by C. M. Steele
She pauses to think about what I said, then looks up at me with a gasp and utters, “But we just…and damn we didn’t use anything.”
I smile down at my beautiful, brilliant, curvaceous love as she panics, then calmly add, “Yes, and I’m not risking anything. Tell me, do you love being the owner of a gallery?” This is not the most appropriate time to ask, but I know that I can’t live without her. This would be her chance to let me know if she can let me go.
“Why are you asking?” She’s puzzled, but I do not have the patience for explaining myself.
I rub my thumbs on her cheeks and look into her eyes. “Cara, just answer me?”
“I do.”
“Would you open another gallery if given a chance?” It’s already underway for her.
She shakes her head. “I couldn’t manage two galleries.”
“Would you give up the one you had and say—move to Italy to build a gallery there?”
“What would a gallery in Italy need with me? They have places where masterpieces shine throughout the country.”
“Cara, do you not understand? These days apart are more than I wish to ever experience again,” I tell her with all the sincerity and hope in my voice.
“You want me to move in with you?” She still doubts my affection for her. I don’t know if men she was interested made her feel bad about her weight. I highly doubt it. More than likely other females or weak men who gave her the impression that she’s not worth being loved.
I shake my head. “No, I want you to marry me, Stella.” I pull the ring out of my pocket and drop down on one knee. “I know I’m asking a lot of you. If I could, I would move here for you, but I can’t. I love you with everything that I am. Marry me, please.”
“Dom. Dom. I…” She clasps her hands to her mouth; tears stream down her eyes.
“This is a big decision. I know that…” My heart’s pounding out of control. Fear pours through my veins. I can’t lose her. I’m practically shaking here. What can I do to convince her?
She nods and sobs softly. “Yes, Dom. I will marry you. I love you, too.” Fuck, relief hits me, and I slide the ring on her finger and stand at once, pulling her into my arms.
“Stella, there’s so much to do, but I want you to know that I’m going to do my best to make you happy.”
“Thank you, Domani.”
“No, thank you. I’ve never known what it was to find someone who you couldn’t live without.” She presses her head into my chest.
“It’s the same for me.”
I can’t wait to get her tied to me completely. “Come. Let us clean up then celebrate. There is much to do,” I exclaim.
She steps back and looks around the room. Our picnic is the only thing in the space, but The pieces are at the hangar waiting to be loaded and delivered today. “Yes, the gallery isn’t quite set up. It needs to be finished soon for the event next week. And the delivery should be here in a couple of hours.”
“I know. They came on the same flight with me. I meant we need to work out our plans together. The wedding and the move.” I shake my head at her, then pull her in quickly, kissing her fiercely and deep.
“Oh, goodness. I’m going to be leaving my girls,” she sighs. An overwhelming look of sadness crosses her face. I know they’re close, but I don’t know if it’s a deal breaker.
I tip her chin to look up at me. Reading her feelings is vital here. I won’t let this be a deal breaker. “They’re really close to you, aren’t they?”
“They are. In the four years that we’ve known each other they’ve been my rock, my fun, and the levity that I needed with my busy, staid life. My parents died before I moved to Clearwater, and I had no one else.”
“I’m sorry, Stella. I hope that you’ll get to see the ladies as often or even talk to them every chance they get. But I want to be your rock, your fun, and your levity as much as I can.”
“Heavens, Domani. I’m not trying to give you the impression that I’m making a hard choice. I love them, but our love is different. The girls have their men. I’ll miss our Wednesdays, but I can’t live without you.”
“Cara, you have brought a joy I never knew I needed. My life has been full of work, friends, and family. Until I crossed paths with you as I looked for a vendor, I knew that my life wasn’t complete. My life and family wouldn’t be whole until we spend a lifetime together with many children.” We hug for a few more minutes. I pull away after stealing one more kiss; a chaste one at that because nothing would be accomplished if I tasted her sweetness again.
After cleaning up our little love picnic, we begin going over the layout for the gallery.
“We have three open floor shows. I’ve already drawn up the design concept for the display.” We go into her office and on her wall is a layout of the building floor plan. She has Velcro where the paintings hang and where most pieces are placed for all events. Then she has movable pieces with the names of my collection. “You can look this over before we set up. If you don’t want it like it is just let me know.”
“Stella, you’re the host. I’ll trust your opinion.” She rolls her eyes at me, shaking her head.
“You have one week in New York, right?” she asks.
“Yes, and one in Los Angeles. Which means our wedding will have to wait until the last showing in New York.”
“Well, maybe a little longer than that. I have so much to do that I can’t just close shop. I have a month of showings booked after yours.”
“Do you think that maybe Devon can handle them by herself. I know you said she’s been working for you for years.”
“Yes, she has been. Maybe it could work. It’s a big deal, and the clients may prefer me to represent them.”
“That’s fine. That would put it at five weeks from now.”
“That’s okay?”
“Stella, I’d marry you today if I could, but as long as I know we’re getting married, I’ll manage.”
“I can’t wait either, but realistically I’m already rushing everything.” My phone rings interrupting our conversation. It’s the delivery crew. “They’re going to be here in one hour,” I tell her after I end the call. A total of forty-six items from paintings to sculptures will fill these walls; it’s a vast collection spanning centuries of Italian history. There are other pieces that I have not sent, but those are special for her alone.
“Great. The backroom is prepared for the delivery. I’m going to get some bottles of water for the delivery crew. Let me know what you think of the display design.” She walks away to the backroom. Everything looks great, and I tell her so as soon as she walks back into her office. “You have this under control, Stella. I’m sure it’s going to be amazing.”
Chapter 10
Stella
It’s the gallery opening night for Dom’s collection, and all my girls are coming. I’m so nervous because this is a big deal. My servers are prepared with the champagne and cheese trays. The security is massive and located at every wall next to the valuables. There’s so much history in this room. I look around, and the sculptures of Medici and Da Vinci are magnificent. Dom’s hands slide around my waist as he presses up against my back. “Thank you, Stella. Everything looks amazing.” He runs his nose down my skin from my neck to my bared shoulder, placing tiny kisses along the way. “I love you. Relax. I can feel your tension.”
“Sorry, I just want everything to be perfect.”
“It is. Now, can I see you in the back?” He takes my hand without waiting for a response. He says something to Andrea in Italian that I don’t understand, then leads me to my office. Locking the door, he spins me around and pins me to it.
“We only have twenty minutes,” I tell him.
“It’s okay. I don’t need more than five, cara.” He drops to his knees and lifts my dress to my waist. “Hold it up,” he grunts, sliding my panties off. I shiver, waiting for his mouth on me. He runs his tongue up my inner thigh, then follows it up with his hand grasping firmly. My head falls back
when his tongue flattens out onto my pussy. He parts my lower lips, rapidly flicking my nub. I clench my fists, banging them on the door because I don’t want to ruin his hair or clothes. I feel his smirk on my mound. “It’s okay, Stella. You can use me however you need.”
I thrust my hands into his hair, tugging as he eats my pussy. I’m gasping for air as my orgasm dances on the edges. He slips a finger into my pulsing core. I come, crying out his name. I didn’t care if any of the workers heard me because coming felt so good. Domani slips my panties up my legs, fitting them back in place. As he stands up, he cups my ass, then slams his mouth on mine. I moan, kissing him and throwing my arms around him. His hard cock presses against my stomach. I reach my hands to his pants, but he stops me.
“As much as I want your lips wrapped around my cock, we don’t have time for that, but I promise to make it up to you later.”
“I’m the one who needs to make it up to you,” I purr, pressing my hands on his chest and feeling fully relaxed. I’m so comfortable, I don’t even freak out when Devon knocks on the door. “It’s time, boss lady.”
I smile at Domani who kisses me once before pushing me out of my office. The doors open, and I welcome the crowd with a grin on my face and all my tension erased. “Welcome to the De Luca Family showing at Sharp Curves. Please come in and enjoy.” About fifty guests come in. The gallery’s capacity is only a hundred. With the staff, the place is busy but not crowded.
My girls show up right after I greet the main group of attendees. “Oh my goodness, Stella. You look hot as hell,” Lanie cheers. Each one of them, giving me a hug.
“This place is amazing,” Fancy says with Clark on her arm.
“Thanks for the invite, Stella,” Wyatt says, holding onto Lanie. I didn’t think any of them would let their women come alone. I have a feeling Dom’s going to be the same way. I’m going to miss our Wednesday Nights together. I’m going to have to Skype these bitches while I’m gone.
“What’s wrong?” Avery asks.
I didn’t mean for my emotions to show. Tonight is not about this. “Nothing. I just know that I’m going to miss all of you.”
“Oh girl, don’t get me started. These baby hormones are going to have me weeping like a baby,” Lanie says, rubbing her belly.
Devon steps up to us and gives an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I need you, Stella,” Devon apologizes.
“Please excuse me, ladies. I suppose I must get back to work.”
“Get it, girl. We’re going to check out some of this fancy shit,” Avery says, taking a sip of her champagne. I smile then run back to them for a quick hug. After pulling away, I straighten my dress and get to work.
The show ends with an announcement to the crowd, including the reporters who were invited.
Chapter 11
Domani
I’m at the last gallery expo for my family collection, and I wish Stella was standing by my side. I see the owner, Nigel Winters. He sees me as well and makes his way to me. “I hear congratulations are in order. Stella Sharp is an amazing woman.”
“Nigel, if you say anything negative about her, I’ll bury you,” I warn him, inching closer to him with my attitude pouring from me.
He shook his head, taking a step back. “Why would I? I suppose you heard those rumors that Baxter out of Seattle started.”
“Not exactly, but he intimated that he slept with her and that she was easy with her clients,” I say, finishing with a furious growl.
“He’s a fake braggart. That twerp couldn’t get a woman unless he paid for her. I heard the rumors about four years ago. He also made up stories about my wife. I knew he was lying because I had been there when she rebuked him. I threatened to kill him, but she begged me not to. If you see his client list, it’s the lowest of the low. That’s thanks to me.”
“I didn’t believe him for shit, but I couldn’t let go unpunished,” I remarked, taking a glass of champagne from the waiter passing by.
He takes one the waiter offers to him. “Thanks,” he says, nodding to the young man who walks away.
Once he’s out of sight, he whispers. “Oh, that recent car accident wasn’t a car accident.”
“Is that the story he used? I haven’t heard anything about it,” I reply with a chuckle, taking a drink of my champagne.
“Well, maybe he’ll learn his lesson.”
“Nigel, there you are,” a woman with the same build as my woman says, pressing her hand to his arm.
“Love, I would like you to meet the owner of the collection, Domani De Luca. Dom, this is my wife, Bea.” It explains why he didn’t say anything negative about Stella. Then again, I wonder if he was interested in my woman and Bea was a second option. “He’s scowling at me because he’s thinking the same thing I think about when any guy who knows you would have hit on you. My wife met Stella.”
“Oh my, Stella’s finally dating someone. It’s been forever since she got rid of that cheating loser with the barely a thumb drive for a cock.” She never mentioned an ex-boyfriend.
“What? What guy? Tell me.”
“Nothing. I mean. She dated a guy a very long time ago, but they never got serious because he had excuses galore. He would claim that he wanted to be with her, then blamed her for being fat. He said he didn’t find her attractive. I’m sure she didn’t tell you. If she wasn’t drunk when she told us, then we wouldn’t have known. She said she was glad they hadn’t even kissed.” That’s a sense of relief. It explains why she has a hidden complex about her body. I’ll need to remind her that she’s perfect. If I ever find that fucker, I’ll make him regret hurting her.
After staying until it ended, I went to my hotel. I had a text from Stella. Did you have fun?
If you’re awake, call me. I text back
She does a minute later. “Hey, beautiful. I did have a nice time. It’s a very nice gallery. I wish you could have been here with me. I met Nigel’s wife, Bea.”
“Oh…you did. And? She’s pretty.” Wow, the jealousy is pouring out of every word.
“She is, but all I could think about was if Nigel had been interested in you and ended up with her.”
“You’re silly,” she scoffs, brushing off my own possessive jealousy.
“Look at who’s talking, cara. You’re the only one. You know that. From the start, you’ve been mine. She did tell me an interesting story, though,” I remark, wondering if she’ll know what I’m talking about. The telltale gasp gives me my answer.
“What did she say?” she stammers.
I try not to laugh at her discomfort. “She just told me about a certain ex you had.”
“Oh hell. I didn’t tell you about him because I didn’t think it mattered,” she blurts out rapidly.
“It doesn’t if he didn’t leave you with self-doubt, but if he did, then it matters.”
“He didn’t. As much as it hurt to be told I was unattractive, I didn’t care. I wasn’t in love with him, and nothing happened between us, so I brushed off as a lessoned learned.”
I still wanted to punch the fucker in the mouth. “Good. Because I’d hate to have to kill him. Now enough about someone else. What are you wearing?”
“The undershirt that you left here,” she answers saucily.
“Fuck, that means your big tits are sticking out of the sides.”
“Yep, lots of side boob. I would love your hands running over the shirt, letting the material grazing my hard nipples.”
“Are you trying to make me come?” I utter through a grunt, rubbing my cock through my boxers. I’m about to come.
“Only if it works. I know I need you here between my thighs, licking me the way you do. Ah,” she exclaims. “Are you coming back soon? I need you, please,” she begs. I whip out my cock and stroke it until I’m calling out her name. “Stella. I love you. I’ll be home by noon. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight. And stop wasting my cum.”
“Well, then next time don’t taunt me with images of your sexy body.
When I get there, I’ll make up for it. Several orgasms.”
“I can’t wait. I love you. Night.” She hangs up, and I fall back on the bed, thinking about how I need to get to her. This is going to be our last night apart.
Chapter 12
Stella
I’m standing in the middle of my empty gallery for the last time. I’ve already sold the building for a profit since the property is prime real estate along the beach. Everything was in order for the move. My last stop was my Wednesday Night with the girls.
Dom dropped me off at our spot, but I know he won’t be too far away. In fact, the guys have decided that staying nearby was best. Something about all of us being wild because this was our last Wednesday for a long while. I can see us laughing and crying, but I doubt we’d pick a fight with anyone. We won’t be drinking tonight—least not alcoholic drinks.
“There you are,” Avery says. I’m the last to stroll in and walk around the table giving hugs.
“Sorry, I spent too much time saying goodbye to my empty walls.”
“Girl, don’t be sorry. In fact, I believe you were late the first time we met,” Fancy reminds me.
“How could I forget,” I laugh, tapping Avery’s shoulder.
“Hey, at least we’ll try to stay out of trouble tonight. It’s what I promised Jacob,” Avery replies with a shrug. Her head turns toward the bar where the men decided to sit and keep an eye on us. “Is that bitch looking at my man?”
Lanie clutches onto Avery’s arm, halting her from getting up. “Um, Ave, that’s a dude, and he’s looking at the waitress behind your man.”
With a twist of her lips, she says, “Hey I did say try, didn’t I?”
“I’m really going to miss all of you.”
“We’re going to miss you, but remember we are going to your wedding next week. Besides your man is filthy rich, he can fly us over any time,” Fancy teases. Her man is wealthy, too.
The girls and I laugh for two hours before Lanie starts feeling sick. “I guess belly laughs aren’t that wise right now. Sorry, but I need to go.” That is when the night broke up, and after tearful hugs, we parted ways.