by Abby Brooks
Dominic beams at me. “You just get cooler and cooler.”
“Yeah? You don’t think it’s weird?”
“Dakota.” His voice makes my name sound beautiful. “I am officially homeless. My entire life fits into a few bags and travels the world with me. It’d be a little hypocritical of me if I thought your desire to downsize was weird.” He pulls into a parking lot of a restaurant I never even knew existed. “Hungry?”
I’m about to say no, but my stomach rumbles loudly. “I guess I am,” I say, looking down in shock.
We head inside a quaint restaurant with a spectacular menu. One where the owners are busy behind the counter and in the kitchen, strolling through the dining room and talking to customers. The food is simple and delicious and I eat way more of it than I typically would on a first date.
“What’s the best place you’ve been to?” I ask once our plates are empty and our bellies are full.
Dominic considers for a minute and then looks me straight in the face. “I’m going with Townsbury, Ohio.” His eyes glitter with good humor as he raises his eyebrows. “But that might be the company.”
I smile as I take a drink. As cheesy as that comment was, it totally worked. I’m busy doing internal cartwheels. “Okay company aside. Favorite place? Favorite experience?”
“Wow. That’s hard. I say yes to almost every experience that comes my way.”
“Me too! Not that I’ve had too many come my way because…” I flare my hands. “Townsbury.” I say it like that explains everything. “Not many experiences actually come my way.”
Dominic shakes his head. “Maybe you should start making experiences instead of waiting for them.”
He has a point, but I’m not in the mood to concede it to him. “Or maybe you should share some of your favorites with me so I can live vicariously through you.”
He tells me about the time he went cliff jumping in Bora Bora. About the time he ziplined in Kauai. Sandboarding in Dubai and then again down Cerro Negro Volcano in Central America. Caving in Kuala Lampor. “And those are just the thrill-seeking adventures. Those are great, but some of the simpler things are just as impactful, if not as adrenaline packed.”
I’m shaking my head, jealous of all that he’s seen and done. “Wow. And here I am, just sitting here, a lowly bartender. I can’t even chase after my dreams because I don’t really know what they are.”
“That’s not true on so many levels. You’re no lowly bartender. Have you seen how many comments our YouTube video is getting?” Dominic waits for me to admit that I haven’t. “You should peek. I think you’d get a kick out of it. But as far as dreams go? I’m pretty sure I’ve heard two of them today alone. Writing and simplifying your life.” He holds up a finger with each item.
I swipe at the condensation gathering around my glass. “Yeah, but the writing thing will never happen and my life can’t get much more simple than it already is.”
“You’re deflecting, Dakota. Stop it. You spoke about living in a shack near the ocean and a shipping container house out in the wild somewhere. That’s the kind of simplification I’m talking about. Imagine living in a simple house like that and writing.”
My heart surges with excitement just hearing him say those words. “I imagine it all the time,” I say truthfully, sadness pulling down on the corner of my lips. “But those things just aren’t realistic.”
“Why not?”
“Because…” I search for a decent answer. “It’s just not. People don’t do that.”
“Yeah. They actually do. There’s no reason why you can’t be one of them.”
The crazy thing is, as soon as he says that, all the reasons I had in my head why I couldn’t just build my strange house and live my strange life fall away. “My family would think I’m crazy.”
“I bet they already think that.”
I laugh. “I bet they already do.”
“Just something to think about.”
“Yeah, but what would I write? What would I do? Where would I live? I bet I could save up the money for the house quick enough. But then there’s land to think about…” I’m smiling so big it hurts and I feel lit up from the inside out.
Dominic reaches across the table and takes my hand. “It opens up a whole new world, doesn’t it? Accepting that others might think you’re a little crazy and realizing that it’s okay.”
“I guess. I don’t know if I’ve accepted anything yet, but I sure do have a lot to think about now.”
“As long as you promise me you’ll think about it. Don’t let that voice of reason talk you out of going for what you want.”
“You can bet your sweet ass I’ll really look into it.” And I bet it is actually quite sweet. “I haven’t felt this excited in a long time.”
“Good.”
We finish our drinks and Dominic pays the bill and I’m feeling super disappointed when he finally pulls into my parking lot and turns off the car. I almost ask him how long he’ll be in town, but I don’t really want to know the answer. I mean, I do. I want to know how many days I have left with this guy. But I just don’t want to hear that he’s leaving.
Dominic walks me to my door and there’s no way he’s getting out of here without kissing me. “This is the first time I don’t regret losing a bet,” I say as I pretend to fish for my keys.
“Oh come on. Admit it. You knew how to solve that trick and you lost the bet on purpose.”
I look up, surprised, hand frozen in its pretend journey to the bottom of my purse.
Dominic laughs. “That face says it all.”
I open my mouth, looking for the right thing to say and find absolutely nothing at all. “I may have let you win.” I shrug. “Just like I might be pretending I can’t find my keys because I wonder if I stall long enough you might kiss me again.”
What. The. Fuck?
Did I actually just say that out loud?
I’m still processing the fact that yes, I was just that bold when Dominic leans in and kisses me. My fingers wrap around my keys as his hands come to my waist and pull me in closer. I fumble with the lock as he fumbles with my shirt, barely aware that we’re still outside where anyone could walk by and see. Finally, I get the door open and we stumble inside, a staggering mess of hands everywhere and mouths everywhere else. I drop my keys and my purse. Kick the door shut and throw caution to the wind.
This day with Dominic has been an experience and I’ll be damned if I start saying no now.
Chapter Eleven
We’re barely in my apartment and I’ve got my hands on the button of his pants, tugging and struggling to get the damn thing undone. I want to lose control with him, get crazy with him, stop listening to all the voices of reason and do what my instinct says is right. And in this moment, everything about Dominic Kane is right.
I get his button unfastened as he drops his mouth to my chest. I groan and drop my head back. His mouth is magic. He pulls my shirt over my head and I mentally send a thank you to Morning Me for choosing one of my prettiest bras.
“Damn, Dakota. You’re beautiful.” Dominic steps back and admires me. “It should be illegal for you to wear clothes.”
“Says the man who’s wearing too many himself.” I step forward and slide down his zipper. Reach into his pants and grab his cock. Dominic growls, his eyes focused on my hand.
“How do you want this?” he asks and I’m confused.
“How do you want this?” I parrot him coyly, trying to gauge his meaning.
Dominic pinches my nipple. Twists just a little. I gasp, but smile because that’s just how I like it. When it feels so good it almost hurts. He sees the look on my face and lust darkens his eyes.
“Get on your knees, Dakota.” That hard edge is back in Dominic’s voice and I just about melt. He undresses while I do what he says, his dick springing free and straining towards me. I open my mouth as he gets close, trail my tongue around his tip, thrilling in that little drop of moisture beading there.
He sig
hs, deep in his throat, his eyes on me, so intense. It ignites me. He grabs a fist full of my hair and slides himself all the way to the back of my throat, pumps his hips a few times and then pulls out. I take a deep breath and wipe saliva off my lips. He’s watching me, trying to see if I like what he’s doing. Keeping my eyes on his, I open my mouth and draw my tongue across his length.
A smile plays across the corner of his lips. “You like this?”
I nod. “Use me.” My words are a whisper, another admission of my most secret desires.
“I won’t use you, baby. But I promise I’ll take you places you’ve never been before.”
His words send a thrill through my body and I take the base of his dick in one hand while I gently cup his balls with the other. Using my lips and my tongue, I slide my mouth along his shaft, first just teasing him and then moving with more purpose. His moans egg me on. He grows harder in my hand as I bring him ever so close to climax and I move faster still.
His hands go back to my hair. He pulls my head back, a string of saliva still connecting us. “You almost made me lose control.”
I smile up at him. “Good.”
“No, no, no. That’s not good at all. I never lose control.” He steps back, giving me space. “Stand up.”
As soon as I do, he reaches around, deftly unfastening my bra. He takes a breast in one hand, kneading and massaging while his mouth goes to the other. Teasing my taut nipple with his teeth and his tongue. He tugs at the waistband of my shorts and I pull them down, unceremoniously kicking off my sensible shoes.
“Spread your legs,” he says, his breath tickling my tortured nipple.
I do it and he dips his hand into my panties, his finger slipping inside my opening. I groan and grab his dick, sliding along his shaft as he simultaneously drives me crazy with his fingers. I’m shocked to discover that I’m soaking wet. That’s not normal for me. Not at all. But nothing about Dominic is normal. Everything is better. Of course, this would be, too.
He brings his hands to my shoulders and spins me around. Slides my panties down off my hips before guiding me towards the armrest of my couch. “Bend over,” he demands and I do it, spreading my legs without having to be told.
“Damn, baby,” he says. “You are so fucking hot. I could look at you like that all day.”
Thank everything that can be thanked that he didn’t take himself seriously. I hear his belt jingle and I turn my head in time to see him pull a condom out of his wallet. Watch him tear open the foil packet and roll it on before he strides over to me and presses his tip against my opening.
He slides himself in, giving me just the tiniest bit of him. I gasp and and groan, try to push back against him so I can have more of him. All of him. I want all he has to give me.
He pulls back and suddenly I’m empty. Aching. Needing him to be right back where he was. He slaps my ass and I whimper, burning with desire. When I go still, he presses against me again. Slides himself deep inside me, inch by delicious inch. I am filled by him. Made whole by him. And just when I think he can’t possibly get deeper inside me, he grabs my hips and pulls me back. His dick presses inside me, hits a spot I’ve never felt before and I cry out as pain and pleasure twine together.
“Oh fuck, Dominic, you feel good.”
He pulls out only to push forward again. “Oh no baby, that’s you. Your tight little pussy feels so good.”
No one has ever spoken to me like that before in my life and I swear it almost makes me come right then and there. I gasp and he starts moving, driving himself inside me again and again. I love the way it feels. Like no other before him. His hands are on my hips, helping to pull me back as he thrusts forward, bringing him deeper and deeper into me. I gasp and moan. Cry out, his name torn from my lips.
Who is this woman? I don’t make noise during sex. I don’t speak. And here I am, crying out louder and louder, loving the sound his body makes when it slams into mine.
“Oh, shit. Dominic. I’m gonna come.” My eyes roll back into my head and an orgasm like I’ve never experienced rolls over me, my muscles clenching around him as he continues to stroke inside me. He brings his hands around to my clit and flicks it. My eyes spring open and I make a sound I’ve never heard myself make before.
“That’s right, baby,” he says, thrusting into me. “Come for me. Come on my dick.”
And just like that, I do. If I thought I was having an orgasm before, then apparently I never knew what an orgasm is because this. This that I’m feeling right now. It’s life changing. It’s amazing. It’s eyes closed and legs weak. It’s collapsing into the armrest and calling out his name over and over as euphoria rolls through me and Dominic increases his speed. It’s everything. He’s everything.
Dominic shudders and thrusts into me, coming with a groan, using my hips to pull himself as deep inside of me as he can get. I clench around him, another wave of pleasure zinging through me before my body finally relaxes and I sag onto the armrest.
“Are you okay?” he asks as he slides out of me.
I manage to nod and flip around, perch on the edge of the couch, careful not to get any moisture on it. “More than okay.” I look him deep in the eyes. “That was amazing.”
“Yeah it was,” he agrees and rolls the condom off, hitting me with a questioning look. I direct him to the downstairs bathroom where he can clean up and throw it away. I run upstairs and towel off, grab a fresh pair of panties, and then get dressed. When I come back down, Dominic is perched on the edge of the couch, elbows on knees, playing with his phone.
“Thirsty?” I ask, suddenly over the top nervous. Now what? Is he staying? Is he going? Do I just sit down next to him like nothing happened?
“Do you have anything alcoholic?”
“Do I have anything alcoholic, he asks.” I smirk, trying not to show my growing sense of unease. Despite what my sisters think of me, I am not a one-night stand kind of girl. I don’t know what to do with a near stranger who now has intimate knowledge of me sitting on my couch. “You’re looking at the premiere bartender in Townsbury. The only bartender for miles who has even the faintest clue about flair bartending…” I trail off and flare my hands, my big old goofy grin plastered on my face.
Dominic looks unimpressed and my nerves unravel just a little bit. “So, that’s a yes?”
“That’s a yes.” I rattle off a short list of alcohol, mostly girly flavored vodkas. “Sadly, I don’t have any whiskey. Do you like martinis?”
“Sure. Dirty?” Dominic has his attention plastered to his phone and this is so not helping the overall level of awkward in the room.
“Of course. The dirtier the better.” That gets his attention. He looks up and smiles for the first time since I came downstairs.
“Make me my drink, woman,” he says. “Then come here and sit next to me.” He pats the couch and the big ball of nerves inside me starts to relax. I make our drinks—dirty martini for him, something a little fruitier for me because ugh, olives—and then head back into the living room. I hand him his drink and just stand there, needing another invitation to sit down for some reason.
Dominic takes a drink and nods appreciatively. Looks up at me and opens his arms. “Come here, beautiful. Cuddle with me.”
That’s all the invitation I need. I sit down as close to him as I can get and drape my legs over his lap. He wraps an arm around me and I drop my head onto his shoulder. We sit like that for a while, quietly sipping our drinks, and I let loose a long breath, melting into him.
“You okay?” he asks.
I nod, closing my eyes and breathing him in. “So okay,” I say and I mean it. I haven’t been this okay in a long time. “You have a magic penis.”
And just like that I am no longer okay because what the fuck did I just say to him?
He laughs and cranes his neck to make eye contact with me. “Did you just say I have a magic penis?”
“I did. And you do.” I take a long drink.
“Please. Do explain.”
“Just that if that was an orgasm, I don’t think I’ve ever had one before. And I totally credit you and your magic penis for the way I’m feeling right now.”
“And how are you feeling right now?”
At home. Relaxed. Complete.
Of course I can’t say anything like that. Not on our first date that’s probably also our last. I just lean my head back into his shoulder and sigh. “Abso-fucking-lutely wonderful,” I say and try not to worry about a time when he’s gone.
Chapter Twelve
The last few days have just flown by. The pictures for the bed and breakfast are finished and ready to email to the owners. They love the one of the couple celebrating their fiftieth anniversary and asked them if they could use it for promotional reasons the day they checked out. The couple seemed absolutely tickled and agreed. Of course, with no more pictures to take, there’s really no reason for me to stay here much longer. The owners haven’t mentioned anything to me about leaving yet, but I can see it in their eyes. They’ve gotten what they need out of me. It’s time for me to go.
And they’re not wrong. I need to be in Vegas in a week, the Grand Canyon just before that. I’ve got a shoot at a resort. A swanky place, all shiny and new. And let me tell you, if it’s shiny in Vegas, that’s something special to see. They’ve comped me a room in exchange for some pictures for their website, but that room isn’t mine until next Friday. I’ve got shots at the canyon on Monday, but there’s no hotel room for me there. I have a campsite reserved at the North Rim Campgrounds and I’ll be sleeping in a tent until I get to Vegas.
Anyway, long story short, it’s time for me to leave Townsbury.
Under normal circumstances, I would be more than okay with that. Townsbury is fine and all, but Dakota’s right. There’s really not much here and I’m getting that itchy feeling that means it’s time to go. I’m a nomad by nature. Staying in one place too long makes me tense.