Ruby

After intense silence raided the whole room, Adonis's shoes introduced noise into the living room.

With the hefty men around us glaring at him and Maximus Xylem watching him with a smirk on his lips, Adonis's motion seemed to be a very rash move. But what can I say in this situation?

All I can do was watch and hope the raid wouldn't be successful.

If it is... God knows that will be the end. I won't see my parents again or my friends. My dream won't get to be realised... So many things will go wrong if their raid is successful.

So, with a desperate soul, I trained my eyes on Adonis who was now in front of the boss, his intent still unclear.

"What do you think you are doing?" Maximus asked with slight amusement in his voice.

"You can't do this. Not here."

"Pardon?"

I watched as Adonis's hands formed into a fist. His jaws clenched and that made me more curious.

"This is between you and me. Don't drag the girl into this."

"But, she is already dragged into this. You like it or not."

"If that's how you want to do it then..." Adonis's height reduced and I became more confused. A loud thud followed his movement and by the time my eyes caught up with what he was doing, Adonis was on his knees, his hands hugging Maximus's knees with a plea in his eyes.

That sight made my heart squeeze.

True, I may not know everything about Adonis, but one thing I can deduce is that he will never kneel before anybody for the fun of it.

"What are you doing now, Adonis?" Even Maximus expressed shock at his action. "Don't tell me you have chosen to be this stupid."

"You have given me no choice," Adonis replied with a grumpy voice. "So, do you still want to take Ruby or should I hold your legs some more?"

"If that knife pierces through my skin any further, my boys won't go easy on you."

Well, that explains a lot.

Adonis smiled. "Have you forgotten? I trained most of them and I am confident that they can do nothing to me."

Maximus chuckled. "Are you sure?"

Just like in a movie, everything happened so fast. Adonis's left hand flew in a direction and the next thing we knew, one of the hefty guys fell onto the ground with a small dart piercing a portion of his chest.

The guy didn't look dead, but he was definitely knocked out.

Eyes all serious, Adonis to replied the boss whose face was devoid of shock like most of us.

"I am more than sure. Maximus, if you know what's good for you, don't involve Ruby in our business. Like I said..." A struggle that was out of my sight occurred for some seconds and the men shared glares that could tear a soul apart. "... this is between you and me. No one else."

"You are daring me, Adonis."

"You started this, Max. You are doing this because of something you think I did."

"You did do it, there is no need to act holy. I know you left us because of what happened with my brother."

Adonis sighed. "What happened to Ben was his fault, not mine."

"Yeah, right." Maximus got up abruptly and as he did, blood dripped from his thigh and decorated the span of his large hand. "You know that everything happened because of you," he said while he looked down at Adonis who was trying to get on his feet. "You are the reason he is no longer with us."

"Stop being unnecessarily emotional and see the truth in front of you. I have nothing to do with Ben's death and you need to get that in your head." The men levelled in stance and the glaring contest continued. "But if you are going to insist on the so-called truth you have chosen to believe, leave Ruby out of this. Trust me, you don't want to mess with me when it comes to her."

Maximus smiled, his bloodied hand smearing blood over his forehead. "At this point, I can't. Things have happened that you have no idea about."

Adonis smirked. "Don't lay your filthy hands on Ruby. Even if it's the president that wants her, I don't care. You may take your leave."

Maximus glanced at the almost-dead man on the floor and then at me before he locked eyes with Adonis again. "It is barely enough if you keep making mouth about protecting her. With my uncle involved in this issue, it will be advisable to stay away from her."

"Your uncle?"

Maximus's smile widened in contrast to the look on Adonis's face. "Stay healthy, boy. See you when we meet and please, try as much as possible not to hurt my men." He looked my way after he signalled to the bald man beside me. "Goodbye, Ruby. Do stay safe."

And without a word more, the boss, his blood-decorated trousers, and his men walked out of the room. And peace was restored to the house.

"Ruby..." Adonis rushed toward me and wrapped me in his arms.

I had no idea I had been holding some breath but when I released them, I could finally return his hug.

My hands relaxed on his broad back and I asked, "Things are going to become crazier after today, right?"

He said nothing. He hugged me tighter, his warmth consoling me in a way.

"Adonis..."

"Can we talk about that later?" he asked sharply and I complied. His mind must have a lot running through it and if I were the one in his situation, I would want to stay far from anybody.

"We should wash your hands. It is still stained with blood."

"Yeah." His response contradicted his action because he didn't let me go.

Not that I wished to complain, I said, " If you are hugging me with those bloody hands do you think that will make me happy? This top happens to be one of my favourites."

" Okay... " He released me. " Do you want to help me get rid of the blood? "

Never in my life would I have imagined that I would be asked that question. The response I would give would also surprise me.

"Sure. Where do we go?"

"In the kitchen. The water there runs very well."

"Lead the way then."

We started the short journey to the kitchen and when the journey ended, I was once again awed by how lovely his house was. If it would be reasonable to say... his kitchen looked better than the living room.

Apart from the fact that everything was in order, the materials put together to construct the room ended up giving an aesthetic feel to the room.

I almost thought I was in a museum when we entered and my eyes caught the beautiful mix of brown and white with hints of dark grey and black here and there.

"Could you help me turn on the tap?" Adonis asked from a distance and that ended my amusement at the structure of the kitchen.

I rushed towards him and did as he asked. The sound of rushing water filled the room and Adonis washed the red liquid off his hands while I quietly watched.

The sight of blood wasn't freaking me out but my thoughts as I watched redness go down the drain did.

All I could think of as Adonis washed his hands was how things could have gone wrong earlier.

Regardless of Adonis's insistence, Maximus could have ordered him to be shot and that would have allowed him to leave that place with me as his captive.

God knows that would have turned into something more than ugly especially since my family will get involved.

"Ruby?" I felt my shoulder receive a small shake.

"Hmm?" I came back to the present.

"What were you thinking about so much?" he asked while my attention diverted to the tap which he had already closed.

"Adonis? What if Maximus eventually finds a way to-"

" He won't, " Adonis interrupted me with a sharp tone.

" But-"

" I won't let that happen, Ruby. "

" What if-"

I let out a small gasp as he sharply moved and caged me with both of his hands gripping the end of the marbled top firmly.

" Listen to me, Ruby." His head ducked closer. "Nothing is going to happen to you, not when I am still alive. Okay? "

" Okay. But-"

" Please... " he pleaded. The worry and terror in his voice scared me. "Please, no buts. Just trust me, okay?"

With a small smile on my lips, I reached for the sides of his face and with the perfect plan building in my head, I looked down at his scrumptious lips.

"Are you sure you want to do that?" He read my move.

"I think it is the best way to pretend that the last few minutes didn't happen," I replied, my eyes still trained on his lips.

"Good point."

His exhales instantly irregular, his eyes also went to my lips and despite saying no words, we communicated in such a way that our lips drew closer and closer and closer till they met.

I felt my insides melt when our lips connected. And as his hands wrapped around my waist, I held onto him in case my sanity failed me along the way.

While his tongue assisted his lips in introducing beautiful tension into my system, Adonis carried me and placed me on top of the marble top.

After, he paused the kiss and I watched him take a step back. He saw the small frown on my face when he asked, "It feels a little hot in here, don't you think?"

"Uh..." His shirt came off with a single motion and I lost my so-called sanity. "I should make this even," I said without much thinking, my eyes trailing his body which might as well be my favourite view.

"What do you mean?" Adonis asked with a small chuckle while his hands pushed his hair back in a manner that provoked me so much.

"It is only fair," I said and got rid of my top which landed on the floor next to Adonis's t-shirt. I adjusted the disturbing strap of my bra and locked eyes with the man in front of me.

"Wow," was all Adonis said as he took in the sight in front of him.

"Same here." I became thirsty for his touch when I started to imagine his skin against mine. "Wow."

"So..." His voice was so thick, it made my nether area throb. "What will happen if I take off my trousers?"

"I might do the same," I replied.

"You sound like you really want me to," his raspy voice was back and I shivered as he walked closer to me, his eyes trained on me.

"Maybe..." I replied weakly.

"In that case..." His trousers did come off and my legs felt weak instantly. "Your turn, Ruby."

"Uh..." He was wearing nothing besides trousers and boy did it become hot in the room. "Sure."

I did the same, my eyes now looking away from Adonis. It was all just very tempting.

Once that piece of clothing found itself on the ground, I became aware of one thing... I had not put on any underwear. I was bare, just like the day I was born.

"Wow."

Is it strange that his voice vibrated so much I felt the insides of my vagina clench?

I crossed my legs to hide that effect.

Adonis walked closer to me and his finger held my chin.

"This makes you uncomfortable, doesn't it?" he asked.

" Uh... no." I wanted something to happen, I wanted him to touch me... down there. I want to know what that will feel like.

And maybe... I wanted to touch him too.

" You know what?" He grabbed his trouser to my dismay.

"Don't!"

" What?"

" I am not uncomfortable," I replied shyly.

" I know." He smiled.

" But why are you trying to cover up?"

" I don't want to risk it. A barrier should exist in case my little friend down there gets too jumpy."

" Oh," was all I said as I watched him put on his pants. That made a lot of sense. " What will happen now?"

As soon as he assumed an upright stance, he wore a smirk and I knew it wasn't over.

"Now..." His hands circled my waist and turned me into jelly. "We will work on making you feel really, really good."

"Really?"

Adonis's hands reached for mine and he pinned them to the wall such that my chest was sharply pointed in his face.

With a sexy smile on his face, he replied to me, "Sincerely."

And I believed him because even his breathing upon the slightly exposed skin of my breasts made my insides clench again.

Our lips connected to continue from where we stopped and it occurred to me that Adonis might really be the death of me.