by Anne Marck
“Hell, Dom. Do you really think I’d get involved with a whore?”
“You’ve been warned.” I stay firm.
“Message received.” His disgusted tone doesn’t convince me. “I was going to call you. I set up a meeting with Chris for tomorrow at two in the office. We’ll talk about your return then. Don’t be late.”
“You son of a bitch,” I seethe.
“I love you, too, brother. Until then.”
Luna
I don’t even know what to think. I knew perfect Sophie couldn’t not just a friend, but having the confirmation hurts. Argh! I wanted to strangle Dominic. Instead, I gave in and let the kiss convince me that, deep down, he cares about me. I believe him when he says he doesn’t want to be with her anymore, but the thought of the two of them together drives me crazy.
Curled up in front of the closet, I think of what Gabrielle told me about making Dominic crazy. He may have dated Sophie in the past, but I’m here at his house. Why not take advantage of that?
I choose to wear only his shirt and nothing else. I dry my hair then comb it back. I enjoy myself as I pace the house, well in his sight, watching his short breaths and feeling the warmth of his eyes on me, until he enters the bathroom. Then I sit on the sofa, proud of myself, and wait.
After his shower, Dominic gives me a dose of my own poison. I watch him prepare a salad, wearing nothing but sweatpants that are pulled down to his hips.
He is unbelievably handsome. No wonder all those women fight for his attention … I don’t think he even realizes it.
I curl up, squeezing my legs together.
“What is it, baby?” His innocent question would only fool a fool.
“Nothing.” I stand up from the sofa and walk over to him. Then I hop onto a stool in his line of sight and sit down with my legs open.
God, I hardly believe I’m acting like this. It’s so exciting.
I warm up everywhere when I notice the size of the bulge in his pants doubling.
He drops his knife on the counter and looks at me, pupils expanded, lips locked in a thin line. “There will be a day, Luna, when you will pay for every minute of this provocation.” The choked tone caresses my skin like a feather.
“A threat?” I lick my lips.
Dominic approaches, leaning into my space and resting one hand on the stool between my open legs, two centimeters from touching the most intimate part of me. “A promise.” He moves a soft finger in a way that makes me close my eyes and wince. “Definitely a promise, baby.”
Luna
Snuggling Dominic while I sleep has become my favorite thing in the world. It makes me feel alive. Finally, I found my place in the world.
The thought makes me think of my mother.
When my father passed away, I watched her become a woman with no direction. Her vivacity disappeared, and she began to withdraw more and more, gradually losing the cheerfulness that was once her greatest characteristic. Vincent certainly saw that and somehow took advantage, finishing the job of turning her into the shadow of the woman she had once been.
I was too young, too disconnected, too self-absorbed to realize it. If I had stepped out of the observer’s position, stopped watching the ruin of her marriage, and offered my love, letting her know I was there for her, maybe things would have been different. But I was indifferent, accepting her obsession of protecting me from everything and everyone as a kind of excessive affection when, in fact, it could have easily been a cry for help to end her own suffering.
“Good morning, baby.” Dominic walks into the kitchen, shirtless, his chest wet with sweat and his hair messy.
Baby … if only he knew what that does to me.
“Good morning, Dom …”
He looks at me.
“You were up early,” I say, reveling in a cup of strong coffee.
Dominic grabs a cup as well. “I went up to the gym,” he says casually.
Hell, I knew a body like his couldn’t just be good genetics. His abdomen is toned, like channels for those droplets of sweat. The tattoos bring a hostile aspect to his look, each one of them telling a story. Shit, Gabrielle said it best: he is an award-winning prize.
I had no idea I could ever feel all this for a man—unknown emotions and hormones, previously dormant, exploding throughout me, my body sexually alive when it comes to Dominic.
“Keep looking at me like that, Luna, and we’ll have a problem.”
When I lick my lips teasingly, those gray irises darken and a short breath tells me that his state is similar to mine. I swallow hard.
“Looking at you how?” I blink innocently, thinking, like I want to lick your chest?
I watch Dominic regain his control, but I’m not giving up trying to break through those barriers.
Just like last night, I sit in front of him, this time on the counter, and open my legs slowly to give him a glimpse of the nakedness below my shirt.
His gaze descends slowly down my body. As the seconds go by, I become more aware of my need as the room becomes uncomfortably hot. I’m melting and small needles are prickling in the most indiscreet places.
“Luna …” His tone is both irritated and affected.
“Dominic,” I gasp, never taking my eyes off his.
“You have no idea what you do to me, girl.”
I quiver. “Come and feel what you do to me.” I lick my dry lips, not on purpose.
I see him struggle as pain and desire mask his face. Yes, Dominic is as Gabrielle said. The idea makes me more eager to have him entirely for myself, only for me, with no “untraditional friends” in the way.
“I want to protect you, Luna. I want to …” The muscles in his jaw jump in a nervous rhythm. “I don’t want to take something that you’ll regret later.” He sounds choked. “But you’re making it harder for me every day, baby.” Seemingly against his will, Dominic takes a step forward.
God, your state is no better than mine.
“I’m not going to regret something I want so badly, Dominic. Please don’t fight this,” I beg.
He takes another step, and my heart hammers faster in expectation.
Come on, Dominic, come to me, my mind screams.
“I want you so much,” I groan in a weak, almost inaudible plea.
Another step.
I close my eyes for a second, and when I open them, our eyes connect in a way that feels like our souls are about to merge.
“Come and take what’s yours, Dominic.”
His Adam’s apple bobs up and down. Then he touches me first with his hands, one on the side of my leg while the other is on the back of my neck, gripping my hair. “Baby, you’re so tempting.” He doesn’t seem happy about that.
Dominic tilts my face up, giving him better access to my lips. Then he takes me out of the atmosphere with his hard, warm mouth flavored with coffee and mint. The kiss is needy, hungry, exploratory. It awakens what was left of my senses.
His hand abandons my hair, but he doesn’t stop kissing me. Then I feel my T-shirt sliding upward with torturous slowness, the fabric feeling like a caress, giving me tingles in my belly and hardening my sensitive nipples.
When he removes his mouth from mine, I take a deep breath as he pulls the T-shirt over my head.
When I moan again, Dominic gives me a severe, warning look. Ignoring it, I touch his chest. It’s warm, moist, and firm.
“Your breasts are perfection, baby.” The muffled sound of his voice comes out as raw need.
He kisses my mouth again then slides his lips down to the base of my neck, slowly exploring. I arch my chest forward and drop my head back.
Dominic lowers his warm lips down to my lap, inhaling, kissing, and licking me as if the world is about to end. His mouth could carry me to that point of ecstasy alone.
“That’s so good …” I cry softly.
Fragments of an indescribable energy make their way to the surface as Dominic takes each breast with devotion. The fragments break apart even further.
With his hands on my bare thighs, he opens them to their limit then places himself between them. He slides his lips down my belly, and I lean back, letting him know I want him to take me.
When my back touches the icy marble surface, he puts his mouth at my core. Hot and cold, I melt.
“God …” I cry softly, pushing my hips closer to the contact.
“Fucking sweet,” he rumbles.
I feel whipped, raw. The fragments begin to crumble even more, one by one. I press my fingers against the cold edges of the counter and arch my back.
“Dominic …” I lack the air to do anything more than whisper.
With ease, he explores me, while I’m wrapped in a fiery cloud. My moans and the sounds of his ministrations blend, echoing throughout the small kitchen.
“So good … so good,” I murmur incoherently.
The next minute, something takes over my senses. I feel something touching me that is much warmer than his fingers and much harder than his tongue. I raise my head and open my eyes to see what it is and find a gray storm watching me, daring me to stop him.
I look down at his chest moving fast, as fast as mine. He is absolutely beautiful and looks even hotter. Then my eyes fall upon … Damn!
I lick my lips. “It’s so big,” I whisper in amazement.
Dominic presses it against my belly, gradually sliding it down, caressing my flesh. The friction as it touches my sensitive nerves heightens everything to a new dimension.
I feel like I’m in a trance as he plays, prowling around, letting the red, thick, veined protrusion slip a little inward, making enough room while heightening my desire for more of it.
He adds to the torture by rubbing my most sensitive spot. It’s more than I can stand.
There is undeniable passion in his eyes as he drags me to a new place. All the sensations are too much, and I explode harder than ever. It seems to have no end. I close my eyes tightly, absorbing all the amazing feelings.
“Dominic,” I cry in ecstasy. “I … I love you!” I shout, my back arched.
Dominic rips his cock out of me, and then I hear a noise before hot liquid is splattered on my belly.
I open my eyes to see his eyes fixed on me with emotions I can’t describe, his arms trembling.
Wanting nothing more in this moment, I lift myself up and hug him, my sticky breasts plastered to his sweaty chest.
“I love you,” I repeat without fear.
Dominic rests his head on the curve of my neck, breathing heavily. “You are mine, baby,” is all he says, and it’s all I need to hear.
Naked, on his lap, arms wrapped around his shoulders, legs wrapped around his hips, Dominic takes me into the shower.
Dominic
Damn, that was, without a doubt, the best experience I’ve ever had. My girl is so receptive, tight, sexy, and without restraint. Damn, one movement away, and I would have torn her thin membrane. Having just the head of my cock prodding her was the best fucking shit I’ve ever done.
Luna isn’t shy about nudity, and she likes to be touched. I bathe her like she’s a rare diamond, sliding my fingers along every inch of her skin, lathering, massaging. I’m in heaven. She’s my piece of paradise, and I don’t even know what I did to deserve it.
As soon as she’s totally clean, the tempting redhead looks back at me in that way, and I’m as hard as a damn steel bar.
“Stop looking at me like that, baby. It makes me want to do unspeakable things with you,” I reveal with masked humor.
She bites her lower lip, hesitant. However, her eyes remain wicked. “Dominic … I-I want to taste you so much.” She looks down at my foamed-up member.
Curses, she can transform the simple act of bathing into an impure act.
“I have limits, Luna, and you’re blowing them all away,” I warn, barely listening to my own counsel.
“Teach me how …” she demands with a blush so beautiful that it awakens all my needs.
Hell, I can’t believe what she wants to do.
“Teach you what?” I choke out.
With the way she slides her tongue over her plump lips, she practically reveals herself.
“I want to touch you … with my mouth.” The brave confession makes me freeze.
Fucking hell! Am I receiving a gift here? Or a punishment?
I rub my face with both hands. “Girl, I swear you want to kill me …”
Ah, the view … Luna on her knees, her breasts rising and falling with anxious breaths, blue eyes dilated, looking at me expectedly.
“Show me how to do this, Dominic,” she says, as if she’s simply asking me to teach her how to drive.
Deep breath.
Fuck!
“Luna, Luna …” I groan, my head fogging with lust, my cock harder than ever.
With her delicate hand, she touches it in an innocent caress, letting the shower rinse off the foam as she explores and discovers. My cock weeps, grateful for the attention. Then she brushes the head, spreading the lubrication.
“Put your tongue on it, baby,” I order, captivated.
I curse when I think about how she’s just a girl who doesn’t even realize her sensuality, something I’m reminded of when she smiles triumphantly with the success of her provocation. Damn angel.
She obeys me, sliding her hot little tongue over my head.
I press my hands against the tiled walls, only able to enjoy this touch if I can control myself.
Step by step, she gets more and more determined. Her shyness vanishes and a greedy woman appears, licking me off like I’m her favorite ice cream flavor.
“Luna, I need you to stop now, baby,” I warn.
She doesn’t listen. If she did, she wouldn’t be Luna, would she?
I lean down and lift her by the shoulders, taking her mouth with mine and letting my cock erupt between us.
Damn, that was perfect.
Luna
I’m a happy soul, proud to have given Dominic a little of what he’s given me and satisfied with the next step in building our … relationship?
I’ve dressed and am now combing my hair. Dominic went into the living room to make some calls. He decided not to go to work but is talking to someone about work.
After some time, he returns to the room.
“Hi,” he says softly, wearing a pair of jeans and a plain black T-shirt that shows off the contours of his chest.
“Hi, you,” I return, smiling.
Dominic sits on the edge of the bed. “I need to go to the store. We’re out of food.” His casual tone fills my heart. “I wish you’d come with me.”
I stare at his face. He knows I can’t stand exposing myself, not until the right time. But I trust he knows what he’s doing.
“Okay, I’ll put on the hoodie.”
• • •
We walk through the aisles of the almost empty supermarket. Dominic must have chosen this place for this reason. We passed by three other stores, but he didn’t stop. The neighborhood is also different.
We shop with ease. I don’t want to think about it too much, but being in a grocery store makes us look like a normal couple. The idea is disturbingly perfect.
As we get in line to check out, I stand behind the cart while he puts the products on the conveyor belt. Idly, I let my gaze fall to the shelves above the belt, full of books, comic books, puzzle games, and magazines. One of the magazines in particular catches my attention.
It can’t be.
With shaking hands, I grab it.
No. This isn’t real.
The large cover photo shows the socialite, Delphine Palermo, in a long blood-red dress, blonde hair impeccable, with her hands on the shoulders of an elegant medium-sized man who is wearing an expensive suit. His fingers rest indiscreetly on the woman’s hip as they smile at each other, their gazes intimate. An ordinary couple, if it weren’t for the fact that Del was my mother’s best friend, and she’s now with Vincent. Cowards!
A feeling so ugly that I didn’t even know it e
xisted suffocates me. I want to scream, to tear apart the magazine, to kick everything around me.
Dammit! They are together! Had they been fooling around behind my mother’s back all that time?
Shaking, I grip the magazine between my fingers and read the headline: “Socialite Delphine Palermo supports Vincent Wine’s nomination as a candidate for the Senate.” On the smaller lines below the title, it says: “The official event will take place on the twenty-second at nine o’clock in the main hall of the Hotel Videlton.”
Today.
I take a few deep breaths then put the magazine back.
That won’t happen, Vincent.
Dominic
I examine her delicate face twitching as she looks out the truck window, absorbed in her thoughts since we left the supermarket. Her fisted hands are what tipped me off. What the fuck made her like this?
“Are you all right?” I ask.
She turns to face me. The fire in her eyes is not a good thing.
A rehearsed smile rests on her lips. “Yes, I am,” she says nonchalantly.
I nod and face the traffic again. She’s lying.
I think back to the events of the day. She seemed fine with everything we did, and then we went shopping and something changed.
I clench the steering wheel hard. Dammit, why won’t she talk to me?
I drop my hand to hers and caress her icy fingers. I’m here, Luna. I always will be.
“You’re shaking,” I observe.
She stares at our joined hands. “I must be cold.” Her distant whisper doesn’t please me.
“Talk to me, baby,” I demand.
A slow exhale leaves her body. “There’s nothing to say, Dominic.”
Not good.
Then her little hand leaves mine.
There is definitely something wrong.
Luna
I feel Dominic’s eyes on me. I’d like to say I’m really okay, but right now, I’m too lost in anger at what those two did. Now it makes perfect sense, as clear as heaven on a summer’s day.
