Part of the Family

by Cristina Grenier

  “Are you alright, mija? You look exhausted?” She gazed sheepishly over the bar at the housekeeper, who was busying herself with breakfast.

  “I’m a little tired, yeah.” She admitted lowly, taking another, slower sip of her coffee. “Jetlag, I guess.” She supposed that one of the better things about living with Dominic in his penthouse was getting to talk to Brett and Sophia. Despite the size of the living space, the businessman only had two people working for him, and it was quickly apparent why. They were efficient, discreet, and dependable. Within the space of a week, Makayla had already been made to feel at home - at least, where Brett and Sophia were concerned. It was strange because, of any and all people that might be let in on Dominic’s secret, she suspected that those who worked for him might be the most judgmental. After all, who was she to come into their carefully tended domain?

  Thankfully, she couldn’t have been more wrong.

  “We’ll fill you up, corazon. Give you some energy so you can go out with Dominic today.”

  Kayla nearly spat out her coffee. “What, out? Out where? Where are we going?”

  Before Sophia could answer, however, Dominic’s voice came floating into the kitchen from behind her. “It’s your own fault, you know. I gave you the cards and waited for you to go on your own, but you couldn’t be bothered.”

  Incensed, the young woman turned to argue. “It’s only been a week and I’ve been - I’ve been…” The words died on her lips as Dominic advanced into the kitchen. He’d obviously been in the gym as he was completely bare from the waist up; this, of course, allowed Kayla to realize that any and all assumptions she’d made about his body paled in comparison to the real thing.

  Dominic was what Melody would call ripped. Beads of sweat clung to powerful arms and pronounced pectorals - dripped down the most perfect abdomen she’d ever laid eyes on. As the dark-haired man used the towel around his neck to mop up some of the moisture, Kayla felt a powerful need clench her gut - so powerful, indeed, that it stole the breath from her lungs.

  While Kayla was no stranger to the pictures of attractive, half-naked men that littered the internet, this was something on a completely different level. Dominic was here, in the flesh. From three feet away, she could feel the heat off his body - smell the salty tang of his sweat - and the young woman realized, to her shock, that she was intimately aroused without his even having touched her.

  “You were what?” He cocked his head to eye her with a knowing smirk. “Busy? Well, you’re not busy today, are you, Kayla? All registered.” He tossed the towel on the edge of the counter and Brett scooped it up in passing without a word. “Got all your supplies. Which means you’re mine for the day.”

  The very prospect made her shiver. Kayla had to wonder how on earth she, who had never been this overtly sexual, was so drawn to the man when she was fairly sure that she didn’t even like sex.

  “I...I don’t need anything.” She tried lamely, which only made Dominic sigh as he took the coffee that Sophia pressed into his hands.

  “If you think I’m going to be seen with you in t-shirts and jeans anymore, Kayla, you’re sorely mistaken.”

  At that, the young woman bristled. “What’s wrong with t-shirts and jeans!? They’re perfectly comfortable!”

  “Feel free to wear them around the house,” Dominic rebutted, leaning against the marble countertop to eye her. “But not while we’re out. We’ll get you other things to wear around the city.”

  Kayla frowned, staring him down challengingly. “You can’t tell me what to wear.” Thankfully, Sophia had busied herself making omelets and was devotedly ignoring their conversation. “I like my clothes.”

  Dominic stared at her for a long moment - enough to make her squirm slightly in discomfort, before he came around the island to drop into the seat next to her. All at once he was much, much too close, and Kayla found herself scooting backward on her stool to avoid him. “Kayla, if I’m working to see things your way, I’m going to have to ask that you do me the same kindness.” He took a casual sip of his coffee before continuing, the muscles of his chest rippling as he set the mug down. “How do you think it will look if I parade around the city in Armani suits while you run to your classes in Converse?”

  Kayla merely shrugged, completely lost. “Comfortable?”

  “No, it will look like I don’t care.” He corrected her promptly, “Like I’m not spending any money on you.”

  Kayla’s eyes widened as her cheeks flushed in embarrassment. “But I don’t want-”

  “You agreed to this, didn’t you?” He cut her off curtly, arching a dark brow. “To keeping up appearances, to providing what I need, since I’m providing what you need, correct?”

  Kayla could have groaned. She should have known that he was going to play this card. “Well, yes, but-”

  “No buts. We’re going shopping.” He finished the conversation easily - and Kayla found she had nothing to say in defiance. At least, nothing that wouldn’t lose her her tuition. “So get dressed.”

  Since she had nothing to contribute, Kayla merely glowered at him, snatching her coffee from the counter before beginning to stalk to the master suite. Halfway out of the kitchen, she turned, determined to get him on something. “You are not trying to see this my way, you know. If you were, you’d understand how uncomfortable all this,” She gestured to the penthouse and all its furnishings, “Makes me.”

  Dominic merely sighed. “If my house makes you so damned uncomfortable, Kayla, I’m sure you can imagine how I feel having to sleep next to you every night without touching you.”

  His words sent a jolt of fire through her system and Kayla stared at him for a moment, utterly shocked, before she came back to her senses. Turning on her heel, she bolted for the safety of the bedroom. Once inside, she closed the door, and found her hands were trembling when she raised them.

  He couldn’t sleep? Like she couldn’t sleep?

  So, basically, they were lying awake at night in bed next to one another, thinking inclandestine thoughts.

  Great.

  Kayla had never been a big fan of shopping. Of course, she had tagged along when Melody wanted to go as it was her best friend’s passion, but she had always despised trying to find things for herself.

  Now, she had to deal with shopping for herself for an entire day, and she really didn’t know how admirably she managed. All Kayla knew was that what she had expected was for the man to take her to the stores with the best deals - maybe Macys, as that seemed the “New York” thing to do.

  But, she was completely mistaken.

  Dominic took her directly to Fifth Avenue - no passing go and no collecting two hundred dollars. At first, she stubbornly attempted to stay in the car. It was only Dominic’s threats to call cameras to weed her out that got her into Saks - and then, Makayla had been promptly overwhelmed.

  She’d never seen so many expensive things in one place in her life. Anytime she caught sight of something she even remotely liked, one look at the price tag was enough to make her slightly nauseous.

  “Pleasure to see you as always, Mr. West.” They were greeted by a woman who looked as if she had just jumped out of the pages of vogue - chic, short haircut, impeccably pressed skirt and blazer - and sky high heels to top it all off. “How may I help you today? A new dinner jacket? We recently received an excellent stock of Italian loafers, if I may tempt you.”

  “Not today, Madeline.” Dominic’s firm, authoritative tone was enough to send a little shiver of awareness through her. “We’re shopping for Kayla today.” With those words, he pressed her forward, effectively feeding her to the wolves.

  Madeline’s piercing gaze was enough to make the young woman feel as if she were effectively being stripped naked. The blonde looked from her linen t-shirt- three sizes too big - to her tattered jeans and much-loved Converse, before finally meeting her gaze. “I see. Well, we’ll need to go ahead and get started, won’t we?”

  She made it sound like a ridiculously impossible
task to dress her, and Makayla found herself on the cusp of being offended. At least, that was, until Madeline whisked her away from Dominic and up to the second floor to begin what ended up being an afternoon long affair.

  Kayla felt like a damned circus animal. Madeline plucked what had to be a thousand outfits off the racks and piled them on her before sending her into the dressing room - all without even asking her size. The woman was, therefore, shocked when almost everything she tried on fit.

  But it wasn’t enough that she knew it fit - she had to come out of the dressing room to show both Madeline and Dominic each thing she tried on - and that was no easy task. Especially when she was assaulted with a bevy of comments ranging from ‘Oh that’s lovely. Set’s off her waist nicely’ to ‘Oh, no, that won’t do at all. Chartreuse isn’t her color’. It was like they were speaking a completely different language - so Kayla tried her best to tune it out.

  But then, a strange thing happened. As the piles of approved and rejected clothing grew higher and higher, she found herself enjoying the experience somewhat. She could privately admit to herself that she had never, in her wildest dreams, imagined that she would ever wear silk, chiffon, and actual calfskin. She tried on a cashmere sweater that was so soft that she could have lived in it and heels that, while absurdly high, actually managed to make her feet look somehow elegant.

  Though she was exhausted by the time evening rolled around, she couldn't say that she had been tortured as much as she thought she would be.

  But shopping wasn’t the end of it.

  Though Kayla was dead on her feet by five pm, Madeline wasn’t finished with her. Swallowing a groan, she allowed the impeccably coiffed woman to march her up to the third floor where there was a salon and spa. Dominic followed in their wake, looking thoroughly pleased with himself.

  “I think we’ll add a little more...poise to your look.” Madeline sniffed, gesturing to two hairstylists who moved forward with wicked intent.

  “Don’t cut it.” Dominic all but barked when they raised their shears. Kayla turned in the chair to look at him, surprised. If anything, she thought that her hair was the most unruly part of her - the thing he’d want to tame the most. “I like the curls.” As he continued, the man looked her dead in the eye, making her flush slightly. “Maybe just clean things up a bit.”

  “Of course, Mr. West.” Madeline inclined her head towards him respectfully, and his small smile of satisfaction was the last thing Kayla saw before they went to work on her. Not only did they give her hair a slight trim and shape, they also did a deep conditioning treatment while treating her to a manicure and pedicure.

  While the young woman grew hot in the face as she imagined how much money this must be costing, she couldn’t help but enjoy the hot stone massage they gave her, along with an eyebrow wax and lash extensions. What she didn’t enjoy, however, was how they waxed the rest of her - parts Kayla was sure hadn’t seen the light of day for at least the past decade.

  Ultimately, she felt primped and polished to within an inch of her life. She was so tired that the only reason she kept from slumping in her chair as Madeline applied her makeup was because she was scared she would wrinkle the new dress she wore - a deep emerald green number with a pleated skirt and long sleeves.

  “Now then,” When Madeline was finally, finally done with her, she didn’t, as Kayla would have guessed, immediately drag her before Dominic for his approval. Instead, she marched the young woman back into the dressing room to face a three hundred and sixty degree mirror. “Let’s have a look at the final package.”

  For a good minute and a half, all Kayla could do was gape. She barely even recognized the person in the mirror. Her hair had somehow been tamed and layed in tiny, gleaming coils over her shoulders. The dress she wore suited her figure better than anything she’d ever owned, and the nude, pointed toe flats she wore tied the entire outfit together.

  Good Christ, her eyes looked bigger - whether it was the makeup or the lash extensions, she didn’t know, but it was like her entire face had been transformed. Kayla turned this way and that, transfixed with her own reflection.

  There was a moment, one painful, dark instant when she remembered being told over and over again that she would never be beautiful. That, no matter how hard she tried, she would never amount to anything, just like they had never amounted to anything…

  And then it passed.

  It was just she and Madeline in the dressing room again. “Are you alright?” The blonde must have noticed the way her face fell, as her expression suddenly became mildly concerned. “You don’t like it?”

  “No, that’s not it!” Kayla immediately forced what she hoped was a charming smile. “It’s wonderful. Why don’t we go show Mr. West?”

  The prospect of showing off her work was more than enough to get Madeline out of the dressing room and back downstairs; but then, of course, Kayla was faced with an even more intimidating reveal.

  When she stepped off the escalator, Dominic stood from where he’d been lounging on a leather settee with a cup of coffee. He advanced on her slowly - slowly enough to make her nervous - his gaze never leaving her. When he came close enough for the heat of his body to envelop her, Kayla forced herself to take a slightly shaky breath.

  The man circled her once with leisurely deliberance before coming to stand before her once more. It was strange, but for the first time since she’d come to the city, Kayla felt she was actually giving him a reason to stare. She looked pretty decent. More than decent, if she was honest with herself.

  “You look lovely.” His compliment was enough to make her look away in an attempt to try and hide her embarrassment.

  “Thank you.” Her words came out in the barest whisper and the corner of Dominic’s mouth kicked up in an amused smile. “And thank you Madeline.” Though he spoke to the blonde stylist, his eyes remained on the woman before him.

  “Of course, Mr. West.”

  They stayed long enough for him to instruct Madeline to put everything on his tab - the mere thought was enough to make Kayla woozy - before the Rolls picked them up at the curb again, Brett at the wheel.

  “You look absolutely stunning, Miss Price.” The compliment was a little less intimidating coming from the man who helped her pick at the crossword when he had a free moment, and Kayla beamed.

  “Thank you, Brett.”

  Her day had been such a whirlwind that Kayla was surprised she didn’t fall asleep in the car. She barely made it back to the penthouse, and was infinitely grateful for the Guinness Beef Stew that Sophia had ready for them. As the young woman ate, she could feel Dominic’s eyes on her, and she had to wonder, was she all that much more attractive to him now? Now that she was dressed like a woman from his world?

  The thought was enough to send her scurrying from the kitchen table to take a long bath before beginning to put away the ridiculous amount of packages Saks had sent home with them. There was perfume she didn’t even remember buying, makeup, all the clothes she had decided upon and then some...she didn’t even know if she would have a chance to wear it all, really.

  It was close to eleven by the time she finally thought she might be able to face Dominic. Kayla had a minor panic attack when she realized that she couldn’t find any of her old sleeping things before Brett told her that Dominic had asked him to have them cleaned. As such, Makayla was forced to don one of the nightgowns she’d bought - a long, peach silk number with lace trim that was entirely too slinky for its own good - but her other options were worse. Luckily, she had a matching wrapper, and belted it tight around her waist before steeling herself to venture to the master suite.

  When she opened the door, the first thing she noticed was that Dominic was already in bed - an oddity to be sure. No matter how late she went to bed, he always came after her - so the sight of his huge figure eating up half the mattress was enough to make her stomach clench in a strange mixture of anticipation and trepidation.

  “Um...hi.”

  He looked
up from the book he was reading, and the sudden heat in his gaze made her knees weak. “Hi.”

  “You’re in bed early.” It was easier if she talked. If she went to bed in silence, she was pretty sure the tension between them would eat her alive.

  “We had a long day.” He provided, by way of answering, before setting the book aside to watch her. Kayla had been bound for the bed, but with his eyes on her, she felt bound to give him something to watch, at least, so she made her way over to the dresser to take up her hairbrush.

  “We did.” She agreed, doing her best not to meet his gaze in the mirror. There was really no need to brush her hair - Madeline and her crew had worked out every last knot - but what else was she going to do? “Thank you, by the way, for all of it. I...I know it must have cost a fortune.”

  “A fortune, I have, Kayla.” Oh God he was getting up - getting up from bed and he wasn’t wearing a shirt with those silk pajama pants. Dominic West’s body had to be illegal in at least a few countries. Every time she saw it, Kayla was almost overcome with the desire to touch it - to touch him. Leisurely, he advanced toward her, and then, Kayla couldn’t help but watch him as he came up right behind her - close enough that his bare chest whispered across the silk of her wrapper.

  How did he smell so good? Even right after he worked out, the man smelled like absolute heaven. It was impossible. No one smelled that good. “This suits you.” When he put his hands on her shoulders, she wanted it. Kayla swore she did - but she couldn’t stop the way her body reacted.

  She flinched - almost violently - and Dominic immediately removed his hands, surprise written across his face.

  Kayla felt her face blooming scarlet and, in that moment, she wanted nothing more than to sink into the ground and disappear. It had been so long since anyone but Melody had touched her, she had almost allowed herself to forget...but her body would never forget.