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⚠️ WARNING ⚠️ This Book Contains Matured Contents, reader's discretion is advised. *** "Do you have any idea how much I want to be inside you right now?" he asked as he stood to his feet. "Then why aren't you?" I responded, loving the feel of him pressed so close, my back to the mirror, my front to him. 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 erotic at the same time. "Oh, we're not done. Spread your legs a bit for me, Kitten." He commanded. When I did as he instructed, 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, clever 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?
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, smirking to myself. His tone was rushed, defensive even. "Busy with what? It's a Wednesday morning. You don't have meetings until the afternoon, remember?"
There was a pause-just a fraction of a second too long. "Work stuff. You wouldn't understand."
"Of course," I said, taking another sip of my latte. "Work stuff. Sounds... mysterious. Are you saving the world again, or just playing hooky?"
Gabriel didn't laugh. He never did. "Ruby, I don't have time for your games."
"Games?" I let out a mock gasp. "I'm just trying to be a good wife. Isn't that what you wanted? Someone to check in on you, make sure you're eating your greens, and all that?"
His breath hitched slightly, and I could almost picture him rubbing the back of his neck, like he always did when he was caught off guard. "I'm not hungry," he muttered. "And I'm fine. You don't need to check up on me."
"Right," I said, my voice dropping into a colder register. "Because you're always so fine, aren't you? Everything's just peachy in the world of Mr. Perfect."
"Ruby," he said sharply. "What's the point of this call?"
I glanced around the café, watching as a couple nearby laughed over their shared plate of pastries. For a moment, I wondered what it must feel like to have that kind of ease, that kind of connection. I barely stayed in the same house with Gabriel anyway, so it was all wishful thinking.
"I don't know," I said softly. "Maybe I just wanted to hear your voice. Is that so terrible?"
There was another pause, longer this time. When he finally spoke, his tone was filled with something I couldn't quite place. Guilt? Regret? No, that would require him to care.
"Look, Ruby," he mumbled. "I'm not in the mood for this. If you're bored, go buy another dress or take one of your yoga classes or whatever it is you do to keep yourself entertained. Just leave me out of it."
My anger flared up, but I forced a laugh. "Ah, there it is. The great advice from my loving husband. Spend more money, distract myself, and stay out of your hair. How original."
"Don't twist my words," he snapped.
"Why not? You twist mine all the time," I shot back. "Or do you only reserve your creativity for the office these days?"
He didn't answer. I could hear faint background noises on his end-papers shuffling, the hum of a television, and something else... a soft laugh that wasn't his.
My fingers tightened around my cup. "Are you alone?" I asked casually, though my heart was roaring now.
"Of course," he said, too quickly. "Why would you even ask that?"
I smiled, though there was no one around to see it. "No reason. You just sound... different. Distracted. Nervous, even. Makes me wonder what-or who-you're hiding."
"Ruby, don't start," he warned.
"Start what?" I said innocently. "I'm just making conversation."
He exhaled sharply, the sound of a man who had run out of excuses. "I'm hanging up now."
"No, you're not," I shot back. "Not until you tell me what's going on."
"Nothing is going on!" he snapped, his voice rising. "Why do you always have to make everything so damn difficult?"
I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the table. "Because you make it so easy, darling. I mean, listen to yourself. You're practically choking on your own lies."
"You're paranoid," he growled. "This is exactly why-"
"Why what?" I interrupted. "Why you don't love me? Why you treat me like some inconvenient houseplant you forgot to water? Go on, say it. I won't be surprised."
The line went silent again, but this time it wasn't empty. I could hear his shallow breathing, the faint rustle of movement, and then-just barely-a voice in the background. A woman's voice.
I cut the call, abandoned my latte and raced out of the cafe.
**********
I drove home faster than I should have, the city of Chicago blurring around me like an abstract painting. My fingers tapped rhythmically on the steering wheel, not with anger, but with anticipation. Whatever I had heard over the phone, I wanted to see it for myself. It wasn't jealousy-no, I had stopped caring about him long ago. This was curiosity. Pure, unfiltered curiosity.
I pulled into the driveway and turned off the car. My shoes thundered against the stone pathway as I walked to the front door, letting myself in with deliberate ease.
I headed upstairs, taking slow steps. The faint sounds I had suspected over the phone became clearer as I neared the bedroom. I paused at the door, my hand hovering over the handle. This was it-the moment most women would dread.
But not me.
I pushed the door open just enough to see inside, and there he was, tangled in the sheets with a woman I did recognize. Julia, my supposedly best friend. Her long hair spilled over the pillows as she gasped his name, her nails clawing at his back like a desperate animal. My husband was grunting, his face contorted in an expression I hadn't seen in years-pleasure.
And I watched.
The sight should have hurt me, shouldn't it? This was my husband, my supposed partner in life, betraying me in the most cliché way imaginable. But instead of pain, I felt exhilaration. A cold, calculating thrill spread through me like wildfire.
This was my chance.
I leaned against the doorframe, crossing my arms and tilting my head slightly. They were so consumed by each other that they didn't even notice me. How ironic. The man who barely spared me a glance was now on full display, utterly vulnerable.
I waited until they finished. It didn't take long- Gabriel never had much stamina. When they finally collapsed into the sheets, panting and spent, I straightened up and cleared my throat.
His head snapped up. Julia yelped, scrambling to cover herself with the sheet. I smiled, the kind of smile that could chill a room.
"Don't mind me," I said smoothly, stepping into the room as if I belonged there. "I just thought I'd see what all the noise was about."
"Ruby-" he started.
"Don't bother explaining," I cut him off, waving a hand dismissively. "I've seen enough. In fact, I'm impressed. You actually managed to put some effort into something for once."
Julia looked between us, her face pale and horrified. "I-I can explain," she stammered. "I.. I..I'm sorry!"
I laughed. "Oh, sweetie, don't apologize. You've done me a favor."
"Ruby, listen-" he tried again, sitting up and reaching for me.
"No!" I snapped. "You don't get to talk right now. In fact, you don't get to do much of anything. But I do have an idea."
They stared at me in confusion.
"Why don't you both join me for dinner tonight?" I offered. "We can talk this out like civilized adults. Doesn't that sound fun?"
"What are you playing at?" Gabriel growled.
I moved to the door, turned to him and smiled again. "Oh, you'll see. Be ready by seven, Gabriel. And bring your latest wh*re with you."
NINETEEN years old Elsa Welmat only has one job and that's to seduce the Alpha Heir of Blood moon pack into falling for her. Being the wolfless daughter of the dead Alpha of Damien Wyatt of Crest Lake Pack, her life has been hard and all she ever wants is to make those who caused her parents’ death pay. Pretending to be a maid, she entered the household of Alpha Nathan of Blood Moon Pack, hiding her true identity. To her, making the Alpha Heir fall for her was easier not until she realized that there's an unbeatable bond between both of them. Slowly she fell for the Alpha Heir unbeknownst to her that she's mated to the Alpha heir. Her world turned upside down. Torn between love and duty, she questioned all she had been told all her life. Somehow she stumbled upon the truth and realized she had been lied to. But could it be too late to undo what she has done or would her new love life go crash-landing when the Alpha heir discovers all her lies? Again, will she be able to save the Alpha Heir from those who want him dead before it's too late?
Nicolette Harrison, an omega, married to Xander Auger, the Alpha of Red Moon pack. Although she was not his mate, both parties agreed to respect each other and have a loveless marriage. What happens when Laurel, the mate of the Alpha, is coming back to the pack and Nicolette feels threatened? And apart from that, she had promised her mother not to divorce her husband, how was she to cope seeing him with another woman when she was sure she had feelings for him? Was the Alpha willing to accept his wife even though she wasn't his mate? How far will they go and would they even get to be with each other after everything?
EXTRACT.... *** He pushed me to the wall as he pinned my hands above my head. "Alpha Na..na." He placed his hands over my lips as he slowly started to kiss my neck. "It’s Nathan to you." "This is wrong; I’m already married to Alpha Damian." I tried saying something, and just then, he pulled away from me. "I don’t care. We’re mates, and so what if I had rejected you then? I want you back now, Isabella." He told me. *** When Nathan Grayson found out an omega, a lowly wolf, named Isabella was his mate, he rejected her immediately. To him, such a powerful alpha as himself couldn’t be mated to an omega, and as a result, he kicked her out. Sometime later, he is on the verge of losing his wolf, and only one person can help: his rejected mate, Isabella. He wants her back, but there’s one problem: she is now married to the deadliest alpha of all time, alpha Damien.
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.
On her wedding day, Khloe’s sister connived with her groom, framing her for a crime she didn’t commit. She was sentenced to three years in prison, where she endured much suffering. When Khloe was finally released, her evil sister used their mother to coerce Khloe into an indecent liaison with an elderly man. As fate would have it, Khloe crossed paths with Henrik, the dashing yet ruthless mobster who sought to alter the course of her life. Despite Henrik’s cold exterior, he cherished Khloe like no other. He helped her take retribution from her tormentors and kept her from being bullied again.
To the public, Arabella was Owen's trusty secretary who catered to all his needs and served as the primary blood donor of his beloved, who was in a coma. Behind closed doors, she was Owen's submissive wife. Arabella was quiet and obedient, and she endured every humiliation without a word of protest. Rumored to be a neat freak, Owen had tossed the last woman who had dared to kiss him into the river. Yet he pinned Arabella against the wall and demanded, "Give me a child, and I’ll let you go!" Arabella pushed him away and flashed him a cold smile. "You are not worthy!"
"Love is blind!" Lucinda abandoned her beautiful and comfortable life because of a man. She married him and slaved off for him for three long years. One day, the scales finally fell off her eyes. She realized that all her efforts were in vain. Her husband, Nathaniel still treated her like shit. All he cared about was his lover. "Enough is enough! I quit wasting my years with an ungrateful man!" Lucinda's heart was shattered into many pieces, but she summoned up the courage to ask for a divorce. The news caused a stir online! A filthy rich young woman recently got divorced? She was a good catch! Countless CEOs and handsome young men immediately swarmed to her like bees to honey! Nathaniel couldn't take it anymore. He held a press conference and begged with teary eyes, "I love you, Lucinda. I can't live without you. Please come back to me." Would Lucinda give him a second chance? Read to find out!
Janet was adopted when she was a kid -- a dream come true for orphans. However, her life was anything but happy. Her adoptive mother taunted and bullied her all her life. Janet got the love and affection of a parent from the old maid who raised her. Unfortunately, the old woman fell ill, and Janet had to marry a worthless man in place of her parents' biological daughter to meet the maid's medical expenses. Could this be a Cinderella's tale? But the man was far from a prince, except for his handsome appearance. Ethan was the illegitimate son of a wealthy family who lived a reckless life and barely made ends meet. He got married to fulfill his mother's last wish. However, on his wedding night, he had an inkling that his wife was different from what he had heard about her. Fate had united the two people with deep secrets. Was Ethan truly the man we thought he was? Surprisingly, he bore an uncanny resemblance to the impenetrable wealthiest man in the city. Would he find out that Janet married him in place of her sister? Would their marriage be a romantic tale or an utter disaster? Read on to unravel Janet and Ethan's journey.
Life was perfect until she met her boyfriend's big brother. There was a forbidden law in the Night Shade Pack that if the head Alpha rejected his mate, he would be stripped of his position. Sophia's life would get connected with the law. She was an Omega who was dating the head Alpha's younger brother. Bryan Morrison, the head Alpha, was not only a cold-blooded man but also a charming business tycoon. His name was enough to cause other packs to tremble. He was known as a ruthless man. What if, by some twist of destiny, Sophia's path were to intertwine with his?