ariana’s voice tore through the pounding bass of the club, loud enough to make the heads of nearby patrons turn. Her bright blue eyes were wide with shock, her curly black hair bouncing as she leaned closer to me.“Yes, I divorced Gabriel,” I shouted back, rolling my eyes as I took a sip of my martini. “I told you this already!”“No, no, no,” Ariana insisted, waving her manicured hand. “You said you were thinking about it. You didn’t say you actually did it! When did this happen?”“Today!” I yelled, the thudding beat of the music forcing us to scream over it. “Oh, my God!” she shrieked, grabbing my arm. “Finally!”Lilac, sitting calmly across the table with her signature poised demeanor, sipped her wine and gave me a knowing smile. Her warm hazel eyes twinkled under the neon lights of the club. "About time, Ruby. I mean, the man was a walking red flag. I’m proud of you for leaving him.”“Thanks, Lilac,” I said, flashing her a grateful smile befor
RUBY'S POVI sat at the head of the table, facing the window, a single glass of red wine cradled between my fingers. The wait was almost over; I could barely contain my amusement. The silence was thick, broken only by the faint tick of the clock on the wall. No explanations, no theatrics—just a simple dinner.The door opened behind me, and I didn’t even bother to turn. Gabriel’s nervous shuffle was unmistakable, and the hurried clatter of heels behind him told me Julia was with him. My lips curved into a slow smile as they entered the room.They stopped at the table, neither daring to sit. Slowly, I turned.“Don’t be shy,” I cooed. “Take a seat. After all, you’re my guests tonight. You know, since we’re all... acquainted now.”Gabriel slowly took his seat, and Julia followed. “Ruby, I can explain—”“Don’t bother.” I set my glass down on the table, the soft clink silencing him. “I didn’t call you here for an explanation, Gabriel. I caught you red-handed already.”My so-called best frie
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,