DOMINIC'S POVAs if she'd been waiting for that moment, Ruby took over the kiss in two seconds.I wrapped my hands around her neck and pulled her closer as she held me in place. Despite my gold mask, kissing her wasn't hard at all. It was all I could do to let her stay in control when I wanted to grab her arms, pin her against the elevator wall and fuck her from the back.We started off just brushing our lips together, and when that was almost driving me crazy, I broached her with my tongue. She tasted like champagne and something minty—toothpaste probably. The combination did things to my groin that no expensive perfumes or flowery creams could do to me.The sound of the rumbling elevator faded behind the sound of my own blood roaring, behind the increase in my heartbeat. Ruby's skin had grown oddly warm, as though the same thing was happening to her. She and I were completely in sync. The rubbing against my dick, the quick stolen breaths, the way she moved in the same moment I pull
Ruby's POVAt any moment now, I would collapse. I tried to put one shaky foot after another as I led the way out of the elevator. My legs felt like cooked spaghetti straight out of the pot. Dominic Rutherford was chuckling behind me, apparently proud of what he'd done to my body. The sneaky bastard!I got to the door of my family's suite and fished out the key card from my bag. The doors parted with a ding, and I led the way inside.The last time I'd been in this suite was a few months before my father had died, for some event I could no longer remember. It was obvious that nobody had used the suite since then, even though it looked very well taken care of."Shouldn't we get back to the cocktail party?" I asked Dominic as I set my bag down on a nearby shelf.“No.” He stopped me from the back and kissed my bare shoulder, then slid a hand down my chest to the corset that surrounded my waist.“Right.” I briefly closed my eyes to catch my bearings before I fell apart again. “We won’t tal
RUBY'S POVI’d forgotten about the thong. Before I could take care of it, he moved down to kiss my belly. I tensed, waiting to see where he’d kiss next as he pulled down the red silk. His moist breath bathed the skin at the top of my thighs. Next came his lips, his teeth, the tip of his tongue...until I interrupted to help him draw the thong to my ankles. I used my toes and heel to speed the process. It wasn’t fair that I couldn’t touch him. I wanted to very badly.“Come here,” I said, then added, “Please,” when his slow smile told me he had no intention of hurrying.“What’s the rush?” He dragged the backs of his fingers up the inside of my thigh, and smirked when I clamped my legs together.I didn’t care if he found out I was wet; I simply didn’t want it all to end in two minutes. “The reason I don’t have condoms,” I said, lifting my shoulders off the mattress and curling up until I could almost reach him, “is because I’ve been too busy for...this...” “Sex?" He asked with a raised
DOMINIC’S POV I stood on the balcony with the cigarette balanced between my fingers. The faint glow of the city lights stretched out beneath me, but I barely noticed. My thoughts were elsewhere. The cool night air bit at my skin, but I welcomed it. It was better than being inside, facing the woman I’d just left behind.The door to the bedroom was slightly ajar, and through it, I could see Ruby lying in bed. She wasn’t asleep yet—I could tell by the way she shifted under the covers, as if trying to get comfortable. I’d left her abruptly, and she hadn’t said a word. But I could feel her confusion from where I stood.I inhaled deeply, the smoke burning my lungs before I exhaled slowly, watching the thin wisps disappear into the night. What was I supposed to say to her? "Sorry, Ruby, I can’t handle this because it reminds me of a life I’ll never get back"?Pathetic.The truth was, I had felt something back there. Something I hadn’t felt in five years.The last time I’d held someone so cl
RUBY'S POVThe sunlight filtered through the thin curtains, waking me slowly. I turned over in bed, stretching my arms lazily before realizing that I was alone. Dominic was gone.A part of me wasn’t surprised. He didn’t strike me as the kind of man who hung around after sex. But another part of me… well, I couldn’t lie. I felt a twinge of disappointment.My phone buzzed on the nightstand, pulling me from my thoughts. I grabbed it and gasped at the sight of 23 missed calls. Thirteen from Ariana, ten from Lilac. Groaning, I unlocked my phone and opened our group chat.Ariana: Where are you, Ruby?!Lilac: If you don’t answer, we’re calling the cops.Ariana: Seriously, you better be okay.Lilac: Or we’re breaking down the door to your suite.I scrolled through 76 unread messages, all ranging from concerned to borderline threatening.“Great,” I muttered, rubbing my temples.I hit the FaceTime button and waited for the call to connect. Within seconds, both Ariana and Lilac appeared on the s
RUBY'S POV“Yes, Ambrose, I can hear you,” I yelled, juggling the phone between my shoulder and ear as I waved one of the workers over. “Be careful with that table—it’s antique!” I mouthed at the two men struggling with my new dining table. One of them nodded, while the other just grunted under the weight.Ambrose sighed dramatically on the other end of the line. “Ruby, I was only trying to help. You’re in my care. I thought you’d appreciate it if someone tried to mediate between you and Gabriel.”I rolled my eyes so hard I was sure they could have fallen out of my head. “Mediation? Is that what we’re calling betrayal these days?”“You’re being unfair,” he insisted. “Gabriel was devastated when you left. I thought—”“You thought what? That I’d forget everything he’s done and just go running back to him like some obedient little wife?” I snapped, turning my back on the workers to focus on the call. “Ambrose, I left him for good reasons. Don’t make this harder for me.”There was a pause
RUBY'S POVDominic turned and immediately locked eyes with me, and I gasped. I couldn’t look away, even though every part of me screamed to retreat into my condo and pretend I hadn’t seen him. Horror, fear, and, to my dismay, a flicker of delight rooted me to the spot. Why the fuck was I delighted to see him again?!He looked different—dressed casually, which was so unlike the silent businessman I had come to know. A white country club tee hugged his broad chest, paired with khaki pants and spotless white sneakers. His hair, usually framing his face like a curtain of dark mystery, was pulled back into a sleek bun, and a faint stubble graced his jawline like he hadn't shaved in days. And then there was that gold mask on the left side of his face.He looked so dark and handsome.I swallowed hard. He was so good looking, mesmerizing even, in a way that made my knees weak. It wasn’t fair how this man could look so devastatingly good even when he was doing absolutely nothing.Dominic was
RUBY'S POVI woke up feeling unusually content and well-rested. Stretching under the covers, I smiled to myself, remembering what I had done to my own body last night. It wasn't the first time I'd be masturbating—I used to do it a lot, after Gabriel would leave me unsatisfied in bed—but this time felt different and better. Was it because it was Dominic I was thinking about this time?No wonder I felt this way. For once, it seemed like the world had aligned perfectly.Throwing the covers aside, I padded barefoot into the living room, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. But as soon as I glanced around, my smile faded, replaced by a groan.“What on earth?” I muttered, surveying the chaos.The room was a complete mess. A large shelf was awkwardly blocking most of the sunlight from the window, making the room feel dark and cramped. A stack of books was precariously leaning against the coffee table, and the throw pillows I’d proudly arranged yesterday now looked lazily put together.“Is this th
Dominic's POVI closed the door behind Ruby and walked toward my desk. The view from the glass wall stretched out before me, but I barely saw it. I merely looked at the busy streets below me but my mind was elsewhere.Ruby had disappeared.I had returned after lunch to find her desk empty, her phone and bag still sitting there. I had called her phone repeatedly and heard nothing but the voicemail. Panic had clawed at me. I’d sent my men to look for her, scouring the city.Now three hours later, she waltzed in like nothing had happened.Behind me, she cleared her throat. I didn’t turn around. “Are you going to say something, Dominic?”I folded my arms and stared out the window. “Where were you all day?"“I was out," she said softly. “I had lunch with Ariana and Lilac and we kind of got carried away talking.”I turned and faced her, raising a brow. “Carried away for three hours?”She nodded. “I get distracted easily. You know that. It’s not a big deal, right?”“Not a big deal?” I repeat
Ruby's POVI didn’t stop running until my legs ached and my lungs burned. My eyes moved around wildly, searching for Gabriel or his men. No sign of them, thank God.I stumbled onto a highway and slowed down. But I could not stop now; they could be coming after me already.Then I noticed something familiar. I recognized the stretch of road and the bend up ahead. The Rutherford office wasn’t far from here. Just at the corner, I spotted the cafe where I’d planned to have lunch before my entire day fell apart.I crossed the street quickly and entered the cafe, pushing through the glass door. Warm air greeted me along with the smell of coffee and baked goods. For a moment, it felt strange. People sat at tables chatting, sipping drinks, completely unaware of what I’d just been through.I stopped the first waitress I saw. “Excuse me, where’s the bathroom?” My hands were shaking as I touched her shoulder, and she gave me a curious look before pointing to the back.“Down the hall to the left,”
Ruby's POVGabriel grabbed another chair and sat across from me. I scoffed and tipped my head. "So, are we doing this again? You’ll ask about the key, I’ll tell you I don’t have it, and you’ll keep pretending I’m lying?"His lips curled into something resembling a smile, though it didn't have any warmth. "You’ve always been so predictable, Ruby. Always trying to push buttons that don’t exist."I glared at him. "I don't think so. I married you, didn’t I? That’s not predictable. That’s the biggest mistake I’ve ever made."His nostrils flared, but he didn’t reply immediately. Instead, he clasped his hands and stared at me, as though I were some puzzle he could solve."I don’t have your key, Gabriel," I snapped. "How many times do I have to say it before it gets through your thick skull?"His voice dropped, and his words came slowly. "You know, Ruby, you really should learn when to stop talking. It might save you from unnecessary pain."I barked out a bitter laugh. "Oh, please. You’re not
RUBY'S POVWhen my consciousness returned, I felt as weak and as useless as a sack of potatoes.My eyes fluttered open to blinding light, seeping through the bag over my eyes. Wincing against the brightness, I twisted and realized I was bound, sitting on a rigid wooden chair that dug into my back and behind. Thirst clawed at my throat, my body ached, and fear made me start to pant loudly.A very unfamiliar world greeted me through a small tear in the bag. Shadows danced in the light, and all I could see were dark corners and even darker objects. Or were they people? I had no idea. I strained to gather any clues about where I was, but the limited view didn't do much for me.The creak of a door opening to my left jolted me. Quickly, I let my head fall to my chest, pretending to still be unconscious. I couldn't let them know I was awake. I was not sure of what they might do if they realized I was aware of my surroundings.Ominous footsteps approached, echoing in the large space. I tried
Ruby's POVThere was definitely more to this Willow woman than met the eye, and I was going to find out what it was.However, I left the building, brushing aside the strange encounter with Willow. I was going to worry about that later. Right now, there were bigger problems to deal with, and I needed a clear head. The cafe where I usually had my lunch break wasn’t far, and the thought of sitting down with a coffee and something warm to eat was comforting. As I walked down the street, something felt off. I glanced behind me and saw three men in black shirts and black trousers, paired with black sunglasses. I knew who they were. Ambrose’s men. Again. Only Ambrose's men dressed like that.I knew without thinking much that this was another antic of Gabriel. What was he trying to do this time? Scare me again, or order me to give up that stupid key he was always going on about?My heart was spiralling away but I forced myself to stay calm. Maybe if I walked faster, they would lose interest
Ruby's POVA week had passed since I started working for Dominic, and already I felt like I was going crazy. Officially, I was supposed to work closely with Rosalie, learning whatever I could. Dominic had warned her not to treat me badly. That didn’t stop her from finding ways to make my life miserable.I sighed and tapped at my laptop. Rosalie had told me to arrange Dominic’s meeting schedule for the week. It was my lunch break, and I should have been enjoying it. Instead, I was stuck here, doing work that clearly wasn’t mine.Rosalie had been “nice” on the surface. She smiled when she greeted me and asked if I was handling the tasks well. But it didn’t take much to see through the act. The hostility behind her forced smiles was impossible to miss. She dumped her work on me and then walked off like it was the most natural thing in the world.I glanced through the glass doors of the office that we shared together. Rosalie was with her friends from HR, laughing and chatting over their
Ruby's POVWhen we got home, Ariel dashed straight into the kitchen. I followed her, setting the coffee and pastries on the counter. Dominic came in behind me and hung his jacket on the back of a chair.“I’m going to get some work done in my study,” he said, grabbing a water bottle from the fridge.Ariel was already stuffing her face with one of the pastries. She mumbled through a mouthful, “I want to check out that arcade we passed earlier.”I raised a brow. “Didn’t you just get home?”She shrugged and grabbed another pastry. “It looked fun. I’ll be back in an hour.”Dominic shot her a sharp look. “Absolutely not. You can’t just run off like that.”Ariel snatched her bag and darted toward the door. “Love you, Dad!”“Ariel!” he boomed out so hard that I winced, but Ariel didn't stop. She was already halfway out the door.He groaned and muttered under his breath before yelling after her again, “Stay safe! If some weird man comes near you, use the taser I got for you! Do you hear me?”T
Ruby's POVThree days had crawled by since my interview at Dominic’s company. I tried not to think about it too much, but I couldn’t help waiting for an email or a call. I kept refreshing my inbox like a lunatic, hoping for good news, even though Dominic had told me that he would personally inform me if there was any news.It was not like I got interviewed like everyone's else. Thinking about it, a smile crossed my face and I couldn't help giggling out loud.This morning, none of us had the energy to cook, so we were heading out for pastries. Dominic was in the passenger seat, and Ariel sat in the back, humming some song under her breath with her headphones around her head. I was driving one of Dominic’s cars: a beautiful blue Lamborghini that drove like a dream.The silence in the car was interrupted by Ariel’s voice.“Ruby, are you sure you’re comfortable driving this? Dad looks like he’s about to explode.”I glanced at Dominic and grinned. His jaw was tight and his arms were crosse
GABRIEL'S POVI sat in my car with a cigarette balanced between my fingers, watching the slow creep of pedestrians passing by. A block ahead was the Rutherford building; the tallest building that I could see from this point. I leaned back, blowing a stream of smoke into the air. Julia was late. She was supposed to meet me here ten minutes ago. I checked my watch again and tapped the steering wheel impatiently. I had half a mind to drive up to the building and drag her out myself. What could possibly be taking her this long? Movement caught my eye. A woman shuffled down the street, clutching a bag to her chest. Her black hair, cut jaggedly at the ears, made her look like she’d let a toddler wield the scissors. Those ridiculous round Harry Potter glasses perched on her nose only added to the mess. And her clothes were hilarious. I took a look at the mismatched patterns, baggy fabric, and shoes that belonged to someone's ninety-year-old grandmother. I let out a sharp laugh, danglin