Library
Search
Home / Romance / The Billionaire's Daring Kitten / Lingering Thoughts

Share

Lingering Thoughts

Author: Manuel Kyle
last update Last Updated: 2024-12-13 01:29:54

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
Locked Chapter
Continue Reading on GoodNovel
Scan code to download App
Previous Chapter Next Chapter

Related chapters

  • The Billionaire's Daring Kitten    Dealing With The Aftermath

    RUBY'S POV "Ugh! You stink like you drank the entire bar!"I jolted awake with a gasp. The first thing I felt was an intense pain in my temple. My head pounded as if someone were using my skull as a drum. I squinted against the sunlight pouring in through the curtains and groaned, pressing a hand to my temples. My mouth tasted like I’d chewed on a sock soaked in cheap whiskey.Turning my head slightly, I realized I wasn’t on the couch where I’d passed out last night. No, this was a bed—a soft, inviting bed that smelled faintly of lavender. Ariana’s bed.“How…?” I croaked.“You were a mess last night,” Ariana’s voice came from across the room. She was perched on a stool before her vanity, her face smeared with some white, creamy substance that made her look like a ghost. “Drinking yourself stupid at the bar. Your driver had to half-carry you here. Do you remember?”Ah, yes. I remembered that much now. Vaguely. The bar, the drink I demanded, the suffocating noise… and then nothing.I s

    Last Updated : 2024-12-13

  • The Billionaire's Daring Kitten    Moment Of Truth

    DOMINIC'S POV "We're here, boss." I didn’t bother answering my driver. Instead, I motioned for him to leave. “Get out and take a smoke. I need a moment.” “Yes, sir.” He nodded, turned off the ignition, and stepped out into the drizzle. I watched him walk a few feet away, his silhouette barely visible through the rain-splattered windshield as he moved under a shade and lit a cigarette. Once I was sure he was out of earshot, I pulled my phone from the pocket of my jacket. My thumb hovered over a secure app before I tapped it, initiating the call. The line clicked after two rings. “Don Dominic,” came the familiar rasp of Rocco’s voice. Always too casual, too comfortable. “What’s taking so long?” I snapped. "Tuesday was what you promised. Today Is Friday." “Ah, buona sera, boss,” Rocco replied smoothly, as though we were old friends chatting over wine. “I see you’re in one of your moods again.” “This isn’t about moods,” I said sharply. “Five years, Rocco. Five years I’ve ke

    Last Updated : 2024-12-14

  • The Billionaire's Daring Kitten    Torn In Between

    DOMINIC'S POVThe rain hadn’t let up. It kept hammering against the roof of the car like an impatient messenger. I stared at the image of Ruby on my laptop screen, trying to arrange my tangled, messy thoughts.I should tell Damien.The logical part of me knew that keeping this information from him would be a betrayal. We’d been friends for well over a decade, and finding Ruby had been Damien’s obsession for years. He deserved to know that his sister was alive, safe, and living her life in plain sight.But then there was the other side of me—the selfish side. The side that wanted Ruby close, where I could see her, where I could have her. And that thought made my stomach churn, because I wasn’t sure I could control myself around her.My phone buzzed on the seat beside me, jolting me from my thoughts. I glanced at the screen.Damien.“Of course,” I muttered under my breath. As if the universe had decided to test me at the worst possible moment.I stared at the screen, debating. Answering

    Last Updated : 2024-12-15

  • The Billionaire's Daring Kitten    An Annoying Father Figure

    RUBY'S POVI woke up feeling strangely energized, though my body ached in a way that only reminded me of the tiring night of the masquerade ball.Stretching lazily, I glanced around Ariana's bedroom. It was a little chaotic, clothes spilling out of her closet and shoes scattered on the floor, but it was so her. Ariana was just that: familiar, warm and safe. I got up and rifled through her closet until I found an oversized sweatshirt. I pulled it on, comforted by its soft fabric and the faint scent of Ariana’s floral perfume.Padding downstairs, I caught the sound of voices coming from the kitchen. I didn’t even need to hear the words to know who it was—Ariana and Lilac. My two best friends. They were probably dissecting some random gossip or laughing about their latest antics.As I reached the doorway, I paused, leaning against the frame.“Oh, come on, Lilac! You should’ve seen her talk about it,” Ariana’s voice rang out, excited and slightly dramatic, as usual. “Ruby and Dominic Ruth

    Last Updated : 2024-12-16

  • The Billionaire's Daring Kitten    Typical Ambrose

    RUBY'S POVI walked back into the kitchen, trying to mask my irritation. Ariana and Lilac were still leaning against the counter, but their laughter faded as they noticed me walking in.“What’s wrong?” Ariana asked immediately. "Who was on the call?"I leaned against the doorway, arms crossed. “I need to head home and get ready to see Ambrose tomorrow. He wants to ‘talk.’” I curved my fingers into air quotes at the last word.Lilac raised an eyebrow. “What’s this about?”I groaned, running a hand through my hair. “He called to check on me, said he’d been trying to reach me since he heard about the divorce. Then, instead of supporting me, he started listing reasons why I shouldn’t have left Gabriel.”“What?” Ariana’s voice rose an octave, her eyes wide. “Are you kidding me? After everything Gabriel did?”“That was my reaction too,” I chuckled dryly. “Apparently, because Ambrose introduced us, he feels the need to play marriage counselor.”Lilac tilted her head. “What exactly did he say

    Last Updated : 2024-12-17

  • The Billionaire's Daring Kitten    No More

    RUBY'S POV The sound of the door opening behind me made me freeze in my seat and grip the armrests even tighter. I turned slowly, dread building in the pit of my stomach. Standing there, with that smug expression I’d grown to despise, was Gabriel. My husband—correction, ex-husband. The man who had shattered my trust and dignity in one fell swoop. “You’ve got to be kidding me!” I shrieked, glaring at Ambrose. “So, this is why you invited me here? To ambush me with him?” “Ruby,” Ambrose began, gesturing for me to calm down, “this isn’t an ambush. It’s a chance to have a civilized conversation with your husband—” "Ex-husband!" I corrected quickly. “Civilized? You expect me to sit here and chat with this snake after what he did to me?” Gabriel cleared his throat and stepped forward, hands in his pockets. “Ruby, I—” “Don’t,” I cut him off sharply. “You don’t get to speak to me, Gabriel!” Ambrose raised his hands like a mediator at a peace summit. “Hey, hey. Let’s all calm down.

    Last Updated : 2024-12-18

  • The Billionaire's Daring Kitten    Fishing For Dominic Rutherford

    RUBY'S POVThe cafe smelled like roasted coffee beans and baked pastries, a comforting aroma that might have soothed me on another day. I sipped my cappuccino, but its warmth didn't do much to settle my nerves. Sitting in this booth—the very booth where I’d called Gabriel and heard another woman’s voice in the background—was funny to me. Only a week and a half had passed since then, but it felt like a lifetime ago.“Dominic Rutherford. CEO of Rutherford Conglomerate. Family business. Billionaire, obviously,” Ariana’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts. She was glued to my laptop, her fingers flying over the keyboard as she muttered under her breath.“Very cliché,” I said, setting my cup down. “A mysterious billionaire with a family business. Shocking.”Ariana snorted, not looking up. “Well, excuse me for stating the obvious. This man is like a ghost, Ruby. He’s done a stellar job at keeping his private life private. You sure you want to go chasing after him?”I didn’t answer, instead

    Last Updated : 2024-12-19

  • The Billionaire's Daring Kitten    Mysterious and Different

    DOMINIC'S POVThe glossy picture felt heavier in my hand than it should have. Ruby DanCliffe. Her name played in my mind like an endless loop, and her image burned into my brain. The way her red hair caught the light in the photo, flowing down in waves that begged to be touched. Her green eyes sparkled with a mischief I was sure she carried in spades.I sighed, dragging my fingers through my hair as I leaned back in my chair. My laptop sat open on my desk, a Skype meeting droning on. The voices of my board of directors filled the office, but I wasn’t listening.“…As you can see, the projections for the third quarter…”Blah, blah, blah. Numbers, graphs, plans—I couldn’t care less. The only thing that mattered was the picture in my hand. I didn’t even know why I printed it out, but it felt more tangible this way. Like she was closer to me.Ruby wasn’t just haunting my waking hours; she’d taken over my nights too. Every time I closed my eyes, there she was. That fiery hair, those mesmeri

    Last Updated : 2024-12-20

Latest chapter

  • The Billionaire's Daring Kitten    Dead End

    RUBY'S POVThe second I stepped outside, I fell apart. My legs gave way, and I dropped onto the cold steps of the government building. I couldn’t hold it in anymore. The tears came hard and fast, leaving me trembling as I buried my face in my hands.All I had was her name. Just a name and nothing else. It felt cruel, like the universe dangled a lifeline in front of me only to yank it away.The pain was suffocating me, I couldn’t stop crying. I didn’t care who saw me, who heard me. I was tired of feeling like this. I was tired of feeling lost, small and abandoned. I had no family.A hand on my shoulder made me flinch. I looked up, and Dominic was standing there.“You waited?” My voice was hoarse and broken.“Of course.” He sat on the dusty staircase beside me, even with his expensive pants, and placed his elbows on his knees. “I wasn’t going to leave you.”That was all it took for the tears to start again. He sat down next to me and pulled me against him. His arms wrapped around me, s

  • The Billionaire's Daring Kitten    A Search For Her Mother

    RUBY'S POVDominic pulled up in front of the local government office. He turned off the ignition of his car and we both stared at the building. It looked plain and almost unassuming, with its beige walls and narrow windows. Yet to me, it felt like the doorway to my real truth, a part of my life that my father had tried so hard to bury away from me.I shifted in my seat, my palms clammy despite the cool air from the car’s vents. I had spent my entire life piecing together fragments of my father’s stories, trying to build an image of the woman who had disappeared so completely from my life. I knew she was a redhead and she was not a U.S citizen from Ambrose, but that was hardly information one ought to know about one's mother. Now, with no other options left, I was here.Dominic reached over and his large hand covered mine, his thumb drawing slow, soothing circles on my skin. His touch was warm, grounding me in a moment where I felt anything but steady.“Are you okay?” he asked softly.

  • The Billionaire's Daring Kitten    Playing Cool

    AMBROSE'S POVI climbed into the backseat of the car and slammed the door hard. From the window, I watched Gabriel and Julia step back into their car. Gabriel leaned over to murmur something, and Julia threw her head back, laughing like it was the funniest thing in the world.Even from this distance, I could tell they were mocking me. Gabriel always had that smirk, that smug tilt of his head like he thought he was untouchable. It made me so angry that I gritted my teeth.“Back to the city, sir?” my driver asked.“Yes, yes!” I snapped.As we pulled away, I sat back and let out a frustrated breath. How many times had I cursed the day I let Gabriel into my life? Too many to count.I closed my eyes for a moment and tried to remember. It had been more than a decade ago when I first met him. Then, he was a scrawny nineteen-year-old boy, shivering on the streets of Chicago with nowhere to go and no one to turn to. He had been timid then, all wide eyes and desperation. He wasn’t much to look

  • The Billionaire's Daring Kitten    Dealing With Gabriel

    AMBROSE'S POVThe car rocked slightly as we sped down the highway, and I gripped the armrest with agitation. My driver drove like his life depended on it.I exhaled sharply, rubbing my temples. “Gabriel,” I muttered the under my breath like a curse. How many times had I told him to stop? How many times had I told him to leave Ruby alone? But Gabriel was a mad man who never listened; he had always been. His theatrics were going to ruin everything."Sir," the driver called me cautiously, eyes on the road. "Are you sure you want to confront him now?""I've been too lenient," I snapped, glaring out the window. The city blurred past, buildings melting into streaks of gray and white. "He thinks this is a game. That he can push Ruby to the edge and scare her into submission. He doesn’t understand subtlety and I’m done cleaning up his messes."The box sitting beside me caught my eye, and a fresh wave of disgust rolled through me. It was a plain and nondescript cardboard box, except for the na

  • The Billionaire's Daring Kitten    "Finish Him"

    DOMINIC'S POVI got into the car and shut the door with a firm click. Easing out of the driveway, I turned onto the road, heading toward The Basement. That’s what we called it: my home base for the things we didn’t discuss in polite company. It wasn’t just a hideout. It was where I handled my enemies. And right now, Ruby’s stalker was my biggest problem.As far as I was concerned, anyone who threatened her was an enemy of mine.The drive to Chicago was quiet. I stayed focused on the road, my mind already on what was waiting for me. Eventually, I reached a deserted neighborhood and parked a few houses down from The Basement. I shrugged off my jacket, loosened my tie, and stepped out of the car.The Basement was an abandoned warehouse by the river. It looked like nothing from the outside, just rusted metal walls, broken windows and a strong smell of stagnant water carried on the breeze. It was the kind of place people avoided without even needing a reason.I walked down the cracked side

  • The Billionaire's Daring Kitten    Fallout

    DOMINIC'S POVThe silence after Damien’s exit was oppressive to me. I sat at the table, phone in hand, trying to calm the rising panic in my chest. My thumb hovered over his name in my contacts. Finally, I hit “Call.”No answer.I tried again, and again, but each attempt was futile; I kept getting his voicemail. Frustration made me groan and drop my phone on the table. Damien wasn’t just ignoring me; he was shutting me out completely.I couldn’t let it end like this.One more time.“Damien,” I said when his voicemail clicked on again. “Look, I get that you’re upset, but you don’t understand the full picture. I know I’ve been holding back, but I swear, it’s for a reason. Call me back when you get this ASAP.”I hung up and gripped the edge of the table. Damien wasn’t just my friend, he was one of the few people in my life I could call family. If he walked away from this, from me, it wouldn’t just be a temporary fallout. This could destroy everything.After a few more futile minutes of s

  • The Billionaire's Daring Kitten    Losing Patience

    DOMINIC'S POVEarly the next morning, I slipped out of my bed, leaving Ruby in it. I took a quick shower and headed downstairs. Today was the day I'd finally meet with Damien ever since my travel to Italy with Ruby.I texted the address to Damien and slipped my phone into my pocket. The cool morning air brushed over my face as I stepped outside. My driver was already waiting by the car, and he straightened his posture when he saw me.“Would you like me to take you, sir?” he asked.I shook my head, pulling open the door. “Not today. I’ll drive myself.”He nodded, stepping aside without question.Sliding into the driver’s seat, I started the engine and pulled out of the compound. Damien was expecting answers. I’d told him that his sister now resided in Illinois, which wasn't a lie in itself, but which didn't feel like the complete truth either. I'd told myself, promised myself even, that I would end this whole web of secrets. Ruby deserved the truth, and so did Damien.But the timing co

  • The Billionaire's Daring Kitten    A Resolution

    DOMINIC'S POV Something in my frigid heart melted at her words.Ruby stared at me, bright green eyes blazing with emotions I could not name. Her hands caressed my face, sliding down my jaw, and in that moment, I felt safer than ever.I'd asked for a label, and she'd given me much more than that."Sex over the kitchen island," I murmured in a tease. "That's a first."She laughed, the sound like music to my ears. "Not even with your other women? Don't think I don't remember what Ariel said about that."I scoffed, thinking about my daughter. "Ariel doesn't know what she's talking about."Without giving her time to answer, I slung my arm around Ruby's waist, pulling her into my arms."Dominic!" She yelped, and I shot her a wide grin."What do you think Ariel would say if she found us half naked in the kitchen?" I asked. "Come on, time for bed."Ruby giggled as I carted her all the way to the door of her room before setting her down gently. Ruby threw her arms around my neck, and the warm

  • The Billionaire's Daring Kitten    Insanely Good

    RUBY'S POVDominic's strong arms came around me immediately and he kissed me back, and oh, I loved kissing him. We fit together so well, we always did. No loose lips or space where it wasn’t wanted. He kissed me with perfect control, and I was pretty sure I could go on kissing him for the rest of my life and be thrilled every time.My hands reached up and tangled between the hair on the nape of his neck. Dominic growled, deepening the kiss. He pressed me against the wall of the kitchen, his hands clawing at my ass.Eventually, though, my breath became short and my involuntary moans more frequent, and kissing was no longer enough. The hot bulge in his pants lay right above the tiny cotton strip of my thong and the warm pressure was driving me completely insane.I broke away from Dominic, his hair a mess all over his head and face from my fingers. It almost felt like I was running from him, but Dominic closed the distance between us again. He yanked at the buttons on my nightdress, so

You may also like

Scan code to read on App
DMCA.com Protection Status