This Dom
Page 7
“Beg. More.”
Faster, I went, focused on nothing but the pleasure building in her face. Hell, I could have come the moment she’d asked me to. I wanted to so damn bad, but not until she was ready to join me. Tonight, we’d end it perfectly. Together.
“Please. I want to feel it deep inside of me. Please.”
Harder I went, until I’d reached my comfort limit on her and the baby’s safety.
“And if I don’t?”
A cry left her mouth and her hands flew forward. Pain exploded in my chest at her sinking her nails in hard. A hiss came from my mouth, but I didn’t stop. Couldn’t.
“Come. I need…” Again, she bit her lip and I could feel how close to the edge she was. My cock swelled and no amount of clenching my teeth together was going to prolong the moment any longer.
“Kiss me and tell me you love me.”
I didn’t give her time to react or even speak. My lips pressed into hers, setting off her orgasm with the shift in position. With each shot of my release, wave after wave of euphoria blasted through me. My vision blurred and I slowed until I was sure she was finished.
“I love you, Sir.” A smile appeared and I couldn’t help but mirror it. I rolled her over to lie on her side to face me. A lock of her hair fell forward and I pushed it back while I stared deep into her eyes.
“I love you, too, and tomorrow I’m going to put everything I have into showing you how much.”
Chapter 6
Victoria
Blindly, I reached across the bed, feeling for…something. For… My eyes flew open as the night came flooding back. The room was dark, but that didn’t tell me anything. Working nights, I’d sealed off my windows a long time ago from light entering. What time was it? It felt like I had been sleeping forever.
I turned looking at the clock, gasping and throwing the covers back at the realization that it was after ten. Shit! I couldn’t remember sleeping past eight, more or less ten. Why didn’t Devlin wake me?
Aching registered in my legs, not to mention other places. It made me smile as I headed for the restroom. The sapphire blue gown I wore only made the expression grow. He’d taken such care in bathing me and putting me to bed after we finished making love. Twice. Sleeping back in his arms was pure heaven. No matter how nervous I was about our decision, I couldn’t deny that I knew this was right. It was where my heart was. With him.
I hurried through my morning routine of brushing my teeth and washing my face. My pulse was racing as I headed for the door. Cartoons played on the television and Ava looked up, noticing me immediately. The jeans she wore were paired with a pink and white long sleeve shirt. She had pigtails, Devlin’s favorite. I couldn’t see them without thinking of how he took his time doing her hair.
“Ma-ma.” She rushed forward and I lifted her, heading for the kitchen. The rich smell of bacon had my mouth watering, but not in a bad way.
“You’re awake. I was just about to come get you up.” Devlin was already holding a plate. My plate. From the time, I had no doubt he and Ava had eaten hours ago.
“Thank you. You even let me sleep in.”
“I figured you needed it.” He pressed his lips to mine, only to pull back on my bottom lip with his teeth. “You were quite…exhausted after we finished the second time.”
Heat filled my cheeks and I walked to the table, following him. The kiss made my body tingle to life. It amazed me how he had the ability to affect me so strongly. Last night had showed me just how much I truly did love him. I’d opened myself up more than I ever had and accepted my future with him with open arms. Although my mind was in a constant state of praying he wouldn’t hurt me again, I tried not to focus on it and pay more attention to the way I felt now. The decision was risky, but I wasn’t sure I had much more to lose.
“Eat up, kitten. We have a big day ahead of us.” He took Ava and I sat down, picking up the fork.
Ah, yes. Ring shopping. Holy shit! I was getting married! Emotions left my hands shaking, too many of them conflicting. I took a bite, glancing over at Devlin as he emerged from the hall with one of Ava’s puzzles in his hand. She raced around him, sitting in the middle of the floor as he joined her. The look he threw me was nothing more than a father who took pride in something as simple as making his daughter happy. Even if it was piecing together a puzzle of princesses.
“You’re such a good father.” I took another bite while he spread the pieces on the carpet and pointed into the cardboard lining where Ava was mean to place them.
“I take care of what’s mine, Victoria. And not just the minimum amount. There will be nothing you, Ava, or the new baby will need that I won’t be willing to provide. I want what’s best for all of you. Family is…not something I’ve had for a very long time. Even when I did, the circumstances weren’t the best. I have no intention of letting our children experience what I had to go through. They will be loved by two parents who adore them. By parents who adore each other.”
The response was genuine. All my fears and uneasiness faded and I nodded, grinning as I continued eating. My mind was made up. That’s exactly the life we would live. With him wanting it and me wishing for nothing more, we’d fight to make everything perfect. I may have been stubborn as hell, but it went both ways. Fight. Yes, I’d do that to secure our future. Even if my biggest enemy was myself.
The food disappeared as I continued taking the two of them in. As I headed for the room, Devlin stood, following me to the door.
“Leave it open. I want to watch you.” His hand went out to rest on my lower back as the other came to mold over the rounding of my stomach. Silk caressed against my skin at the shift of his arm. His touch drifted lower. Closer to the one place we both wanted him to be. “Nap time. Me and you.” Just before he reached my slit, he stopped, using the hand on my back to guide me in the room. My legs were trembling as I stole a glance at him.
“If you think you can handle it.” My look was full of challenge. I turned toward the closet, my eyes going wide at what I’d said. Shit. I was asking for trouble and the freedom I now had to do that, sent my adrenaline spiking.
Devlin’s presence was felt before I heard him approaching. He pulled me back against him, his fingers lacing through my hair, just above my ear, as he lowered his head.
“If I can handle it? Oh, kitten…” His breath on my neck sent a shiver down my body. I grasped the arm he had placed over my thigh, clutching his wrist as arousal raced through me. “Just wait, you’re going to be begging to come all over my cock. Perhaps I’ll make you wait it out. See how much you can handle.”
I moved more to the side to look at him, but kept quiet. His fingers slid down my cheek and his thumb pushed in my bottom lip. Had I been pouting? Of course I had. He tortured me too damn well. I’d be edging forever.
“Get dressed.” He glanced back to look out of the door at Ava playing with her puzzle. “We have some shopping to do. Lots and lots of shopping.”
Immediately, I had the urge to ask questions. What did he mean by that? Other than the ring, there wasn’t anything I could think of that we needed.
“Devlin.” I turned to face him and his hands never left me.
“Don’t.” Slowly, he shook his head. “You want to argue, but I’m telling you now, it’ll be pointless. You need new clothes, Ava’s shoes are getting too tight, and there are some things I need, too. Necessities. Now, off you go.”
Devlin walked over and paused at the door. He leaned back on the frame, crossing his arms over his chest as he waited. Like a zombie, I walked to the closet. I needed to stop worrying. I’d handed the reins to Devlin and now it was time to see where he took us. If I needed to speak up, I would. But until he gave me reason, I was giving him control.
I focused on my wardrobe, looking down the length of my closet. It was getting pretty cool outside, but all I really had left that would fit was the sundresses. I grabbed an emerald green one, pairing it with an off-white button-up sweater. As I grabbed a bra, Devlin never took his eyes off
of me. I let the gown I was wearing drop, facing him as I took my time getting dressed. The intensity in his stare had my nipples hardening and my breath increasing as his eyes raked over my body. I almost didn’t want to finish, but now wasn’t the time.
The dress hung loosely around me, only showing the small baby bump when I moved. I pulled on the sweater and slipped on my flats. As I headed to the bathroom to fix my hair and put on a little make-up, I noticed Devlin was still watching. The smile we exchanged left me growing excited for what was about to come. I didn’t necessarily like shopping, but there was one thing I was looking forward to — the ring. Not the actual diamonds or the look of it, but the pure token of his devotion to me. I paused, letting it sink in. Letting his words from last night filter through once more. Tears blinded me and I couldn’t stop them.
I hesitated in putting on the mascara until it passed, sighing when it lasted longer than I expected. Emotions took over and I knew it was hormones, but I couldn’t help it. Devlin was finally mine. My soon-to-be husband. For two years, I wouldn’t let myself even think anything along that path.
“You okay?”
He was suddenly at the door, studying me with that all too knowing look.
“Great. Amazingly so.” Ava pulled at his slacks and he lifted her while I managed to finish the mascara and slide on the natural color lipstick. At my nod, he stepped back, walking deeper into the room.
“I’m ready, let me just grab my purse.”
“No, I think you’re missing something.”
I stopped, my eyes lowering to take in my dress and shoes. “Am I?” Still, I scanned my appearance. “Should I wear a watch?” I usually always had one on for work, but I couldn’t understand why I’d need it now. Or what he could be talking about.
“Sweetie, you remember what we talked about this morning at the store?” Devlin looked down, smiling at Ava, who stared at him curiously. Apparently, she didn’t know what he was referring to, either. The store? They’d left while I was sleeping?
“Let me see.” He reached into the inside of his jacket pocket, placing her to stand as he lowered to his knee. “I wanted to dazzle you with a proposal. Do it at Ricci’s, where we’d first met, but truthfully, I don’t think there’s a better place to ask you to officially be my wife than right here in our own home. The place where we raise our daughter. The home we’ll bring our new child to. The place I fall in love with you more every single day. That means so much more than some superficial, stereotypical location.”
My lips parted and my eyes went wide as I watched him open the small, black box. A large emerald cut diamond was offset by two almost just as big. The platinum band was the perfect thickness and accented with small diamonds. I could barely catch my breath, it was so beautiful. “Devlin.” His name was barely audible past my shock.
“I want to hear you say it again.” He kept my stare, his eyes penetrating so deep I could feel in it my soul. “Will you marry me, Victoria?”
My whole body trembled, a mix between excitement, fear, and pure elation. I was nodding before I could get myself to speak. “Yes. God, yes.”
My attention went to Ava as she looked between us. Devlin had been right. Any place would have been great, but here in our home, with our daughter to witness…it meant more to me than any candle lit dinner, or extravagant display he could have put together.
As the ring slid up my finger, I brushed back the tears that fell down my cheeks. Having something so flashy on my finger was going to take some getting used to, but Devlin had picked it out and it was a sign of his love. I would have taken it no matter how small or large and been just as happy.
“Perfect fit,” he said, looking up and smiling. “I wasn’t sure, but the jeweler helped me out. He knows his stuff.” Devlin stood, pulling me into his arms. “Now, it’s official. Victoria Black will be here before you know it. Right now, you’re my fiancée, but soon, I’m going to make you my wife.”
“Soon?” I swallowed hard, trying to process it all.
“Very soon. If I knew you weren’t opposed to Vegas, I’d fly us out right now.” At my surprise, he cupped my face. “But I do know you, kitten, and we’ll plan it for here. Something small. Intimate. Just family and friends. How does that sound?”
Relief left my shoulders feeling lighter. “Sounds like I picked the right man to marry. Thank you.”
Chapter 7
Devlin
The constant smiles thrown in my direction, the nonstop attention as I watched Victoria talk to the wedding planner… it was as if I was seeing a completely different person. She was so beautiful in love. So charming and full of life as her enthusiasm built around our new status. I couldn’t stop my heart from filling to capacity each time she turned to me.
At almost five months along, the weeks were flying by in our race to get married. Twice, Victoria had impulsively suggested we just go to Vegas like I’d hinted before, but I put my foot down. I knew what impatience could do. The lesson was etched in my heart, but slowly healing. A repeat of rushing into another bad decision wasn’t going to happen again. Victoria would have her wedding. She would walk down the aisle, surrounded by her closest friends and family. I’d make sure of it.
“I like the light pink and white roses. What do you think, Devlin?”
Flashes of her the first night we were together projected in my mind. White lingerie. Hell, I wanted everything in that color, but pale pink would be okay too. “I like it. No red. All light colors.” Pure and innocent, like she had been. I’d tainted her. Shown her a world she’d accepted with open arms. The darkness in me flickered to life at the thought. One look at Victoria’s conservative appearance and no one would have assumed what she craved behind closed doors. What I did to her.
My cock began to harden and I clenched my teeth, looking at my watch. Four hours. That’s all it had been since the last time I’d had her. Still, I wanted more.
“Got to go. Doctor’s appointment is in an hour. I want to get there early.”
“I told you, it’s a girl,” she said, looking up teasingly.
“Boy.” I threw a smile at Michelle, our wedding planner, and held out my arm. Victoria immediately wrapped hers around mine. “We’ll call you later. I’m sure I’ll think of something else I want to add.” Which wasn’t far from the truth. I had the woman running around circles. One minute, I’d think of something I thought would be good and the next, I was changing my mind.
“Call anytime.”
I nodded, leading Victoria to the large wooden double doors. As I held one open, she reached for her stomach, planting her feet. I let it go, stepping back to her side. “What is it?” My heart jumped, the worst plaguing my thoughts.
A laugh filled the air and her eyes glanced up to mine as she reached for my hand to place it on her stomach.
“The baby’s kicking. Here, see if it happens again.”
My pulse was still racing as I stared down at the rounding of her stomach. A few seconds went by and my mouth twisted.
“Just…wait. I think—”
Thump. “Was that?” My eyes shot up to hers. “Was that the baby?”
“You felt it! Good, I was starting to think you’d never feel her move.”
“Him,” I corrected, lowering to my knees.
The fact that we were blocking the doorway was irrelevant. No one was coming or going, but even if they were, there was no way I was going to miss my child move again. For the last two weeks, Victoria had tried to get me to experience it and each time, the baby wouldn’t comply. Stubborn. Like his mother. That’s the only thing I could think of during the hours of holding my hand still, waiting.
Thump…thump, thump.
“He’s really moving around in there,” I said, looking back up. “I can’t believe it.” And I couldn’t. That was my son, my child, kicking against Victoria’s stomach. I could feel him. Finally! It blew my mind and seemed so surreal after all the months we’d gone through since we’d learned of her conception.
“Bullshit,” I said, standing. “If we’re a little late, so be it. I’m not letting you go without food. Come on, I think there’s a restaurant a few places down.
I didn’t wait for her to answer before I pushed the door back open and began leading her down the sidewalk. Random businesses aligned the road and she pulled back on my hand as we approached the place I’d been speaking of.
“Nope. You couldn’t pay me a million dollars to eat there. That’s the Mexican food place that gave me food poisoning. Look,” she pointed to a food truck parked further down the road, “let’s go get a burrito from there. A shredded chicken one with beans and rice.” The force in her pull would have had me laughing if it weren’t for the reality of what she’d said.
“Maybe I should go have a word with the owner of that restaurant first.” I glared at the door, remembering how sick she’d been when we first found out she was pregnant. Visions of her lying on the grass pale and unconscious left me in a murderous rage. My hands fisted, only loosening at Victoria’s voice.
“Please, not right now. We don’t have much time and I’m starving.”
Had it not been for her hunger, I would have ripped the owner a new asshole. I was half-tempted to do it anyway. At least now, I knew the place that was responsible. The moment we were done with this appointment, he’d have hell to pay.
While Victoria ordered, I stared at the menu. So focused on calming the anger, I opted for the same thing she was having. My healthy diet had pretty much gone out of the window since she’d started eating again. Ice cream, popcorn, fucking Mike and Ikes. I mirrored her cravings, practically consuming everything she did, but double the amount. If I hadn’t invested in a jogging stroller to take Ava on runs with me in the evenings, I’d have gained the fifteen pounds Victoria already had. Hell, probably double that amount.
“Oh my God, this is so good,” she said, swallowing the first bite. The pure bliss that filled her face had me kissing the top of her head. I followed suit, my eyebrows rising in surprise.