RubyI blinked open, the room was covered in stark darkness.Shit! The back of my head hurts. Sophie must have hit me to put me out. I tried to touch it but I found out my hands were tightly bound together.Where am I?I could feel a wall behind me, I leaned back, placed my hands on the floor and pushed myself up to sit. Just then, a door creaked open and beams of sunlight washed into the room, lighting it up and temporarily blinding me in the process. I squinted.“You’re awake” A masculine voice said. I looked up, trying to figure out who it was but the light kept getting in my eye.The figure walked to where I sat and squatted in front of me. My eyes adjusted and I could see who it was.Diavolo.He had on a smile on his lips as he peaked me on the lips.“I’m sorry it had to be this way” He said softly, reaching for my face again but I avoided his hand.“I love you Ruby and I’ll do anything for you. I miss us you know?”I kept mute, glaring at him.The rope used to tie my hands was b
Ruby's POV“I can’t do this, Dad.” “I can’t marry a man I don’t know.” I try to protest while my father, Aolo Ferretti speaks, his voice reflecting the finality of his decision. “It’s for the best, Piccolo,” he responds. “You know I love you and wouldn’t do anything to hurt you. This will benefit you and the family.” “Benefit me?” I exclaim in outrage. “How can marrying a man I don’t know possibly be good for me, Dad?” “Ruby, I know the Petraki family. They are good people. Urso has been my best friend since we were kids,” he says, pacing. “This marriage is in your best interest.” “He’s going to move to Milan. He’ll join you in the family business, and we’ll merge our businesses together. You won’t have to leave home,” my dad explains. I can never believe that my dad is doing this solely for my well-being. I gently shake him off and walk over to the window in his study, gazing out at our estate. “What about Diavolo?” I ask, my gaze outside. Diavolo, my boyfriend for over a y
Archer's POVComing to Milan to find a wife is already a crazy idea, but meeting a stunning stranger who looks like a fallen angel is entirely unexpected.When that angelic beauty kisses like a goddess, all my well-laid plans go out the window. The woman in my arms is oblivious to how she looks.When she walks into the bar this evening, every man in the room turns to watch her, captivated by her long, smooth legs, creamy white skin begging to be touched, a slender figure with enchanting golden-brown eyes. But the most astonishing thing about her is her striking red hair, so vibrant it can only be described as Ruby red.As she approaches the bar, fidgeting as if she’s a housewife about to meet a secret lover, I can’t resist striking up a conversation with her. To my surprise, she not only responds but checks me out enough for me to know she’s interested.I deepen the kiss, and when I raise my hand to cup her firm breast, she shudders, making me groan. This is completely unexpected; I h
Ruby's POVOne minute, we’re talking, and the next, I can’t get enough of him. I run my hand through his hair and sigh into his kiss. Archer kisses like a god. He tastes like sunshine and sin. His body pressed against mine is sculpted, and I can’t feel an ounce of fat.Kissing him is a revelation; it feels as good as I remember. It isn’t the drink; it’s us.He moves me until my back is against the dining table. Neither of us wants to stop the kiss. I hop on the table, kicking off my heels, and he walks in between them, pressing his center to mine.“Archer,” I moan loudly as I run my hand down his back. I arch my back and rub against his erection, then wrap my legs around his back.He kisses my jawline down to my collarbone, then my neck, where he suckles on the spot where my pulse runs.He grinds his erection into me, and I gasp. He’s so hard and hot. I drag his lips back to mine and continue our kiss.His hand goes to my thighs and moves up steadily. Just as he presses on the spot wh
Archer's POVI’m having breakfast at precisely the moment the flowers I sent to Ruby are being delivered. I’m enjoying a simple breakfast and wondering how long it will take before Ruby calls me. A smile creeps onto my face as I recalls what I wrote on the note I sent to her.“To the mysterious lady who swept me off my feet before I even knew she was mine. I fall asleep and wake up with thoughts of you. I eagerly await the day you will be mine. Yours, Archer.” I’m not sure if revealing the depth of my feelings is a wise move, but I don’t want Ruby to feel alone in this connection between us. My last experiences with women have led me to believe I’m incapable of developing attachments to them. With Ruby, though, it’s entirely different. The intense emotions I feel for her prove I’m capable of deep feelings. As my phone rings, I hurry to answer it. “Hello.”“Archie, how have you been?”“Jordan?” I ask as I take a seat on the bed.“Yup. Do you have any other sexy friends? How’s Milan
RubyAs I watch Archer playing with the kids, my heart aches, endearing him to me even more. I find myself smiling as he kneels down to pick up little Isabella, who couldn’t keep up with the other kids, and puts her on his shoulders. Isabella throws her hands up and laughs gleefully, and I can’t help but imagine him with our kids.I shake my head to clear these thoughts. It feels too soon to be falling for him so quickly, doesn’t it?Suddenly, I feel a hand on my shoulder, and I jump out of my reverie. “He is good with the kids,” Julia says as she stands close to me with her hands folded on her chest. “Yes, he is.”When I first met Julia, I thought she was too hard and solemn to care for these children. However, through the years of working with her, I’ve come to realize that her tough exterior hides a heart as soft as a mushroom. She’s a kind-hearted woman who lost her husband to war. At 48 years old, with her lean body, bronze skin, and dark eyes, she’s a beauty.In one rare moment,
Archer I’ve been in the best mood since I spoke to Ruby earlier in the day. After spending a week with her, not talking to her every minute is hard.I finally give in to my needs and call her this afternoon. She’s pleased to hear from me, I can tell from the excitement in her voice, and I berate myself for not calling more.We speak on the phone, and she gives me the details of how stressful her day is going. I want to offer to treat her to a full-body massage but restrain myself.In upper-class society, if you break it, you buy it. The last thing I want is for Ruby to think we are only getting married because we are being forced to.I check the time and notice I am going to be a bit earlier than the agreed time. I cruise around for a bit, keeping to simple routes so that I don’t get lost.Seeing a flower shop still open gives me an idea. I park out front and come down. I walk into the shop and am immediately bombarded by different pleasant smells.“Hello, welcome to Roses and Thor
RubyMy view gets blurry, and I realize I was crying. The whole incident has been trying on my nerves and already tired body.I blink the tears away. I was not even sure if I was crying because Archer walked away without letting me explain or because of the bruises from Diavolo’s tight grip.I never expected Diavolo to be so hard and violent. In all the time we spent together, he’s never gotten drunk before. He was always the perfect gentleman. He has never even raised his voice at me before. It was one of the reasons loving him was so easy.I honestly wish he had realized his mistake immediately and fought for me. Not now, after weeks apart, after getting to know Archer. I feel torn between two men, and I don’t know what to do.I pick up my phone and dial home.“Hola. Ferretti’s residence.”“Hey Maria. It’s Ruby. Can you tell Pedro to send a car for me? I’m still at the orphanage.”“Yes, signorina Ferretti.” The call drops.I stood there in the parking lot, cold and tired for over th