Ruby St. Clair's POV

I planned to start my day without difficulty. Get out of bed at 6 a.m., and then hit the shower before I cook breakfast. But my optimism on how to start my day shattered instantly when the door of my bathroom suddenly burst open.

I squeaked as I tried to cover my body. The steam from my shower couldn't cover my nudity from the invader. My gaze was met by a completely naked man who invaded me in my bath. I glared at him hotly. "What are you doing here? I thought we'd already established that you are forbidden to enter my room unless it's a life-and-death situation!"

"Good morning too, Red." He greeted pleasantly. He walked further inside the bathroom and positioned himself in my overhead shower beside me. "This is a life and death situation, wife. My shower is not working and I need to be in the office at 8 that's why I need to borrow your shower."

I stare angrily at him while covering my sensitive parts from his view. "At least call a plumber or something so they can fix it!"

He smiled at me sanguinely, completely unaffected by my outburst. "I already did that, darling. They told me that they were already on their way but I couldn't wait until they fixed my shower. I will be late for work."

"But—"

"Relax," He cut me off, the water pouring down in his body. He looked damn so sexy under the shower spray. "It's not like I'm asking you to share your bed, Red. Just your shower this morning. Why are you doing there come and join me here?"

"No, thank you," I answered with a tight smile on my face. "I will just wait for you to finish your shower before I will continue mine—stop staring at me like that."

He smiled wolfishly, running his appreciative gaze audaciously in my body. He started to slide the soap on his body. "You can't let me stop staring at such a scene. Your body is made for male fantasy." He raised an arrogant eyebrow in my direction. "You too are staring at me."

"Of course, I will stare at your annoying face because you invaded me in my shower." I snapped at him. "Move faster so you can get out of my bathroom."

"I'm not talking about my face, dearest." He eyed me dryly, as he gave me a speaking glance of his manhood. "I'm talking about my thing."

I couldn't help the blush that spread through my cheeks as my gaze traveled to the certain part of his anatomy that standing proudly at this moment. "That has nothing to do with me, moron!"

"I'm sorry, Red." He said almost apologetically but I couldn't miss the way his eyes glint with amusement. "But it's a natural reaction on my part when a woman stares at it openly."

I took a deep breath, closing my eyes to prevent myself from killing him. Here we are standing in my bathroom completely naked and he doesn't care about it. "For the last time, I'm not staring at your thing, Roman."

He shrugged never even bothering to look at me he was so busy with his shower. "Say what you like, my lovely wife. But it doesn't change the fact that you are staring awhile ago."

My temper flared at his words. "You are an egotistical bastard. The woman with you the day we met was downright correct in her assumption of your loathsome behavior. You think you're like a prized stallion that makes women jump in your bed. Well, let me tell you something, Roman Vasquez. You are not!"

My breath was caught when a pair of luminous grey eyes stared at me, water still dripping in his body like he was doing a damn TV commercial for an underwear brand. I squawked when he suddenly advanced in my place swept me off my feet and backed me against the cold tiles. His eyes burned with fire as he pressed his body against mine. "Why so temperamental early in the morning, Red? Don't tell me you are jealous of those women."

"Why don't I be jealous?" I tried to push him away from me but his hard chest was pressed to my breast. "What are you doing? Get off me, you brute!"

"My brain told me to take you here right now but I want to seduce you first until you come begging, darling." He said with such satisfaction in his eyes. "Instead of taking you right now, I will settle for claiming my first kiss for this day..."

Before I could formulate what the hell he was talking about. He claimed my mouth in a sizzling kiss that made me forget all about my anger towards him. This was really serious trouble. I was getting addicted to his kisses my mind wanted to resist him but my body was not listening. I could feel that he slowly brought me to my feet and I automatically rested my hands on his shoulder blades for support. "S-stop..."

"In a moment," He said raggedly just enough to make space between our lips before claiming my mouth again for another round.

He attacked my mouth with his tongue like a conqueror determined to seize me whatever the cost. I cursed myself silently for letting him take liberties with my mouth when I promised myself that I would never permit him to do anything. "Roman..."

Just when I was about to forget everything except him, he ended the kiss and traced my bottom lip with his thump. "Not now," He said with a devilish smirk on his face. "When I make love to you again, my Red. Not in the bathroom, it will be in my bed."

I glared at him as I remembered that I hated him. "Like I will let that happen."

"Of course, you will." He stated arrogantly, as he started to walk away from the shower dripping wet. "You can't resist my seduction, Ruby. No one ever escapes me. I have never wanted a woman as much as I want you. Soon you will be mine. There's no escaping that truth."

My anger escalated mostly directed at myself because I nearly gave in to his seduction. I grabbed the towel in the bathroom countertop to throw it in his direction. He smiled deviously in my face when he caught it midway. He wrapped the white towel around his waist. "Thanks for the shower, wife. 'Till next time. "

Roman Vasquez's POV

I tried not to smile while tying my necktie around my neck. I remembered the face of my wife when I told her that I would not continue my seduction anymore. She doesn't have any idea what kind of supreme effort I pulled in just to stop. Seeing her naked body again after a few weeks made me forget about my carefully laid plans for binding her to me forever.

Daniel might be helping me in keeping my wife to my side but I need to do my part too and that's to woo Red. I was about to go out in the kitchen to have breakfast when my mobile phone rang. I smiled and slid my thumb on the screen to answer. "Hello, Franco?"

"I'm glad that you still know me." The man on the other line replied with an amused tone in his voice. "What's up? I've been trying to catch you since last week when your secretary told me repeatedly that you're out of the country. Where are you precisely?"

"New York," I answered shortly to my old friend. "I will be staying here for quite some time why do you ask?"

"Let me guess," My friend asked dryly. "The reason for your long stay in the States has something to do with a woman, correct?"

I frowned at my reflection in the mirror. "Why do you instantly assume that it has something to do with a woman? Can't it be just plain work?"

"No," Franco answered bluntly. "You are not the type of man who will stay longer in a certain place even if it's work-related you always mix business with pleasure. I've known you for years, amico mio."

"Not this time," I answered with a sigh while slipping into my business suit.

"Oh?" He asked rudely for my opinion. "Are you going to tell me that the real reason you are in New York is because of some business, Roman?"

"No," I said ruefully. I know he will learn about this eventually. "I came here because I chased down my wife when she ran away from me last month."

There was a long pause on the other line. My initial thought was the line was disconnected. "Are you still there, Franco?"

"Yeah," He answered after a moment. "I'm just still trying to absorb the real reason for your stay in New York. Did you say, wife? Do you have a wife? How's that possible?"

I rolled my eyes as I fastened my Rolex watch on my wrist. "The usual way, man. Marry the girl and introduce her to your dear mama so she will stop shoving girls under your nose. That's how I ended up being married."

"You are one crazy son of a bitch." Franco muttered under his breath which made me laugh. "I don't know what madness has possessed you but I hope it will leave soon. I hate to see your downfall, my friend."

"Why don't you do the same?" I suggested cheerfully. "I think you will also enjoy the whole experience." I am having a great time seducing my strong-willed wife, I added silently. I love seeing the lovely sparks in her dark green eyes.

"You can keep that marriage thing to yourself," My good friend stated. I frowned when I thought I detected some hidden anger in his voice. "I don't want such a thing—that reminds me of the main reason why I called you. Mama will be celebrating her birthday this weekend. She's inviting you to come and bring this little missus of yours so I can meet her."

I smiled brightly. This was the perfect plan for us. What my Red needs right now is a little vacation somewhere and the perfect place in Italy. "Okay, tell your mother I will come with my wife."

"Great," Franco muttered on the other line with a lack of enthusiasm in his voice before disconnecting the phone call without as much as a goodbye.

I shook my head in resignation. That man never learned his manners. I slipped my phone into my trousers pocket and went out of my room. I found myself preparing the breakfast table when I told her. "Pack we're going to Italy this weekend."

She scowled at the sight of me. "Why do we need to go to Italy?"

"Franco's mother will celebrate her birthday this weekend and we are invited," I answered with a reassuring smile.

"Who is Franco?"

"A good friend of mine," I replied, taking a seat at the breakfast table. "He's eager to meet you, by the way."

She sneered sarcastically. "I wonder why?"

"Because he discovered that I am married to you," I said simply. "He is curious what kind of woman I marry."

"If that's the case," She said, her eyes flashed with annoyance. "I don't want to go with you and meet this friend of yours. You can go without me."

"I'm afraid that's impossible, my wife. Remember our bargain? Those months are not yet over so I expect you to play your part as my loving wife on my side and this party is one of them. You should come with me."

She stared at me for a moment. From the dead-set in her eyes, I thought she was going to refuse me and give me a hard time persuading her to come with me but she surprised me when she took a deep breath and said. "All right, fine. I will come with you."

"Perfect." That's all I said, as I sipped my coffee thinking about the wonderful holiday waiting for us in Italy.