Ruth could tell by the wide eyes and ashen features across Raffo's face resembled that of a man who was completely overwhelmed. As different subways blurred past them, his eyes grew bigger and bigger, confused by their destinations and locations. The high-pitched squealing of the brakes made him wince.

Finally, the train they were waiting for pulled up to a screaming halt. A flood of people exit the sliding metal doors and Ruth grabbed onto Raffo's arm to rush them in before the hoard boarded the train behind them. He cursed as he drew both their suitcases behind him and narrowly avoided the passengers, who paid no attention.

Totally out of his element, Raffo glued himself to Ruth's side after the train started moving, his body tense and eyes flying everywhere like he didn't trust the New Yorkers to be around them. Ruth giggled after he wrapped a protective arm around her waist and drew her to his side, eyeballing the man screaming at his "incompetent employees" on the phone.

"Welcome to New York City," she whispered to Raffo, who made a face in return.

"Thanks," he murmured, his sarcasm as dry as his tone. Ruth laughed again.

Their ride to the next station didn't take too long. Once they pulled in, they hustled away from the overcrowded subway and made their way up the escalators and into the real lion's den; outside.

The powerful essence of hot dogs and onions wafted into Ruth's crinkled nostrils and the swarm on either side of her and Raffo left her almost hot in the cool air. Wreaths and Christmas lights wrapped around every pole in sight, and Christmas trees presented their beautiful ornaments in nearly every business window. The atmosphere of the upcoming holiday radiated throughout the city, despite it only being mid-afternoon.

Raffo's eyes were everywhere. The city was overwhelming at times, even to Ruth, so she couldn't imagine what he must be thinking or feeling at that moment.

Per usual, a guy standing on the street corner close to the sidewalk with a neon green sign in his hands screamed at everyone who walked by that they had better repent before it was too late for their soul. Scribbled in a faded black marker was a piece of scripture that she couldn't make out, but when Raffo glanced at it, the man turned his attention to his newest target.

With crazed, blue eyes, the man yelled something at the two of them over the swarm of people leaving the subway that neither of them could catch. Ruth was just going to ignore him, but of course, the countryman out of his element felt obligated to respond.

"What?" Raffo asked, bewildered. He squinted his eyes in the guy's direction, attempting to read the sign, when Ruth tugged him away.

"Nope," she said, dragging him across the street after the walking signal lit up. "Rule number one of New York City, babe: Never Make Eye Contact. They have a sixth sense for the gullible and can smell the naïve from a mile away."

He frowned at that. "I'm not gullible. Or naïve."

Ruth shot him a look. "Raff, you were five seconds away from having a two hour conversation with the guy."

"Well, everyone else was just ignoring him. Maybe if someone talked to him for two hours, he'd stop yelling at everyone walking by," he huffed, defensive. He re-gripped the handle on his leather luggage and tugged it close to him after catching a lawyer's curious look at his bag. She knew if she didn't hurry them along, Raffo would confront the guy on his staring problem, so she quickened them along.

"That's kind of you, baby. But that's not how they work out here."

Raffo's brown eyes narrowed at that. He opened his mouth to voice his dismay, but Ruth lit up at the sight of their hotel ahead. She grabbed his hand and pulled them up to the glass doors that automatically opened up. The older building shimmered in goals and matching mirrors as a sweet, perfumery scent swirled around them while walking along the marble floors. Raffo admired the art on the walls as they walked by, and turned to check out a painting of the Harlem Renaissance with intrigue in his glowing eyes. Ruth hid a smile and headed straight for the receptionist at the end of the miniature version of the Hall of Mirrors.

A young woman with long box braids greeted her with a wide smile and sparkling brown eyes. Her badge read Midian. "Hi! How can I help you today?" she chirped.

Ruth smiled back politely and took out her I.D. "Hi Midian. I have a reservation for a deluxe suite under Ruth Semple?"

Midian jumped on her computer and typed away. The small talk wasn't painful, and much to Ruth's relief, it didn't take long for her to find the reservation and scan their room key. Ruth thanked her, pulled an a protesting Raffo away from the beautiful painting, and made their way up the elevator and to the tenth floor. The elevator matched the hotel's lobby perfectly. Mirrors with gold trims lined the ceiling and the walls around them and the space was wide enough to easily hold ten or more people. Ruth had never been to that hotel exactly before, but it was definitely incredible.

"How are you feeling?" Ruth murmured, tugging Raffo closer.

Raffo ran his hand along the length of her back, his stiff posture relaxing as he kissed her temple.

"Better now that we're out of the subway station," he mock shuddered. "I don't know how you did it for so long."

She laughed. "You get used to it," she admitted.

His nose wrinkled at the thought. She bit back a grin and tugged him behind her after the elevator doors opened. Their room thankfully was just down the hallway, and Ruth swiped their card against the censor on the outside of the door. The warmth of the hotel room rushes at Ruth's face the moment she opened it, the crisp scent of clean linen leaking out into the hallway. Raffo ushered the bag into the room after her and closed it with a firm lock.

Though it looked like a regular hotel room, beautiful artwork litered the walls much like the lobby, and the king's bed had gold trimmings around the rim of the post. Ivory sheets with gold linings called to Ruth, but she knew she couldn't lay down yet. Not until she washed away the sweat of the day and put on some lounge clothes until dinnertime. For the next few hours, there'd be a whole lot of nothing.

"I feel gross," Ruth groaned tossing her stuff on the table. Raffo brought their luggage over by the closet and shook off his jacket.

"Want to take a rinse off before dinner?" he suggested. "I can start it for you."

She stifled a yawn. "You want to take one with me?" she offered, voice soft.

"Sure," he murmured.

While Raffo went to the bathroom to turn the shower on, Ruth pulled out her phone and checked her emails for the one she'd been waiting for. And much to her excitement, it was there with the words she wanted to read. A small smile graced her lips and she quickly turned off the phone to grab the toiletries she brought back with her from Oklahoma.

She stripped out of her clothes, threw them in the hotel laundry bag, and then followed Raffo's call into the bathroom. His pile of clothes laid in a heap by the sink, and caught the brief glimpse of the back of him as he entered the steamy shower.

Ruth didn't mean for anything to happen. Honestly, a shower and a movie to cuddle to was all she wanted after rinsing away their travel. She'd lean her head against his chest, her legs curled in.

But all Ruth had to do was walk into that shower and see the water trail down the confines of his chest and she was done for. His eyes were closed as he leaned back to rinse his hair, but his body on full display woke a familiar heat in the pit of her stomach. Her mouth subconsciously watered and she wondered how she ended up with such a man, as she walked into the large shower and pressed her lips to his chest.

The soft sound in the back of his throat made her smile as she molded to him with her arms wrapped around his waist. She rested her chin on his torso and met his heated gaze.

"I thought you were tired?" he teased, skimming his fingers along her sides.

"I am," she agreed, then smiled wryly. "But not that tired."

Raffo grinned. "Good."

Ruth squealed as Raffo grabbed her thighs and hoisted her up so her legs could wrap around his waist. She opened her mouth to scold him for not warning her, but his lips tenderly kissed her neck, melting away all of what she was going to say. And that was enough for her to give into their steamy shower for the next hour.

*****