by Jayne Blue
“Just home,” I said, flapping a hand at him.
“Sure thing,” Jason said. He was a sweet kid. His mother was a casting director and I knew he hoped to break into the business, like everyone. To be honest, he wasn’t one of my favorites, only because he liked to name drop and was usually chatty. Since he worked the night shift for my service, he got me like this most of the time. Exhausted, overworked, and ready for a shower. Tonight though, Jason was pensive and quiet which suited my mood fine.
I let my fingers hover over my phone’s screen. I’d never had a chance to call or text Dom back while I was working. I had no idea what his plans were. For all I knew, he may have gotten tired of waiting. My heart lurched at the thought. I missed him. I wanted him. The idea of coming home and having him there had me almost giddy until my lack of sleep caught up with me.
I decided to text rather than call, on the off chance he was still waiting and had fallen asleep.
“I’m so sorry. Things ran super late. On my way home right now if you’re still there ... I hope you are. Q.”
My pulse seemed to beat in time with the blinking cursor. Of course he wouldn’t answer. He’d probably given up on me hours ago. The man had flown all the way out here from Port Azrael. I’d spent a half hour with him then disappeared.
My eyelids grew heavy and I leaned far back in the seat. My lower back and ass ached from sitting on a hard stool in the recording booth for so long. Bed never sounded so good. As Jason finally made the turn toward Hollywood Hills, my heartbeat quickened.
I wouldn’t know if Dom was still there until I got inside. He’d brought no car or motorcycle. I couldn’t help but smile, wondering what my neighbors would think seeing Dom’s Harley parked in my circular drive. We’d drawn enough attention at the gate yesterday morning. Luckily, I could count on the guard’s discretion and didn’t expect to see Dom at my doorstep plastered all over the internet.
My house was dark inside as Jason parked in front. I reached for the door handle but he was quicker than I was. He gave me a bright smile as he offered me a hand to step out. I took it gratefully. The burning in my feet intensified as soon as I stood.
“Thanks, Jason,” I said. “Have a good night.” I gave him a generous tip. He waited as I fumbled for my key and opened the front door. I waved back at him and stepped inside.
The house was quiet and still. I heard the faint dripping of the kitchen faucet echoing over the marble tile. It was almost five o’clock in the morning. I’d been awake for over twenty-four hours. Kicking my shoes off, I set them on the foyer table and threw my purse over a hook.
“Dom?” I whispered. He wasn’t in the living room. The couch pillows looked undisturbed. I padded down the hallway toward the master suite. Gently pushing the door open, I held my breath.
My bed was neatly made and empty. Heart sinking, I pressed my cheek against the door. He left. The house was empty.
“Shit,” I whispered. I supposed there was nothing to do now but try to get a few hours’ sleep and try to call him later. I unzipped my skirt, let it fall in a pool at my feet and peeled out of my blouse. Though I felt sticky from the heat and a day’s work, I was too damn tired to take a shower. Thank God I hadn’t needed full makeup today. I could get away with brushing my teeth and a cold splash of water and then it was straight to bed. I could think more clearly after some shut-eye.
I took one step toward the bathroom and tripped on something hard, stubbing my toe in the process. “The hell?”
My heart raced with joy as I realized what it was. Dom’s heavy, black motorcycle boots lay side by side. Whirling around, I went back into the living room. I meant to call out for him, but when I looked out the sliding doors, I saw the shadowy outline of his still form on a chaise lounge by the pool. He must have fallen asleep out there.
Quietly, I opened the patio door and stepped outside. Shivering against a slight chill in the air, I walked up to him. Dom lay on his back, his hands folded on his chest as if he’d just come out here to watch the stars.
I’d never seen him like this. The LED lights from the pool changed from green to blue to pink then gold. Each change cast a rainbow of shadows across Dom’s face. He was beautiful to watch with his thick, long lashes and strong cheekbones. Gone were the hard lines in his brow through which he viewed the world. His full lips parted slightly, he looked almost angelic. I knelt beside him.
Rough hands. Strong hands. A shiver of desire went through me as I remembered how good he was with them. He could pick me up as if I weighed nothing. He knew just how to touch me to make my blood sing for him. I leaned forward, bracing myself on the arm of the lounge chair. Dom’s chest rose and fell with his measured breaths. The kaleidoscope of colors danced over his arms, making his tattoos come alive.
I wanted to kiss him. I wanted to feel those strong arms envelop me and hold me close. I’d let this man into my heart when I’d only meant to let him into my bed. Heat pooled between my legs at the promise of more of the latter.
He stayed. My God. He stayed.
A breeze picked up, lifting his hair until it fell over his eyes. I brushed it away, smiling. I could stare at him like this forever. Dom snorted deep, reminding me of a grizzly bear as he turned to his side. I held my breath. His eyelids fluttered and he opened them. Though he stared right at me, he wasn’t fully awake. It took him a beat to realize where he was. When he did, his smile widened, melting my heart.
“Hey, Hollywood,” he whispered, his voice thick with sleep.
“Hey, yourself.” I reached over and brushed his hair out of his eyes. “I’m sorry for ditching you yesterday. I should have known things were going to go longer than I planned. It’s always like that when deadlines get close.”
Dom stretched his arms over his head then hooked his fingers behind it. “Come here,” he said, scooting over on the lounge to make room for me. I realized I was wearing nothing but my bra and panties and that familiar flare of desire shot through me. I slid into the space beside him, my body molding to Dom’s. He kissed the top of my head as I rested it against his chest.
The stars were still out. A light haze misted the hills and the first faint lines of pink stretched across the horizon. A peace settled over me I hadn’t felt in ... maybe forever. I would watch the sun come up in Dom’s arms. All the stress and chaos of my life just seemed to melt away.
We were natural together in a way I’d never known before. Dom reached over and skimmed my arm with his fingers. He traced the swell of my breasts and I found myself angling my body toward him, craving even more of his touch.
“I was worried about you,” he said, his voice still a sexy growl.
“I know. And I am sorry. I’m just not used to ... well ... you.”
This got a soft laugh out of Domino that shook his whole body. “That makes two of us, baby. I’ve never waited around for a woman.”
“Oh really? You’re more used to having them fall all over themselves to be with you?” I’d meant it as a light joke, but when I twisted so I could see his face, his eyes were serious. I immediately knew the answer to my question was yes. A flare of jealousy burned through me, taking me off guard. Right behind it, something popped into my mind with a fierce intensity that startled me.
You’re mine now!
I didn’t say it. But I felt it. Hard.
He hooked his finger beneath my chin and leaned down to kiss me. “I don’t mind it a bit, baby,” he said. “I just need to know you’re safe.”
His fingers lightly grazed the bruise on my arm where Oliver Ransom had grabbed me. I hadn’t even had a chance to process what that meant. Oliver was a giant bully. I’d known about his reputation for my entire career. His behavior was not okay. Now I just had to figure out how best to handle it in a way that wouldn’t torpedo my career.
“Thank you for worrying about me,” I said. “It’s not something I’m used to. I learned how to take care of myself a long time ago. I don’t generally share that responsibility.”
“You should,” he said. “You said yourself, everyone in your life wants something from you. That’s a bleak way to live, Quinn.”
“Hmm.”
“I’m serious,” he said, shifting until he came to a sitting position. I lay beside him, looking up at him. The pool lights made his eyes glint gold, giving him a cat-like appearance.
“You live in your world, I live in mine,” I said, not wanting to break the spell between us. “You have to trust me that I know how to handle my business. I know how to handle people like Oliver Ransom.”
“By doing everything he tells you to?” His words stung. I sat up and crossed my arms in front of myself, feeling exposed. Dom immediately reached for me, running a hand over my shoulder. It had the oddest effect on me, gentling me in a way. God, I craved this man.
“I don’t do everything he tells me. But there’s a bigger picture. Ransom runs a huge part of this town. One bad word from him, and he can derail everything I’ve worked for. So, like it or not, I have to play the game.”
“So,” Dom said, rising. “You’re just going to give into him and do this movie the way he wants?”
“No!” I said, anger flaring. “I most certainly am not. But I’m going to regroup. I have a few ideas about how to secure different financing for this project. It’ll be a long shot and ultimately, I’ll have to try and break the contract I signed with him. It can be done if I can dangle a bigger carrot in front of him.”
Dom eyes flickered with rage. “I don’t want you anywhere near that asshole again. Fuck him, Quinn.”
“Can we not talk about this now? I’m exhausted. I’m glad you’re here. Baby, I just want to lay close to you and be with you.”
Dom’s eyes softened and he gave me a devastating smile. He came to me, gathering me in his arms again. “Yeah. We can do that. But I’m not going to lie. I hate this town. I hate you in this town. When’s the soonest you can get away?”
I took a breath and opened my mouth, about to give him a list of things swirling around in my life. I had a photo shoot tomorrow, a meeting with my business manager later today, I’d promised my mother I’d make an appearance at a luncheon she was having. But as Domino looked at me with those fierce blue eyes, everything just fell away.
“When’s the last time you just took some time to say the hell with it all?” Domino pressed me. He took a step forward with that swagger he had, dropping his left hip. That sexy smirk lifted his mouth and he reached for me.
“Never,” I answered. “Exactly never.”
“So what would happen if you did? I mean it. A couple of days. Just, leave it all. Get on a plane with me. Come back to Port Az. I’ve got some time coming to me too. I want to get you on the back of my bike, have you wrap those sweet legs of yours around me, and just take off. It’ll do you good. It’ll do me good.”
He reached for me, with a soft but firm touch, pulling me toward him. I became keenly aware of my state of undress again. Rough denim pressed against my bare stomach. I could feel the hard muscles of his inner thigh. He slid a finger beneath my bra strap and slipped it down my shoulder. He did the same to the other. My breasts swung free and Dom leaned down, taking a turn at each pert nipple, kissing them.
“Come on,” he said, his heated breath skittering over me. I moaned.
“You’re a bad influence,” I whispered.
“The baddest.”
He reached around and unhooked my bra with practiced skill. I let it fall to the ground.
“Dom, I can’t.”
“Why not?” he said, rising to his full height. My nipples ached to be touched again. My sex throbbed with wanting. He slid his hands over my ass, gripping it tight. Then he slid them down further and lifted me, spreading my thighs wide until I straddled his waist. I held on tight, loving the way my thin cotton panties scraped against the jeans. I was so hot. So ready.
“I just ... can’t,” I said, but the conviction had left my voice. It was so tempting. Could I do it? Could I just lose myself in this man for a few days? Would the world stop turning?
“You can,” he said. “And you want to. You need to. Do something that’s purely for yourself, Quinn. No producers, no agents, no managers, no photographers or fans. Just you. You and me. I want to take you someplace special. I want to make you feel so good.”
“Dom.” His name came out as a sigh.
“You need it, baby. I need it.”
“Mmm. I told you, you’re a bad influence.”
“Maybe so. But I promise you’ll have a wild time and forget all of the shit swirling around in your life. You’re hanging on too tight. Let me take care of you.”
I kissed him, slow and deep. It would be so easy to just say yes. So, so easy.
“Don’t ask for permission,” he said. “Just leave a message for your mother or your agent or whoever the fuck you need to. Tell them you’re going off the grid for a couple of days and that you’ll reach out when you get back. These people work for you, Quinn. Not the other way around.”
“You’re right,” I said. I couldn’t stop kissing him. “My God, you’re right.”
“I know.”
My heart leaped as I made the decision. I could do it. It would give me a chance to clear my head and figure out my next move. He made it sound so easy.
“Come on,” he said. “We’ll leave right now.”
“Now?” My heart pounded. Was I really going to do this?
“Get a shower first if you want,” he said. “I’ll charter a flight.”
“Charter?”
He shot me a wink. “The Saints have contacts all the way out here too. Plus, I don’t want to risk you changing your mind.”
“I have to pack,” I said.
Dom shot me a wicked smile that sent heat racing straight to my core. “Pack light, baby. If things go right, you won’t need many clothes.”
He growled and wagged his eyebrows. I giggled as my cheeks flamed. Oh God. The idea of spending a few days alone with Dom and whatever secret hideaway he had in mind fueled my imagination and desire so hard I could barely see straight.
“Yes!” I gasped. “Oh, Dom! Yes!”
He reached for me again and kissed me. Then he gave me a firm swat on the ass that made me squeal with delight.
“Come on,” he said. “You can sleep on the plane.”
He led me by the hand back into the house. My phone sat on the kitchen counter, blinking with new messages. As I reached for it, I couldn’t stop smiling. There were two missed calls from my mother and four texts from Noreen. She just said we needed to talk. I could guess what she wanted. She’d hassle me about how I left things with Oliver Ransom and try to convince me to do things his way. I ignored her messages and sent a group text to both her and my mom.
“I’m taking a few days off and heading out of town. No calls. No texts. No meetings. Somebody call my assistant to reschedule everything. I’ll message everyone when I’m back in town. Goodbye.”
When I tried to put my phone in my purse, Dom put a hand over mine. “Give that here,” he said. “They’re just going to keep bugging you. I’ll put it somewhere safe or you’ll end up checking it a million times.”
“You’re right,” I said, feeling lighter by the second. I handed him my phone. He slid it into his back pocket and swooped down to kiss me.
“For the next three days, you’re mine, baby,” he said.
“And you’re mine,” I laughed, tugging his ear until I had his lips against mine again. His kisses were slow, deep, and held the promise of so much more.
Chapter 16
Domino
Quinn was mine. For three blissful days, I planned to take her away from the vultures circling around her and treat her like the queen she was. We would head out to Lake Corpus Christi. Bear owned a cabin there. It was quiet, surrounded by lush woods and had three hundred feet of lake frontage. No television. No fucking photographers. No internet.
Bear built the place for Mama Bear when she came back from her tour
in Kuwait as an army medic. Though she never talked about it, we knew she’d seen some bad shit. It all happened just before Shep was born and after the last big club war between the Hawks and the Saints.
As soon as we were airborne, Quinn fell into a deep sleep. I kissed her on the forehead and went to the front of the plane. Quinn slept on a little bed we had in the back. If she woke, she wouldn’t be able to hear me from way back there.
I checked in with Roc, our pilot. “About three hours, Mr. Dormer,” he said. He was a solid guy, big and burly. Ex-navy. “Should be pretty smooth. There was a storm system over Phoenix but it’s clearing now. Your lady should be able to sleep soundly.”
I thanked him. My lady. Quinn was my lady. I sure as hell liked the sound of that. We hadn’t talked about anything permanent, but the more time I spent with her, the more I wanted it. Except I knew our worlds would never mix long term. If I could just help her make hers better before she decided she’d had enough, I’d have no regrets.
I slid into one of the cabin seats and whipped out my phone. Axle answered right away. “You make it back all right?” I asked him. He should have just touched down in Port Az about an hour ago. He’d brought Toby and Machop with him. The four of us had paid a visit to Oliver Ransom’s office earlier this afternoon.
The whole thing had gone down too easily. It seemed Ransom was still highly interested in making this biker gang movie and thought the Saints were willing to help. When Axle got through and told him who we were, he cleared his damn schedule to see him. The fucker had lived so long as king of this hill, it never occurred to him he could be challenged.
I made it short, sweet, and drove home my deadly point.
“You ever put a hand on Quinn again, they won’t find a trace of your fat ass,” Axle told him. I stood at his shoulder, looming over Oliver Ransom’s desk. The fucker was fat and haggard-looking for someone supposedly so rich. He had the red eyes and mottled skin of a long-time drinker. His lips quivered and reminded me of purple worms as he pushed his chair back.