Dominic: The Prince

by Mj Fields

“Just checking to see if I have cab money.”

  “I’m sure Dominic will have some.”

  “He may send me away.”

  “I can promise he won’t. Oh, and, Laney, remember he doesn’t like to fly. I mean he really doesn’t like to fly.”

  “Of course.”

  ***

  When I get to the airfield, the cabby tells me Valentina has already paid. I walk quickly into the small building and I don’t see anyone. I walk out the door and see a white plane that is like no other I have ever seen. It has one green and one orange stripe down the side. The name Segretti is in orange on the side.

  “Oh, my God.”

  I see the door open, and Dominic walk out onto the platform with his arms crossed over his chest.

  Tears immediately start falling out of shame and guilt. I don’t move and neither does he. It feels like a hundred lifetimes pass before I finally look up.

  And he is coming down the stairs.

  He takes my hand. “Let’s go.”

  We head into the jet and he keeps walking, all the way to the back. He slides the door open and walks into the room. “Go back to sleep.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “To get us in the air.”

  He walks out and shuts the door behind him.

  The plane’s engines start up and I get up and walk toward the cabin.

  I take a deep breath and open the door. Both Dominic and the pilot turn around and look at me.

  “Can I stay?”

  Dominic looks at the other gentleman and tilts his head to the door.

  I sit in the co-pilot’s seat and Dominic reaches over and puts headphones on me.

  His voice comes through the headphones, “You ready?”

  “I’m sorry. I’m sorry, I am such a mess. I don’t want to hurt you, and I don’t want to --”

  “I’m sorry, I hurt you, too. You’re not a mess, you just need to trust me. Let me focus here while I get us up in the air, okay?”

  “Yes.”

  I watch out the window as Dominic talks to the air traffic controller. His tone is even, calm, and full of confidence. I hate that I pushed him; that I flipped out, when I woke up from a dream of my sister.

  The plane moves down the runway, and as it starts leaving the ground, my stomach flips. I sit back with my eyes closed, holding my belly.

  “Are you alright?”

  I nod.

  After the plane stops ascending and levels out, I open my eyes.

  He takes off his headphones and looks behind him, “She’s all yours.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  He takes my headphones and sets them aside and we leave the cockpit.

  He closes the door behind us, “Do you want a drink or something to eat?”

  “No.”

  “Okay, let’s get some sleep, then.”

  We walk into the room and he pulls the door shut. He pulls his shirt over his head and sits on the bed to remove his shoes.

  “Dominic?”

  “Yes?”

  “I’m sorry.” I lie down, with my back toward him.

  “Don’t be sorry.”

  I feel the bed move and he lies down. He stays completely still.

  I am exhausted and can’t fall asleep. I sit up and look around. I turn and he is still awake too, just staring at the ceiling with his hands on his chest.

  I find my bag and pull out my phone and earbuds.

  I lie on my back, and hit the playlist I had compiled of songs that remind me of him.

  I roll to my side and look at him.

  “Everything alright?”

  “No.”

  He turns and looks at me as I push one of the earbuds into my ear. I hold the other up. “Share?”

  “Sure.”

  I lie back and push my head against his, handing him the other earbud.

  I push play. Stolen Dance by Milky Chance plays and we lay head to head, listening quietly.

  The next song Superheroes by The Script starts. He takes my phone and looks at the screen, then rolls to his side and looks at me.

  “I like that song.”

  So I play it again.

  I roll to my side and we stare at each other while the song plays again.

  Mess is Mine, by Vance Joy begins; his lips touch my head and that connection is all I need.

  I rub his heart before kissing it, and then I look up at him as I push my hand lower.

  “Laney, this might not be a good idea on the plane.”

  “You’ve never?”

  “No.”

  I smile.

  “Have you?” he asks, and his eyebrows crease.

  My hand is now down his pants and he is semi erect. I hold him in my hands and stroke slowly up and down.

  “Do you need this now?” he asks.

  I sit up, pull the earbud out, and put the phone on speaker. Then pull down my jeans and underpants, tossing them aside and climb astride him.

  I pull my shirt over my head and toss it, then the bra.

  “You’re beautiful. I still don’t think--”

  I sit up on my knees and pull his buttons open, pulling his pants far enough down, so he springs free. His cock lies heavy against his belly, and he closes his eyes, taking in slow, deep breaths.

  I stand off him and turn backwards. I take him in my hand and rub him against me. Slowly, I push against him until he is deep inside me. I rock back and forth on him, slowly at first. Soft sounds from deep inside of him escape and I move faster. His hands grip my ass as he thrusts up even farther than I expect, and I cry out. I plant my feet firmly on the bed and move up and down him. His thumbs dig into the dimples on my lower back, and he spreads me apart, even wider.

  I lean forward and place my hands on his shins as he bounces me up and down. I am on fire, and can feel him swelling. I ride him harder and faster, until he grabs my hips and pulls me down hard on top of him. I come immediately, and he follows.

  I stand up and use tissues to clean myself and then clean him. His eyes are closed and his jaw flexed. I climb in beside him and lay my head on his chest and fall asleep.

  When I wake, he isn’t in the room and I am covered up. The plane is descending.

  I stand up and grab a shirt that he has left on the bed, and throw on my jeans. When I get to the cockpit, he looks back and the copilot gets up, “Good morning, Miss.”

  “Morning, sir.” I lean over, giving Dominic a kiss and climb in the seat.

  His voice comes through the headphones, “You look better this morning.”

  “I feel better, I checked one thing off my bucket list a few hours ago.”

  “You have a bucket list?”

  “I do now.” I smile.

  He nods.

  “Are we okay? I mean--”

  “Yes, we’re fine. We will discuss my feelings about flying, about being taken advantage of, all at a later time.

  “Let’s talk about it now.”

  He looks over and shakes his head. “If I hadn’t talked to Valentina before you came to me this morning, you’d be giving me whiplash, you know.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Your dream, and then waking up like that. I get it. I wish you’d said something.”

  “You were mad. And you were, harsh and-- I don’t want to talk about it, okay?”

  “Okay.”

  “Let’s talk about the Mile High Club.”

  He smiles. “You have an affection for sex in strange places. You talked about fucking in the closet at the courthouse and now a plane. Makes me crazy wondering where else you’ve had sex before me.”

  “A bathroom at a bar.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Yes, but that’s it.”

  “You had sex in a bathroom at a bar, but were concerned about sex in an elevator?”

  “We’d just met.”

  “So, it’s alright, now?”

  “Maybe. Hey, Dominic, you’re smiling.”

  “Is that what that strange feeling
on my face is?”

  “You look very handsome when you smile.”

  “Laney?”

  “Yes?”

  “Don’t I always?” He winks.

  I lean over to kiss him and he gives me a quick peck. “We’re landing soon.”

  “Right.”

  I listen as he talks to air traffic control in Italian. When he stops, I tell him I love how sexy he sounds when he speaks Italian. I hear someone chuckle and look at Dominic.

  He shakes his head and chuckles. I pull off the headphones. “Did they hear me?”

  He nods. “They sure did.”

  Although I know he was anxious about takeoff and landing, I would not have experienced it, if he hadn’t talked about it. When we land, he stands and helps me up.

  “Welcome to Italy, Laney.”

  “I can’t wait to see your winery and the vineyards and--”

  “We are in Prato. I want to show you something first.”

  We walk out of the airport and a black Limo is waiting.

  The streets are narrow and the cars buzz in and out of traffic. I am terrified and bury my head in Dominic’s chest.

  He laughs and asks, “How will you like driving in the city?”

  “I can’t even imagine.”

  “Aw, but you will do just fine, because you will be driven and have a person with you at all times, if I am not available.”

  We pull over. “Where are we?”

  “The place where we destroyed Benito’s erection.”

  “Why?”

  “Come, I cannot wait to tell you.”

  We walk up to the area in which the building stood. It has been cleaned, and as instructed, grass has been implanted, and a fountain stands in its center.

  “This is why I brought down the building. A place that once housed six little eateries, and a fountain in its center, is no place for an obscene building. My mother’s parents owned one of them. My father proposed to her here. After they died, DeLuca bought up everything around it. My maternal grandmother would not sell it. He made sure she had no other choice. She died a month after his glass tower was built. Benito was drunk one night; I caught him eyeing Valentina again. I beat him pretty badly, and he told me he was glad the old bitch died.”

  “Oh, my God, Dominic, I am so sorry.”

  “It’s in the past.” I push her hair behind her ears.

  “Why did your grandmother allow it?”

  “It was also the place where Aunt Joe and Jonathon Steel met. Grandmother admitted she hated this place, and said it took two of her children.”

  “That’s awful.”

  “That’s what life was. Yet, we survived. Both of us survived.” She looks anxious. “I will not ask you to marry me here. I decided that while I watched the building come down. Jonathon and my parents are all dead. I am not superstitious, but I’m not stupid either. Each couple’s love for one another did, however, prove to be unbreakable. They loved one another until their last breaths.” I take her face in my hand. “I love you, Delaney. I’ve thought it since I saw you, but it scared me. When you came to the poker room, I knew it was going to be more than just sex. After sex, I knew that there was never to be another. We’ve been through so much in our lives that should have broken us down, but we are fighters. We just have to fight for each other, and not against each other. I love the strong you, but love the part that still needs to be reminded that she is incredible, beautiful, loved, and worthy of love, equally. I love your body and your mind. I love you with red hair or brown. I love that you see me in pain, and want to make it better just like I do you. I love you. I love you. I should have said it before, but this is where it had to be. I hope you understand.”

  She nods and smiles.

  “No tears?”

  She shook her head ‘no’ and laughs.

  “Shall I say it again?”

  “I love you.” She smiles and throws her arms around my neck. “I love you so much. I wasn’t sure, I wasn’t sure you felt it, too.”

  “You knew.” I say kissing her cheek. “Whatever demons we need to exorcise, we will. Whatever makes you think you’re not worthy of love, can be damned. I will not stop loving you, do you understand?”

  “But last night you left.”

  “Last night, you were under the protection of Valentina, or I would have taken you like I said. God help you now, you don’t even speak the language.”

  She laughs out loud and holds tighter to me.

  “Shall I take you home?”

  “Please. Is it far?”

  “One hour and twenty minutes. Can we wait that long, or do we need to get a room?”

  “Or a bathroom.” She smiles.

  “Aw, not funny, Ladybug. Because of that, I’m going to take you in every place I can.”

  “The airplane was epic.”

  “It was. I forgot where I was while I had your ass in my hands.”

  “Like a security blanket?”

  “Just like one.”

  We are in the car and she is wrapped around me, holding me.

  “Is it one I picked?”

  “Of course.”

  “And it’s close to the winery?”

  “And the sea.”

  “Have you seen it?”

  “Of course, I have.”

  “Is it my favorite?”

  “I believe so, yes.”

  “The one on the hill with the ocean view?”

  “Funny you should mention that, I threw that one in the mix to see what you thought.”

  “I loved it.”

  “That is my childhood home.”

  She looked up. “Is not.”

  “Well, then someone lied to me.”

  “Is it the one? Is it our home?”

  “You’ll have to wait and see.”

  “Livorno, Italy.”

  “Maybe, maybe not.”

  When we pull in through the gates her eyes light up. “It’s the one, Dominic. The one!”

  There is nothing that gives me as much joy as her smile, well except that one slice of heaven between her legs.

  She jumps out of the car, onto the U shaped cobblestone driveway where I had learned to ride my bike.

  “This is unreal. You are unreal. I am going to make you happy. I promise, I will make sure you’re happy.”

  “I will do the same.”

  We tour the grounds on the golf cart. She is in sandals sniffing grapes, and it is one of the sexiest things I have ever seen.

  I introduce her to some of the staff I have just brought back full time, and she is so kind to them. She asks what she can do to help them. They look at me and I smile.

  When we are getting ready for bed, she is barely able to keep her eyes open, yet she still keeps looking through her bag.

  “What did I forget?” I ask, as I grab her hips, pulling her back against me, and kissing her neck.

  “Birth control pills. I swear they were in my purse. Did you see them?”

  I don’t want to lie to her, but I am not sure of the reaction I will get if I tell her the truth. “You’re tired, we will look tomorrow.”

  “You have to take them every day at the same time. I’m already late.”

  “Come to bed.”

  She turns around and looks at me, “Dominic?”

  “Are we going to have a fight on the first night in our home?”

  “No, of course not, but do you know where they are?”

  “In New York, now come to bed.”

  “How do you know they’re in New York?”

  “Because I threw them in the garbage. I told you, ‘nothing to tamper with the fertility of the land.’”

  “You’re being serious? Do you not know how fucked up I am? Can you even imagine-.”

  “You’re going to be a great mother.”

  “I’m going to be a great something, that’s for sure.”

  “Well then, we’ll fuck them up together, but we will love them. Don’t be mad; come to bed. It’s new and the sheets
are --”

  “I need a doctor. Or maybe your sister can mail them.” She yawns as she climbs into bed.

  “Do you love it here?”

  “I do. Is it hard for you? I mean, does it make you sad at all?”

  “No. Not at all. I love it and Valentina is ecstatic that we will be here for holidays, and that there are enough bedrooms for at least five children and her.”

  “Dominic?”

  “Yes?”

  “I love you.”

  “I love you.”

  ###The End###

  Home. It has been years since any place felt like home. Italy is a foreign country. I don’t even speak the language. I have people in and out the door throughout the day. No knocking, no phone call announcing a visitor is coming, they just walk in the door to the kitchen and smile saying, ‘buongiorno’ or ‘buonasera’, which was good morning and goodnight.

  The very first morning, I am in a t-shirt and undies, trying to surprise Dominic by making coffee and something light to eat for breakfast when a man walks in the door and startles me. I scream and he jumps saying, ‘Mi dispiace, mi dispiace’ over and over again. A woman, I have seen once, comes running into the room with a broom, and Dominic behind her in his boxers.

  He laughs a loud robust laugh and introduces me to Maria and Maximillian: husband and wife, housekeeper and caretaker. They have a cottage on the property behind the barn and have lived here since Dominic was a young boy. He introduces us, and then looks down at my attire.

  “Excuse me.” I take off running through the dining room, and up the grand stairway to the master bedroom, at the end of the hall.

  He walks in, as I am dressing, “Are you alright?”

  “Just startled.”

  He turns me around to face him. “I can ask that they announce themselves.”

  “Shouldn’t they?”

  “They never have before. If you want me to tell them--”

  “You trust them?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  “Then, it’s fine.”

  He smiles, and then laughs silently. “You scream louder for old Max than you do for me.”

  I roll my eyes, lift myself up on my tippy toes, kiss him, and then go to unpack my bags.

  “Did you need something?”

  “I’m sorry?”

  “When you went down to the cucina?”

  “I don’t know what that--”

  “Kitchen.”