by Anne Marck
Luna
Powerless to stop him, I watch as Dominic gets into his car and leaves.
Heavens! What have I done, challenging him after all he’s done for me? I shouldn’t direct my anger, provoked by my sleazebag stepfather, at Dominic. He’s sweet and has helped me more than anyone else. I have to channel all my hatred and do what needs to be done to the right person. Dominic is like an angel, perhaps sent by my mother to help strengthen me until the right moment comes.
I look up at the sky without stars. “Mom, I promise you that man will pay for everything he did.” Then I wrap my arms around myself and return to the solitary apartment, wishing that I had kept my mouth shut and that Dominic was here with me. I need to dissolve the illusions that I’m creating about him. This will never work, anyway.
Dominic only sees me as a charity case.
Dominic
I find myself standing in front of Sophie’s house, wanting to wring out all the fury and dirty desires in my body.
I need to get rid of these thoughts. I feel like a pervert, and being in her presence doesn’t help. Maybe I should ask Sophie if Luna can stay with her for a while. I trust Sophie and know she’ll help me. The woman has a big heart.
That’s it. I can’t stay with her. It’s better this way.
Dominic
For almost an hour, I remain parked in front of Sophie’s house. For some reason, though, I can’t find the courage to enter. So many times I came here wanting Sophie’s company, but today, I think the wrong motives have brought me, and I feel dirty for using what we have to forget the innocent girl.
If I’m being honest, the idea of losing Luna tightens my gut. I can’t and don’t even want to think about the reasons for this attachment. In God’s name, what am I letting happen to my head?
I turn on the car and leave before sinking more into my own mistakes, going to my brother Damien’s house, even though it’s after two o’clock in the morning.
“Dude, you look like a shit,” Damien says honestly, looking at me from top to bottom when he answers the door.
I look down at his state: shirtless, pants unbuttoned. I have no doubt about what he was doing.
“Wrong time?”
“Never for you, bro.” He practically pulls me inside.
“Dam …” a sensual voice comes from his bedroom.
“Are you sure?” I arch a brow.
“She can wait.” Damien smiles.
I walk in and straight to the little bar that he keeps in his apartment. I grab a cold beer while he serves himself a shot of whisky.
“Did you think about what we talked about?” He studies me for a second.
“Not tonight, dude,” I say tiredly, staring at the bottle in my hands.
In my peripheral, I see Damien staring at me.
“Dom, what’s wrong?” he asks in all seriousness.
I shake my head and sip the drink.
“Dude, you know you can trust me, don’t you?” he insists.
I exhale heavily and make myself look at him. “It’s nothing, Damien. I’ll figure things out.” I bring the bottle to my lips.
Damien crosses his arms over his chest. “Dammit, Dom, don’t tell me there’s a cunt in the picture.” It’s obvious the guy is struggling to contain a laugh. And, in spite of his humor, the idiot hits the target.
“Not the way you’re thinking.”
He continues to stare at me, as if waiting for more.
I slide my fingers through my hair, frustrated. “She’s just a girl who needs help,” I tell him, not wanting to talk about shit.
“And …?”
“It’s nothing. That’s it.” I put an end to the matter.
At least, I try to.
“Dom, if there’s anyone who I know well in this life, it’s you. What’s the problem with her?”
I look at my hands around the bottle. “She’s just a girl, and I think she’s underage. Damn, I should just keep her safe … but hell, she messes with me,” I confess aloud, surprising myself.
Damien sits down on the stool beside me and touches my shoulder. “Relax and live a little, brother. You have this thing of wanting to protect everyone, but in the end, who protects you, man? Ignore the fucking scruples for a moment and live your life. If this girl is the problem, claim it for yourself until you get it out of your system, and stop thinking so much.”
Shit, I shouldn’t have even opened my mouth. Damien is the biggest fucker of all. Women walk in and out of his bed like shirts in the laundry. And this is not the kind of conversation I want to have with my younger brother.
The woman calling for him from the bedroom is my cue.
“I should go.” I take a last sip of my beer then stand up.
“Did you figure out the answer already?” He tries to keep me on the subject.
“No,” I say simply.
I’m about to leave when his words stop me. “I love you, man.”
“You, too, brother.”
• • •
I enter my dimly lit apartment, leaving the keys on the sideboard. To my surprise, I find Luna standing against the wall when I close the door.
“Hi … I-I was waiting for you,” she says quietly, wrapping her arms around herself.
I say nothing, my gaze fixed on her.
Just an innocent girl … and attractive as hell. I’m just tormenting myself with the thought.
In the blink of an eye, she throws her warm body against mine, wrapping her thin arms around me. “I’m sorry, Dominic.” A weak sob comes from her.
Caught by surprise, I don’t even return her hug.
Jesus Christ! I can even feel her heartbeat she’s so close.
She whimpers. “I was an idiot for acting rude to you. I’m sorry.”
Only then do I start to think clearly.
I pull my head away and catch her face between my hands. “You don’t have to apologize, Luna,” I tell her hoarsely, looking at her face that, even distressed, is nonetheless attractive.
Those blue eyes stare at me. “You’ve done more for me than anyone else … since my mother was taken away from me.”
Seeing the intense way she looks at me, hearing the depth of her words, feeling her heart racing against mine, it opens a hole in my chest. I don’t say anything else. I can’t.
Against my better judgment, I wrap her in my arms, feeling her warm body. I bring her so close against me that we could be one. Her cheek rests on my chest, her arms tightly embracing my waist. On the brink of ruin, I bring my nose to her fire-red tendrils and breathe in her smell with everything I have in me.
We stay like this, embracing in silence, until my inappropriate dick decides to join the party. Then I have to subtly push her back so she doesn’t feel it.
I touch the tip of her nose then follow the outline of all those freckles. “It’s late. You need to rest, baby,” I say, trying to hide the tightness in my throat.
Her dilated pupils find mine again. She doesn’t smile, and to my ruin, she slides her tongue down her lower lip, wetting it. The innocent movement rattles my body, directly where it shouldn’t.
I stare at her eyes, feeling the air charge with energy. So close, in the dim lighting, staring at each other silently, my fucking heartbeat about breaks out of my chest.
“Sleep tight, Luna,” I say hoarsely yet firmly, sending the message loud and clear.
If Luna stays here for another minute, my self-control will implode and nothing will be able to stop me from taking her daring mouth and tasting what certainly must be the sweetest lips. I would bet my arm on that.
Hell.
After another moment of hesitation, she steps back, and I glimpse her hardened nipples under the thin pajama top.
I slide my fingers through my hair then pull violently. My dick is a beast pulsing inside my jeans.
I take some deep breaths then go take a cold shower, hoping to calm the repressed energy. I think about relieving some tension with my hand, but then my thoughts immediately g
o back to the girl, and I get out of the shower quickly.
I force my mind to forget and try to sleep in vain. The reaction that I saw under her shirt torments me. The innocent girl also felt something …
Crap, I’m in too deep.
• • •
It’s already after six in the afternoon when I stop at home before going to the center. I didn’t talk to Luna this morning, but I thought about her all day. The distraction almost cost me misreading the executive project.
I find her dressed, wearing a pair of sneakers.
For a second, the air leaves my body, thinking about why she would be dressed that way—she’s ready to go.
“Where are you going, Luna?” I find myself asking, the keys still in my hand.
She bites her lips anxiously. That’s not a good sign.
“I’d like to go to the community center with you tonight.” Her voice is soft and insecure, her eyes filled with hope.
I can’t hide the relief that calms my insides. Then I look at Luna wordlessly. Her request makes me nervous.
“It’s not a good idea. You’re not well, and you have pneumonia.”
“I feel better today. Please?” she interrupts, sounding so hopeful. “Besides, staying here alone is doing nothing but driving me crazy.”
Luna
He looks at me as if he’s carefully considering my request. I’ve learned some things about Dominic in the days I’ve been here. He’s a gentleman, but don’t think he’s easily influenced. He is a hard-ass.
I wait patiently for his verdict. I thought about it all day long. I can’t be seen in public, yet something in me says the community center is safe for me and inaccessible for men like Vincent. I can be hidden in some corner. It doesn’t matter as long as I can get out of this house for a while.
Being idle has made me think too much. I hardly sleep at night, fantasizing impossible situations involving this man who only sees me as a charity case.
Jumping into his arms yesterday was totally impulsive. But the truth is that I was so relieved to see him. I treated him badly, and I had to know that everything would be all right between us. He’s done so much for me.
I don’t want to feed my crush on Dominic, but how can I fight it when millions of butterflies began to dwell in my stomach the moment I met him?
I swallow the turmoil and wait for an answer.
Dominic runs his hand through his beard. “Okay, you can come …”
I feel like jumping in his arms again, excited at the idea of getting away from the apartment.
“There’s one condition …”
Of course, there is.
“You have to tell me if you’re not feeling well. I don’t wanna see you faint or have to deal with another of those fevers just because you’re too stubborn to rest like the doctor recommended.” His direct tone and unwavering posture don’t frighten me. “Do you understand?”
I bite my lip so I don’t smile and place two fingers on my forehead in a salute. “Perfectly, sir.”
He shakes his head. “Too smart for your own good,” he mutters before turning toward his bedroom.
I take a deep breath, trying to contain all the crazy feelings inside my chest that are making my heartbeat soar.
Luna
I confess that I expected a more modest place. The community center easily accommodates at least three hundred people. However, what catches my attention is the number of women volunteers and the barefaced way some approach Dominic, like flies on a ripe fruit, especially a Mrs. So-and-so who’s hitting on him right now, practically begging for attention.
Dominic, the fool, isn’t even aware. Or maybe he enjoys it.
No, I don’t think he’s like that. I hope.
Wanting to get away from the jealousy, I cling to Simone’s instruction and stand at the back of the kitchen, isolated, chopping carrots and potatoes with a big, sharp knife … wishing I could stab it into that woman’s jugular.
I want to laugh at myself and my ridiculous role. I do let out a giggle. I should redirect these murderous thoughts toward someone like Vincent and not a good woman who is devoting her time to helping others, however much “others” specifically includes Dominic.
“Something funny?” a voice pulls me back to reality.
I take my attention off the vegetables and look up at a young, lean, good-looking man, who is smiling openly at me.
“May I?” He points to a stool at the table where I stand.
“S-sure,” I reply, ashamed to be caught red-handed.
The boy sits down and reaches across the table. “My name is Thomaz. And you?” He seems kind.
I shake his hand while deliberating what name to use since I can’t reveal myself. Lying doesn’t seem right either, though.
“Lu,” I suddenly say. “You can call me Lu.”
Smiling, he shakes my hand then pulls some potatoes toward himself. “I haven’t seen you here before. Is this your first time here?”
“Yeah …” I answer, going back to what I was doing.
Thomaz continues to engage me in conversation. He’s been coming here once a week for over a year. I never imagined there were places like this with people willing to devote their time to help others. In my world, there’s only greed and status quo.
As time goes by, I feel more relaxed, both by the boy’s presence and being here. There is a bucket of peeled potatoes almost full between us.
“And on Saturday, I’ll be competing at the pub next to the subway station,” he says proudly and excitedly.
Thomaz is a musician who plays guitar and sings solo in bars around the city.
“It would be amazing if you showed up there, Lu.”
I smile, hiding my horror at the idea of being seen in public. “Yeah, it would be amazing. I’ll see if I can.” I shrug.
He tilts his head, appraising me. “You can go into bars, right? How old are you, Lu?” I don’t miss his hopefulness.
“Twenty-one,” I respond mechanically, so as not to encourage him to ask other personal questions.
“Nice. I’m twenty-three,” he volunteers.
Dominic
Twenty-one. Damn, at least she isn’t underage, yet she remains a child to me.
My chest rumbles at hearing Luna’s answer to Thomaz’s invitation.
I couldn’t help listening to their conversation. The truth is, since I brought her here, Luna has always been within my eyesight, something I convince myself is only because of her health.
I have to stop myself from coming up with excuses to get Thomaz away from her. The boy is a good person. He comes here every week without fail and loves to talk to everyone. When I saw him approaching Luna, I was okay with it, but now I’m beginning to notice the fucking interest in his eyes as he stares at my innocent girl. I don’t blame him. Even with a hood over her head, she’s attractive.
Lu? What the fuck is Lu? Why take such a risk with a stranger?
Unable to stop myself, I approach them. “Good to see you, Thomaz,” I say honestly then turn toward her. “Lu?” I stare at her, exaggerating her nickname, not understanding where this lack of control is coming from. “Are you ready for another job?”
Thomaz smiles genuinely. Damn, the boy would be good for her, if the idea didn’t stab me in the guts.
Luna, in contrast, stares at me with a slight blush on her cheeks, her blue eyes questioning.
Thomaz looks at her and cheerfully says, “I’m going to finish here, and then I’ll join you, Lu.”
She smiles at him.
I walk Luna to the opposite side of the room from where they were, though I want to take her back to the apartment. I hardly want to think about the reason for that.
“What else can I do, Dominic?” she asks patiently.
Stop talking, baby. That would be a start. I bite my tongue, hating this version of me.
“Hi, Dom.” I hear a sweet, familiar voice behind us and turn to find Sophie approaching.
“Sophie.” I give her a kiss
.“ Are you here to help?”
She smiles, showing a little dimple. “I had the afternoon off and decided to come and give a helping hand.” She rests an arm over my shoulders.
Luna
The pretty brunette doesn’t seem to be like the other women who were hitting on him tonight. She has a real affection with him that punches me in the stomach. The way they touch feels like a bucket of cold water poured over my head. I don’t stand a chance next to a woman like her in Dominic’s life.
I don’t even know why I’m considering this.
“This is …” he begins to introduce me when I interrupt.
“I’m Lu.” I hold out my hand to greet her.
She shakes my hand gently. “Pleasure, Lu. I’m Sophie. Is this your first time here?”
“Yes, and I’m enjoying it a lot,” I say frankly.
Dominic watches us in silence, his gray eyes on me.
I see Simone walking around with some utensils and decide to leave the couple. “I’ll help Simone. Excuse me.” I keep my tone as pleasant as I can and walk away.
“Dom?” Hearing her talk to him like that, so intimately, hurts somewhere inside me. If what I’m feeling is jealousy, I don’t want to live this experience ever again.
Oh, for heaven’s sake! He’s like a magnet for women, and Sophie has everything I don’t—beauty, confidence, a good conscience … I’m ugly, thin to the extreme, even more so now, freckled, with unmanageable brassy hair. I’m just another Dom charity case.
I need to start taking action soon. I have to get my life back, take back what Vincent robbed from us, and make him pay for all the evil he’s done to my family. The first step is to find a place to stay, as fast as possible. I can’t go on with Dominic. This has to end.
Dominic
People begin to arrive and settle down.
Luna seems to be playing some stupid chair dance with me. Every time I approach, I notice her discreetly move away, walking between people, almost invisible in her big clothes and the hood that hides her fiery hair. Thomaz, on the other hand, doesn’t have the same problem. Their cute giggles are bugging the hell out of me, making me wonder what this kid is saying to make her so receptive, so open to conversation, something she never does in my presence.
