by Iris Parker
"It uh—it did have a zipper, you know," I said, locking my eyes onto his and relishing the thrill of being naked in front of him.
"Yeah, but screw it," Dominick said, the steel in his voice matched only by the steel I could feel hiding beneath his own clothes. "It was in the way," he explained, triumphantly pulling my underwear to the floor as he spoke. "Like I said, I'll buy you another. Hell, I'll buy you five."
"Only five?" I teased, secretly loving the way that Dominick had wanted me so badly that he'd practically ripped the clothes from my body. "At the rate we're going, that won't last us very long. I'd say a month, tops."
Dominick looked me over, licking his lips as he unapologetically squeezed my breasts in his powerful palms. "No, you're right," he said, shaking his head. "Hell, they might not last us a week. Better make it ten."
Something told me that even ten dresses wouldn't last very long, at least not if we kept buying regular ones. My body throbbed with desire as I imagined Dominick shredding a mountain of clothes for me, but that was an impractical fantasy at best. "Or we could just buy one that I won't outgrow immediately," I suggested, biting my lip. "A maternity dress would work nicely."
"Yeah, but where's the fun in that?" Dominick asked, once again pressing his body against mine as he spoke. "Besides, do they even make sexy maternity dresses?"
"I have no idea," I whimpered, finding it increasingly difficult to focus on the conversation. "I've never had a reason to find out."
"Well, you do now," Dominick said, whispering the words in my ear before bending down and covering my neck with his lips. "Pick out a bunch that you like, and I'll buy them. All of them."
"Thanks," I said, shivering at the intensity in Dominick's voice and his touch. "But…are you talking about shopping as foreplay? Because you don't need to. What you're doing with your hands is plenty."
"Is it?" Dominick asked, teasing my nipples as he spoke. "But all the commercials told me to buy you things. Also to clean your windows."
"And build me a new deck?" I teased.
"Oh yes, that too. After buying you twenty dresses, doing some housework, and a bit of construction, I'm sure your panties will just burst into flames."
"Twenty?" I asked, surprised. I knew Dominick could easily afford it, but I wasn't going to be pregnant that long. "That's really more than I need. And besides, I'm not wearing any panties."
"Then it's working already," he said, and his hand shot down from my chest to the space between my legs. His eyes locked onto mine as he began to rub my outer lips, and I could feel the heat building in my body.
Okay, so if I had been wearing panties, maybe they really could have caught fire.
Every other part of me was certainly burning with desire.
Dominick once again moved suddenly, sweeping me into his arms with one fluid motion. Carrying me across the room, he gently placed me down onto the couch. Despite him being fully dressed, I could clearly see the outline of his hardness straining to break free.
My body thrumming with excitement, I reached up and grabbed the collar of his shirt with my fist. Eager to see him naked, I strained to pull it over his head as he'd done with my dress moments before.
But Dominick had something else in mind. He kept his thick, muscled arms down, staring at me as I pulled the fabric in vain. He shook his head slightly, giving me a hungry smile that left no doubt about who was in charge.
Taking an ankle in his powerful hand, he draped one of my legs over the back of the couch while nudging the other towards the floor. It seemed impossibly lewd to be this exposed, but instead of running from the feeling, I embraced it.
And Dominick, in turn, embraced me.
He climbed onto the couch, shifting his weight so our bodies pressed into each other while his face lined up with mine. He kissed me passionately, even as his hand went back down to discover my wetness. His tongue teased past my lips, and his fingers teased my most sensitive area.
In no time at all, I was whimpering and squirming against Dominick's hard chest.
"Fuck," I managed to whisper in the brief moment we parted for air, all hope of conversation cut off as resumed making out.
Fuck, I thought as he skillfully traced his way over my clit, sending bolts of electricity throughout my entire body.
I moaned into his mouth, and his eyes penetrated into mine. I couldn't move, couldn't think, couldn't do anything but grapple with the now wadded-up collar of his shirt and feel the hardness of his shoulders beneath it.
As much as I wanted to feel Dominick inside of me, this was a bliss all its own. Without even unbuttoning his pants, Dominick was already pushing me closer to my release. All it would take was for him to keep it up just a little longer, and I'd be there.
But Dominick was still calling the shots.
And, once again, he had something else in mind.
Something better.
Pulling his head away from mine, he began to kiss his way down my body. From my lips to my cheek, then on to the small of my neck where he nibbled a tender spot and made my whole body shiver.
He continued to caress me with his fingers as he his mouth roamed further across my body. Once he was at my chest, Dominick curled his tongue out across my nipple before taking it into his mouth. He spent a few minutes teasing me like that, never once breaking eye contact.
Tongue and hand worked in perfect coordination, never once missing a beat as he pushed me further and further into pure pleasure. Excitement traveled down from my chest and up from my core, colliding in my stomach as the pressure built. I was getting close to the point of no return and Dominick still hadn't even taken off his shirt, but at that moment I just couldn't bring myself to care.
What I did care about was when he stopped.
Groaning as he pulled away, I tried to shamelessly implore him to keep it up. But it didn't work; my voice had been stolen by breathless desire. All I could do was close my eyes and whimper half-words, an endless stream of nonsense syllables came out of my mouth as I babbled and begged him to take me over the edge.
Moments later, I felt his breath against my womanhood, and I squirmed against the couch in anticipation of another mind-blowing orgasm. Already gasping for air, I lifted my hips up to meet with Dominick's soft lips and warm tongue.
But of course, he had something else in mind.
Something I hadn't been expecting at all.
He pulled his head back, keeping it just close enough that I could sense its presence but stopping short of direct contact. My eyes snapped open as a growl of pure, raw need escaped my lips, and I stared at his rugged face.
He was inches away.
I was inches away.
"Maternity dresses," he said heavily. "Pick them out, and I'll buy them for you. Around twenty."
"I…what?" I asked, still panting with need.
Why was he bringing that up again now, of all times?
"I don't need that many," I explained, the situation surreal. "Twenty? I'm not going to be pregnant that long."
"Is that what you think?" he asked, a question that made no sense. I was confused, but mercifully he picked up the pace again with his fingers, bringing me back to the edge of bliss. "Are you sure about that?"
"I—of course," I whimpered, feeling my climax just barely out of reach.
Dominick was still keeping his mouth away from me, and my damp skin highlighted every breath he took.
"Why wouldn't I know how long I'd be preg—" I started to ask, realizing the answer halfway through the question.
The meaning behind his words hit me like a freight train.
I actually didn't know how long I'd be pregnant for.
Not if he wanted to get me pregnant again after this.
Clearly, Dominick had something else in mind.
Plans.
Big plans.
Oh.
Oh, damn.
My eyes went wide as the implications dawned on me. The idea that Dominick wanted the same things I did—a real fu
ture together, a real family—was a revelation.
"You—you really mean—" I began, but Dominick had finally stopped holding back. I was still reeling from his words, but now his mouth was pressing against my womanhood. He began to lick me up and down, his tongue expertly caressing my clit and sending me cascading over the edge.
In that moment I had everything. Physical pleasure, emotional satisfaction, the absolute certainty that I really was something special to Dominick. This wasn't just a weird thing or some bizarre womb-with-benefits situation, he really did want me in exactly the same way I wanted him.
For us to build something together.
My mind went blank as the orgasm broke over me, the white-hot sensation erasing all the words from my mind in an instant. A feeling of warmth, happiness, and acceptance permeated my body, and I knew that I'd found the perfect lover.
Stars exploded behind my eyes, and in the distance I could hear stitches popping—Dominick's shirt finally giving way at last as my body spasmed and I instinctively yanked his collar as hard as I could.
I would've laughed, if I'd been capable of doing anything but writhing beneath him. The energy seemed to flow from him to me, and then from me to him, until at last my muscles relaxed and my hips fell back down flat on to the couch.
I was utterly exhausted, and utterly content as Dominick climbed back up onto the couch. With a happy sigh, he slid one arm beneath me and scooped my body up against his, the other arm resting on top of me. His warm embrace ran all the way down to my stomach, where his hand gently stroked the bump on my belly.
I let out a happy sigh that echoed his, feeling both content and exhausted. I was numb to the entire world, save only for Dominick. In that moment we were the only things that existed, and my senses drank his presence in like water in the desert.
With every breath I took, I inhaled the masculine scent of his hair and skin. Although he'd shaved that morning, I could feel fresh growth of scraggly little hairs poking out from his chin. He nuzzled my neck lovingly, tickling me as he moved.
Resting my head on Dominick's arm, my ear pushed directly into him. I could clearly hear the sound of his heart, a reassuring and solid rhythm that relaxed me even further. I was completely surrounded by Dominick, experiencing him with all my senses.
I was happy, safe, and secure.
Neither of us spoke, because we didn't need to. I was content to simply stay like this forever, listening to the steady beat of his heart as I drifted off into blissful sleep.
Chapter Seven
Helena
The month of August trudged along, hot and demanding on my six-month pregnant body. Time spent with Dominick in the backyard was a welcome relief, either under the shade of a massive umbrella or even in the small pool we'd set up. Ali was busier than ever with her projects, whether it was building something with Grampa, hanging out at Laurie's place, or even going on bike rides with Dominick.
I wasn't exactly happy that they were out on the road like that, but I trusted Dominick. He'd immediately bought her a huge pile of safety gear, ranging from a special helmet for kids down to a thick belt-like strap that anchored her to him whenever they were riding together. Between that and Dom's careful driving, it seemed as safe as anything else, and the short excursions seemed to really strengthen the bond between Ali and her dad.
Aside from her new padded leather wardrobe, though, Ali seemed to finally be back to her old self. She was the joyous, playful kid that I remembered, deeply curious and easygoing. Her escapade across Boston into the Ristuccia Memorial Arena seemed to be a one-off event, now mostly forgotten. Even if I was still horrified by the risks she'd taken that day, I couldn't deny that we'd all been incredibly lucky by the way it had turned out.
All four of us.
The morphology scan had gone well, confirming that the baby was a boy and in excellent health. Dominick and I had told Ali about the pregnancy later that night, news that she'd taken very well. Her scientific interests were slowly gravitating away from the mechanical and into the biological, her budding curiosity growing to keep pace with the life that was developing inside of me.
Ali's interest wasn't just academic, either, and I could spot in her endless questions both scientific and personal curiosity. She asked questions about herself, whether or not she'd have kids later on and what I was going through. Occasionally she'd show an unexpected burst of naiveté, asking questions about old wives' tales she'd heard, like how the moon could possibly control if the baby was a boy or a girl.
My father seemed to be having a great summer, too. He'd liked Dominick from the moment they met, and time had only strengthened that opinion. Even Mrs. Lauer kept talking about him, bringing him cookies and so many other assorted pastries that I almost wondered if she had a crush on the man herself.
Not that it mattered if she did; he was all mine.
We'd settled into our new life now, however unexpected and unlikely our little budding family was. And we loved every minute of it, discovering each other and our new roles—partner, parent, lover.
The only dark spot in our lives was the constant threat of the media finding out and making us into the next story of the month. Our entire relationship was unlikely enough to raise eyebrows all on its own, but the fact that Dominick was already a public figure ensured that the paparazzi would've swarmed us like flies if they ever got wind of it.
So far we'd only had one close call, the day we found out that Maggie Talbot had gotten a few pictures of us together after all. Nothing too salacious—just the two of us together in the hospital parking lot—but it could've been the start of a much larger storm. I'd fumed that such a private moment had been exposed and was being sold to the highest bidder, but Dominick told me that these things happened every day in his world.
Maybe it was silly of me to assume that his world and mine could stay separate forever, but at least for the time being things were holding up. Dominick's friend Alton had managed to make the problem go away, although I still wasn't quite sure how. Dominick had simply remarked that it'd involved a little money and a lot of alcohol, although I had my suspicions when Alton appeared in the headlines a week later after getting into a fistfight at a local bar.
Trying to thank Alton for the help had been a dead end, however. Even if I was beginning to think I might've misjudged the man, it was obvious that he had no such thoughts about me. He'd quickly made it clear that he had been helping Dominick, and only Dominick.
Regardless, it had been great news when the threat of those pictures vanished. Dominick and I had celebrated our good fortune after a cozy evening by the pool, followed by a bottle of alcohol-free sparkling apple juice in bed that night.
Luck was on our side, both with the media and in the way that Ali had been invited to numerous slumber parties over the summer. As wonderful as it was to see her and Dominick growing closer, I certainly cherished the opportunities for privacy that those nights alone offered.
"Did you sleep well?" I asked one morning after such a night, lazily twirling swirls on Dominick's chest with my finger as I spoke.
Neither of us had gotten out of bed yet.
"Great, as always," Dominick said contentedly, grunting as he stretched his arms and legs out wide—so wide that it filled the whole bed and then some, dwarfing me with his presence.
I loved it.
"And you?" Dominick asked.
"Same," I said with a happy sigh.
"I can't believe that summer is almost over," Dominick said after a moment. "I'm going to really miss being able to sleep in like this with you, you know."
"Yeah," I agreed, feeling a bit sad. "I can't believe we'll be facing our first snowstorms in just a couple of months. It's unreal. But at least we have other things to look forward to."
"The baby," Dominick agreed quickly, a warm smile touching his lips. "I can't wait to see him with my own eyes. It's just a shame that both of us will be so busy, not to mention Ali going back to school."
"We still have
around ten days, you know," I said, trying to stay positive despite feeling disappointed for all the same reasons. The coming season was going to be a mixed bag indeed.
"I'm not sure if ten years would be enough, honestly," Dominick said, and I giggled in complete agreement. "But speaking of work, I've got a thing coming up in September. The team always has a beginning-of-season dinner in town together, and usually they make it into a pretty big deal. Formal wear and all that."
"You must love that," I said with sympathy, knowing how much Dominick hated anything that involved a tie—let alone a tuxedo.
"I'll admit, there have been a few times when I considered having a freak accident on the ice just to get out of it. Compared to a charity banquet, an evening at the hospital sounds downright relaxing," Dominick agreed.
"So it's a fundraiser, too? You poor thing," I said.
"Yeah, we try to raise awareness for a charity every year. This whole thing with a red carpet, being swarmed by reporters, the whole nine yards. Then there's an auction where the players sell their personal belongings, or their time. You know, like a bachelor auction."
"And have you ever sold yourself?" I asked, bemused by the idea.
"Well, it's not quite as bad as you make it sound," Dominick said with a laugh. "Usually we just end up on some highly publicized day trip with the wife of some executive or another. Typical publicity stuff. I guess all things considered, that part of it could be worse. It's the actual dinner that I usually dread."
"Usually?"
"Can't slip anything by you, can I?" Dominick teased. "I was thinking that maybe this year might be a bit better. Formal wear or not, it's a chance to do something with you."
"It is?" I asked, taken aback by the suggestion. "I love it when we get a chance to go out together, but willingly doing it in front of the media? Isn't that a big like putting your head in a lion's mouth and hoping it doesn't notice that you're delicious?"