Ruby St. Clair's POV

"What do you think of this place?"

I looked questioningly at Roman as he asked me brightly. I smiled at him slightly trying to decipher what he meant by his query. "Are you asking about this place?"

"Yeah," he replied eagerly, spreading his hands before him as if showing me what this big apartment has to offer. "What do you think?"

I raised an eyebrow in his direction, surveying the ultra-modern New York penthouse before us. "It's big and very New York with those floor-to-ceiling glass windows. What are we doing here, by the way?"

Roman smiled widely, the way he beamed at me he was almost like a teenage boy who got approval from his teenage crush. "I'm glad it passes your liking."

I frowned at him openly not following the direction of our conversation. This was not what expected when he told me he knew a place where we could spend the day together. Besides, what would he do to this place when he already had an apartment? "Why does it matter if I like the place, Roman?"

He walked closer to my side and held my hands in his. "I need your approval before purchasing this house, wife."

My eyes widened at his words. This was the last thing on my mind. "Why do you need my consent before you buy this house? Besides, what would happen to the apartment you already have?"

"I am planning to get a new and bigger house for us, Red." He said as if it was the logical thing to do. "That small flat is not suitable for us anymore. Moreover, I am also planning to open a permanent office here so I can oversee my business in Spain while I am here."

"Really?"

He eyed me curiously while holding my hands firmly. "Are you happy with my decision?"

Am I? I also asked myself silently. I must admit that I didn't know how to answer him with his sudden question. Heck, I was not even sure I wanted how fast our relationship developed. It felt like I just blinked and there's a new progress liaison.

"Red...?" Roman inquired inquisitively.

I tried to give him a reassuring smile I could see the alarm in his expressive eyes. Even though I was not sure anymore where this relationship was heading. "I think this place is too big for us. I preferred the old apartment."

He rolled his eyes at me as if it was the most ridiculous thing he heard for quite some time. "But that small two-bedroom apartment is very small. I find it very hard to move freely from such a small place. It feels claustrophobic every time."

I laughed heartily, touching his cheeks gently. "Darling, I think we have a different kind of definition for the word 'small apartment'. Believe me, you haven't traveled yet to a foreign country on a budget. You haven't seen a real claustrophobic apartment in your lifetime, Mr. Vasquez."

He eyed me disapprovingly. "It doesn't matter. You know I am not used to those places and let me remind you that I am anything but small."

I gave him a haughty look while he had the nerve to grin wolfishly on my face. "Don't you think it's rather early for your innuendo comments, sir?"

He gave me a speaking glance at his private parts. "I am just telling you the truth, my darling Red. Look, your face is as red as your flaming hair. Who would have thought that this rebellious little beauty of the St. Clair clan was innocent and I am the one who caught this elusive exquisiteness."

"Roman..."

"So what do you think of this place, mi amor? He asked again, by now he was already standing an inch away from me. I could already smell his musky aftershave the scent I love. "We're getting out of topic."

"I'm not sure..." I trailed off while my eyes were trapped on his face. I couldn't look away from his magnificent eyes.

"Oh, come on now what kind of answer is that?" He said playfully, touching my face tenderly. "Can you answer me a plain yes or now, sweetheart?"

I laughed when he was starting to get annoyed while waiting for my answer. "I don't know. You are the one you are planning to buy this house so you decide."

"Red!" He said slightly irritated. I want to see him with a more exasperated expression before giving him an answer. "Think this a new beginning for us. When we take our relationship to the next level this might be a good start for it, don't you think?"

That got me paused for a moment. Next level, he said. Does he think that this relationship will go up to the next level? I mean, more on the serious kind of relationship between man and woman? But this was Roman Vasquez we're talking about he's not doing a permanent relationship. Do I need to remind myself how many female hearts he broke in the past?

"So?" He inquired a little impatiently. I knew he already reached his limit if there was one thing Roman hated that was waiting.

Despite the warning bells, my brain had been telling me I still stupidly followed my heart. Maybe Emerald was right I was already in deep trouble more than I care to admit in this liaison with Roman and the scary part was after this all ended in pain I might not be able to pick up myself from this. But all the warning and reservation I had flew out of the window at the sight of the unreadable expression I saw in his eyes.

"All right, fine. I like this place, okay? Does it have a nice big kitchen?"

The smile on his face was the sight I would treasure forever in my heart. He was like a little boy getting his best present on Christmas day. "You bet it has, my love. I will not be considering buying a house without a big state-of-the-art kitchen for my wife."

"What a thoughtful husband." I grinned at him. Deep inside me, it felt like I was eighteen again I was being reckless and impulsive about making decisions here. Have I not learned anything from my parents' marriage?

"Want a tour around the house?"

"You bet." I smiled cheekily in his direction.

He raised my chin to give me a quick peck on the lips before starting to give the tour he promised to his ridiculously vast penthouse. He was like a child explaining things on what he likes in each part of the house. I smiled while animatedly listening to him.

"This is the master's bedroom."

I raised an eyebrow in his direction the way his voice laced with sultriness. His eyes held unholy light in their depth. "Your bedroom, I presume."

He closed the distance between us like a very much male predator. "Our bedroom, Red. This is going to our bedroom. Don't you think this has the best spot throughout the house? We have the greatest view of New York City at night."

I stared outside his floor-to-top glass window and looked at the busy streets below. I smiled mischievously. "Do you think this panorama would make me jump into your bed as you predicted, Roman? Sorry to burst your bubble but your playboy ways won't work on me."

"Ah," he said, pulling me closer to the hard contour of his body. Roman's possessive hand sneaked around my stomach while my bottom was flattened to his arousal. "But I'm just telling the truth."

"Are you seducing me?" I asked while we were still looking at the busy streets below.

"Not yet..." he answered dangerously soft, his hot breath tickled on my neck. He gave me a hot kiss on the base of my throat. "...but I'm about to. You smell so good, my wife. It makes me want to ravish you this instant."

My breath was caught in my throat. The way his skillful hands slowly made their way around my body while his sinful mouth trailed little hot kisses on my neck. He was good at this my brain barely functions at the moment. "Roman Vasquez..."

"I'm famished." He informed me, tracing the side of my breast. If I didn't lean on him for support because my legs suddenly felt wobble.

I barked a laugh, despite being busy fighting his seduction. "But we just have lunch before coming here."

"Correction." My lustful husband had said. "You had lunch with your sister while I was stuck with a gruesome meeting now I realize how hungry I am and I am going to eat you for lunch, my little fiery wife."

My eyes automatically closed from the sensation. "Good Lord save me..."

He gave a little laugh while kissing my neck. "Hate to tell you this, love. But one can save you from me. You are mine. I'm sorry but I cannot wait any longer."

Before I had the chance to ask what he meant by this statement he skillfully slid down my pants halfway my legs along my underwear. "What..."

"I cannot wait any longer, Red." He announced hoarsely. I barely remember what happened next when he pulled down his pants and took me from behind.

"Oh...my...word...Roman..." I panted for air while he caught his momentum leaving me breathless while he took possession of my body. There's something about this that was both exciting and embarrassing at the same time. Here we are standing in his massive bedroom with a full view of the city outside while Roman is deep inside me. I knew people couldn't see us but heck...

I flattened my palm on the glass window for support as I slightly bent down. Ops, wrong move as Roman gripped each side of my waist and thrust even deeper and harder. I was only aware of the little noises I made in the silent room.

"Red..."

This was the first time he took me from the back let alone standing while doing this. "Roman, oh my God...."

"I'm coming, my darling." He said breathlessly, the way he gripped my waist with his strong hand I was aware that he was already on his limit. After a few moments, he was released.

"That was ..." I started, collecting myself after my afternoon make-out session with this Spanish beast.

"Hot." He supplied me with a self-satisfied smile on his face. He went to the en suite bathroom and emerged after a moment with a hand towel. He wiped my feminine core gently before pulling up my panties and pants. "Here." He said after he was satisfied with his work.

"You are good at this, aren't you?" I tucked my hands in the middle of my chest while staring at him intently.

Roman smiled mockingly. "This is the first time I dress a woman usually it's the other way round."

I shook my head in resignation. "You are shameless."

He pulled me and gave me a light kiss on the lips. "That's in the past now on my wild bachelor days, darling. That reminds me I want to give you something." He pulled out something in the breast pocket of his coat.

"The deed of sale of this place?" I jested lightly.

He paused for a moment and looked at me. He smiled gently and said. "Yeah, that too if you want." He presented me with a medium-sized blue medium-size velvet box. "For you." He flipped the box open for my inspection.

I couldn't help but to grasped when I saw a white gold chain necklace with flaming red stone on the pendant. I raised an eyebrow if I am not mistaken that gemstone is Ruby. But my gaze was arrested by the letter 'R' initials at the top of the red jewel studded with small diamonds. "What's the occasion?"

"Does it need to have an occasion before I can buy you a gift?" He asked dryly, picking out the necklace from its velvet nest. "And yes, it came from the St. Clair Diamonds one cannot give his wife a piece of jewelry from the rival jewelry company."

"Roman..." I protested but he still placed it around my neck. I looked at him disapprovingly.

He kissed each of my hands tenderly. "Will you stay by my side forever, Red?"

I was left speechless at his words. I didn't see that one coming.