The private room in the club came back into view and the sound of the whip cracked loudly in my ears, driving me on. Feeding my lust. But not for the woman strapped to the St. Andrew’s cross. For the one I saw in my head.
The dark hair that hung down her bare back was so much like Victoria’s. I could easily imagine it was her. That was the problem. I had wanted it to be with everything I had and screwed up by pushing away rational thought. I’d Dommed Justine with every ounce of dominance I held. The flogger. The crop. The whip. Paddles. Three different ones, to be exact. Yet, even though my hands never connected with her skin, I’d made her strip down and get herself off, to me, not even a foot away as I watched. I never even looked at her face. Always…imagining. In my own little world.
Sweat was starting to soak through my shirt and I couldn’t breathe past the blue silk tie around my neck. I pulled, loosening it to the point of being bearable.
The office was quiet. A handful of couples were sitting around talking to agents about houses. I could have been in a skyscraper for as much as I was worth, but I liked to run everything from the very first real estate office I ever opened. It was the big time, back in the day, but didn’t stay that way for long. When you made millions from commissions and started investing and flipping bigger and bigger houses, until you moved on to buildings, and then businesses…it didn’t compare. But real estate aside, I’d invested in more. A software company in particular that I bought and sold to a competitor. It alone doubled my earnings, leaving me more money than I knew what to do with.
When Branson had given me a roundabout number of what he thought I was supposed to pay for child support, it was laughable compared to what I finally estimated the true cost to be. But money wasn’t what I was worried about. I’d give Victoria everything, if I knew she’d love me and stay forever. I could see myself doing it if she didn’t. All she’d have to do is ask and I’d lay the world at her feet.
“Mr. Black.”
The door opened and I looked up from the screen on my phone. Henry, a broker whose office was down the hall, walked in, shutting the door.
“How can I help you?” I eased from the chair, confused that anyone even had the balls to confront me. They never really did. I may have owned the place and ran it, but I didn’t necessarily deal with anyone. That’s what the manager was for.
“Sir, there are…women, outside.”
My heart instantly started pounding. “One? Two?” God, had Victoria somehow found out about what I’d done and brought Justine here to confront me? Would she do that? I didn’t think so. But I had lied to her...in a way.
“Uh, no.” He looked toward the large room length windows I had covered with blinds. “May I, sir?”
“Yeah.” Walking around the desk was almost impossible from the lead that seemed to hold down my feet.
The barrier lifted, first to my waist, then….
“Oh…Jesus…fucking….shit,” I hissed at the end. There was no way Victoria would want to be with me if she had to deal with a mob of women following me everywhere. I’d thought the coffee after my announcement with the local news channel had gone bad. Now they were following me around?
My jaw tightened as women started screaming and waving their poster boards around.
Dom Me.
Pick Me!
I’ll bow to you.
More sayings than I could read went crazy and I couldn’t stop the panic. What the fuck had I done by agreeing to this ad? How long would it all last?
“Put it down.” A growl came to my mouth as I picked up the office phone and called the police department, telling them to remove all of these people. I at least needed to leave without getting mauled down by a band of lustful ladies. They’d already taken my handkerchief from my jacket pocket at the café this morning. All that was left was my clothes and watch. None of which I intended to let them have.
I looked up to Henry who was peeking through the shades.
“Sorry, but I have a lot of work to do. You need to go.”
He seemed to catch himself and apologized, leaving. As I stared at the door that shut me out from the world, I tried to contemplate what to do first. My brain felt like it was going to explode. With the mess I brought on myself with Victoria, down to figuring out a way to keep her…I wasn’t sure I could pull it off. Didn’t want to this way. I was going to have to tell her. Why in the hell hadn’t I done it last night? It was so out of my character. But I knew the reason. What had happened was too good to be true. I didn’t want to see it come crashing down around me. Not when I’d waited so long. Now, I might have ruined a relationship with her before it ever really started.
Justine’s number appeared before me again and I hit it, taking a deep breath. Voicemail. I hung up, almost relieved. Before I could set the phone down to the desk, it rang.
“Fuck.” Here went nothing. I pushed the button.
“Hey.” The dread was so thick in my voice, yet she didn’t seem to pick up on it, or refused to hear it.
“Hello, Sir,” she purred.
“Listen, we need to talk.”
“No need,” she laughed. “I can’t believe it. You cancelled the ad because of me, didn’t you? That’s what you meant this morning when you said you’d found ‘the one’.”
My eyes grew in size as I took in her words. Had she taken it that way?
I ripped the tie off, standing so I could pace.
“Actually—”
“No need to explain, Sir. I already have all my stuff packed and I’m ready to go. I knew after last night that you’d see how serious and devoted I was to making a future with you work. Oh my god! I’m so excited.” She laughed and I leaned over, pressing my palm into the desk.
Why had I gone as far as I had? Victoria was right. All these women deserved better than me. What had I been thinking? Shit, I knew. Images of Victoria and Daniel had kept playing in my head. Their perfect little life, with that bastard getting rich from my money. How Victoria would want a man like him to be her husband over me. She didn’t know his motives, if they were indeed true. I’d been upset. Angry with her for not returning my feelings. For not getting with me after all this time. Yet…she had wanted me. All along. The only reason she had distanced herself was because of the way I was. And after my perfect streak since this all started, I’d fallen, on the last night. And I’d fallen fucking hard. Right to the gutter, where I deserved to be. How could I have broken my own rules?
“Justine.” I pushed from the desk. “I’m sorry, you have it all wrong. I’m…” my throat was closing by the second, “I’m making things work with the mother of my children. We’re going to be a family. I’m sorry if you took it the wrong way. I should have called you before the announcement.”
Silence.
“I’m truly sorry. About everything.”
Something banged in the distance, making my eyes narrow as I tried to figure out what it could have been.
“But what about last night? About what happened? I mean, we left at midnight. You made your decision at nine o’clock this morning. How in that small of a span of time did you come to such a huge decision? I don’t understand? I mean, you…have you seen my body! I let you do that to me…for what?”
The anger was increasing by the second.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t talk with her until after I got home. We decided then.”
“Does she know what you did? What you were doing before you both decided this?”
My eyes closed as my stomach clenched. “No. But I plan to tell her.”
“Plan?” She laughed. “Right. Whatever. Have a happy fucking life, Devlin.”
The phone disconnected and it took everything I had not to send mine shattering into the wall. I didn’t like this. Not one bit. I had to get back to home. Talk with Victoria and try to break it to her as easily as possible. Try to convince her that I wasn’t turning back into the old Devlin that she had hid from. That she had protected Ava from.
I shut my laptop and sl
id it into the case. As I broke through the main doors, screaming exploded. Cops were beginning to arrive, but I didn’t wait. I headed to my car, bracing myself as the women began to run forward and crowd in.
“Devlin! Devlin Black!” Hands pulled at my jacket as I fought to put one foot in front of the other. Where the hell were the cops? Voices were so loud I couldn’t even understand what anyone was saying. I managed to get out my keys, only to look up and see something I should have expected. With a crowd like this, there was bound to be a news crews. A man stood on the top of a white van, a camera sitting on his shoulder. God dammit! I lowered my head, pushing harder to get to my door. By the grace of a higher power, I was able to pull it open and slide in. The locks clicked at my push and I started it, revving the engine.
It worked. The people began to thin out behind me, but not in the front. Hands hit against my car as I drove back. Pulling onto the main road and taking off was a lot harder. No one wanted to move. People were taking pictures with their phones and cameras. I didn’t understand it. The crowds were never this bad after the first week. I pull the plug and say I’ve found someone, and the women are out in increasing droves.
I pushed the button on my steering. “Call Victoria.”
More hitting against my window. My teeth clenched as I wove around the last cluster and gunned it the moment I was free.
Ringing filled the interior and I tried to calm.
“I was wondering when you’d call.” The soft tone made me want to smile. I almost did. She was happy and I loved that. Now, I was going to ruin it. God, I was now past the bastard stage and right into scum territory.
My mouth opened and I paused, her words from last night flooding in. If I broke her heart, she’d have the power to decide. Would this do that? I swallowed hard. It very well might. What if she ordered me to stay away from her and Ava? Took this to the courts and tried to slap me with every other weekend and holidays. What if it worked?
“Do you want to leave?” I reached over, cranking up the A/C. Fuck, I was burning up.
“Leave where?” The surprise was evident. “Devlin, I can’t leave. I have to go back to work tomorrow.”
Of course she did. And she wouldn’t quit or run away with me no matter how hard I tried. I knew her. Knew she’d never uproot Ava. And, then, there was the new baby. She was already so sick. It wouldn’t be good to put any extra stress on her body.
“That was a stupid question. I have to prepare you, Victoria, the women, they’re going insane since I declared I’d found ‘the one’. I’m sure you’re going to find out soon enough, but you need to brace yourself. It’s quite the scene.”
Ava’s laughter came through the background and I could hear her saying random words that didn’t make much sense.
“I was afraid something like this would happen. Lorraine even called earlier and said the nurses were all talking about it. Dom Fever, she called it. You’re quite the talk of the town. Again.”
I slowed at the red light, waiting for it to change green so I could detour and try to lose anyone who might be trying to follow. “I thought they’d all disappear, hearing I made my choice. I’m sure after a few days everything will calm.”
She laughed. “We’ll see. You’re more sure than I am.”
Well, she was taking this part better than I had thought.
“I’m on my way home. You need anything? Does Ava?”
“Hmm.” She paused. “Nope. I think we’re good. I already have dinner going and it should be done pretty soon.”
A smile did come then. “Dinner. For our family. I like that.” I gunned the engine, weaving from one road to the next. So far it looked like I had lucked out without anyone trying to track me down.
“Devlin,” she laughed harder. “I make dinner every night.”
“But tonight’s our first night as a real family. As a couple.”
My eyes went to my briefcase on the passenger seat. If I could just get her to sign the contract I had drawn up…
“A couple. That sounds so strange to me. Devlin, my boyfriend.”
“For now,” I corrected. “Husband is the goal. One that has a deadline.”
A groan came through the speakers. “Devlin, what if we’re not ready by the time the baby is born?”
I turned onto our road. “You mean, you’re not ready. Don’t include me in that statement. I’m ready right now.” I slowed as my mind started racing. “Yes,” I whispered.
“No,” Victoria said, drawing it out. “Marriage is out of the question. For now. For a while,” she rushed in.
Damn. We’d see about that. Contract first. Then, marriage. “I’m pulling into the drive. See you soon.” I hung up, turning off the car. The briefcase was my main focus. I grabbed it and my laptop case and headed inside. Ava’s eyes lit up the moment she saw me. Her arms rose and she took off running as best as she could toward me. Which was a lot better since the first time I’d met her.
“My girl,” I said, placing my things down next to the sofa and scooping her into my arms. The kiss on my cheek had me pulling back to look at her, surprised. My heart swelled at her token of affection.
“Hey,” Victoria called out to her, “those kisses are only for me.”
Ava squealed and buried her face in my neck, causing me to laugh. I was learning so much from her. From both of them. The most important was something I never even had to work on, and that was love. The emotions they brought out in me had come from a place I didn’t know existed. To love so fully, without expecting anything in return…Ava. I couldn’t even express the connection we had. She’d quickly become my life. Right there along with Victoria. But what I felt varied between them. It was a different kind of love, but one that left me willing to do anything to protect it.
“How was work?”
I headed into the dining room so she wouldn’t have to the leave the stove to be able to see me. How was work? Such a simple question, but one I’d longed to hear someone ask for longer than I could remember.
“Stressful.”
The need to be closer had me moving more in her direction. I didn’t stop until I was leaning down, kissing her cheek. Another thing most took for granted, she gifted to me. Gift. Yes, that’s what this was. Only problem was, until she signed my contract, she could return me at any time.
“How was your day? Did you rest?” I hadn’t asked, but ordered her to take it easy. From what I’d read, problems were common in early pregnancy and I was not leaving anything up for chance.
“I did, actually. I was so tired this morning,” she said, blushing as she glanced at me. “I took a nap when Ava did.”
Last night was heaven and your days are numbered if you don’t tell her the truth, now.
“We’ll try to call it an early night. I know you have to wake up early tomorrow and I want plenty of time with you before you fall asleep.”
She nodded, the flush increasing.
Ava squirmed and I sat her down, removing my jacket. She headed back to the living room where her ball was sitting next to the entertainment center. I stepped in closer, wrapping myself around Victoria from behind as she stirred the spaghetti sauce. My hand settled over the black dress covering her stomach and I smiled.
“How do you feel? Were you sick anymore after I left?”
Gently, I caressed the from hip to hip. Her breathing deepened and it took a few seconds, but she leaned back against me.
“Once, when I was making Ava’s lunch. But I’m doing better now.”
“Good.”
As I rubbed my nose up and down her neck, I knew I needed to stop. Fuck, I wanted her so bad. To lift up that dress and bend her over the table so I could have my way. The wooden spoons sitting in the jar not far over had me moving into her even more.
“When Ava goes to bed, you’re mine.” My lips pressed into the sensitive skin behind the back of her ear and she moaned quietly. Had Ava not been awake, that sound would have been my breaking point. Yes, the table. Naked, spread wide,
and awaiting my every demand.
I cut off my thoughts. No. Too much like Justine.
I stepped away, the disgust with myself making me look at Victoria in a whole new way. I was horrified with how this web was woven. Either way, lying or telling her the truth, my gut told me I’d lose her. The mere possibility left me feeling sick. Again.
“Hey, are you okay? You’re…pale.”
Another step back. “Long day. I’m just going to go change.” I grabbed the jacket and headed for my old room, where all of my clothes were. Was it even worth trying to change them over to her room? Probably not.
The alert on my phone went off and I pulled it from my pocket, my eyes narrowing with the thumbnail picture that popped up. I opened the message. Justine’s message. The nude pictures that appeared before me were proof of my sins. The evidence of what I’d done burned into my brain like battery acid, sending my blood to scorching degrees. God, if these pictures got out, or got back to Victoria.
I hit delete, turning off my phone completely. No way was I going to chance another one of those going through with Victoria anywhere near. It’d kill her seeing the marks and bruises first hand.
The shirt tore at my jerk and buttons flew to the carpet. I didn’t bother taking it off as I turned and fell back to the bed. The ceiling may have been in my view, but I didn’t see it. The only thing that blinded me was seeing everything I’d been given taken away.
“Devlin?”
My head lifted and Victoria was standing in the doorway.
“Are you okay? You really don’t look so good.”
“I’m fine.” I forced a grin and pushed myself up.
“Well, dinner’s ready.” She turned to leave, but faced me again. “Have you changed your mind about us?” The hurt was evident, even though I knew she was trying to hide it.
“Because if you did,” she continued, “it’s okay. You have the right to change your mind.”
Dom Fever (Devlin Black #2) Page 7