by Marian Tee
“I’d rather you make the choice,” she said nervously, unused to such surroundings. It was supposed to be a store, but it had the atmosphere of a very, very exclusive bank.
“No. You should be the one to make that choice. I trust you.”
And then he was gone.
“I’ve never seen Mr. Moretti so tender before,” the fashion designer confided as he guided her to the floral settee at the end of his consultation room. Mark was obviously gay, and his infatuation with Domenico was even more obvious. Somehow, it relaxed her. At least Mark would understand how she felt. As Domenico’s image consultant as well, Mark was also constantly being exposed to Domenico’s irresistible aura.
“He’s so in love with you, isn’t he?”
Misty could only smile weakly, not knowing what kind of answer Domenico would want her to give.
Mark smiled back. “You’re such a cute thing. I’d think he’d eat you for breakfast but since you’re still alive and he’s about to marry you, I guess that’s what true love does.”
She held her tongue back wisely, knowing Domenico would not appreciate her speaking the truth.
“Besides your wedding gown, Mr. Moretti also instructed me to furnish you with an entirely new wardrobe. You see, I haven’t made it yet as a fashion designer, but when everyone sees that you’re wearing my creation, I’m made.” Mark held out his hand. “So please, please, please, if there’s anything you like, just tell me and I’ll do it. If I have to kill someone, I’ll do it.”
It was already seven in the evening when she and Mark had completed the plans for her entire wardrobe. He walked with her to the curb, where someone other than Matteo was waiting for her.
Inside the limousine, the chauffeur extracted the receiver of the car’s built-in phone and handed it to her before driving.
“Hello?”
“Sorry I’m not able to fetch you personally, cara.” Domenico’s voice was enough to make her toes curl. More of this and she would probably have to buy her shoes half a size smaller than usual.
“It’s okay. I know you’re a busy man.”
“You’ll meet me at the hotel. Is that okay?”
“Yup.” But actually, it wasn’t. Was it always going to be like this? It was fun, really, to go out all the time, especially if one had the money for it. But she was starting to miss her siblings and the feel of home.
At the other end of the line, Domenico was instantly alerted to the hesitation in Misty’s voice. “Darling, remember what I told you about being honest?”
“Oh.” She was again surprised at how well he read her.
“So?”
“I was just kind of missing home. I mean, not exactly my home, but just - the idea of being at home. A-am I making sense?”
She was. Domenico should have expected it even, but he simply wasn’t used to going out with women like Misty. The women he used to date in the past had loved going out and was proud of being arm candies.
“Then we’ll have a change of plans,” he decided. It was rare for him to be impulsive. Domenico didn’t like it but he decided it would do for now.
Misty was appalled. Not wanting to make Domenico feel like she had cornered him into doing something he didn’t want, she quickly protested, “Oh, no. I didn’t mean to---”
The sincere distress in her voice put him at ease. It was important to Domenico that she did not attempt to manipulate him simply because he favored her company over others.
“Antonio, the driver with you, will take you home and I will join you there as soon as possible. We will sleep at your place tonight.”
Misty privately freaked out at his words. He was going to meet her at her house? She hadn’t even told anyone in her family about him, and now he was expecting to sleep in her room?
“You need not prepare dinner for me. I’m meeting a business colleague anyway. Expect me to be there about nine.”
“I don’t want to mess your schedule,” she hedged. “It’s okay if you don’t make it.”
Domenico wasn’t fooled. “Trust me, darling. This will work. Don’t have anyone expecting me, though.”
It was a strange request. Did he want to surprise her siblings? But for what reason? Biting her lip, Misty said slowly, “I trust you.”
“See you soon, darling.”
She scowled and sighed at the same time. He kept calling her ‘darling’, and the word alone was more than enough to bring her body alive and make her mind recall the pleasure she could only experience in her arms. She just wished he was really as affected as she was.
“Misty?” Domenico prompted when she still hadn’t answered.
“Sorry, I was just thinking.” Her voice softened. “Take care, Domenico.”
Domenico laughed, which made her feel silly. But then, werewolves weren’t invincible or immortal, were they?
At exactly nine in the evening, someone knocked on the front door and finally putting an end to all her pacing. Misty almost tripped on her cotton pajamas in her haste. They were an inch too long, but she had bought it anyway since it was sold for less than a dollar at the surplus shop around the corner.
Matteo was smiling at her when she opened the door.
“Matteo?”
She heard a barking sound, and Misty looked down dumbly, realizing that it was Domenico she was looking at just before half of her family barreled into her.
“Here are its things.” Matteo handed her a leather bag, which she guessed contained Domenico’s belongings.
“Will you guys stop pushing me?” she exclaimed after throwing Matteo a harried look. Pets were not something Nanette allowed in their home, so her siblings’ excitement at seeing an immensely beautiful four-legged creature like Domenico’s Lyccan form was understandable.
Matteo gave her a brief bow before leaving, which made Misty wince and her siblings glance at her oddly as she closed the door, with Domenico padding in arrogantly.
“What’s with the dude bowing?” Kevin asked.
“He does that to all the women. He’s Italian.”
Nicole’s eyes narrowed. “I’m familiar with Italian culture and---”
Knowing it was imperative to put a stop to Nicole’s know-it-all words, which could land her in the hot seat, Misty exclaimed brightly, “This dog is ours!”
Andy gawked at her, an adorable wide-eyed look on his cute face. “No way!” Then he ran to Domenico as fast as his chubby legs could carry him. Everyone gathered around Domenico then, chatting excitedly.
Only Nanette wasn’t around. Her siblings thought she was away on a vacation with a distant relative, but Domenico had told her earlier he had given her foster mother a one-way trip to the destination of her choice to…avoid trouble. Domenico’s term had been less polite, but she preferred not to think of Nanette’s absence that way.
“Will Mom allow this?” Nicole wondered out loud.
“Even if she did, where are we gonna keep him?” Kevin asked.
“Who cares? I say we keep him!” Kelly said.
Just then, The Baby – no, it was Dylan now, since Kelly had texted her the baby’s name earlier after getting it from the social services registry – let out a loud wail, and Misty quickly went to the crib to pick Dylan up.
“Poor baby,” she cooed. “Everyone woke you up because of the dog.”
“But I want to know what its name is!” Andy insisted.
“Ah…”
They all laughed. “Ah?” Kelly teased. “His name is Ah?”
She blushed because she could almost imagine Domenico smirking at her as well. “A…ristotle,” she blurted out. In the periphery of her vision, she saw Domenico’s eyes boring through her. She winced. It was a nerdy name, but it was the best she could think of. He was lucky she hadn’t blurted the first word that came to her mind, which was Aborigine for some reason.
“So nerdy,” Nicole said, rolling her eyes. “It’s a good thing he doesn’t look like it though.”
Domenico went to the living room and the f
amily followed behind him.
Misty shook her head. Domenico was already being a leader to her siblings, and they didn’t even know it.
He settled at the foot of an armchair, which Misty quickly occupied, with the baby slowly settling to sleep in her arms.
“Did you buy him?” Nicole asked dubiously.
She understood the reason behind Nicole’s doubt. They all knew how she hated spending money unnecessarily, and for all intents and purposes having a dog was exactly that: an unnecessary expense. Misty also realized that Nicole’s question was the opening she needed.
“Actually, someone gave Aristotle to me.”
Everyone stared at her in shock.
“You have a boyfriend?” Kelly asked tentatively.
“Boyfriend,” Andy repeated the word distastefully, making everyone laugh.
“Actually…”
“Whenever Misty says ‘actually’, it’s almost always a good thing,” Nicole said. “I mean, a good bad thing. Like the time she told us we could become absent from school---”
“Or the time she told us to forget about saving money once,” Kevin added.
“Hey!” Misty protested. “I’m not sure if you’re insulting or complimenting me.”
“The latter, of course,” Nicole said, eyes twinkling. “We’re just saying that you tend to feel guilty whenever you let us do things like that.”
“So what’s this actually about?” Kelly demanded.
Misty decided to speak plainly. “I’m getting married.”
Everyone burst into laughter.
“No, really I am!”
The laughter immediately stopped.
“T-to who?” Nicole was pale.
“To my boss.” And because she knew they’d ask how, when, and where it happened and she knew lying would only make things stranger, she decided to be as honest as she could. “I can’t explain how it happened. I just know that I trust him and that I l-love him.” She blushed right after she said that. She deliberately avoided Domenico’s gaze after saying the words.
After their initial shock, her family warily accepted the news. Misty steadily assured them that they’d still be together, but she could see they only half-believed her. Still, they were a good bunch and it seemed like everyone mutually decided to just change the subject and soon enough, they were back in normal footing, teasing each other.
Misty managed to get everyone to bed at half past midnight, with Kevin carrying Andy to the room he shared with Nicole. “Where’s the dog sleeping?” Nicole asked, yawning.
Misty blushed again. “Uhh, in m-my room.”
“Okay.”
Misty locked the door behind her. Turning around, she saw Domenico still in his wolf form. “Are you going to change back?”
Domenico shook his head.
She didn’t know what to make of that but nodded anyway.
When Domenico was sure Misty was asleep, that was the time he changed. Fully naked, he got into the bed and wrapped his arms around her from behind before pulling the covers over them. It was the first time for him to feel simply content holding a girl in his arms. Lying on the bed, which was the smallest and most uncomfortable he had ever slept on, Domenico dwelled on the memories he had of Misty and her siblings spending their time together. Hers was a happy family, and it inevitably reminded him of how his family had been – before Danilo died.
Eventually, his mind drifted to the words she used for explaining his presence in her life.
She loved him, he thought, absently stroking her hair.
He had known the words were true the moment she uttered them.
And he had been elated, triumphant, and – strangest of all – humbled, too.
Misty, still sleeping, snuggled closer.
He had not asked for it, was doubtful he’d be able to return it, but he felt damned good about it. And Domenico knew he was going to do everything in his power to make sure that she’d never stop loving him. He couldn’t explain why it was important, but it was.
Chapter Six
Dear Diary,
Domenico wants me to work at the Lyccan Council, which is pretty much like the United Nations for his kind and where Domenico happens to be their version of Kofi Annan.
He says I can’t let people know I’m engaged to him just yet. His words make me feel like I’m his mistress. Just between you and me, I think it would be nice to act like his mistress – to simply submit to him completely and let him do as he will. I wonder if I offer myself to him, what would Domenico do? Would he take me from behind, finger-fucking my front while sliding his cock into my other hole?
“Work at Lyccan Hall? Are you crazy?” Misty squeaked out the next day. They were once again ensconced inside Domenico’s now-familiar limousine when he told her of his plans.
Why was he always like this? Why couldn’t he even give her just the slightest warning? Sooner or later, she had to bring this up with him. It was neither fair nor right that Domenico continued having the upper hand in their relationship, if this was even a relationship to begin with.
“You are the only one I can trust to do this for me, Misty.”
Her shoulders slumped at that. When Domenico said that, what choice did she have?
“Besides, you need to be familiar with Lyccan society and what better way is there---”
“---than dumping me right into trouble?” she ended miserably.
Domenico laughed. He loved how Misty could look and behave exactly like a child without meaning to. At the moment, her face was all scrunched, as if she was a five-year-old punished to watching the History Channel rather than her favorite cartoon network.
She gazed out of the window and let out a gasp. “We’re already here!” The ornately sculpted letters of steel spelling out the words Lyccan Hall rested on top of the gates’ arch entrance. They swung open at the sight of Domenico’s limousine.
The driveway was expansive, meandering past meadows, a sparkling brook, and landscaped gardens with its own gazebos and pathways. Domenico pressed the intercom button. “Lento,” he told Matteo and the limousine immediately slowed to a snail-like pace.
Misty noticed the change, and turned to her questioningly.
Domenico suddenly pulled her into his lap, making her gasp, blush, and squirm. Then she stopped because she felt his erection pressing against her.
She could only look at him, unbelievably turned on at just the feel of his jutting cock between her thighs.
Domenico suppressed his smile. “Is something wrong?”
She shook her head furiously even as her eyes were suddenly unable to meet his.
“Do you feel anything? Hot? Hard?”
Her eyes shot up to him.
A husky laugh escaped Domenico and he pulled Misty towards him. “I can’t wait for our wedding night,” he breathed against her lips before his tongue parted them open and swept inside her mouth.
One tiny part of Misty wondered how he could think about making out when he had just sentenced her to work in a strange, new world but the rest of her was too busy being overwhelmed with the passion of his touch.
“I want you to come before you get out of this car,” he whispered to her ear, deliberately blowing into it as he finished speaking just so he could feel her shiver. And shiver she did, Misty arching her body as well in his arms.
Domenico unhurriedly lifted her skirt waist high to expose her legs, his fingers immediately tracing her lacy panties. He was stunned when he felt her bare butt and realized she was wearing a thong.
“I wanted to surprise you,” she said shyly when his questioning gaze sought hers.
Domenico relaxed, deciding it was better for her not to know that he had doubted her for a moment.
“You more than surprise me, darling. You please me.” She was rubbing against him restlessly, and he couldn’t keep back a groan as his cock strained toward her heat in response.
“Stop moving and let me please you,” he urged as he slid his fingers inside her panty.
“I can’t,” she cried out, raising her hips as if trying to chase his fingers. She moaned, loud and long, unable to help it, the pleasure of having his fingers back inside her was unbelievably intense.
Grabbing her hair to keep her head still, Domenico turned her to face him. After allowing himself a moment to savor the look of yearning on Misty’s face, he kissed her while thrusting his fingers in at the same time. He worked his fingers in and out of her furiously, making sure to rub her clit while he did. Misty came almost immediately, a keening cry coming out of her as he drove his fingers in so deep he brushed against her hymen.
She collapsed against him like a limp doll, quietly letting him fix her clothes for her. It was impossible for her brain to work when he was this close, holding her---
And then the next thing she knew, Domenico was setting her out of the car. “Good luck. I’ll have the car pick you up later.” He patted her head like a kid and then he was gone, leaving her staring open-mouthed.
THAT WAS IT?
She didn’t know if she wanted to curse him or beg him to come back. With shaking legs, she made herself walk past yet another parade of expressionless guards, the sight of them reminding her of those posted in Domenico’s home. But they wore different colors this time – red and black, which she supposed were the official colors of the Lyccan Council.
The guards opened the doors for her without a word.
Her heart dropped to her feet just as the doors swung shut with a loud thud behind her.
Lycan Hall was even vaster than it appeared outside, with a domed ceiling she was only used to seeing in cathedrals. The official seat of the Lyccan Council had a majestic and timeless feel to it, and surrounded as she was by Lyccans, Misty had a very strong urge to run away – and never come back.
Everyone around her was so gloriously sensual. Not beautiful really. Instead, the women were lushly attractive while the men were magnetic and alluring. Every move they made was underlined by grace and strength at the same time, and it made Misty feel more a klutz than ever.
She gulped. She stuck out like a sore thumb here without even trying, a sour lemon in a land filled with ripe exotic fruits.