by Juli Valenti
“Honey, I’m home,” she announced loudly, jokingly.
“Hello, beautiful,” came Dominick’s voice before he entered the room from the reading nook. His eyes flashed to the multitude of bags on the floor at her feet and a smile spread across his face. “Oh good, Toni did a good job.”
“Ugh. A little notice, next time, please. I’m trying very hard to not feel guilty about the extravagant amount of money she put on your card today,” Jessie despaired. “You should have sent me to Wal-Mart or Target, would have been much better on your wallet.”
“Pssh. If I want to do something nice for my girlfriend, I will. Now…do I get to see it all? I seem to recall a promise of modeling…”
“I never promised,” Jessie started, though he held a hand up, stopping her.
“Yep, you did. No backing out of it, Miss Thing. On the phone, at the diner, before you left. You said you would, and I’m totally holding you to it. I’m curious and want to see! Oh, and we need to get you a cell phone. I have no idea how you can live in this century and not have one.”
“Fine, I’ll show you… You want to see all of it?” she asked him, glancing down at the bags and mentally calculating how long this fashion show was going to take – she had tons of stuff waiting for his inspection.
His eyes came to fall on the lingerie bags, and his eyes shot to hers. She blushed, knowing that he knew what was in them – after all, it was what they were known for…a secret no one else knew.
“Oh yeah,” he said, his voice husky. He cleared his throat, laughed a little, and helped her carry the bags into the bedroom. “I’ll just be sitting on the couch…waiting. Take your time…only don’t, because the anticipation is killing me.”
After he left, Jessie sat for a moment, trying to figure out where she was going to start. She decided it would be a smart idea to unpack all the items, lay them out, and choose from there. At least, it had started out as a logical thing to do…until the garments just kept coming, piling one atop the other and she could no longer see the bottom of the pile. She was sure that Toni had distracted her somehow; she didn’t remember buying this many things – it was more than just a few items; it was a complete wardrobe, for almost two people!
Overwhelmed by the sheer amount of clothes, more than she’d ever owned at any point in her life, Jessie hurriedly reached for the pink VS bags and the tissue-wrapped feminine items inside. Unfolding the thin paper, her hands hesitated on sapphire blue lace. The color was so rich, beautiful, and the lace soft. Placing the bundle on top of the mound of waiting dresses, jeans, and shirts, she lifted the bra and held it to her body. She caught her reflection in the mirror above the bureau and she hesitated. The blue went well with the porcelain of her skin, and she quickly snatched the matching pair of panties.
Jessie smiled to herself as an idea hatched in her mind. Dominick wanted to surprise her by buying her enough clothes to last her forever? Two can play the surprise game, she thought as she undressed quickly, not wanting to keep him waiting for fear he’d come to check on her before she was ready. Sliding the panties up her legs, she couldn’t help but admit that they were exquisite, much better than the cheap cotton she’d been wearing from Wal-Mart. Maybe Victoria really knew the Secret, if all of their things felt this good. On a mission, she hooked the bra on and scrounged through the remaining bags in search of the one from Sephora. Jessie had huffed when Toni had forced her to buy so many things of makeup and products, but was now secretly glad of it. I need to thank her big time, Jessie continued in her head as she hurriedly applied mascara, eye liner, and shadow the way she’d been instructed by the nice girl at the counter. Scooping her loose curls up into a clip on the top of her head, she evaluated herself in the mirror, added the red lip stain, and nodded at her reflection. She could do nothing for the loss of weight, but she thought the hair and face paint was a nice addition to the lingerie.
“Jessie, you alright in there? Do you need help?” Dominick’s voice was still far away, and Jessie knew she needed to finish up quickly.
Snagging a pair of silver stilettos, she slipped them on, admiring them. At the store they’d made her feel like a giant next to her vertically challenged best friend, but now they made her calves look nice and her legs look long and lean. Satisfied, Jessie smiled and moved to the door.
“This is going to be fun,” she said to herself as she started up the hallway, mustering the sexiest walk she could.
Chapter Twenty-Two
The look on Dominick’s face as Jessie strutted up the hallway and into the living room was priceless. His eyes widened and his eyes heated as he took her in, starting at her stiletto-clad feet, up her legs to her panties, her bra, and then her face and hair. His lips were parted when she stopped about ten feet in front of him.
“Well, what do you think, Mr. Wace?” Jessie asked coquettishly, her hands resting on her hips.
Still unspeaking, he lifted his hand to twirl a finger, indicating he wanted her to turn around. She obliged, rotating slowly, pausing with her back to him, and looked at him over her shoulder. From this distance, she could tell that his breathing had sped and he shifted on the couch.
“I think,” he started, stopping and clearing his throat. “I think I need to send Toni some flowers…or a singing telegram…or some other ridiculously big thank-you note.”
“I’m assuming you like what you see?” Jessie strode toward him, her footsteps almost silent despite the heels.
“I don’t like what I see, Jessie. I fucking love it, excuse my mouth. You’re always gorgeous to me…but hell, I expected you to come out in a dress or something…not strolling out of the pages of every man’s Maxim wet dream. Are you even real right now? Did I fall asleep on the couch?”
“Ouch. Nice back-handed compliment there, sugar,” she pouted, though she was secretly pleased. Jessie knew that she barely paid any attention to her looks – the only time he’d even seen her in makeup other than right now was weeks ago for Halloween and then it was barely anything. She always said it was because she didn’t have the time, but if she were being honest, she hadn’t wanted to put the effort into herself. What was the point? This, this is the point, she elucidated to herself.
Dominick stood and met her halfway. His hands were warm when he reached out and grabbed her hips, tugging her toward him. She allowed him to pull her to him, and when they were close he moved his hands to her face. He held her head steady for a moment, his finger trailing down her cheek.
“Shut up, Jessie. You’re the sun right now, and you’re blinding me. You know that I think you’re amazing, I’ve told you often enough. Remember, you’re standing in my room half naked, in heels – which you never wear – and with supermodel makeup on. Excuse me if my pinup girlfriend is causing my brain to short circuit.”
“Oh,” Jessie said, unsure of what else to say as he continued to examine her. Her stomach was in a knot, nervous and excited all at the same time.
“Yes, ‘oh,’” he said softly. “I’m going to kiss you.”
Jessie was surprised that he’d said it, almost as if asking for permission. Not even thinking about it, she tilted her face in his grip, raising her lips. Even in the heels, he was still taller than she, and it was one of the things she loved about him. One of the things I love? she questioned herself, almost panicking. She knew that she cared for him, but loved?
Dominick’s mouth came down on hers, capturing her and blanking her thoughts. She melted into him as his hands moved down her sides, causing goosebumps to form on her skin. When his lips opened, hers followed suit, and his tongue slipped inside her mouth, tasting her, exploring her as if he’d never done it before. He turned them without breaking the kiss and moved her backward. Her legs found the couch and he lifted his head, their eyes locking as he pushed her to a sitting position. Dominick dropped to his knees and stared at her for a moment.
“Jessie,” he said, before shaking his head, as if to stop his thoughts from forming into words. Instead, he reached for on
e of her legs and, starting at her ankle, trailed kisses upward. Once he reached the bottom of the panties he stopped, grabbed her other leg, and gave it the same treatment. Jessie was gasping when his hands finally reached for the delicate fabric. Watching her face, he slowly lowered the gem-colored lace from her hips, trailing it gently down her legs and passed her heels. She spared a thought that she wasn’t surprised that he’d left the stilettos on, until he tugged her forward and his face lowered between her thighs.
Dominick teased her, nipping at the soft flesh of her thigh, his breath warm upon her core. She tried hard to keep still, to keep from squirming against him, but it was a futile effort. Chuckling softly, he took pity on her, his tongue darting out and stealing her breath. Jessie was unable to stop the moan that bubbled out of her, a sound that was almost choking in its desperation. Dominick indulged in her often, but each time was like the very first; he liked to explore her like he’d explored her mouth, searching and seeking, nipping and sucking on her. His fingers joined his tongue, rubbing and caressing, raising her higher toward release.
“Dominick,” Jessie said, her voice high, anticipatory. Her muscles were starting to tighten and she knew she wouldn’t be able to hold out much longer. It was too much.
Sensing her closeness, Dominick stopped abruptly, lifting his face and removing his hand from her center, forcing a groan from her. She loved and hated when he did that, but she knew he had bigger and better things planned for her - she could see it in his eyes, the promise there making her shiver. He spun her, laying her to span the length of the couch, and climbed above her, his arm snaking around her to unhook the bra she still wore. His weight was welcome, familiar, as was the hardness that pressed into her through his thin athletic shorts. He dropped the pretty garment onto the floor, the sound loud in her heightened state. Jessie gripped the bottom of his white undershirt and tugged it upward, over his head, and let it drop to meet her discarded lingerie.
“Skin on skin,” she whispered against him, her hands roaming along his back. She relaxed underneath him, unable to keep from writhing against him. He had placed his knee between her legs, flush against her wetness.
He sighed against her hair, stopping her hands when she moved to tug his shorts lower. Confused, she looked up to his face and her eyes caught on his intense gaze.
“What is it?” she asked, her voice raising, anxiety coursing through her – he had never looked at her this way.
“I want to tell you something, now, but I’ve never done this before and… I’m scared, for a lack of a better term.”
“You’re scared? Scared of what? You’re starting to make me nervous, Dominick. Whatever it is, just tell me,” she coaxed, worry plain in her voice. He never talked in riddles and she could feel anxiety beginning to fill her as the silence grew between them.
Dominick sat back on his haunches, and, feeling exposed in her nakedness, she covered her breasts with her arms. Of course, her lower half was still out in the open, but there was nothing she could do about it now – she only had two arms, and the way he was perched between her legs did little to hide that fact. She watched him as his chest heaved, as if he was trying to catch his breath before continuing on with what he needed to say. She tried to stay patient, knowing he would tell her, but it was a tough internal fight for her. Jessie had learned she always thought the worst, expected it even, and she was doing it now. Unknowns scared her, and he’d long since stopped being one of the unknowns for her. Of course, she had been waiting for the other shoe to drop… Maybe this was going to be it? She hoped not.
“I love you,” he blurted, his face going red at his outburst. “I’m sorry. I had this whole speech plan – I’ve been working on it for at least a week – all romantic. I even bought flowers, but forgot them in the other room. If you want them I’ll go get them…” his voice trailed off before he shook his head and started again. “Jessie, from the moment I first saw you, walking home from the diner, I knew I had to meet you. You looked so sad, so lost in your own thoughts, and I felt this draw to you, this inner demand to see you smile. I had some urging instinct that if I could just get you to laugh, the world would stop turning and the night would never be dark,” he paused for a moment, swallowing hard, his gaze falling from her face to her arms covering her, before falling to the floor and their clothes. “I know that sounds ridiculously hoakey, but I can’t help it. I know your life has been hard and you’ve hit rock bottom before, but I want you to know that with me, you’ll never even touch the floor because I’ll hold you up when you can’t do it on your own.”
Jessie opened her mouth to say something, what, she wasn’t sure. But Dominick stopped her by pressing a finger to her lips.
“No. I didn’t tell you because I expected a proclamation of undying love from you; I just had to tell you, on my terms. I had to make sure you knew, and that you would realize that I’m not going anywhere. I also didn’t want it to be blurted out during some completely inappropriate time…which has almost happened, more than once.”
Breathing hard, Jessie nodded. She had been thinking only a little bit ago that she could possibly love him, and she hadn’t had time to evaluate it, think about it, roll it around to see if it fit. She knew that she cared about him; she couldn’t wait to see him at the end of each day, and enjoyed the time off they had together – but, was that love? Real love? She realized that she’d never felt the way she did when she was with him, so it was definitely something…but love? Jessie just didn’t know, and she appreciated Dominick not putting her on the spot.
“Hmm…this seriousness is not what I wanted for this moment…” he said as his hand trailed down her body and he used a finger to caress her folds, still wet from his previous attention. Jessie gasped, her body squirming against his hand. “This is the reaction I had intended to get from you. I need you; I’m pretty sure if you turn me away now, I’ll die inside. Let me love you, Jessie?”
His words were a question, and Jessie nodded, wanting him after his words of love. She wanted the expression he promised, the feel of his body, and he didn’t disappoint. He stripped out of his shorts quickly and kissed her hard, his lips firm against hers. She was the one to press the motion, her tongue sweeping out to wet his lip. A wildfire of urgency whipped through her, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him as close to her as humanly possible. Her breasts were pressed against the firmness of his chest, his weight almost painful, but she didn’t let go. Instead, she rotated her hips against him, rubbing herself against his hardness.
Groaning, he lifted his lower body and plunged into her, neither of them needing any more foreplay. She exhilarated in the delicious stretching of her body; she was moist enough to take all of him and it not hurt. Without preamble, he began to move, to pump into her. Jessie had grown accustomed to having to remind him she wasn’t made of glass, so his unrestrained, passionate movement had her building quickly. She arched into him, meeting him thrust for thrust, her pleasure building quickly.
“Dominick, I’m close,” she moaned. Wrapping her legs around his torso, she used her hands on his wrists to hold her steady, trying to not mark him with her nails as sensation coursed through her body.
“Let go, baby, I’ll catch you. I’ll go with you,” he grunted, picking up his pace. With that, he rolled inside of her, the tip of him pressing just the right spot inside of her. He did it once, twice, and on the third time, Jessie screamed, unable to prolong it.
Jessie let go, cresting over the cliff he’d brought her to. She felt Dominick jerk inside her, holding true to his word and climaxing with her. He continued to move until he couldn’t any longer, and he stilled, his face buried in her neck. She was breathing heavily, boneless and unable to move, as he kissed her neck and whispered to her.
“I’ll always catch you, Jessie. I’ll be where ever you are, please know that. I love you.” His voice was soft, a quiet promise to her that gripped her heart and brought tears to her eyes. She wanted that, more than anything. She just
hoped that she would be capable of doing the same for him, because if not, it really wasn’t fair to keep him. If she didn’t truly love him, she’d have to let him go – keeping him without returning the emotion would be selfish, and she knew it.
Chapter Twenty-Three
“WHAT!?” Toni shrieked, her voice loud enough to silence the entire diner.
“He told me he loved me,” Jessie said softly as she moved behind the counter to grab napkins.
“I got that part. You didn’t say it back! Why? It’s clear you love him, Jessie,” Toni said, passing her a dispenser to load.
“He told me not to. Besides, I’m not sure I do love him. I mean…I care for him, a lot. I couldn’t imagine my life without him, but how do I know if that is love?”
“Stupid girl. I love you, but you’re being stupid.” Toni paused long enough to take a deep breath while she shook her head. “Every time you talk about him you light up – even now! Look at you, pink in the cheeks and trying not to smirk. You’re not the same girl you were when you came here; everyone notices the changes in you. You smile at the customers, you talk with them, hell, you have regulars now! They come specifically to sit in your section, to talk to you, to have you wait on them because they enjoy your company. The Jessie who first got here kept to herself, spoke only when spoken to – you were a robot!” Toni exclaimed, her voice rising.
“I know, I know.” Jessie was already wishing she hadn’t told her friend, but she had to tell someone. She had been going crazy with the knowledge all morning, wracking her brain to try to discern how she felt. Dominick kept true to his word – he hadn’t wanted her to say the words back to him, and completely dropped the topic after they’d made love. They’d spent the rest of the night going through her multitude of purchases; she’d tried everything on for him, giving him the fashion show he’d originally asked for, and she’d relished in every compliment he’d paid her. She’d felt good, pretty under his gaze, and she was pleased that she’d gone shopping, even if a part of her still felt guilty about him spending money on her. When she’d spoken up and voiced how she felt, he’d simply told her that if he hadn’t had the money, or hadn’t wanted to do it, he wouldn’t have. Dropping the subject, he’d put some girly movie on in the bedroom and they’d cuddled together on the bed. Jessie hadn’t even realized they fallen asleep until the blasting of the alarm clock woke them this morning.