by Nikki Bloom
She shuffled closer on her knees as I stood on the edge of the bed and leaned in. My dick jumped as she breathed on it, hot air ghosting over my skin like a caress. I gasped, throwing my head back as her mouth closed over my erection, sucking experimentally. “Mmm,” she moaned as if she was licking an ice-cream, and my legs trembled as I tried not to come there and then. “You like when I suck you, don’t you?”
I opened my eyes, looked down in surprise and found her studying me even as her mouth worked on me. “Yeah,” I rasped.
She smiled. “Good.” And somehow, she seemed to redouble her efforts. She wasn’t able to take the whole thing in her mouth, so she used her hand to massage me, as if she was in a porno. Something about it bothered me.
“Nico? What are you doing?”
Her brow furrowed and she let go of my dick with a plopping sound. “You don’t like it?”
I sat down next to her on the bed. “I do…but, do you?”
The furrow deepened. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, what’s up with all the porno dialogue and the looks and shit?”
She dropped her eyes, her face flooding with color. “I thought maybe you’d like that.”
“Why?”
She didn’t say a word or look at me and I began to get really worried. I bent my head and inclined it at a very awkward angle, just so I could look in her eyes. “Hey, Nico, it’s just me. Please talk to me. Remember what we said about communication?”
She took a deep breath and looked up. “It’s just that…I’m not that experienced with men. And…” She swallowed, looking away. “I don’t want you looking elsewhere.”
“What makes you think I will?”
She was silent, still avoiding my gaze.
“Nico?”
“Danna told me she ran into you at the Red Lounge and that…” She shook her head. “It’s stupid and I don’t even really believe it. She was probably lying her damn fool ass off, but I don’t think I could bear to lose something else to her.”
I cocked an eyebrow in surprise. “Danna told you…what? That we hooked up? Because yeah, we met and she wanted to, but I told her to get lost. In no uncertain terms.”
She sneaked a peek at me. “I mean, I know that’s probably true. But apparently I’m more insecure than I realized.”
I leaned in and pressed my lips to hers. “I just want you, Nico, okay? Not just now, not just tonight, but for as long as you’ll have me. When I found out those guys took you…” I swallowed, shaking my head. “I haven’t felt fear like that in a long time. I would say ever. I just-” The words stuck in my throat as I shook my head, but she was staring wide-eyed at me as if she understood what I was trying to say anyway.
She reached up, pressing her lips to mine. “Me too,” she said with a shy smile. “I mean, I feel the same.”
“Yeah?”
She nodded vigorously and I laughed, gathering her to me and just plundering her mouth. She wrapped her arms and feet around me, laughing into my mouth as she pulled me backward. I reached out a hand to slow the impact of her fall onto the pillow. She giggled, pulling me down so that we could smash our lips together again. We wiggled against each other, making ourselves crazy with all the naked flesh on flesh. I wanted her so bad. I just wanted to bury myself inside her and never leave.
I realized that there was no reason why I shouldn’t. Taking myself in hand, I shoved into her as she arched up encouragingly. “Domenic…” She whispered my name like a prayer and I grunted in response, pushing into her as deep as I could, my balls finally nestled between the cheeks of her ass. I began to swivel my hips, wanting to find every g-spot inside her and shock it into life.
Judging by how loudly she was groaning, I wasn’t doing too bad a job of it. I thrust deep inside of her, feeling her shake beneath me, her hands like claws on my back, urging me onward, faster, harder.
I needed it so badly –the sense of connection– looking deep in her eyes as I plundered her body, looking for her soul, letting her see mine. I realized that I was making love for the first time in my life. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I blinked away the sudden prick of tears in my eyes.
Her hand landed on my cheek as if she could feel my epiphany. “Domenic!” she called to me as if begging me not to hide, her legs tightening around my waist, letting me know I was home.
I let go both physically and mentally, sinking into her and emptying into her as she held securely on to me and shook with her own release. I kept my eyes on hers, and for a moment I felt as if we might have mind-melded; her pleasure was mine and I could feel in myself every emotion flitting through her. We fell apart, panting hard, and staring at the ceiling, our hands seeking each other out between us.
I turned to look at her at the same time as she turned to me. We eyeballed each other. I was at a loss for words and I think she was too. Then she grinned, and I did too, and soon we were laughing hysterically.
I couldn’t even have told you why.
22
Nicolette
The ringing doorbell the next morning had me startling awake, shooting up to a sitting position, my heart beating hard. I might still have been the slightest bit hypervigilant. Dom was waking up a bit more slowly, as he made grumbling noises beneath his breath. I huffed a laugh as the doorbell rang again and cautiously got out of bed.
There was a terrycloth robe hanging from the door of the bathroom and I plucked it down and put it on, reveling in the soft, cottony comfort as I found the matching rabbit slippers and shuffled to the front door.
Seeing as once bitten twice shy, I peered through the peep hole to see who it was first. The large, suited shape looked like Morgan, but I wasn’t taking chances. “Who is it?”
“Your brother.” I could tell he was rolling his eyes, which just goes to show how much he knows.
I unlatched the door but found that the key wasn’t in the hole. I turned and hollered for Dom. “I can’t unlock the door.”
I heard his shuffling footsteps approach as he still murmured discontentedly under his breath. It was kinda funny and I couldn’t help grinning. He stopped short when he saw me and narrowed his eyes. “What are you laughing at?” he asked, the epitome of grumpy. I just chuckled out loud. He tried to maintain the pout but apparently it was too much work. He padded closer, leaned down and planted a kiss on my lips before turning to open the door by pressing his thumb against a biometric pad. “We should get yours done,” he said, before turning to slouch off to the kitchen.
The door opened and Morgan stepped in, then closing the door firmly behind him. He grabbed my arms and dragged me into his arms, much to my surprise, and proceeded to squeeze the life out of me.
“Uh…Morgan? I can’t breathe.”
He let me go only to glare at me. “Could you henceforth refrain from being kidnapped, please?”
I huffed a tired laugh. “Trust me, I’m never leaving the house again.”
“What’s the news?” Dom called from the kitchen.
Morgan walked towards him and I followed. “Well, we got some info you should definitely know. Guess who incited Rooster to go after Nico.”
Dom stopped fiddling with the coffee maker to stare at Morgan. “No…”
“Yep. Roman Alexander.”
I stepped forward to lean on the counter, “You mean, the guy you’re competing with for that job?”
Dom nodded slowly. “Huh…” He looked thoughtful as he took a bite out of the bread he was currently buttering. Morgan and I both watched him, waiting to see what he would say. He looked up at us and smiled. “We could use that.”
Morgan was already shaking his head. “No one’s gonna believe a biker over Roman Alexander.”
“Maybe. Maybe not. We’re not trying to win the hearts and minds of the electorate. All we need to do is convince a few members of one board that he’s not the man they want at their helm.”
Morgan nodded. “And that’s it? He gets my sister kidnapped and just goes free?”
&
nbsp; Dom sighed. “Like you said; we can’t prove it.”
“Well, we better do something, Dom.”
He caught my eye and we just looked at each other. Slowly, he put down the bread and came to me, putting an arm around my shoulders. “What do you want, Nico? This happened to you.”
I settled into his arms with a sigh. “I just want to be safe. For once in my life, I want to be safe.”
I didn’t miss how Dom and Morgan exchanged determined glances at that statement. Closing my eyes, I let them have their communication in peace. Whatever they decided to do, I was fine with it.
Morgan stayed to have breakfast with us.
“Are you gonna come back to the city or are you staying up here?” he asked.
Dom glanced at me. “Nico’s had a time of it. I thought we’d stay here for a while before heading back.”
I straightened up in protest. “I have to go to work.”
“Can’t you take some time off? At least until we have this resolved. I don’t think I can live with you out of my sight.”
I blushed at Dom’s words, avoiding Morgan’s eyes in embarrassment. “Yes, well…what will I tell them?”
“Do you have any cumulated leave days? Personal days?” Dom asked.
“Oh, I know you do. You never take time off,” Morgan interjected before I could answer.
“Yes, but-”
Dom shook his head, “No buts, Nico. You’re not going into work until we have this resolved. Tell them the disappointment of not winning the grant was too much for you. Whatever you have to say.”
I sighed in resignation. “Fine. I’ll call my supervisor. But she’s gonna think I’m pulling some kind of diva fit.”
“You’re entitled. Pretty sure that Danna girl pulls diva fits daily.” He clenched his jaw in obvious annoyance. I smiled, knowing that he was actually right.
“Okay. I’ll call. Can I borrow your phone? I don’t have mine.”
He dug the phone from his pocket and handed it to me. I went into the bedroom to make the call, leaving them to plot and plan behind me. My supervisor was surprisingly chill about my sudden need to take leave. I thanked her and hung up before sending Jacinda a text telling her I wouldn’t be in for a few days and I didn’t have a phone. Luckily, my contacts were saved on a cloud and I could access her number.
She texted back to say she completely understood, which kind of choked me up for some reason. The tears seemed so close to the surface all of a sudden. It was disconcerting. I’m not a crier.
I walked back to the living room and heard Dom and Morgan discussing beating Roman Alexander to a pulp. That made me smile and I left them to it as I went to the kitchen to fill my coffee cup.
Morgan left after breakfast, but we stayed at the cottage. Dom was on his phone all morning, first with his lawyer, discussing legal avenues to pursue and then with other people, having long, whispered conversations, probably about me.
I busied myself with Netflix and food, waiting for him to finish. It gave me too much time to think, mostly about our night together and how intense it had been. I was ready to acknowledge that whatever feelings I had for Dom, they were strong.
He finally hung up the phone and came to sit by me with a tired sigh, peering at my bowl of ice cream. “What you eatin’?”
I huffed a laugh. “Ice cream. And no, you can’t have some. Get your own.”
He gave me a wounded glance. “I just saved you from the bad bikers and you can’t share your ice cream with me?”
I gave him an incredulous look. “First of all, buddy, I rescued myself. You just gave me a lift outta there. Second of all, there’s plenty more in the fridge.”
“So not the point,” he mumbled sulkily but got up to get his own ice cream.
Once he came back, I turned to face him, wanting to hear what had transpired and what was going to happen next.
“So I spoke to a few of my friends, you know, the kind who like to talk. I complained loudly about what had happened with Roman. Him hiring a bunch of bikers to kidnap my wife.”
“And how does that help anything?”
“Well, I happen to know that at least three of the people I spoke to have access to board members on Tech Dyne. I’m pretty sure word will have reached the entire board by close of business today.”
“Thus disqualifying him.”
“Hopefully.”
I sighed as I scooped more ice cream into my mouth. “Well…at least this has worked out to your advantage.”
He shook his head, looking thoughtful. “No, it really hasn’t. Do you think that I wanted this? That I wanted you in any danger because of me? No. It’s not just board members I’ve been speaking to.”
I put the bowl down and turned to him, feeling like his next words were going to be very important. “Who else have you been talking to?”
“The Lost Boys. They have their own ways of getting revenge.”
“And you want to use them? Are you crazy? You’ll lose the CEO position for sure if you do that.”
Dom stayed silent, looking off into the middle distance. “You know, last week if you’d asked me those same questions, I’d have said ‘of course I’m not crazy enough to risk my chances…’”
“But…today?”
“Today, I don’t give a damn. I just want him to pay.”
“If it means anything, it’s not like I was hurt. Just really scared.”
“That’s because Rooster wasn’t dumb enough to risk doing anything that might make me destroy his ass.”
“Why did he do it in the first place?”
He gave me a sideways glance. “Why do you think? Money.”
I straightened up, staring at him. “That’s it!”
“What is it?”
“We follow the money. If Roman paid Rooster to kidnap me or whatever, there should be a money trail, right?”
Dom sighed, leaning back on the sofa. “Yeah, but he paid cash.”
I deflated too. “Damn.”
“Yeah.”
We both sighed, and then looked at each other and smiled. Soon we were laughing again, for no reason. Once we stopped, still eyeballing each other, the sexual tension built between us until it could be cut with a knife. I don’t know who lunged first, but soon we were kissing and clawing at each other like a couple of hungry hyenas.
It wasn’t long before we were attacking each other’s clothes like they were personal enemies, trying to touch every bit of skin we could. There was nothing tender in our actions. It was desperate and wanting, fast and hard. The whole thing was a blur in my mind actually – just a kaleidoscope of emotion radiating every which way in uninhibited passion.
I felt quite battered as we lay on the floor afterwards, panting hard – battered but complete.
I rolled over to lay my head on Dom’s shoulder. “Perhaps we’ll leave Mr. Alexander’s fate to Karma.”
He looked back at me and shook his head. “Maybe…but I don’t think so. We’ll think of something.”
“Mmm.”
We lay quietly breathing, just reveling in each other’s presence. “Hey, do you like…want to get married again? Ya know, like, for real?” he asked.
I huffed a laugh. “We are married for real.”
“Yeah, but…if you want, we can do the whole thing – cathedral, white dress, crowds of guests…”
I shuddered at the thought. “No thanks. Everyone I needed to be at my wedding was already present the first time around.”
“Mmm, me too.”
I hesitated slightly because I didn’t know if this was a hot button. “Um, Morgan told me your mother’s still alive.”
He stiffened at once. “And?”
“Well…um, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.”
He sat up and turned to look down at me. “My mother isn’t exactly…maternal. Her major concern with me is that I send her enough money to feed her habit.”
I blinked at him in surprise. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
/> He shrugged. “I don’t generally share that story with anyone who doesn’t already know.”
I reached out and snagged his hand, squeezing it. “Thank you for telling me.”
He shrugged again and got to his feet, practically running away from me. He looked back as he headed, bare-assed, for the bedroom. “Well, are you coming? We gotta save water, you know? Shower with a friend.”
I laughed, getting to my feet as I shook my head. “I’m all about environmental conservation,” I murmured as I followed him.
23
Domenic
We went back into the city the next morning after Leyland called to tell me that the board was scheduled to come to a decision in the course of the day. Nico tried to persuade me that she should go back to work since we were in the city, but I vetoed that idea.
“You can go back tomorrow, after the verdict is in. I don’t trust Roman one bit.”
“But isn’t that why you have all that security? Why you gave me this watch that has a tracker on it? And this new snazzy phone as well?”
I looked away because she’d been protesting about us going ‘overboard’ since Morgan had sent the items over. “Yeah, but-”
“No buts! Either I’m safe with these things or I’m not. Which is it?”
“It’s not that simple and you know it.” I turned away from her because I didn’t want this to turn into an argument. Thankfully, my phone rang, although I was less grateful when I saw it was Tank.
“Yo.”
“Dom, some crazy shit you’ve been through lately. You got some time for me today?”
‘Yeah, of course. I mean, I kinda owe you.”
“Nah. I just… well, there’s something I wanted to talk to you about. Been meaning to do it for some time actually.”
“Shoot.”
“So we’ve been trying to set up a program for a number of years. Actually, inspired by you and what you did. It’s been hard to get it off the ground and we thought maybe, with your help…”
I took a deep breath. “Yeah, sure, maybe send me the details.”