Louisa was intrigued, her tiredness slipping away to make room for an electricity that filled her every time Dominic looked at her with that particular tilt of his mouth and glint in his eyes.
“Do you trust me?” he asked.
She hardly stopped to consider what these words meant. “Yes.”
He turned her, running his hand around her body as he guided her with his other. She shivered in response to his touch. Something silken slipped over her eyes, and she reached up to feel that it was a sleep mask.
“Trust me,” he said again, as he took her hands away from the mask and lifted her, cradling her in his arms. She draped one arm around his shoulders and let her other rest on his chest as he carried her out of the apartment. With her sight taken away her other senses came alive. The coarse feel of his shirt against the soft skin of her chest that was uncovered just above her top. His breath against her cheek as she leant her head on his shoulder and breathed in the male smell of his skin. She felt a cold breeze against her arm as he opened a door. The sound of the traffic was faint, and she realised they must have been on the roof.
“Dominic, what?”
“Just wait,” he said, and she could hear the humour in his voice.
He set her down in a place that was sheltered from the cold night air. Brushing her hand against the soft cotton beneath her, she wondered where she was. She felt Dominic just inches from her. He bent in and brushed her lips with a kiss. Her hands searched out his cheek, and she pulled him in, savouring the taste of his mouth. He pulled away and slid the mask from her eyes. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the warm lighting. They were on the roof, in a structure which was half tent made of soft billows of sheer peach fabric. Each corner was supported by a metre wide section of wooden frame. Around three sides was a long, wide bench covered in soft pillows and cream cotton covered cushions. Louisa looked around and marvelled at the 360 view she had of the lights of the city. More than that though, she recognised this place.
“Do you like it?” he asked leaning his body down alongside hers, propping himself up on one elbow so that their faces were level. She marvelled at how much he looked like a panther stretched out like that. All strength and power, yet it was his touch that softened him, and his words that showed Louisa the intellect behind the playboy reputation. He pulled a blanket around her when she shivered and pulled her close to his body as they lay together looking up at the roofless tent above them at the dark sky.
“I designed this, for my elective in college when I did interior design for a semester. How did you get the plans?” Louisa asked, as her body grew heavy with sleep. She was aware of how late the hour was. She didn’t mind, not when she spent the time with Dominic.
“Don’t you remember?” he asked, stroking her hair as her eyes closed. “When you were at school you told Sophie that you used to get stressed a lot and would always go outside when you needed to clear your head. I liked the idea and thought that if I built somewhere that I could enjoy and still have some privacy where no one would know where to find me, well, I used to come up here to the roof when life got too much for me. Then you left the drawing at Sophie’s hotel when she visited one year.”
She could tell he had been about to say something else, but she felt too tired to question him about it. Feeling her eyes close again she fought to stay awake.
“Go to sleep. I will wake you in the morning. Don’t forget, we are getting married tomorrow.”
He kissed her hair and lay back beside her. Any thought of sleep was driven from her mind at his last words. In all the excitement she had forgotten that tomorrow was Saturday. Rather than sink into blissful sleep with his arms wrapped around her and his body keeping her warm, she lay awake listening to his deep breathing, jealous that he could be so calm as to be able to sleep when her own nerves were alive with fear. It wasn’t for herself that she was afraid, not now, it was for those that would be affected by this sham wedding. Sophie, Cole, he had been so good to her and to Margaret, being there every time she needed him.
She awoke to find Dominic gone and a note beside her. The sun had turned the sky the dull grey of pre-dawn. She wasn’t cold. Small heaters encircled the roof beams that she hadn’t noticed in the dark last night, and the fabric sides of the structure acted to keep the heat in. She read the note and smiled. Butterflies swirled in her stomach. Dominic had left as he wasn’t allowed to see the bride on her wedding day. It was bad luck, he wrote. She folded the note and tucked it into the top of her bra for safe keeping. The wedding wasn’t until lunch time. She had plenty of time before Sophie and Amanda came over to help her get ready. She lay back and watched the sun come up over the buildings. She felt at peace with her life, with what she was doing. This may have been a fake wedding, but she would spend it with people who cared about her. After all, wasn’t that why Dominic had suggested it? She knew that she could trust him, that he would always be there for her even if they were not married. She didn’t delude herself to think that he loved her, but that was okay; what they had was enough.
“There you are. We need to get started, Louisa, or we will be late.” Sophie stood holding up one of the sides of the structure. She looked angelic with the soft light behind her and a slight breeze running through her hair.
“You’re day-dreaming again, aren’t you?” Sophie asked with a smile. “Come on, future sister-in-law.” She held out her hand, and Louisa reluctantly rose to take it.
The apartment had been transformed. Three large mirrors were set by the windows, and the dining table was being used as a dressing table. Hanging over the door frames were three large dress bags. Louisa looked around until Sophie took her hand and thrust her into the bathroom.
“Shower first, and then we can get started,” she said. Louisa was grateful that at least someone knew what she was supposed to do today, because Louisa had no idea. Margaret arrived after breakfast to get her own hair and makeup done. She was to be a bridesmaid with Sophie. As Louisa didn’t have any sisters Margaret was the closest thing she had to family. Louisa tried to sit whilst the other women did her hair. But she had never been good at it, so instead she grabbed the remote and tried to find something on the TV that would distract her. Settling on Oprah she hunkered down for a long few hours before the ceremony. Surprisingly she wasn’t nervous. Not about the wedding at least. She was more concerned for those who had planned it. All Louisa and Dominic had to do was stand there and say some words. Amanda was running around taking calls all morning. Louisa grabbed her and made her sit next to her so that she could rest for a moment. Even as she sat her leg started twitching, and soon she was back on her feet racing to get Louisa something to drink.
“How do you feel?” Sophie asked when they had a moment to themselves.
“Fine, really, Sophie, I am,” Louisa said trying to assure the other woman. “I'm happy that you could be here with me.”
“I am so happy that the two of you worked things out,” Sophie said smiling and tucking a loose curl back into place on Louisa’s shoulder.
“Yes, I guess we did,” Louisa said smiling.
Arriving at the hotel, Louisa stood at the top of the aisle and looked down at the man who stood waiting for her at the end. His hands were tucked behind his back, and his stance was tense. It was his face that Louisa watched. It held such joy that she was taken aback for how much her heart swelled looking at him. He was waiting there for her. Just her, and right then, it was only them in that room. His eyes held hers until she was by his side. Then he took her hand in his, and she felt nothing but warmth that this man was here with her.
****
She stood in her empty office looking at the ring on her finger. She had changed out of the dress as soon as the ceremony was over. She could still see Sophie’s tear-streaked face as she congratulated them. It had been a small ceremony with only Sophie, Cole, and Margaret and a few family friends in attendance. Amanda had taken care of everything as she had promised, yet it all still seemed so surreal. Sh
e was married. To Dominic. She had left him to change and gone to the office to fax off the forms necessary to have the inheritance legalised. All she could think about was that now she belonged to him, for him to use and control as he pleased. The idea both terrified and excited her. Her emotions were in turmoil as she fought the rising heat in her stomach at the thought of what a husband might do to his wife on their wedding night.
She closed her eyes and imagined his hand brushing her hip, firm and commanding as he pulled her in for a kiss. She could taste him, and she brushed her fingers over her lips feeling him there. There was the faintest breeze behind her before a strong arm wrapped around her waist and spun her around until she was pressed to a hard chest and looking up into the dark eyes of the very man she had been dreaming of.
He didn’t speak to her, just held her to him as he claimed her lips, lifting her so that they were pressed even closer together. She sighed at the passion he had, a passion that she craved like a hunger. A weight lifted when he was there with her, one she hadn’t known she carried when he was away.
“Have you missed me?” he asked, as he pulled back.
“No. Why, did you miss me?” He answered by lifting her and setting her on her desk. The room was dark with only the city lights to light the room. She watched the shadows play across his body as he removed his shirt and pushed her hair back off her shoulder so that he could place a kiss on her collar bone. He followed with light feathery kisses down her chest until he came to the first button on her simple dress. His hands found hers as he pulled her arms up over her head. Pressing her, he held them against the desktop. With his other hand he unbuttoned her dress down to her navel. There he let his breath warm her skin as he trailed his tongue across her stomach. She could feel his excitement through his trousers, pressed to her leg. She shifted so that she was pushing against him. He moaned, and his breath let out in a gust against her skin. She shivered at his feather-light touch and raised her hips to meet him. He laughed and pulled his body farther away from her.
“Tease,” Louisa panted squirming under his body. He chuckled again and reached a hand up the soft fabric of her skirt and pressed his hand to her warm mound. She gasped and moaned under his touch. His fingers worked circles on her, building her pleasure. She squirmed and brought her knees up placing her ankles around his waist and pulled him against her.
“If you insist,” he said before in one move he loosened his trousers and guided himself inside her. She met his thrusts urgently, their bodies coming together hard and fast as his hands worked her to orgasm. They climaxed together, his moan matching her own as they lay panting on the desk, still joined. They lay for a moment before he released her hands. Without a thought she slipped off the desk and turned him so that he leant against it. She teased the tip of his manhood with her tongue before sliding her lips along its length. His hips bucked against her mouth as she felt him grow again in her mouth. She could feel him pulsing as she worked him with her lips. Teasing him as he had her, each time she felt him getting close she eased off and just used her hand to keep up the motions. He shook his head at her, his face giving away how much he needed her to finish. Smiling at her he reached down and guided her mouth back around him. He controlled the speed as she brought him to the edge again then thrust against her until he came. He pushed her back and guided her to the floor where he returned the favour. They lay together through the night. Louisa lost count of the number of times she climaxed under Dominic’s touch. By morning they had both exhausted themselves. Louisa lay on his chest, her fingers twined in the soft fur that covered it, listening to his heartbeat. She was content, and more than that, she was happy.
“What are you thinking?” he asked her as he stroked her hair.
Louisa shook her head, not wanting to break the moment.
“Well I can tell you what I’m thinking,” he said. “I am thinking that marrying you was the best idea I have ever had.”
She laughed and claimed his mouth for a moment before jumping up and attempting to find her clothes.
“Where do you think you are going?” he asked, stretched out on the carpet like a statue of a Greek god lounging on one elbow.
“We can’t lie here all day, although I wish we could. I thought you could show me around the city?” she said, hoping he would agree.
“What would you like to see?” he asked not taking his eyes from her as she dressed. He jumped up, taking her by surprise and pulled her against the wall kissing her until her knees went weak. He had to stop doing this to her before she hurt herself from distraction.
****
Dominic watched Louisa with a mixture of humour and pride. She sat next to him in the chopper with the headphones on, staring out the window with a huge grin on her face. He reached out and took her hand pointing to the buildings that were coming up out his side of the chopper. She leant over him to look, seemingly unaware of her effect on him in pressing her legs against his groin to get a better view. He laughed at her enthusiasm. It was nice to see her so relaxed again. She had tensed up right after the wedding, and he was afraid she would pull out. Last night was the best night of his life, he knew. A small part of him also remembered that she would cease to be his bride in a few weeks, a thought that he didn’t like to dwell on.
They didn’t try to talk on the trip. The sounds of the motor were too loud to do so, and he didn’t think that Louisa could tear herself away from the windows long enough to answer him anyway. The chopper took them around the city twice as Dominic felt that Louisa was still too enthralled to do just the regular trip. They landed on the outskirts of a large concrete building, and Dominic helped her from the plane.
“Where are we?” she asked, looking around at the empty part of the city.
“You will see. A friend of mine has a rather unusual home, and he has let me visit here whenever I like.”
“This is someone’s house!”
He could understand her reaction. It was the same one he had had when Michael had first taken him there. They had met at college and remained good friends. Dominic also donated to his collection when he could to ensure it remained here for him to see. He led Louisa up the back of the building and into a small service door. The corridor was dark as it wasn’t used often. He took Louisa’s hand and guided her up the corridor. He knew it well enough to know where he was going. They reached the end and stood at a small door. He smiled to himself in anticipation and opened the door. Louisa’s reaction was more than he had expected. She stood on the spot staring open mouthed at what lay before her. The blue light coming through the aquarium illuminated the room enough that the marine animals that swam in the tanks were thrown into stark relief.
“Afternoon, Mr. McKillip.” Penny, one of the marine biologists who cared for the collection greeted him.
“Dr. Penny Joseph, this is my wife, Louisa.”
Penny smiled as she shook Louisa’s hand. Louisa was still staring at the fish and looking a little abashed at her surprise.
“What is this place?” she asked again, stepping forward to place a hand on the glass.
“Dr. Richards has the largest private collection in the Northern hemisphere. Daisy here is expecting a calf in about a month,” Penny said as she gestured to the small nurse shark that swam past the glass. The tank wrapped around the long room and into the next. Several smaller but no less impressive tanks stood throughout the room housing the smaller fish that didn’t mix well with others. More like Daisy would eat them.
“It’s nearly feeding time. It was nice to meet you, Louisa.” Penny smiled at the younger woman and left them.
“I'm sorry, I must have seemed rude. I just can’t believe that this is here, right in the middle of the city.”
“I thought you might like it.” Dominic watched the light reflect off the water and swirl around Louisa’s body. The tank held more species than Dominic knew the names of, clown fish, eels, sting rays, several nurse sharks, and a coral collection that was being used for research by seve
ral universities around America. It was also a place where students could come and gain work experience in marine biology and the ecological effects on different species in captivity.
Dominic walked with her as she inspected the length of the tank. “I did have an ulterior motive for bringing you here.”
“Oh?” she asked distracted.
“Michael wants to open the aquarium up to the public two days a week and needs a lawyer to handle the insurance on the place.”
She turned to face him now. He couldn’t get over how beautiful she looked in this light. He resisted stroking a lock of hair back off her face.
“A client?” she asked, as if she didn’t understand what he was saying.
“The first of many. You are a brilliant lawyer, Louisa. People know your name, and most won’t listen to idle gossip about you. I have several other clients who would like to meet you and want to offer you their business.”
“I won’t take clients out of pity, Dominic,” she said, serious once again. He reached up and smoothed the frown lines in her forehead.
“It’s not pity. They need a lawyer, and you are the best. You will see. You will have people lining up to hire you once they know you have time available.”
She seemed to think on that for a moment, watching the progress of a lone sting ray that looked for food along the bottom of the tank. Penny popped into view in her scuba gear and waved before she begun feeding her charges.
“I will have to review their accounts first,” Louisa said, the smile back on her face as Penny made a ray slide up the glass so that Louisa could see its underside as she fed it.
“They would expect no less.” He smiled at her as she turned back to him. He reached out and pulled her to him with one arm around her waist before claiming her mouth. How had he been so lucky to have this incredible, smart, sexy woman fall right into his arms? She kissed him back, pressing her body to his. He made to deepen the kiss, but she pulled away.
“Penny,” she said by way of explanation.
The Millionaire's Convenient Bride Page 10
