"Goodnight, Ruby," he whispered as he straightened back up and turned off her reading lamp. As he exited the room, he didn't take notice of her eyes opening and watching him leave.
*******
Ruby heard Roth come into the kitchen but pretended to be too preoccupied with preparing breakfast to have noticed. His footsteps sounded behind her, and her heartbeat accelerated with each step he took. By the time he made it to her, she could feel her heart thudding so hard in her chest that she was sure he'd be able to hear it beating.
Stay strong. You decided last night to keep this strictly professional from here on in. The voice at the back of her mind reminded her. She knew she made herself the promise, but his cologne was now reaching her nose, and it smelt so divine. All Roth. She gulped down the lump forming in her throat.
"Good morning. I'm sorry about last night. You were asleep when I went looking for you." Roth wrapped his arms around her waist and nuzzled the side of her neck.
She stiffened in his embrace to keep herself from melting into his arms. It would be so easy to just roll with it and lose herself in him again. She'd like nothing more than that, actually. "Morning Mr Rothdam," she replied solemnly.
Roth loosened his arms around her, " Mr Rothdam? What happened to Roth?"
Ruby sighs softly, " Isn't that what I am supposed to call you as an employee? I am sorry I couldn't bring up snacks and juice to your office, didn't want to interrupt you and your girlfriend, neither do I want to hear ancient sounds from you both"
Roth gave her a smile, realizing she was being jealous, " she is not my girlfriend, I was even surprised you let her in, let's forget about her, I have a fun day planned for us after breakfast."
Gotta stay strong, ruby told herself. "Is it business related?"
Roth stopped nuzzling her neck and took a step back from her. A part of her cried out in frustration as the sweet sensations that were beginning to get her wet and cause a fluttering in her stomach immediately stopped. "Ruby, what's wrong?"
Taking a deep breath to gather the courage she needed to say what she needed to, she spun around to face him. Her resolve faltered as she noticed the concern in his eyes and expression. "I think us getting involved beyond an employer/employee basis is a bad idea, and I feel its best if we -" she lowered her eyes to the floor between their feet.
He placed his index finger under her chin and tilted her eyes up to meet his once more. "Are you saying that because it's what you really want, or are you just scared of what might happen between us?"
"Roth..." Not wanting to discuss it any further or continue to have his dark eyes staring into hers, she attempted to turn away, but he grabbed her upper arm and spun her back around to face him.
"Is it Ivana? Nothing happened last night between us. I seriously doubt she'll ever be back."
Why did he have to make it so difficult? His eyes coaxed her to tell him the truth, and she found herself unable to keep from spilling what she felt to him. "I'm not like them," she murmured, avoiding eye contact at all costs.
Roth's frowned deepened. "I'm not following you, Ruby." he couldn't even explain why he was telling her that.
"The women you date. I'm not anything like them. I'm your maid!''
He raked a hand through his short dark hair and shook his head. "We're been through this already. I want to be with you because you're not like them!" Smoke began to rise from the pan she had on the stove top behind her. "Fuck!" Leaning over her, his hard, lean body pressing hers against the countertop, he turned off the stove and removed the burnt food from the heat.
She waved at their burnt breakfast, in disgust with herself. "I can't even do the job properly." She fought back tears threatening to well up in her eyes.
"I don't give a shit about breakfast Ruby, so don't change the subject. You want to discuss this, well then, let's discuss this," his voice had risen, not a lot, but considering he was always so calm and collected the slight shift in tone and volume was slightly unsettling.
Her own temper ignited as they glared at each other. Fine! He wants honesty, he'll get it! "I am not going to be a fling. And I'm not going to be used," she growled, planting her fists on her hips and daring him to say the wrong thing.
Roth closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. Taking a deep breath in, he held it for a few moments before releasing it in a loud huff. He shook his head as he opened his dark eyes back up, the anger rapidly leaving them. "When did I ever say you were? And why would you ever think..." He halted, deep down Roth knew she was right, he knew he would never give in to loving her more than he should.
She chewed at her lower lip as she considered it. Sure, he hadn't actually said she was, but what else could she be? His girlfriend? She scoffed at the idea, it could never work.
"Damn woman. Why would you think I considered you that? Have I given you any reason to feel that way?" His jaw clenched and he was visibly fighting to remain in control.
Ruby shook her head. A stray strand of hair fell over her eye and before she could brush it back, Roth reached up and did it for her, he had gone through this over and over again, with how many women? Ten? Twenty? Thirty? He sigh, feeling sorry for Ruby.
"I need to share something with you," he stated, taking her hand in his, "Come with me."