by Iris Parker
"Models!" she repeated. I didn't know what, exactly, was wrong with models, but clearly Helena had a few issues with them.
So I let her talk.
"I don't even know you, you know," she said. "But you come in here and play family every night, the perfect embodiment of…of perfection!"
"I don't play—"
"Almost ever night," Helena interrupted. "Except last night. We happened to catch the news, you know. And there you were. Dominick Henderson, the ice hockey champ. Complete with…whoever that latest conquest was, I'm sure you've already forgotten her name."
"Jackie," I said helpfully. The seething look on Helena's face made the last piece of the puzzle fall into place, and suddenly I felt very stupid for not realizing sooner. "You're jealous!"
"I am not jealous!" Helena said loudly, practically yelling. Her hand, still flat on the table, was trembling as she spoke. "I'm just trying to protect my child."
"From what? A dad that's willing to give her everything he has?" I asked, resisting the urge to point out that Ali was our child. The misunderstanding was bad enough as it was; there was no need to provoke Helena further.
"She is a small, impressionable young girl who thinks the world of you, and what're you teaching her? That women are just…accessories, things, trophies. You're a womanizer."
"A womanizer," I said slowly. "Who hasn't been with a woman since the day he saw you."
Helena's eyes went wide with surprise, her lips parting a little in shock. The moment ended as quickly as it began as Helena violently shook her head with a silent no.
"What's the matter, struck out on your date last night?" she blurted out, her voice a mangled whisper as her eyes began to water. "Or maybe she wasn't good enough for you! What the hell is wrong with you? She was beautiful. Tall, perfect hair, perky little breasts that're still perfect because they've never been used. How can I possibly—how…."
Helena trailed off, tears finally falling as her body shook with a suppressed sob.
"How can you possibly compete with her?" I asked, finishing her thought for her. "You don't. Because you don't have to."
"Then why? That hussy," Helena whispered.
"Jackie was not my date," I explained slowly. "At least not in the romantic sense. She's a co-worker."
"Her?" Helena asked, her voice full of disbelief. "A hockey player? That anorexic thing? What position does she play, the puck?"
Even with the tense situation, I couldn't help but laugh at Helena's joke. Despite her apparent rage and frustration, she chuckled a little too.
Just enough to make me certain that everything was going to be all right.
"She's a model," I explained carefully. "But you knew that. She and I do shoots together sometimes. For our sponsor. You know, the one who was throwing that event last night. Both of us were all but required to attend."
Helena's face softened slightly, so I continued.
"Neither of us had real dates, so we went together. That worked out great for me, because I didn't want a real date. I had someone in mind, but it didn't work out. Things were very complicated," I said, echoing Helena's words to remind her it had been her decision to back off.
Somewhere along the line I'd walked over to the table, and was standing close enough to touch Helena. I wanted to do just that, to grab her and pull her up and kiss her and never let go. She had been clear, though, that she didn't want anything further with me.
Except that just seeing me with a co-worker at a formal party had been enough to send her into a fit of wild jealousy.
Why was that?
I didn't know, but I intended to find out.
Helena
"You're jealous," Dominick said again. Like before, it wasn't a question.
"Am not!" I shot back automatically.
Even to me, I sounded a little too much like Ali for comfort.
"What is it, then? Haven't I proven that I'm serious about all this? That I'd be a good father?" Dominick asked. "If it's not jealousy, what is it?"
It was a good question.
I wished I had an answer.
Truthfully, I didn't quite know what it was. Even less so now, with Dominick's perfect lips so close to mine. When I'd seen his handsome face all over the news, I hadn't been able to think clearly. The sight of him in a tuxedo had been surprising enough, but the sight of the tiny blonde model draped over his arm, the way he was practically wearing her, that had filled me with….
Something.
Maybe if I'd stopped to consider it, I might have been able to recognize the sensation as jealousy. But of course, I hadn't been able to form a single coherent thought, much less analyze my feelings.
Not then, and not now. Not with him on the television, and certainly not with him standing in my kitchen. He was visibly relieved that he'd diffused the situation, sporting the barest hint of a smirk that seemed both smug and suave, sophisticated and sexy. My eyes were glued to his face, but I had little warning about what was coming next. In one quick, fluid motion, Dominick leaned down towards me, his mouth crashing against mine.
Perfectly confident.
Perfectly commanding.
Perfectly…perfect.
I let out a small cry at the touch of his skin, the warmth of it overpowering my senses and taking me without a second—or first—thought. I didn't want the kiss, but I craved it more than I ever knew was possible. His lips felt soft and yet somehow rough at the same time, and his hands enveloped my body as he slid them down to my waist and then back up to the top of my head, sending shivers of heat along my scalp and neck.
Emboldened by my reaction, Dominick grasped my hair with his fingers and tilted my face up closer to his; his tongue invading my mouth in ways that no other man had ever done before. Dominick's kisses had strength to them, a visceral hunger that previous lovers could never have matched. They'd all been so prim and proper, treating me like I was so delicate that they would break me if they weren't careful.
Or like they would break themselves.
Not Dominick. He was a force of nature, wild and untamed. He was like a hurricane, and I wanted to bury myself in his gale. When his lips left mine, I felt like crying out in frustration and need.
"You're so fucking beautiful," he said, not masking his desire behind euphemisms or poetic language. It was just a word, one I'd heard many times, but coming from Dominick it seemed like something altogether different. He wanted me, and he wasn't bothering to hide it.
His eyes were dark shades of blue and green, pupils dilated with the same lust that filled my own veins. He lowered his lips down to my neck, nibbling gently at the sensitive skin. He ran his hands across my body once more, and it felt just as good as it had the first time. Trembling with anticipation, I grabbed him by the shoulders as he broke for air.
He was steady and solid, like a pillar that could support anything. I didn't hesitate before pulling myself up closer to him, my chest rubbing against his before I gave him another kiss.
Divine.
"Dominick," I whispered, his face sliding away to caress the soft flesh below my ears. Inflamed with desire, I could feel goose bumps along every inch of my body. He nibbled me one more time, gently biting at the hollow of my neck just before his tongue scattered electric shivers along the length of my spine.
And that's when I felt it.
Another shift, another a flutter in my belly. It was almost unnoticeable, but the weak kick was enough to jolt me back to reality and remind me of the terrible thing I'd done. I extracted myself from his strong arms, moving my head back far enough that I could look directly at him.
I didn't need to see myself to know my eyes were full of horror.
"Dominick," I said again, my tone now completely different. It had already been far too long, and I needed to tell him about the baby. He was a good man, a wonderful man, and he deserved to know the truth. He would probably never touch me again, but he needed to hear.
"Wait," I said, dreading the words I knew must come. It
would ruin everything. "We need to talk. We need—"
"You look unbelievably sexy," Dominick growled.
"This is serious," I said.
"I'm sure it is," Dominick answered. "And I already know."
Hope flared inside of me. Could he have figured it out somehow? Figured it out, and forgiven me for misleading him? It seemed like a dream, like it was too good to be true.
As I looked over at Dominick's passionate face, I realized that it was too good to be true.
"Things are very complicated," Dominick said, my own stupid words coming back once again to haunt me. "And this could get messy. And maybe we shouldn't do it. If we talk about this, Helena, we just might be able to talk ourselves out of it. Again. I don't want that, and neither do you. So how about we just skip it?"
But but but, my head said, even though I desperately wished I could agree with him.
"We can't fight this, Helena. We've tried. If we keep holding back like this, we're going to explode," Dominick said, and I guiltily eyed the mountain of potatoes I'd been angrily peeling to forget about his imagined betrayal. "I need this, you need this. So whatever you have to say, just let it go."
"I want to," I answered. "More than anything. But—"
"Let it go," Dominick repeated. "Whatever you've got to say, it can wait. You know I'm right."
"Maybe," I whispered.
"Do you know what I was thinking last night?" Dominick asked.
"When you were with that—uh—with Jackie?" I asked, my throat dry.
"I was thinking of you," Dominick said, leaning down close so his warm breath caressed my skin and reignited rivers of lust. Before I could think of an answer, he continued. "I was thinking of how much I wished I could bring you there. How jealous every man with eyes would be, and how much I would want to take you home after and do this."
Dominick pushed his hands forward, pressing them against my breasts and cupping them without shame or hesitation. Electricity shot through my body, arcing from my nipples down to my belly and lower. Instinctively I let out a loud, passionate moan.
"Oh god," I whimpered. I still knew it was wrong not to tell him, but my resolve was slipping away with each passing second. I only had two choices—one was deeply unpleasant, and the other felt like everything I'd ever wanted and more.
"Every woman at the party seemed to have your face," Dominick continued gently in my ear, pausing to suck on the lobe. "Every dress I saw, I imagined what you'd look like wearing it. And then I closed my eyes and pictured you in that bikini—do you have any idea how hard that was for me? How hard I was?"
"Sorry," I squeaked reflexively.
"Don't be sorry," Dominick said, his breath warm and moist and seductive. "I fucking loved it."
I took a deep, raspy breath, inhaling into an already-dry throat. "You—you really don't want to hear it? What I had to say?"
"Will it stop us from doing this?" Dominick asked.
"P—probably," I answered.
Dominick shook his head. "And is it a matter of life and death? Is the house on fire? Do you need to go to the hospital?"
"Nothing like that."
"And most important of all," Dominick said slowly. "Do you still want to tell me?"
"No," I said immediately, my voice decisive and firm. "I really, really don't."
"Then don't," Dominick said, his warmth caressing me as the excitement continued to pool between my thighs, more far more than I'd ever felt before.
I tilted my head back, resting it against his torso as I gasped in ecstasy. I was shaking with lust, my brain shutting down and taking all thoughts of confessing with it.
"Okay," I agreed finally.
I should've felt guilty.
I should've felt awful.
Instead, all I felt was Dominick's lips pressing against mine once again, the force of his desire overwhelming. He was right, we did need this. Both of us.
Maybe it was wrong, but it felt impossibly right. Dominick's hands reached beneath the elastic of my dress, exploring the naked curves of my breasts with all the passion in the world. His fingertips circled around my nipples as he pinched them softly, and once again I erupted in goose bumps, the sensation flowing out all along my body.
"I need you," I said between kisses. "Inside of me. Outside of me. Anywhere you want, anywhere you can go. I need you everywhere."
"Let's do this properly," he answered. "Bedroom."
Dominick began to stand up straight and pull away, but I shook my head. I was mad with lust and greedy for his warmth.
"Don't," I said. "Don't let go of me. I can't stand to feel you not touching me, not for even one second longer."
Dominick paused for a moment, then smiled. "I'll buy you a new one," he said cryptically.
"What do you—" I began, but the answer soon became obvious. With his hands still hidden beneath my clothes, Dominick's powerful arms wrapped around me and he hoisted me up. Even at the awkward angle, he lifted me easily, carrying me to my room as if I weighed nothing at all. My dress shifted and strained, stitches popping and fabric warping as it stretched to accommodate him and our movement.
I didn't care. Even if Dominick hadn't promised to replace the garment, it would've been worth it.
To finally be in his arms like that, I would've gladly sacrificed every dress I owned.
Helena
I tumbled into bed, my shoulders easily slipping past the stretched-out dress as it slid down my body. Without thinking, I instinctively grabbed the material and pulled it back into place above my chest.
Dominick shook his head.
"Leave it," he said throatily, his voice heavy and breathless.
Breathless was exactly how I felt, too. With Dominick standing above me like that, he was taking all the space in my head and then some. It was hard to think, and virtually impossible to speak. I was aching for this so badly, even if part of me was still self-conscious.
"Dominick, I—" I said quietly, trailing off as I tried to think of how to finish. "I'm scared," I said finally.
"Scared?" Dominick asked, surprise in his voice and on his face.
"I don't have much experience," I said with a blush, my eyes suddenly avoiding his. "With men."
"Are you telling me you're a virgin?"
I bit my lip, shaking my head no.
"Well, that's good. Getting a virgin pregnant is the sort of thing that could go to a guy's head," Dominick joked.
My breath sucked in at that, a powerful reminder of the intimacy Dominick and I had already shared. Even though we'd never been together before, we still shared a unique bond. In a way, I'd already done more with Dominick than any other man had ever done before.
Or would ever do in future. I was certain of that now.
"Of course, getting you pregnant already went to my head. Both of them," Dominick said, echoing my feeling as his hips subtly pushed forward. "From the first moment I saw you."
"I know what you mean," I whispered. Of course I'd been thoroughly preoccupied on the day we met, but even then Dominick had gotten into my head and stayed there, taking up residence and refusing to leave no matter what I tried. "I've wanted you, too. I've never had much experience, and it's been so long…."
"How long?" Dominick asked, taking my chin into his hand and looking me straight in the eye. "How long has it been since you were with another man?"
"Years. Over a decade, actually."
"Before you got pregnant?" he asked.
"Y—yeah. Is that a problem?" I asked, embarrassed by my own lack of experience. Dominick certainly didn't have that problem, and he was probably used to women who knew what they were doing.
"A problem? No," Dominick shook his head, dropping his hand down my neck and exposed shoulder. "That's a huge turn-on."
"Because you like inexperienced women?" I asked.
"No. Because it means no other man has been inside of you since I was there," Dominick said lustily, continuing to reach down until once again he was squeezing at my breast
s, sending waves of pleasure throughout my body.
I whimpered and nodded, the heat between my legs building more and more with each passing second.
"Because it means you're mine," Dominick said, emphasizing the word mine with a sudden, passionate kiss. When we broke for air he continued to speak, punctuating each new word with a kiss or a soft nibble on my lip. "And you've been mine since before we even met."
"Yours," I agreed with a whimper.
Dominick was right. He'd left his mark on me, claiming me forever. Time had done nothing to change that, and even when given the chance to sleep with someone else, I'd never been interested. Not once.
Not until now, not until Dominick.
"I want you so fucking bad, Helena," he said in my ear, and I shivered with desire. "But if you're afraid, I can be gentle."
I nodded, glad he understood. Within moments he was pulling down my dress further, the ruined garment sliding down the length of my arms and exposing everything above my stomach.
Dominick's mouth descended on my chest, his lips circling softly around my nipple. He licked and teased, sucking avidly on the hard flesh. I let out a long, throaty moan. I'd never felt so good in my life, and I ran my hands greedily through the gorgeous man's hair.
After what felt like hours of bliss, Dominick resumed pulling my dress away from my body. Soon I was almost completely naked, only wearing a pair of hot pink cotton panties. My breasts felt heavy, hungry for his touch. Even though he was still fully clothed, I resisted the urge to cover myself up.
"Shit," he swore under his breath. "You look even better than I imagined," he said, kneeling on the floor in front of me and placing soft kisses along my belly. He trailed his way down, until finally he began kissing and sucking on the fabric of my panties—and the sensitive bundle of nerves hidden beneath.
I gasped, and wanted to beg him to keep going. No words came out of my mouth, but Dominick continued all the same. His teeth teased gently at my clitoris through the thin fabric, and I arched my back instinctively, raising my body up away from the bed.
And, just like that, the panties flew off my body as easily as the dress had. I shook in anticipation as Dominick slipped them down past my ankles, wondering what would come next.
