I tried to have a good life with Elise, but after all the deceit, I just couldn’t stomach that woman any longer. I always meet my obligations so I supported her and Dominick. I tried over the years to be a good father. But Elise filled Dominick’s head with all of her crazy nonsense. He was young and impressionable. As he grew up and became a man, he set his sights on destroying me. This is when I decided not to leave him my company. I was very proud of the man that my son became, but I refuse to give him something I worked so hard for just to have him ruin it. I also had to think about your father. I owed him a great deal and could not leave him with the problems that plagued my son and myself. If things had been different, I would have left everything to Dominick. I love him very much.
When I came out to Capri in the later years, I had seen a change in your mother. She was not the carefree woman I had once known. She was controlling and insecure. She laid all of this on you. Your father worked tirelessly day and night to allow her to keep you in Capri and in NYC. It was very hard for him. As I am sure it was very hard for you. When Cella became sick and eventually lost her battle with her illness and passed away, you blossomed into a beautiful strong woman. You are a kind and fair individual. I decided that I would leave the business to you because you would do right by it. It would also allow you a deeper relationship with your father that was denied to you when you were young because of your mother’s obsessive behavior and actions when you’re illness was visibly present. Raven was already becoming part of the business so I knew she would have her share. I needed to leave my share to someone who would cherish it and take honest ownership of it. That person would be you, Rain.
In closing I hope you will understand why I have done this and honor my wishes with the firm. I trust that you will.
All of my love and respect,
Vincent Kane
I’m numb and feel sick to my stomach. My heart is racing, panic is beginning to set in. Mema was right. Mr. Kane does appear to be controlling. I see where Dominick inherited this specific trait. I need to a get out of here, but where to? Dominick would be home in a few days. I have to pull myself together before his return. Think, Rain, think. I know what to do and I know just the person to call to make it happen.
I call Anna and ask if it would be okay to go down to LBI this weekend. Originally, I planned to go on Tuesday with Dominick because he wasn’t arriving home until Monday from Europe, but I couldn’t wait. I felt very comfortable at the shore house. I knew I would go crazy in New York. Tommy and Michael are leaving tomorrow for their parents’ house. Dad and Raven are in L.A.
Anna told me that it’s fine, but that she and Joseph wouldn’t be going until Monday, so I needed to stop by and pick up a key. Tommy gave me the Camaro and continued to tell me not to fuck it up. I gave him a sulky look and a huge huff and puff, all while rolling my eyes at him. It’s not like I drive that fast.
I pick up the key and make it down the shore in record time. Well, I drive a little fast. When I went up the steps of the house I instantly felt better … at home. I head inside and everything is the same. The furniture is new, but basically the same as before. The floors are all refinished or replaced.
I put my clothes in my old room. I turn on the heat. Inside the house seems chilly. Probably because it’s been closed up since the storm. Only the workers have been here to repair the damage. I grab a blanket and my camera then head out to the beach. It’s unseasonably warm for this time of year. When picking up the key I also picked up Max. Anna was grateful, because it was one less thing she had to think about when bringing everything down for Monday. I’m grateful for the warm company.
I spent the day outside taking photos of the devastation and of the ocean. It seemed very eerie, calm, too calm. There are no waves. The water is so still, it gives the appearance of glass. The shore is silent. The time alone gives me an opportunity to reflect on all the information from the meeting with my father. I knew one thing for sure. I have to tell Dominick that his father left the business to me. There has to be some way to work it out. I have no problem turning the business over to him, but how would it affect my dad? That’s the problem. I also decide if Dominick doesn’t bring it up, I’m going to wait until after New Years to tell him. No sense in ruining the holidays for everyone.
The adoption is another problem. Dominick has to be told about it. All of these years he blamed his father for so many things which he had no control over. It was Elise Kane who inflicted much of the damage that was affecting Dominick as an adult today. I’m struggling, though. Is it really my place to reveal such a secret or maybe coming from me, Dominick would feel he has the love and support he needs to investigate the adoption further.
After a long day on the sand I head back to the house to shower and cook a warm meal before calling Dominick and letting him know where I am. Once inside, I hadn’t remembered leaving the light on in the kitchen. Perhaps with all the stress I’m feeling I just forgot.
I go to shut it off when I notice a familiar sensual body with his head in the refrigerator. He stands up snacking on a pear he’d retrieved. Chewing, he has a huge innocent grin on his face. He turns to face me while leaning on the fridge.
“Hey, baby, you miss me?” He’s still chewing, yet, giving me a smile that shines in his eyes.
I run into his arms and he catches me. I wrap my arms and legs around his thick muscular upper body and go in for a kiss. I push back slightly and tilt my head to one side.
“I know who told you I was down here, but how did you get to me so fast?
“I was on my way back when Anna phoned and mentioned you wanted to get a jump on the holiday. So, I asked her not to inform you. I came straight down once my flight landed, and here I am. Glad to see me?” He waits for my response.
“More than glad.” I kiss him again. “I needed you here at home.”
“Yeah, baby, this is home.” He agrees giving my ass a squeeze.
I hug him close. “I missed you so much, Dominick.”
“Well, I’m here now and you have me through next weekend. My schedule is clear.”
“I think I could use a shower after being on the beach all day.” I scrunch my nose to show I knew I could use a shower.
“You go start it and I will join you. Let me just get a fire going to warm us up.” He lowers me down, turns me around and smacks my ass. “Now go.”
In the bathroom I turn the water in the shower on. The room becomes thick with steam rather quickly. I remove the bulky clothing that I’m wearing and slip under the soothing water jets.
I hear the door open. He’s standing there in all his glory. I’m aroused immediately at the sight of Dominick naked. I never get tired of looking at him, touching him, feeling him up against me, inside of me, on top of me. He immediately pushes me up against the wall and hisses. “Angel, it’s been a week since I’ve been deep inside you. I want in, now.” No arguments here.
My mouth opens slightly, trying to breathe. I can feel the ache between my legs building. Dominick lowers his head and kisses me. As his tongue introduces itself to mine, his hands go automatically to my hips. He’s swirling deeper and deeper in my mouth. I let out a long moan that shows I need him as much as he needs me. I place my fingers in his hair and we continue our assaults on each other’s mouths. Dominick is the first to break, lowering his lips to my breast. My nipples are hard from his kiss. Then one of his hands is in between my legs touching my throbbing nub.
“You are so wet, baby. I like it.” His tone is confident.
“Always when I’m with you.”
“Turn around. I need this hard and fast.” He commands.
I do as I’m told.
He rubs my ass. “Rain, I really missed this. Us.”
Then he presses his hand on my spine over my rose and puts his knee between my legs. “Open up, Angel.”
I comply.
Dominick slides in with brute force. I cry out. It didn’t hurt. It’s what I need. He continues at a ferocious pace. I’
m going crazy and I’m going to come far too quickly. I tighten my inner core around him and tilt back into him slightly to get the relief I’m waiting for. This is it, no turning back now, straight in to the delicious abyss. Dominick is there with me. He comes hard, digging his fingers into my hips. We’re both complete. Sated.
After the shower I walk into my room to get some clothes when I realize my bags are gone. I check the closet … nothing. When I turn back Dominick walks out of the bathroom in just a towel.
“What’s wrong, Rain?”
“I can’t find my bags.”
“You’re not going to find them in here, baby.” He says as if I was being silly.
“I put them in my room, where they belong. Clothes in my closet. Rain, in my bed.” The tone in his voice said it was not to be questioned.
We relax together for the rest of the weekend. Once Monday arrives Anna and Joseph show up with enough food for ten Thanksgivings. We cook and bake all week for that one special day. I for one, have a lot to be grateful for this year.
I’m having a beautiful time spent with people I’ve grown to love. I could stay like this forever. Once dinner and dessert are done, Dominick and Joseph disappear to watch some sporting event in the family room area off the kitchen. Things must have been going good for their team based on the type of screams both man are exuding. Anna and I clean up, and then retreat into the living room by the fire.
“Anna, I want to thank you for the talk you had with me a couple of weeks ago.” Looking down at my hands. Not sure if I should say any more.
“Rain, my dear, it’s okay. I’m glad you feel you can come to me. Sometimes you just need a woman to know what you’re going through. Did you talk to Dominick about your feelings?”
“Not yet, but I’m going to.” I smile shyly
She smiles back, but says nothing. We just sit there, the two of us silently watching the fire and enjoying the rest of the holiday evening.
Suddenly I feel myself being lifted from the couch in the living room. My arms automatically go around his neck and my head to his chest.
“Dominick?” I’m startled awake.
“Shhhh. Baby, I’m putting you to bed. It’s been a long day.”
He lowers me down to his bed, staring at me with his amazing green eyes. Once I’m settled he stays there and keeps up his intense lock on my eyes. His expression is serious, contemplating. His jaw shifts briefly.
“Rain.” He pauses. I love you.” He stays focused on me waiting for a reply.
A tear-filled smile brightens my face. “Dominick, I love you, too. I whisper.
He leans down and kisses me gently. His kiss seems different now. Softer than all his others. Full of hope. He pulls back slowly and smiles at me. I smile back. He looks at my lips and kisses me again. He allows his hands to wrap around my neck gently as his thumbs caress my jawline. The kiss is feather-light and then he moves his mouth away from lips to my cheek and he stills there, inhaling and exhaling deeply. Slowly he glides his mouth up and kisses my forehead and then the right temple of my face, over each eye and down the other side to my neck.
His mouth wanders to my ear and he licks the small hollow behind the lobe. “Rain, I love you, baby.” His voice is sleepy and heated.
“Oh Dominick, I love you too.”
His mouth moves back to mind and his tongue licks my lower lip, just barely touching it. I open and he gladly enters my mouth. I wrap my arms tightly around his neck and pull him hard to feel more of his kiss. He slides out and down my chin to the center of my throat between my collar bone. He kisses me and licks me ever so lightly. It sends chills up my spine and erupts a throbbing between my legs. I arch my body back and moan his name. He reaches around and lifts me to his upright body. He unzips the back of my dress and I raise my arms up so he can easily pull it off of me.
Then I take the hem of his shirt and lift it over his head, exposing his beautiful rock hard upper body. I want to be under him. I want him inside of me now. He lays me back down and with one finger he releases my breasts by sliding the material of my bra under each swollen mound.
“The bra stays. You look beautiful this way baby.”
My breasts are trussed up by my bra and my nipples have hardened from the air of the room dancing over them. He places his lips over my right breast. Licking and biting it. This action sends electricity through my entire body. His hands massage the sides of my torso down to my hips. He reaches for the lace material and tears off my panties, immediately throwing them to the floor. He keeps working my breasts with tongue while he frees his erection from the confining space of his jeans.
I take my hands and move them from his neck to his arms and down his chest until I have his cock in my hands. Sliding down the mattress, I position myself and spread my legs for him. He releases my breast, leans up and watches as his fingers play with my wet sex. He growls and pulls his fingers away, then puts them in his mouth, savoring how I taste.
My breath hitches at the intimate act he is performing in front of me. Still stroking and holding his cock, I look deep in his eyes and guide him inside of me. He is so hard and he fills me completely. This is where he belongs. He moves but very slowly. I meet each soft curl of his hips and we wrap our arms around each other at the same time to create one perfect connection through each of our bodies. Never taking our eyes off one another.
“Dominick, you feel so good. Don’t stop.”
“Rain, I’m going to come inside of you, Angel.”
Dominick and I are both breathing heavier yet it’s so soft and we are totally in sync with each other. Moaning slightly I completely stop moving and begin to come all over him. It’s filled with so much love and wanting, needing. I tighten around Dominick and he comes deep inside my body. Possessing me. Owning me. Making me his completely, all over again.
The next couple of weeks were crazy. Shopping, decorating, holiday parties. Not only at my dad’s firm, but also at Dominick’s. I have to get the perfect Christmas gift for the man I love, and who isn’t easy to buy for. Dominick really has everything he wants. So while I’m at the framers going over the prints, I spy this beautiful platinum frame. It’s not just any frame. It’s a computerized model. It allows you to download photos and play music to them. The difference is that this one is big. Big enough to fit over a fireplace. I just know it’s going be perfect. I choose pictures from the shore house, Capri, Thanksgiving, and ones that I took when Dominick wasn’t looking. Some shots of Anna, Joseph, Max, and me. Then I pick the perfect song. Only one. You’re able to record several. He can do that later, but this is the one that will tell Dominick ‘I Love You’ every time he hears it. They wrap it for me and deliver it to my dad’s house, where we are having Christmas Eve.
My family always works very hard to make Christmas Eve special every year. We’re Italian, so we traditionally have the Feast of the Seven Fishes. Daddy flew Mema and Antonio here as a gift to me. Tommy, Michael, and the Conte’s are also invited. Daddy even extended an invitation to Anna and Joseph, knowing they would be alone because Dominick would be here with me tonight.
Our family is having a wonderful evening by celebrating such a magical time of the year with new friends and loved ones.
Dinner was amazing as always. Raven, Mema, Anna and myself, laid everything out as a buffet. People came in and out of the kitchen when they felt hungry. Tommy grabbed Mema and danced around the house to Christmas songs sung by Tony Bennet and Bing Crosby. We all laughed at how mad she seemed to be getting. We knew it was all an act. Mema loves Tommy as much as I do.
The subject of the my photography show came up. I explained that it was going to happen the first weekend of February. Everyone here promised they would clear their schedules and be there for me. I took this opportunity to ask Tommy who he would be bringing now that Dominick was my escort.
“So, who’s the lucky lady? I was smirking, knowing he would probably bring some fashion model or actress that he knows from his many photo shoots.
&
nbsp; He had an odd look on his face. “I asked Maggie and she agreed to come with me.”
My eyes lit up with the brightness of the smile playing on my lips. “My dad’s assistant. I didn’t even know you knew her.”
“I don’t, really. Mike set it up.”
“She’s a really good person, Tommy. I think she’s a great choice.”
“You do?”
“Yeah. She’s fun to be around. Not at all stuffy and she’s beautiful. Inside and out. I’m really happy for you.”
“Rain, baby, it’s a date. Nothing more and nothing less.”
He smirked trying to make light of the situation.
“True, but dates can lead to other dates and other dates can lead to more dates and before you know it, you’re hooked.”
I was smiling ear to ear.
“Why do you act like this?” Arching his brow at me and not smiling one bit.
“I love you. I don’t want you to ever be alone.” I feel bad about teasing him and try to walk away.
He grabs me to his chest and looks deep into my eyes. “Rain, I will never be alone. Baby, I will always have you to torture me.” Then he grins and the tension breaks.
“Tommy, you’re a jerk.” I tease.
“Yeah, I know, but you love me anyway.”
“Yeah, I do.”
“Merry Christmas, Baby.” He hugs me tight.
“Merry Christmas, Tommy.” I let go of him but not before I make him promise me to really give Maggie a chance. She is such a sweet girl and she’s been with my dad’s firm since Raven started there. I think it would be great if she and Tommy became a couple.
He told me he promised to think about it. That’s such a guy statement. I hope Maggie will win him over. Maybe with a small nudge from me.
We attend to midnight mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Then return to my dad’s to settle in for the night. I excitedly take Dominick into the family room to give him his gift.
He opens it quickly like an excited little boy. I hold my breath when he hits the button and the screen starts displaying the photos I’d chosen of our time together. Then what really gets to Dominick is the song. The slideshow plays to Switchfoot’s ‘This is Home’.
Miss Taken Page 20
