“We can’t be sure. We have to see her naked first,” Caleb replies. “I need a nude view before I pay you a red cent, you jackhole.”
Would smacking grown men make a bad first impression? It would be funny banter between brothers if it wasn’t at my expense. Betsy smacks both of the boys on the backs of their heads. “You little dumb beans! Get back to your lunch before I whip ya silly! Your grandfather is rollin’ in his grave! The way you’re speaking about a lady, Caleb. Aaron, you too. Now get!”
Dominic looks like he could spit nails. “I’ll handle them, Mom.”
“The only one whipping anything should be Dom, Mama. Come handle me, Dominic,” Aaron says, shaking his bony ass at his brother. “It’s nice to meet you, Kayla Grayson. You have a couple of fans around here. You know what I mean?” he catcalls, without interrupting his horrible dancing. He must be the college student. I’m not even upset. Why would I be? My only concern is that Dom is going to get mad. And what that means for me. I stay silent, figuring it’s the best approach at this moment. Betsy takes Aaron by the ear and guides him back down the long hallway. It’s a relief I don’t have to deal with them both at the same time.
Caleb comes over and shakes his brother’s hand, but his gaze is locked like a laser on my face. His eyes skim over my chest and neck and it makes me uncomfortable. Reaching out my hand, I find Dominic’s. “How’s business?” Caleb asks. His lips resemble Dom’s except they’re less full and more sinister. His smirk makes me think he’s a skilled liar. “I have to admit, it’s looking pretty fun from my perspective.”
Dominic’s grip on my hand tightens. “Business is lucrative, Caleb. How’s business with Dad? Ready for Aaron to come in and help out?” It’s a jab. Everyone knows it. “I’d appreciate a little more respect with regard to Kayla.” He clears his throat. His brother’s smile fades.
I hold up my hand. “I can speak for myself, Dominic. Please. He doesn’t know me. It’s understandable his reaction to my presence. He only knows what he’s seen on television. We both know that’s not me. Let him find that out for himself as well. He’s a respectable man. He’ll grant me that chance.” It’s as civil as I can possibly be after what he’s said. A whole weekend is a long time when your hosts think you’re some kind of porn star. In a way, I am.
Caleb raises his brows. He looks more like Dominic now. “My apologies, Ms. Grayson.” I don’t correct him for using my stage name. I want that cloak. “For what it’s worth, I think my brother is an asshole for what he did to you last night.” The punishment episode must have aired last night. Fucking fabulous.
Dominic moves at my side. He’s uneasy and jerky. “Caleb. You look like a smart man,” I say.
Caleb’s eyes light up. He nods. “I’m the smartest. Way smarter than Dom. I’d never treat a lady like that,” he replies.
I drop Dominic’s hand. “Well, you know how the people who work on television have skills?” I lower my chin and let my eyes droop down in a bashful manner. “Do you know what I mean? They can make you believe something that isn’t true.” Caleb is eating out of the palm of my hand, and I’ve barely started.
“I do,” he says. Dominic is staring a hole in the side of my head.
Using my pointer finger, I slide it down Caleb’s arm. Goosebumps rise on his skin. “Well, I have those skills, too,” I say breathlessly.
“You do,” he replies. Now he looks uneasy, looking from Dominic back to me. I pull down my bottom lip with the same finger.
Cocking my head to the side, I say, “I’m an actress, Caleb. People believe what I want them to.” I bite my bottom lip.
Caleb clears his throat. “Oh,” he exclaims. He backs up a step. And then another. Like distance will break the spell I’ve bewitched him with.
I giggle. “You actually thought I was attracted to you, didn’t you?” I say. He looks at Dominic. “I’m attracted to your brother, Caleb. Look at him. You’re a smart man, you say. You should use your brain. Look at your brother and then go find a mirror.”
Dominic laughs, grabs me by the waist, and pulls me to him. His arms clasp around my lower back. His eyes are warm like honey, and the mask of anger he usually wears is gone—it’s replaced with an airy sense of bewilderment. Without stopping to consider anything else, he leans down and kisses me. I hear Caleb walking away behind me.
“I have no clue who that was, but I like her,” he says against my mouth, his smile melting into my own.
I sigh. “It was too easy, really.” My stomach fills with butterflies. The kind you get on a first date and you know you’re going to see the person again. Except with Dominic my core clenches at the same time. Butterflies and sex. Only he is capable of that juxtaposed combination.
Dominic places a kiss directly on my nose. “I’m also terrified at the same time. You’re capable of that in a matter of minutes. What are you doing to me? You have months of time to bend me to your will.”
Butterflies turn to a lump. “You bend me to your will, Dominic.”
“Will you forgive me for the punishment scene with Jessy?”
I wince at her name.
He lets my feet meet the floor.
“Do I have a choice?”
With his hips leaning into me, I feel his erection pressing against my stomach. “There’s always a choice.” I want him right now. That’s my choice.
Betsy comes in then. She literally has tears in her eyes as she watches Dominic caress the side of my face. “You two are staying in the Wombat house,” she says. “It’s the farthest from the main house. Privacy is what you both need. Your suitcases are already there. I’m so happy I’m crying!” she exclaims, throwing her hands up in the air. There are no objections from either of us. I feel giddy at the prospect of getting him alone. Even if it’s in a place named after the world’s meanest animal.
We eat lunch in the large white dining room. Caleb and Aaron glare at us from across the table. Aaron must have the most recent update. Don’t fuck with Kayla. I laugh at Betsy’s jokes and watch in awe as the wait staff cleans up after our meal. No one else seems to notice. How long does it take before you take all of this for granted? How long before the ‘help’ turns into the artwork—just something that’s there?
After the plates are cleared and everyone is sipping on coffee, his dad enters the room wearing a brown jacket that reminds me of my math professor in college. I bet it doesn’t smell like old books. “Sorry to keep you waiting. The fucking contract had issues and no one could get ahold of Jerry,” Franklin says, speaking mostly to Caleb. He launches into a bunch of business jargon that goes in one ear and out the other. As a business major, I keep up with the conversation, but it’s not the time nor place for it. Evidently business has no boundaries at the Reed Estate. Caleb offers to go take care of it and leaves the room. I breathe a sigh of relief.
“Dominic. Son. Nice of you to join us. Introduce me to this lovely lady,” he says, eyes dancing across my face. Betsy launches into speech, recounting everything I told the table during lunch. I’m thankful I don’t have to make conversation. The man is intimidating. He is like Dominic. Goosebumps prickle my skin.
“Meet Kayla, Dad. Let’s keep it civil with mixed company, please,” Dominic says, presenting me to him like one of the girls on The Price is Right.
“It’s nice to meet you, Kayla,” Franklin Reed replies. To Dominic he says, “No need to be rude, Son. If all your mother says is true, it looks like you have a real winner here. My manners and civility are always intact.” He has no clue I’m one of the “women” on Dominic’s show. It’s only a matter of time before the siblings blow my cover.
Betsy pecks Franklin on the lips and orders him a sandwich. Dominic stands as his father sits. Taking my hand in his, he guides me out of my seat. “I’m going to show Kayla around. Enjoy your lunch.” Franklin looks unimpressed. I’m not sure if it’s with me or his son, but he gives off the air of cold indifference. We’re inconsequential—we’re of no use to him.
Betsy tells us that the fami
ly gathering will be tomorrow at noon. There will be hundreds of people in attendance. Dominic told me it’s more of a business meeting, but it satisfies his mother to call it a family reunion. We walk through more cool hallways that remind me of a museum, to the back of the house, and down a stone staircase to a freestanding garage.
“We have to take this to get to house,” Dominic explains, showing me a golf cart that has an engine larger than anything I’ve ever seen on a golf cart. Raising one brow, he starts it and throws his head to the side to motion me to sit beside him. It’s loud. A few men in the garage stop their furious polishing of a car to watch.
Scooting next to him, I relish finally being alone. I lean my head against his shoulder. “Wombat. Do I even want to know?”
“My brothers always fight over this house. In high school it’s where we had parties. It’s in the middle of nowhere on the property. Which means I can’t wait to get you there as quickly as possible,” he says, placing his hand on my thigh so that my dress slips up higher than is appropriate. “This dress, by the way, makes me want to do bad things.”
I cross my legs. “Good bad things, though. Not like bad bad things.” I meet his mischievous gaze. He’s on fire. I see promise of mind-dumbing orgasms in my future. My cheeks heat under his stare. Somehow, seeing him in this element warms me to him. I’ve answered my own question from earlier. He is normal.
“I want to do nasty, bad things to you, Kayla. I’ve never been more attracted to you than I am right now. Everything about you makes me want more. I want every tiny piece of you until there’s nothing left. You’re my girlfriend. I’m going to fuck you rotten and then make love to you so slowly that you’ll be gasping for air—so out of breath from begging for more dick.”
He just called me his girlfriend. My panties are soaking wet.
Butterflies and sex.
Bring on the Wombat.
Chapter Fourteen
“Icy exposure”
Dominic
I’m pretty sure the organ pumping blood to the rest of my body has turned into something else entirely. It’s now a hummingbird heart beating 1,260 beats per minute. It’s the only explanation of why my rapid fire pulse is pounding against my neck, why my palms are sweaty, why I feel so out of my element, when I’m at home—in my own space. It’s Kayla. She’s reduced me to this knee-wobbling, ball of nerves. Or should I look at this differently? Has she saved me? From what, though? My life was amazing before I met her. She merely added a new perspective—a perspective that has now consumed my every waking moment.
I want her to be my girlfriend. Not just this weekend, either. The thought excites and causes mass hysteria inside my skull. I could wax poetic about how her hand fits with mine, or that her lips taste like home, or how the reaction of merely touching her skin makes my dick hard with desire, but that’s not me. That’s not Dominic Reed the Dominant, the boss, the alpha male dickhead—this is someone I don’t recognize. But I want to.
She’s out back in the infinity pool, floating in the water against the edge that overlooks the snowcapped mountains. She has her arms folded, with her chin resting on her hands as she gazes into the distance. The beauty of the scenery never fails to transfix. I don’t care who you are. Kayla isn’t wearing a swimsuit. She’s not wearing anything. Her hair is wet and falls down her back, forming a point at the end.
As I study her, I listen to a producer drone on about plans for future episodes. I agree without fully understanding what he’s saying. On the drive to the house, my cell started blaring at me. I’ve been on this call for the last twenty minutes. Kayla wasted no time wandering around the house and ultimately stripping poolside and diving in when she realized the water was heated.
“Tell them to finalize that schedule and prepare the set for another departure ceremony. Yes,” I say, my tone clipped—annoyed. Kayla flips onto her back, her perky tits bobbing up and down out of the water. It draws me nearer to the large glass door leading outside—to her.
“And Suzie will arrive for the following episode. Confirmed,” he says.
Narrowing my eyes, I look at my phone. “What? What about Suzie?” That’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time.
“You just approved her arrival, sir. Suzie will come after you send subs home on the next episode. That’s what you wanted, right?” he asks.
I only want one thing right now and this phone call is keeping me from it. Her pussy dips below the surface of the water as she floats on her back in the blue water, arms spread wide. “Yes, yes. That’s fine. Is that it?” I ask. I can call Laurel later to hash out the details for the episode Suzie will be on. I tell him to have Laurel email me the schedule and details and hang up. I walk down a few white steps until I’m standing next to the edge. Her ears are below the surface, so she doesn’t hear me. I take off my shoes and hang my legs in the water without taking my eyes off her. She finally tilts her head to look my way.
“This place is breathtaking, Dominic. It’s so beautiful. Why would you ever want to leave?” she asks, then starts walking toward me, her palms pushing water as she approaches. This place holds many lovely memories. It also holds more pain and grief than a lifetime is supposed to hold. Oftentimes I miss this place and the picturesque scenery. Right now, though, it’s melting away as I gaze at Kayla cutting through the pool toward me.
The warm water soaks my shorts as she puts her forearms on my thighs. I smile down at her. The soft smile she returns makes my chest constrict. “It is breathtaking, isn’t it? I like to visit.”
“Are you done talking business now?” she asks, wiggling closer to me. “Your brothers are sort of…” she trails off.
“They’re spoiled jerks. I’d tell you it’s their own fault, but it’s probably my mother’s doing. She always wanted a girl and got four boys instead. I think that turned those two into nightmare one and nightmare two. They aren’t so bad when you get used to them.” I mentioned my older brother, and I hope she doesn’t ask me any questions. I don’t want to get into that now. Or ever.
She rolls her eyes. “That’s like saying getting caned isn’t so bad once you get used to it. I’m pretty sure it’s always bad. Your perspective just changes.” Kayla giggles. Her smile turns into a scowl when she asks me about the guests that will attend the family reunion. They know what I do, and even if they say they don’t watch The Dom Games, I’d fathom a guess they do. I stroke her hair and comfort her. I tell her she’ll handle them with as much dignity and ease as my buffoon brothers.
I help her out of the water, and she presses her naked body against my clothed one. “Take these off and make good on your word, Dominic. I think you used the words bad and nasty?” Kayla tugs on my pants. It’s my turn to laugh. My cock is already steel hard and pulsing in anticipation. Her skin is slick and warm to the touch.
With my chin on her head, I glance both left and right. “Let’s go inside and continue this,” I say, kissing her hair. I can’t trust anyone in this world. My family included. One photograph could be extremely damning for both of us.
Kayla clasps her hands around my neck. “Carry me so I won’t get wet footprints in the house.” It’s such an odd concern, but I won’t let an opportunity to hold her pass me by. Picking her up easily, she wraps her legs around my waist.
“Do you know how badly I wish I was inside you right now?” I growl into her ear. She laughs, such a carefree, melodic noise and shuts me up with a kiss. I maneuver us into the house carefully, without breaking our lips apart. I set her down in the bathroom attached to the master suite. Stripping out of my clothing in record time, I stare at her, imagining everything I want to do to her. Her smile is beatific when my gaze drifts to her face. Her innocent, sexual thoughts match mine and that’s something I should fear. I don’t want to spank her for titillation, punishing her isn’t even on my radar of lust. I want to pleasure her, worship her perfect body, hear the thoughts inside her beautiful mind.
I want to love her.
Swallowing down the
fear of the unknown, I pick her up and carry her into the expanse of the bedroom. Her skin prickles with anticipation and my heart kicks into overdrive, beating against her chest. She can feel how much I want this. How much I need this. To feel normal—to pretend this could be my life—forget for one afternoon that I have a harem of women and a room full of tools to punish for my pleasure.
She falls out of my arms and drops back on my bed, fanning her arms to the side. I have to close my eyes and focus on my breaths. She giggles and it brings me back to the moment. “I’m sure you’ve heard it a million times, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a man half as beautiful as you are, Dom.”
Instead of responding to her compliment, I grab her ankle and press a kiss on the inside of her calf, then another on the inside of her knee. She sighs when I let my lips fall on the inside of her thigh. Her skin tastes a little of salt from the pool, but a hint of sweetness hits my tongue and it makes me wild with desire. It’s the taste that I associate with Kayla. It’s mouthwatering. It’s her. It’s her about to be all mine.
Briefly, I sweep my lips against her cunt, and then up to her flat stomach. I see her head tilt up to watch, and I let my gaze flick up to meet hers. “I’m sure a…few men have told you that you are the most edible, beautiful woman who has ever walked the planet.” When she doesn’t respond I dip down and lick her clit in several furious circles. I keep my eyes on hers. She doesn’t break eye contact—it holds for several seconds, until finally, out of pleasure her eyelids flutter down, and she moans a low, sweet sound.
Kayla throws her head back and comes, her legs shaking by my head. With her sweetness still on my lips, I hover over her and kiss her. “Open your eyes, Kayla,” I say against her mouth. Her tongue darts out to lick my mouth, very delicately.
I feel her hand slide down between us as she grabs my cock and squeezes it to let me know exactly what she wants. Lazily, her eyelashes breeze open, and I’m met with her deep stare. “That wasn’t very bad or nasty,” she says, leaning up to kiss me.
The Dom Games Page 12
