Dominick licked his lips in a wolf-like gesture and returned the stare. The world fell away and Valerie was assaulted with image after image of remembered times with this man. Dominick filled her waking thoughts as none of the others did. Dancing so close to him was overwhelming to her already overloaded senses. He intrigued her and her body responded to him in ways she couldn’t control.
Pressed so close and sliding up and down and across his torso, her nipples poked into his chest and stoked her arousal. The action had a profound impact on her libido, which purred for more.
“Hold me tighter,” he murmured in her ear. The flat of one large hand slid down a fraction to cup one cheek, pulling her tighter against his groin. He squeezed his fingers lightly and his large palm sizzled her butt in a most delicious way.
“If I get any closer, I’ll be inside of you.”
The rumble of his laughter sent a friction of electric sensation down her spine. “My favorite place.”
“Are people watching us slither over each other?”
“Yes. Every man in this room is jealous.”
Valerie snorted. “No, they aren’t.”
His laughter caressed her. Hugging her close, he put his lips to her ear and whispered, “Oh, yes they are. Each of the men watch us on the dance floor, molded seductively to one another, and speculate if we’ll be horizontal sans clothing later on. I suspect a few of the women do, too.”
Valerie laughed. “So is this something that ‘gets you off’?”
“Not yet. Not tonight. Next time I see you, though, I’ll think back to this moment and ‘get off’ on the memory.” He paused, gave her an odd look and added, “You should do the same thing for Hauser.”
Startled at having Dominick mention one of the other men, she asked, “Do what for Hauser?”
He cleared his throat as if what he had to say was uncomfortable for him to say. “You should come out here and slither around on the dance floor with Hauser. Then every person here will wonder which of us will have you tonight. The speculation will give them something else to gossip about and rob Gina of her perpetual sneer.”
Her eyebrows went to her hairline. “And you’re okay with me slithering all over Hauser?”
He shrugged. “I’ll be the next one in line for private, naked slithering purposes. No one else needs to know. But mostly, I want Gina to writhe in curious agony for ever distressing you.”
“What makes you think she cares about seeing us together? She called you monstrous.”
“After we turned her down, she tracked me to my security job and secretly begged for another chance. Apparently, her selections at the following gauntlet arenas weren’t as appealing. She promised me extra sexual time if I swayed the group to choose her at the next gauntlet arena. I told her to fuck off.” He sneered as if in perverse memory. “She called me a name then, too.”
Valerie nodded. “Okay. Slink me back to Hauser and we’ll put on a show for Gina. I’d hate for her to think she’d caused any rift in our household.”
Dominick glanced over at their booth and apparently signaled Hauser to come and join them. Valerie didn’t see what Dominick did, but within seconds Hauser was positioned behind her. After a few beats to the music with both of them sandwiching her, Dominick released her to Hauser’s care with a wink.
After a slow turn around the dance floor, where she and Hauser practically had mock sex while swaying to the seductive beat of the sultry music, they managed to stray well into Gina’s visibly perturbed view. Valerie caught her eye and sent a satisfied gleam in her direction. Once she knew she had an audience, she kissed Hauser like they were about to drop to the floor and go at it to the beat of the music while the others watched.
She thought they’d proved a point, but soon Johnny tapped Hauser’s shoulder and she danced around the perimeter once with him, too. Mark cut in on Johnny and shortly thereafter, Frasier also intruded for a spin. He pulled her very close and swept her into an overtly erotic dance. Even more erotic than what happened between them when they were alone.
Dominick returned after a long while to whisk her through several more dirty dancing steps as they writhed around the dance floor yet again for their finale. After so much tactile stimulation on the dance floor, Valerie was ready to head home and jump Dominick’s bones.
“Okay, enough. I think Gina gets the point. She just left the dance floor to screech at one of her poor unfortunate mates.”
Dominick’s laugh was rich and deep. “I don’t really care about her. I just like having your body sliding all over mine.” He pressed her lips to hers and licked his way inside her mouth. She didn’t resist.
He pulled back and stared deeply into her eyes. She returned the gaze, thinking about how attached she’d become. Dominick fascinated her on a level the others didn’t touch.
Valerie didn’t know how long they looked longingly at each other, but when the lights came up signaling the party was almost over, she found she was disappointed they didn’t have more time together in this seductive venue. Perhaps she’d initiate a sensuously slithering dance the next time she went to his room.
Dominick pulled away from her as if with great reluctance. Valerie felt the loss of his warmth as if he’d been cut from her. He kissed the fingers of one hand with aching tenderness before returning her to the booth.
Acutely aware that a remarkable event had transpired between them on the dance floor as the sultry music powered their intimate movements, Valerie had an epiphany. There was something elemental about Dominick that captivated her. The basic need he drove in her, which had once been a frightening chore, was now an anticipated luxury.
She was falling for him. Hard.
“Would you like to get a drink?”
Valerie nodded, although she wasn’t thirsty, and opted for a drink of punch followed by a trip back to the booth to rest, although sleep was not the primary thought in her head. Her eyes strayed to Dominick while he spoke to one of Daisy’s mates.
He was beautiful. Darkly perfect and she wanted to learn more about his tastes. The dancing tonight had been a huge surprise. Dominick would certainly remain fully entrenched in her thoughts going forward.
Once they’d stayed the minimum time decreed by the Others for optimal regeneration of spirit, the six of them headed home. She blew a kiss to Daisy, who was plastered against Brandon and dancing to a beat only she could hear.
Hauser and the others led the way as she and Dominick trailed behind them. With his spicy scent wafting around her and the memory of their slithering dances, she wished it weren’t still seven days until her next sexual encounter.
Dominick now held a newly discovered fascination for her libido and she already contemplated how to explore this newfound treasure.
Valerie also wondered how she’d be able to wait until next week to show Dominick her eager new attitude.
Chapter 10
Hand poised to knock on Dominick’s door, Valerie wondered if he would allow her to have what she craved. Would he even let her inside his room? It had been only two days since the dance and Dominick hadn’t been far out of her thoughts for much of the past forty-eight hours. The truth was, she hadn’t thought of anyone else. The recurring memory of the way he’d held her as they’d danced had sizzled a path to her core and boosted her nerve.
After two days of longing, Valerie had slipped into bed tonight each night knowing that sleep wouldn’t come easily. Pondering her options, she made a sudden command decision. She slipped out of bed, pulled her nightgown off and bunched it in a corner. Changing into the sheerest robe in her closet, she left her room and headed down the hallway to Dominick’s door.
Valerie closed her eyes and tapped on his door three times. She counted to five with no response. Maybe he was gone. But she knew it wasn’t true. All men were confined to quarters this late at night unless they had to work and Valerie knew he didn’t. Maybe he was asleep.
She stepped back to retreat just as the door opened. Her eyes traveled upw
ards as his large muscular frame filled the doorway, a questioning expression on his handsome features. Shirtless, Dominick was so overwhelmingly gorgeous and big, she couldn’t speak for a moment.
“What’s wrong, babe?” An appreciative gaze strayed down her barely clad body, only further making it difficult to think clearly.
Valerie couldn’t find her voice and just stared at his bare chest for a few minutes, trying to remember how to breathe. She shifted her gaze to his questioning eyes.
His brows soon came together in concern. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” She nodded as if to convince herself and added, “Nothing’s wrong.”
He glanced down either side of the hallway and then found her gaze. “It’s not my night,” he whispered.
Nodding again she whispered back, “I know. It’s actually my night.”
Crossing his arms and leaning one beefy shoulder against the door frame, his features softened. “Can I help you with something?” he asked slowly, as if the answer would get him into trouble. Valerie wondered the same thing.
Garnering some courage, she placed her hand on the center of his warm, smooth chest and answered, “Yes. There is something urgent that I need help with.”
His eyes slid to where her hand rested. Clearing his throat, he asked, “What can I do for you?”
Valerie sent her gaze to his and watched his reaction to her confession. “I don’t want to sleep alone.”
His eyes widened, but he remained silent, as if digesting the words on how her sleeping patterns impacted him.
“You want to sleep with me?” His lids narrowed. He glanced down each side of the hallway quickly before resting his amused and inquisitive gaze back on her. “Why?”
Heat flashed in her cheeks before she could reign it in. “I…I’m lonely,” she managed to stutter.
Valerie was puzzled as to why he wasn’t more excited about the idea, until a horrifying prospect occurred. Perhaps he was content with the current twice a month arrangement.
She removed her hand from his chest. “Perhaps you aren’t interested. If you don’t want me here, I understand and I promise I won’t ever bother you again…”
Valerie slid a foot backwards and slammed her eyes shut in embarrassment.
Before she could take another step, Dominick grabbed her and pressed her body to his granite-firm chest so fast she almost shrieked in surprise. His strong hands slid behind her back to secure her close. The whisper of material between them in the form of her sheer robe enhanced their contact rather than subduing it. Her face pressed against the spot on his chest where the steady beat of his heart sped up with the pressure of his hug. “I always want you, babe.” He squeezed her even tighter. “Always.”
Valerie released a breath she hadn’t realized she held and asked, “May I please come in?”
“Sure.”
Peeling herself away from his perfect body, she watched his ass as he turned and led the way inside. He ushered her to the small living room and watched her carefully, but didn’t touch her.
“Do you want something to drink?”
Valerie shook her head. She wanted sex. A throbbing between her legs had started pounding as soon as she crossed the threshold into his space. She was so turned on by her own audacity she could hardly get air into her lungs. Having her face buried in his chest put his scent all over her and it was playing havoc with her limited control.
Searching the room for an ice breaker, she noticed the video screen in sleep mode. “Did I interrupt anything? I don’t even know how you spend your spare time here.”
He shrugged. “I read sometimes. I watch video movies occasionally. Nothing too exciting. So, are you ready to tell me why you’re really here?”
Valerie felt heat creep up her face. She wanted sex and didn’t know how to ask for it.
Probably best just to blurt it out. “I’m tired of spending half of my time alone every month. I have five regular sexual partners, but I’m…lonely.”
“So you want to spend your extra private time here, with me?” He didn’t make a move towards her. On any other night when she had showed up in the past month or so, he would have found a way to have kissed her by now. Plus, she’d have something in her hand to drink and she’d be ready to peel her clothing off with the merest look he gave her.
Tonight, she could hardly get breath into her lungs. She swallowed hard and found her gaze lingering on his brawny, perfect chest. She was so used to him making the first move on the nights she came for his turn that she was paralyzed by indecision as to how to get things going.
Perhaps this was a bad idea. “You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.”
A seductive smile stole over his lips. “Oh, I want to.” He took a step closer. “Is there anything special you’d like me to do or are you just here to sleep?”
Valerie trembled as the assault of various things she’d been contemplating all vied for attention in her brain. Like some porn video on fast forward, she couldn’t single out a solitary thing. She just saw flashes of various body parts and naked flesh scanning before her eyes.
“I want to have sex with you. I’m not sure how to initiate it. Or if I should at all.”
He leaned his hip against the edge of the sofa back. “Did you ask the others for extra time?”
“No!” The exclamation came out before she meant to express it, but her answer seemed to make him very happy. “I only asked you.”
“Tell me, if I had turned you down, who would have been next on your list?”
“No one. I don’t have a list.” This was a bad idea. “I should go.” She turned to leave, but Dominick moved with the stealth and speed of a wild animal securing its prey.
Wrapping his arms around her and pressing his glorious body to hers from behind, she almost came as the warmth from his strong body rushed to overwhelm her senses.
“I don’t want you to go, babe. I’m just trying to comprehend your actions. I want to understand so there is no misinterpretation. You want to spend extra time with me, but not the others. Is that right?”
Valerie swallowed a sob. “You must think I’m a horrible person. It’s not right. I know that it isn’t right to feel his way. I just can’t help it.” Unable to hold her volatile emotions, she broke and started crying. Tears ran unheeded down one cheek and splashed on his arm.
“I don’t think you’re horrible. I just can’t believe you chose me. How long have you felt this way?”
“Since before the dance. I can’t stop thinking about you.” Her knees buckled and he lifted her into his arms. She buried her face in his neck and murmured, “When I’m not with you, I’m thinking about you. It’s worse on the weeks that I’m alone. After dancing with you two days ago, I haven’t thought of anything else each waking moment. I just couldn’t stomach spending another night by myself.”
Dominick leaned down and kissed her trembling mouth softly. “I’m glad. I think about you quite a bit, too. The truth is, I’ve don’t remember ever having such intense feelings for a woman. For future reference, you can stay here any time you want, even if it’s just to sleep.” He clenched her tighter. “I won’t ever let you regret coming to me tonight.”
“Thank you.”
He kissed her again with a firm press of his lips implying serious carnal intent. His kisses always made her a little woozy, as if she were intoxicated. Picking her up, he carried her to his bedroom and placed her on her feet next to his bed.
“Tell me, what can I do to make you happy?”
“Kiss me like that again a few more times and then take me to bed. I’m really here more for the sex and not so much for the sleep.”
His eyes narrowed into a smoky, sexy stare that drilled into her soul before he whispered, “My pleasure.”
Another part of the thrill for Valerie was the prurient idea that the Others were recording this auspicious event. If they called her into their chamber to complain, she had a speech all prepared regarding how she shou
ld be able to spend her private time in any way she wanted as long as no one got hurt.
Dominick slid his hands slowly along the contours of her body, trapping the sheer robe against her sensitive skin. Reverently, he slipped his fingers beneath the collar and pulled the fabric apart, slowly revealing her nudity. He pushed her hips against the mattress edge with a gentle nudge from his hands and kissed her bare skin from collarbone to bellybutton. Her fingertips traced his smooth skin over the visible muscles of his shoulders. He soon knelt before her and kissed a path further down until he buried his face between her legs.
One lick across her clit and her body arched forward as if pulled by an invisible string. Legs trembling, Valerie broke the delectable sensation to sit on the bed’s soft edge.
“My legs won’t hold me up when you do that.”
His warm laughter filled the room. “Okay. Scoot back and I’ll get up there to have my wicked oral way with you.”
Once settled, she rested on her elbows to watch what he’d do next. Kneeling between her thighs, he laughed and pulled her legs apart, giving himself better access to where she really wanted his attention directed. She felt his breath first. Just a wisp of air against her sensitive nub, and she sighed in anticipation.
Dominick traced her lower lips with the tip of his tongue. Again she arched off the bed when he circled her clit as his fingers separated her. Valerie slumped against the sheets as his clever tongue suddenly invaded her pussy with a deep thrust.
“You’re so good,” she murmured.
His only response was a grateful sounding moan, as if he devoured a mouth-watering meal he’d waited an eternity to eat. With his tongue now focused firmly on her clit, she was fast moving up to a pinnacle of what felt like forbidden pleasure.
That she wasn’t truly supposed to be here with Dominick and his seductive mouth somehow made the experience more titillating.
The moment he slid his cock inside her body, the Others would know. Valerie hoped they didn’t burst through the door to stop the completion.
1606011189-Menagerie-Santiago.doc Page 13