Baby V (Chianti Kisses #1) (30 page)

His forehead furrows, eyes looking up while his mind processes the information,
 “
Do they have a division two football team? I think we played them
.
”

Strike one. H
e’
s a football player.

I shake my head,
 “
No, we were an all girls school. No football.
I’
m V, by the way
.
”

His eyes widen in excitement,
 “
Like the letter? Tha
t’
s so cool! It must be so easy to remember your name
.
”

Ah crap. Strike two. I begin to accept that I will be paying the tab for gir
l’
s night. The song switches to a generic upbeat club theme.

My new frien
d’
s head perks up
,
“
I love this song. Come on... we have to dance
!
”

Uhh... dancing was
n’
t part of the plan. His movements become animated, head bopping around to the beat. Surprisingly, he can keep the beat... his arms jutting out in multiple directions, threatening anyone who enters his space. I keep what I believe to be a safe distance, but join in his fun. Just when I think h
e’
s displayed all of his erratic dance skills, he crosses his ankles, points his fingers into the air and twirls Michael Jackson-style. I let my good-natured laughs ring out. Ryan is a good sport and he steps up his game. I
t’
s not long before his John Travolta-inspired moves show themselves.

The crowd now notices his half-comedy, half dance-off routine and cheer him on. I add my own clapping and whistling to the mix. This kids a good sport. I look around, searching for my table as I have lost my sense of direction from all the twirling. It takes me almost a full minute to locate her, but sh
e’
s not alone anymore. Her companion has his back to me, but I can tell h
e’
s handsome. I do
n’
t know what it is that gives him away... maybe i
t’
s his posture, the way he carries himself.

Steph seems delighted to be with him. The waiter approaches them and I see Step
h’
s guest hand him the leather billfold from our dinner. So h
e’
s got manners, too. I tear my eyes from them back to Ryan who is now busy showcasing his square dancing skills with another goofball. I decide i
t’
s safer for me to exit discreetly than try to interrupt their budding bro-mance to say goodbye.

I head back through the crowd to my shared table to meet Step
h’
s new mystery man. As I close in, she sees my approach and her visible excitement grows. I clear my throat, preparing to introduce myself. With two feet left to go, I stop in my tracks. I know that scent, that cologne.

Dom turns in his chair, greeting me.

“
Hey babe. Nice dance moves
.
”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

I step back on my heels, stunned. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine seeing Dom here. My lips scramble to find some movement that remotely resembles speaking. He stands, mischievous grin plastered on his perfect face, and pulls me to him. My lips do
n’
t need to worry about finding words. They find his lips, instead. I may still be damn mad at him for his lecture and jumping to conclusions about that night with E.J., not to mention
I’
m still pretty pissed about now being a target on Tany
a’
s radar thanks to being involved with him, but it momentarily all melts away from the heat of his tongue.

Crap. This man messes with me. I have
n’
t seen him in days, have
n’
t spoken to him in almost as long.
I’
ve been so blinded by muted rage that I had
n’
t let myself acknowledge how much
I’
ve missed him. His body is reminding me of it, now, though... melting into mine.

Sounds slowly return into focus and I hear a deep sigh from my left, reminding me that we have an audience. I tear myself away from my man, not one to rub it in Step
h’
s face. Sh
e’
s left sitting, watching starry-eyed in envy, no doubt, missing her surf instructor.

“
Um. What are you
doing
  here?
,
” I ask him, trying to avoid his lust filled eyes.

He pulls me in closer
,
“
If you had bothered to read your messages, or answer your calls, or respond to my emails... you would have seen that I was coming home today
.
”

Point well played.

“
Well, if you had
n’
t been such a
jerk
, I would
n’
t have been so pissed at you where I would be
avoiding
your messages, calls,
o
r e-mails
.
” I make my case.

Dom rolls his eyes playfully. I notice the subtle movement of his fingers over my backside.

“
You two even make arguing look sexy.
I’
ve got to get out of here and make a long distance call
,
” Steph grabs her handbag and keys.

Dom gives her a peck on the cheek before she turns and squeezes me tight, whispering in my ear,
 “
Tha
t’
s
  why you waited,V
.
”

She makes her way toward the exit, before I call out,
 “
Sur
f’
s up
!
”

~*~

The cool night air breezes over me as my loose hair flops in the wind. The sky is clear tonight as I aim my head to watch the moving stars above. Soft music Is playing through the car speakers as we drive along. I feel the bare flesh of my legs burning under Do
m’
s eyes as he alternates between them and the road. I break the conversational silence.

“
How did you know where to find me
?
”
I’
m almost afraid to know the answer.

He grins, fingers tapping the leather bound steering wheel thoughtfully,
 “
I have my ways
.
”

I scoff at the reply,
 “I’
m sure you do. Care to tell me where w
e’
re going
?
”

His grin only widens.

“
I
t’
s on a need to know basis. Right now, I only need to know how bad yo
u’
ve missed me deep inside you
.
”

I swallow hard. There are no words to fully describe, in detail, how my body has longed for him. The only feelings that could even rival it, were the ones of anger when he accused me of meeting E.J. The two opposing sides are doing battle right now.

“
I had a visit from your ex today. I
t’
s becoming a pattern. One
I’
d like to come to an end
.
”
 
I figured the only safety from admitting how my body is on fire for his, is to change the subject to one that would instantly cool the flames.

I search for any sign of reaction from him, but he is masterfully hiding them. I do notice his fingers blanching themselves around the steering wheel.

“
Oh
?
” He comments.

Tha
t’
s all I get, an
Oh
? I press on
,
“
Yup. Her usual bitterness and rantings. But... she did say one thing that peaked my interest
.
”

Do
m’
s jaw twitches, muscle flexing under stress from clenching too hard,
 “
And what might that be
?
”

I cross my legs to offer a little visual torture
,“
Do
n’
t you know already? After all, do
n’
t you have your
ways
?
”

Dom removes his hand from the steering wheel, methodically placing it in between my crossed thighs. His movement is rough, deliberate.

“
It would be a lot easier for you to just tell me, although part of me hopes you do
n’
t. I
t’
ll be a lot more fun for me to make you
.
”

I uncross my legs, parting my flesh to remove any obstacle. Pursing my fingers to my pouted mouth, I pinch them for emphasis,
 “
My lips are sealed
.
”

Do
m’
s hand moves over my skin, under the thin material of my skirt. His fingers blindly reach out, slipping themselves into the moisture between my thighs, harshly pushing at the cotton covering his target.

He hisses, eyes struggling to stay opened and on the road before us, fingers delving in the depths,
 “
No... actually the
y’
re not
.
”

The car abruptly swerves from the road and into a large darkened parking lot. The hour is late enough for spaces to be emptied, the office building vacant. The car jolts from the sudden gear shift into park, with Do
m’
s seat belt already removed. He now works on mine, frustration building as the mechanism does
n’
t fully cooperate at first. When it finally obeys, Dom wastes no time lifting me up and pulling me over the gear shift to rest on him, my knees balancing themselves on the outer perimeter of his seat, waiting....

There is very little room to spare, if any, as we somehow make use of every millimeter of space. I lift my hips up, providing a touch more clearance to Dom as his hands are busy at work freeing himself from his pants, his knuckles raking against my tender flesh hovering closely above. His mouth claims mine, pulling at my lips to sate his demanding kisses.

“
I can promise you that yo
u’
ll tell me what she said before I let you come
.
”
 
His voice is different. There is a cool undertone swirling beneath his words, adding to the depth of them. My heart skips a beat at the veiled threat, excitement growing in my body. Dom was patient and tender with me when I needed him to be, but his demeanor now has a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde aspect to it. H
e’
s shown me that when need be, he can turn on a dime, into a stubborn, willful and commanding partner. And damn me, I think I like it. Damn him even more... I think he knows.

His throbbing mass springs free from its material prison and slaps itself against me while crashing between my folds during the movement. The action is sudden, sharp, like a rubber band snapping. His stiffened handle lays still now, resting between us. I lower myself to touch it in some way, make contact with it, hoping that it will somehow magically slide into place, but it does
n’
t.

My actions prove futile as the building friction on our two sensitive areas does nothing but deepen my need. I whimper as I am unsuccessful yet again at guiding him in.

Dom breaks our kiss, using his teeth to grab at my lower lip... erotically holding it hostage before speaking,
 “
You sure you do
n’
t want to tell me
?
”

His movement is quick, orchestrated, as he emphasizes his last punctuated word by dropping my tightly held hips down, encasing his pointed flesh within. I exhale, relieved that the tortuous anticipation is over. At least I thought it was. Just as quickly as he pulled me down, he manages to pull me up, with the void left behind from his width and length closing itself.

I feel robbed, like the thing most precious to me has just been stolen, ripped from my grasp. A swirl of emotions bundle themselves within me... the need to get that stolen object back, anger that it was taken, and fury that it has such a strong effect on me. Need is a powerful thing. Very few things in this world are truly needed. Air, water, food... as sure as I need those things to survive, I need him.

I strain myself against his clutches, anxiously attempting to reclaim him but it is of little effect, His grip is strong. We are having a war of wills, our bodies playing out the conflict of whose is stronger. I do
n’
t have a chance. My thighs begin to quiver from the stress of my position, awkwardly contorted over him. There is only one way to end this. Someone has to win.

I would have imagined the moment where one resigns themselves to submit mentally, physically, hell even emotionally to another would be a hard pill to swallow or a bruise to the ego. Defeat, concession, failure... those are all viable feelings waiting to take hold when someone is cornering you to bend to their will, yet I do not feel them. I feel nothing but calmness and tranquility as I accept the choice for what it is. This relationship does
n’
t have room for tw
o
“
CE
O’
s
.
”
 
Do
m’
s damn good at that job, both in the boardroom as well as in our bedroom. I
t’
s time to just let him do his job.

“
Please
,
” I whisper.

The darkness of the night swallows us, yet his eyes are darker, standing out. I lock with them, silently conveying the emotions
I’
ve just sorted through.

“
Tell me
,
”
 
he commands.

I swallow hard, the seconds stretching themselves. I lick my lips,
 “
Secrets. She said there were secrets. She told me to ask you about them
.
”

Dom nods, his eyes never leaving mine. His voice softens, his grip does
n’
t.

“
There are reasons you do
n’
t know them, baby. The
y’
re not meant to enter your world. I
t’
s my job to protect you from them, and I will die to do it. Tell me you trust me to do that
.
”

His words play at my heartstrings, wanting to be accepted for what they are. A promise. A promise to shield me, to guard me. How can I not cherish him for wanting to do that?

I nod, accepting my place in his world. I am his, and his alone.
 “
I trust you
.
”

His lips finally quench mine, full of released passion from our standoff,
 “
Thank God
.
”

His hips rise harshly, in sync with his hands as they crash us together, impaling me with his soft spear. The softness of his voice directly contradicts the voracity of his movements. There is no rhyme or reason to it, it just simply... is.

The softness of his lips trailing sweet kissed over my skin, my neck, pales in comparison to the hard steel he is claiming me with... over and over again.

~*~

ONE MONTH LATER

The horizon takes on a deep bruised complexion in the rear view mirror as we drive from it. The days are long this time of year, but the lateness brings the heavy sun closer to rest. With the event growing closer, my work day never seems long enough, though. I find myself going over the same details again and again, settling for nothing short of perfection. Do
m’
s workload has seemed to increase along with mine. Our rare stolen moments together appreciated as a reprieve for us both.