Reckless Devotion (Book One)

by Jennifer Domenico

  “A habit I’m sure we’ll share.”

  “What else is different?”

  “In Paris, I lived on a hugely popular street. Outside my flat, I was walking distance to everything I wanted, clubs, bars, restaurants, shopping. Everything. Here, I need a car to go everywhere, and I need to figure out some better food options. So far, it’s been fast food.” He pats his stomach. “I can’t keep that up if I want to keep this tight.”

  “No. Where do you live?”

  “Old Town Scottsdale in some place overlooking the mall.”

  “Oh, yeah, that’s a nice area.”

  “You?”

  “Just up the street from here. I could walk if I wanted to.”

  “So you know the area well?”

  “Oh yeah. I’ve lived here for five years now.”

  “Good. I could use a tour guide. I’m still figuring out my surroundings.”

  “I’d be happy to show you around. Anywhere you want.” Around my body.

  He smiles softly. “I’d like that.”

  I know I would. “Yeah.”

  “Sara offered to have me stay with her, but I didn’t want to disrupt her life or give her firsthand knowledge of my degenerate ways.”

  I laugh softly. “I’m sure you’re not that bad.”

  “Oh, but I am.” Leaning on one elbow, a slow smirk spreads across his lips. “How is it that you’re single? I’m dying to know how such a beautiful woman is available.”

  “That’s easy. I don’t believe in relationships.”

  “Ah. Do you believe in physical ones?”

  Here we go. “Why don’t we just get to the point? All your French sexiness, just a method to get to my bedroom?”

  “If that works. I’m sure I’m not alone in that desire.”

  Swallowing hard, I try to play it cool. “I’m not taking you home with me today.” But I fucking wish I was.

  “I didn’t expect you would, but that doesn’t mean it’s not what I want.” He leans closer to me. “The first reason I asked you for coffee is to see if there was chemistry between us, which clearly there is. The second is because there’s something you should know before you commit to spending any serious time with me.”

  “Uh huh.”

  “I don’t fuck around, Mia. I don’t play games. I won’t be like any man you’ve met. When I want a woman, I’ll do anything I have to do to get her. Anything. You understand?”

  I crinkle my forehead as his voice takes on a slightly sinister tone. “Um… no.”

  “I always get what I want.” He grins, leaning back in his chair. “I want you. It’s that simple.”

  “Why?”

  “Isn’t that obvious? You’re fucking hot.”

  “So you want to fuck me. Get in line. That’s not exactly a unique quality.”

  Tearing open the bag on the table, he breaks off a piece of scone, pops it in his delicious mouth, and chews slowly. “No, Mia. I don’t just want to fuck you, although, that’s definitely part of it. I want you. All of you.”

  I shake my head. “What does that mean? If we’re not talking about sex, what are we talking about?”

  Gabriel stands, moves to the chair next to me, and leans in so close I can feel his breath on my cheek. “Don’t you want to find out?”

  Fuck. Yeah. “You’re being cryptic.”

  “I am. I need to know what kind of woman you are. Do you need everything carefully laid out? Do you subscribe to archaic ideas of how men and woman should date? Or, are you adventurous? Spontaneous? Willing to jump in the deep end?”

  Gazing into his eyes, I decide to respond with a question. “What do you think?”

  “I’ll tell you what I hope. I hope you know how to swim because I am the deep end.”

  I take a sip of my coffee to compose myself. I think about my response, knowing it will set the course of what happens next. “I’m a strong swimmer, Gabriel.”

  He smiles, as his lips come so close they just barely touch my skin, causing my breath to catch. “I thought so.” He leans away, and I feel like I can finally breathe. “The scone is pretty good. Want a bite?”

  I laugh softly, shaking my head. “We’re changing the subject?”

  “Unless you want to come home with me right now?”

  “No.”

  “Then, yes.”

  “All right then. Guess I’ll have a bite of scone.” Gabriel breaks off a piece and hands it to me while acting like he didn’t just say all that shit. “Just one question.”

  He nods. “Sure.”

  “Why tell me all that now? Why not just let me get to know you?”

  He shakes his head. “I don’t want to invest time in a woman that can’t handle me. I want her to know up front what she’s getting into. I don’t want her thinking of weddings and babies and bullshit because it’s not gonna happen. I’ll be around as long as I still feel excited, still desire you, still have you consuming my thoughts.”

  “And then?”

  He shrugs slightly. “And then I’m gone.”

  “Well, then it’s only fair that I tell you something about me.”

  “Listening.”

  “I’m just like you. So we’ll see which one of us gets bored first. Ten bucks it’s me.” It’s always me.

  “A thousand bucks it’s not.”

  “Deal.”

  Gabriel laughs. “I have a feeling this is going to be a lot of fun.”

  “Maybe.”

  “Now, about Sara.”

  “What about her?”

  “She doesn’t know a lot of things about me, and I want to keep it that way. She looks up to me.”

  “So she doesn’t know you’re a freak in the bedroom?”

  “Out of it too, Mia.” He places his hand over mine, sending pings of desire shooting through me as he strokes my fingers between his. “It’s important to me that she stay blissfully unaware of the details of what transpires between us. I need that assurance before we go any further.”

  I consider the seriousness of his tone. “Of course. I wasn’t planning on sharing anything specific anyway. You are her brother.”

  “Right. I have your promise?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good. Now, are you absolutely sure I can’t take you back to my place and spend the rest of the day between your legs? Because I really, really want to.”

  “Why, Gabriel? You don’t even know me. You want to fuck me just because I have a pretty face?”

  “Yes, and a pretty body. A pretty mouth, pretty eyes.” He grins. “And the prettiest part? You’re not afraid of me.”

  “Should I be? Are you dangerous?”

  “That depends on your definition of dangerous.”

  What a weird answer. “Will you hurt me?”

  “Possibly.”

  “Okay wait.” I pull my hand away. “You’re not some kind of serial killer or something, right? Am I gonna go missing in a few weeks?”

  His eyes open wide. “Serial killer? Really, Mia?”

  “You’re the one talking crazy shit.”

  He lifts my hand to his lips, brushing them back and forth over my skin, before flashing his baby blues at me. His eyelashes are so thick they’d be the envy of women everywhere.

  “There’s only one way you’ll get hurt,” he explains. “If you’re foolish enough to fall in love with me.”

  “That’ll never happen.”

  “It happens every time.”

  “Same here.”

  “I don’t doubt it,” he grins. “It seems we may have both met our match.”

  “Maybe.”

  Gabriel drinks his coffee keeping his eyes trained on me. God, he’s hot. I want to climb on his lap in front of all these people and fuck his brains out.

  “Are you sure?” he asks.

  “About what?”

  “My place? Or we can drag it out until Saturday. Whatever you want.”

  “Whatever I want? I thought you were running this?”

  “Oh, I am.
I’ll give up a little control at first, but don’t be mistaken, Mia. If I wanted you to come back with me bad enough, I could make that happen. I could even make you think it was your idea.”

  Narrowing my eyes, I reply, “You’re an arrogant son of a bitch, aren’t you?”

  “Yeah. I own that shit. How about you?”

  “What?”

  “You know you’re hot and guys fall like drug fiends at your feet. All they want is a hit, just another taste, even if they have to grovel. Even if they have to act like pussies, they’ll do it for a chance to slip inside you. For just a little bit of your attention, he’ll act like a fool. He’ll send you flowers, buy you things, take you out, text every night. You’re so used to it you expect it now. Nothing impresses you. To you, he’s just a dick to use for your pleasure. You leave a decimated trail of broken-hearted, pussy-addicted men in your wake, and it makes you laugh.” He pops another piece of scone in his mouth. “Am I right, Mia?”

  Yep. “Maybe.”

  “But with me it’s different. I’ve intrigued you. Now you’re the one wondering what I’ll do next. Will I call? Will we fuck? You’re wondering if I have a big dick and if I know how to make you scream. You’re wondering what my lips would feel like on your skin, my hands in your hair, my body pressed against yours. I’m the first man in a long time that’s excited you. That’s why you’ll do things my way.”

  He’s fucking right, but there’s no way I’m giving him that. “You’re full of yourself.”

  “I am, but to be fair, I feel the same way about you. I’ve been bored, but meeting you has sparked something in me.”

  I grin at his admission. “You should be careful. You might end up broken-hearted and pussy-addicted.”

  “A chance I’m willing to take.”

  Deciding I had better make the next move if I want the upper hand, I stand, picking up my handbag. “I’m going now.”

  He grins. “I’m not surprised.” He stands too, stepping close to me, causing me to take a step back. “Don’t be afraid of me.”

  “I’m not.”

  As his smile fades from happy to seductive, he reaches forward, touching my hair.

  “Saturday?”

  I search his eyes for a minute. “Are you sure you want to do this with me?”

  “I don’t have a choice anymore. Do you?”

  Nope. “I’ll text you my address.”

  “Sounds good. Thanks for meeting today. I enjoyed it.”

  “Yeah.” I start to pull away, but he wraps his arm around my waist closing the gap between us and kisses me on each cheek again. I close my eyes, summoning the strength to keep my hands to myself. It would be inappropriate to go at it at Starbucks.

  When he releases me, I walk to my car, glance back at him as I get in, and find him watching me. Once I’m out of his eyesight, I sigh, rubbing my forehead. I can’t talk to Sara, but I can talk to Danielle, and that’s exactly where I’m going right now.

  WATCHING MIA DRIVE away, I sit back in my chair, reeling from that interaction. She excited me, no, that’s not the right word. Running my hand through my hair, I consider what is a good enough word to describe what she just did to me. I was close to begging her to come back to my apartment, and I never beg. I tried to play it off, like my dick wasn’t throbbing in my jeans just for the chance to touch her. I always have the upper hand when I meet a woman. I’m always in control, but in just a few minutes, Mia stripped me of my power. She was right about one thing. I need to be careful. I’ve never let a woman reduce me to being pussy-addicted, and I don’t plan to start now. Even if gazing into her eyes makes me feel like I just put down my fifth shot of tequila.

  Leaning back in my chair, I chuckle, remembering Sara’s words. “She’s pretty. Smart, sassy. I think you’ll like her.” None of those words accurately capture the woman I just met. She’s not pretty. She’s stunning. Smart? Maybe, but she’s also clever, and I’ll take that over book smart any day. Sassy? Okay, that one fits. Like her? I more than like her. I’m fucking obsessed. It took less than twenty minutes in her presence to make her my new goal. I just hope everything she said about herself was true. If she’s really like me, we’ll do fine, but if it’s a front, if she pulls the same shit most women do, it’ll be a disaster. Clingy, needy, and lobbying for a ring is such a turn off, but the most common traits I come across. She was different though. I saw it right away, and that gives me hope.

  My phone buzzes in my pocket, interrupting my thoughts. I smile when I see my sister’s number.

  “Hey, Gingerbread.”

  Sara laughs. “Hey, Meatball. Whatcha doing?”

  “Sitting at Starbucks.”

  “Alone?”

  “Yeah.”

  “You met Mia?”

  My eyebrow raises. “You heard?”

  “She texted me before she left. How’d it go?”

  “Did you speak with her?”

  “Not yet. Called you first.”

  “It went fine. She seems nice.”

  “Nice? I was expecting a better response than nice.”

  Laughing, I put my sunglasses on, then stand, throw out our trash, and start to walk to my car. “Okay, I like her.”

  “Ooh, good. I thought you might. Do you think she liked you?”

  Thinking back over the conversation, I smile. “Yeah, I think so. We still have plans for the party on Saturday.”

  “Very exciting. I love her to pieces. She’s the complete opposite of me.”

  “I hope so.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “I wouldn’t be good with someone like you. Someone who sees the world through rose-colored glasses and the silver lining of even the darkest situation. I like living under my moody dark cloud.”

  Sara laughs. “You’ll have company then. Mia’s very cynical, especially with men.”

  “I picked up on that.” When I reach my car, I hop inside and start it by pushing the ignition button. “Anything else that’s pivotal I should know about her?”

  “No, just be careful. I don’t know what she does, but every guy she dates ends up falling hard, chasing her around like a lost puppy. I tease her that she must have a pot of gold between her legs.”

  Now it’s my turn to laugh. “Uh, thanks for that visual.”

  She giggles. “It has to be that, because she’s not emotionally open at all. Unless she’s totally different when she’s not around me, I don’t see how it could be anything else but mad bedroom skills.”

  I let that thought linger in my mind for a moment before backing out of my space and heading back toward home. “Well, she certainly is stunning.”

  “Yeah, she is.”

  “And she’s a good friend to you?”

  “The best. Hey, you know how I’ve hated my freckles my whole life?”

  “Yep.”

  “Well, one night, about a year ago we were hanging out at my apartment and drinking. I ended up crying and telling her how I wished I was beautiful like she is.”

  “Aw, Sara.”

  “I admitted that I hated my freckles. You know what she did?”

  “Tell me.”

  “She stood me up, dragged me to the mirror and made me look at myself. Then she made me say things that were good and unique about my face, my body, my personality. It was intense and I cried through it, but by the time she let me go, it was like I saw myself completely different. For a week after that, every day she would ask me if I knew I was beautiful and then made me name a reason why. It changed my life. I suddenly started carrying myself differently, with more confidence, and men responded. Quality men.”

  “Wow. That’s incredible.”

  “Yeah. She’s like that. So intense and such a good friend, but completely closed down when it comes to men. If you can crack her code, I bet it would be amazing.”

  “Well, I’m not exactly the model citizen of an emotionally open man. I think my heart is safe.”

  “You never know, G. Stranger things have happened.�
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  “Not to me.”

  She laughs. “Anyway, I guess I’ll see you Saturday.”

  “You will. You bringing a date?”

  “Yeah, this guy I’ve been out with a couple of times. His name is Jamie.”

  “Is he nice to you? Or do I need to go big brother on him?”

  “So far he’s nice. Respectful.”

  “He better be. What’s the dress code?”

  “Cocktail. Wear a suit, but not a tux.”

  “Got it.”

  “Gabriel?”

  “Yes?”

  “I’m really glad you came to Phoenix. I missed you.”

  “Missed you too, kiddo. See you soon.”

  “K. Bye.”

  Hanging up, I pull up to a stoplight and reflect on our talk. Mia’s emotionally closed off, but so am I. Cracking her code sounds fun, but could open me up to things I don’t want to deal with. I don’t want her to fall in love, like so many others have. Breaking a woman’s heart is something I have a lot of experience with, but it never gets easier. The best approach with Mia is to keep it physical only. Guard my heart and my thoughts. Keep her at arm’s distance. Even that doesn’t always work, but it’s the only tool I have if I want to spend time with her, and I definitely want that. After being with her today, even for that short time, all I want is Mia.

  PULLING INTO THE parking lot of the hair salon where Danielle works, I find a spot, park, then get out of the car and go inside. She’s with a client and smiles when she sees me.

  “Hey, you,” she says. “Whatcha doing here?”

  “Just need some girl time.”

  “Cool. Let me finish up here. Just a flat iron and I’m done. Want me to give you a blow out?”

  “I’d love that.”

  “You got it.”

  I sit in a chair, grabbing a magazine, and flip through it while I wait for Danielle. A few minutes later, my phone buzzes in my handbag. Pulling it out, I see Sara’s number.

  “Hey.”

  “Hey,” she says. “Whatcha doing?”

  “Hanging out waiting to get my hair washed. What are you doing?”

  “Finding out what you thought of my big brother.”

  I laugh. “I figured as much.”

  “Did you like him?”