Undeniable: Dom & Gigi Page 6

  “You are the most interesting person I’ve ever met!” she gushed, looking at me like I was amazing.

  “You need to meet more people, princess.” I knew a hundred guys with the exact same crazy stories as me. I didn’t want her meeting them, though.

  “But you left all that behind?” She looked at me dreamy, like I was the white knight in this story.

  “There’s nothing noble in what I’ve done,” I cautioned her.

  “But you don’t want that life any more.”

  “I never did,” I admitted, wondering if she might be the first person I’d had an open conversation with about it.

  “Why not?”

  I leaned back in my chair, wondering about this pretty little debutante sitting across the table from me. Why did I feel like I could talk to her? But I did. “I want to help people, not hurt them.” That was the first time I’d said that out loud. It felt strange to admit it, but she kept looking at me, fascinated, her eyes warm and inviting. “I know I’ve got the build and the skills to bring some serious pain. But it seems to me there’s enough of that already. I don’t want anything to do with it.”

  “That’s so wonderful.” She looked at me across the table like I was her hero. She needed to stop looking at me like that. It might go to my head.

  “How about you?” I changed the subject. “What do you want to do?”

  “Ooh! Now that’s a big question.” She folded her fingers, every gesture so graceful. She looked down at her coffee as if marshaling courage, then announced, “Well, I know I’ve had all the advantages in the world with my education and I should probably say I want to do something scholarly or high-profile. But what makes me most happy is making a place feel homey.”

  “What?” I didn’t mean to make her more self-conscious. I could already tell she felt nervous. She was speaking in a rush, diving into her words as if almost too shy to speak them. But I didn’t know what she meant.

  “So, I work at this store.” She explained about the place she worked, how it sold little knickknacks. It wasn’t the kind of shop I’d ever set foot in, but I did like how she lit up as she talked about it. “The thing is, I’ve lived in these impeccably decorated houses, but none of them have felt like homes. I want to help people create a home, a place where they can feel safe and happy and at peace.”

  That sounded pretty damn good. I didn’t know what to say. I’d definitely never felt that way.

  “Anyway, I’m still figuring it all out.” She blushed and looked down.

  I took her hand across the table. I didn’t like to see her shrinking into herself. For a girl with all the wealth and education and beauty in the world, she didn’t seem to have the self-confidence to go with it.

  “I don’t know much about decorating. Or homes. You’ve picked two things I know nothing about. But I’m sure you’ll be great at it.” I caressed her hand with my thumb.

  “You think so?” She lit right up under my praise.

  I nodded. Conversation and time passed, each minute pulling me in more with the toss of her hair or the cross of her legs revealing skin that looked so impossibly soft and smooth. She smelled like roses, and I felt like I was getting drunk off her nearness. When I glanced at the time I saw it was already noon. I’d told the guys I’d stop by the shop around eleven thirty.

  “I’ve got to go.” We stood and walked toward the car.

  “I’m sorry, I’ve been talking nonstop and there’s still so much I don’t know about you! I don’t even know your last name!”

  “Dominic Knox. Good to meet you.” I turned and shook her hand, giving her a smile.

  “I like your name.” She sounded breathy as she smiled back. “And where did you grow up, Dominic Knox?”

  “Central California, no place you’ve heard of.”

  “Is your family still out there?”

  “No, my mom’s here.”

  “Oh, that’s nice, you came out here to live near her?”

  Nice. Yeah, that was me. “You just called me nice again. That’s twice in one weekend.”

  We climbed into the car, this time me in the driver’s seat. I liked getting back into the smaller space with her, her smell, her skin inches away. I put the key in the ignition, willing my boy to lie down. I’d been fighting getting hard most of the time we’d talked, like a fucking teenager on a first date.

  “Did you go to college back in California?”

  That made me laugh. “Sweetheart, I didn’t to go college. I don’t even have a high school diploma. So if you have some secret fantasy of dressing me up and bringing me home to meet dad, it’s not going to happen.”

  “I’m not…I didn’t mean…” She trailed off, looking like I’d just popped her balloon. Fuck, that had come out too harsh, hadn’t it?

  “Listen, don’t—”

  “No, it’s OK. I get it. You keep trying to tell me you’re not interested. I don’t know what my problem is. I get it, you’re not into me.”

  I groaned, leaning back in the seat. If only that were true. “I’m just trying to stop you from dreaming up some fantasy that’s never going to happen.”

  “Right, thanks. I get it.” She straightened up, pissed and hurt and not looking at me.

  “Gigi.” I turned to her.

  “No, you’ve made it perfectly clear. You don’t want anything to do with me.”

  I grabbed her rough and brought her to sit on my lap. She gasped and twisted, surprised, but I held her there, pinning her ass down right on top of my erection as I bent my head down to her neck and licked, then sucked her tender flesh.

  “You feel that?” I whispered in her ear, licking her sensitive lobe, pushing my cock against her.

  “Mmmm.” She tipped her head back, eyes half-closed, the perfect vision of surrendering to desire. For an innocent, she sure knew exactly how to grind herself against me, pressing along my shaft with a moan.

  “You think I want nothing to do with you?” My hand traced a trail from her shoulder, down her chest to her breast. Through her dress I could see her arousal, her nipple pushing through. Light, teasing, I traced the swell of her breast, under then over, then around her hardened nipple. Her breathing picked up, growing quicker, more urgent.

  “What do you want, Gigi?” I asked, fascinated by the intensity of her reaction. She bit her lip and arched her back toward me, begging me with all but her voice to touch her. I licked her ear, then whispered hot and low, “Do you know what you want? Do you want me to teach you?”

  Then I brought my thumb and forefinger to her aching nipple and squeezed. Not hard, not rough like I really wanted to do, but a taste of what could come.

  “Oh!” she gasped, her eyes and mouth flying open. “Dom!”

  “You like that.” I growled with satisfaction, nuzzling into her neck, petting her nipple, her breast. I knew she’d like it and everything else I could bring as I dominated her, giving her that edge of pain along with the flood of pleasure.

  A couple walked past the car, not looking in but not far enough away. It was Sunday morning in a parking lot. It was not the time or place to teach a virgin the pleasure of pain.

  Without a word, I picked her up and put her back in her seat. She looked dazed and frustrated, her lips swollen from my kisses, her hair slightly disheveled. Just the tip of the fucking iceberg, I wanted to say, but instead I buckled her in tight and then about peeled out of the parking lot to bring her home.

  The ride didn’t take long but damn if Gigi didn’t make me feel like I wanted to keep right on driving, maybe talk her into putting her feet up on the dash for me so I could get a good look at those legs all stretched out. I was sure I could find a secluded spot to pull over where I could taste her again, take my time and get her on my lap. Make her sigh and pant and slip a finger down her pretty panties to feel how wet I got her.

  She punched in the code at her house and the gate swung open so I could drop her at her front steps. I stopped the truck but I kept the engine idling. Hand gripping th
e wheel, my arm out like a barrier between us, I didn’t look at her. I stared straight ahead, my jaw locked.

  “Thank you for the driving lesson,” she said softly. “I appreciate that you took the time.”

  She shouldn’t be so appreciative. I’d come close to giving her a lesson in a lot more than driving. “You should know how to drive,” I managed.

  She hesitated, and I could sense her almost touch me. Almost put her hand on my bicep. She didn’t. She turned and got out of the car.

  I drove off, letting out the breath I’d been holding. I could smell her the whole way back, her light floral scent, and more. I was probably making it up, but I swore I could smell a hint of her musky arousal. She’d gotten wet from my kisses, from grinding against me, from when I pinched and twisted her nipple.

  That had to be the last time I had her in a car. There was only so much the big bad wolf could take before he sank his teeth right into little red riding hood.

  5

  Gigi

  Mid July! How did it arrive so fast? I knew how. I’d had my head in the clouds for weeks over Dom. Dominic. Mmm, even his name made me horny. I’d never felt like this before.

  I stretched in my bed, turning to the side. I had to be at work in about an hour. I should get up and shower, but I felt so dreamy, so captivated by fantasies of Dom. The feel of his lips on mine, his possessive grip, his massive chest. It made me feel wild, like I wanted to rip off his shirt and sink my teeth into his shoulder and grind against him and… I brought my hand to my forehead. I needed to get a grip.

  But maybe I could see Dom again soon? I hadn’t seen him since that driving lesson turned coffee date, but we had texted a bit. Nothing serious or even that flirty, but enough so I knew where he’d be today. He’d told me he was going to work on his truck. That gave me an idea, one that made me grin.

  I sped through my shower, leaving my hair wet and down as I pulled on a sundress. I had time to stop by the coffee shop before work. I remembered his order, so I picked a coffee up for him the way he liked it and brought it by the auto shop where he’d said he had his truck. Homeward Bound was only a few minutes walk away, so I had a car leave me off. But standing there with two coffees in my hand, a wave of nerves rippled through me. What if Dom wasn’t happy to see me?

  Taking a deep breath, I walked in and asked for him at the front desk. A guy in a dark blue jumpsuit led me out back. I nearly dropped both coffees at the sight of him.

  Shirt off, Dom had the hood of the truck propped up as he leaned over. Worn jeans hugged his lean hips and cupped his perfect ass. I think I might have gone into heat as his friend called his name and he stood up and looked over at me. Grease stains along his muscles blended with tattoos twining up and down his corded arms and his broad, strong chest. He even had a tat way down low, by the V that peeked its way out of his low-slung jeans. My mouth dropped open. I’d thought he was hot before. I hadn’t even known what I was dealing with.

  His friend walked away, leaving us alone. We stood there, taking each other in, Dom’s dark gaze heating me up.

  “Better not touch anything.” He broke the silence. “You’ll get all dirty.”

  I flushed, looking down and realizing the dress I wore was all white. The thought of him messing it up, getting his greasy hands on me and ruining it made me swallow. It sounded so good.

  “What are you doing here?” he asked.

  “I brought you coffee.” Shy, I held it out.

  “Why?” He didn’t take even one step toward me.

  I bit my lip and shrugged. “To be nice?” I suddenly wished so very much I hadn’t done it. He didn’t want me there. I’d made a fool of myself. And then things got even worse as a smoking-hot woman sauntered out of the shop toward Dom, all curves with denim shorts so tiny they might actually cover less than a normal pair of panties.

  “There you are!” she declared, completely ignoring me and heading straight to Dom where she wrapped her hands around his lean waist.

  “I’ll just leave this here.” I hastily set his coffee down on the ground, turned around as fast as I could and booked straight out of the shop.

  I heard him calling after me, but I didn’t turn around.

  * * *

  §

  * * *

  A few nights later I was at the country club with my father and oldest brother Colt. Surprise, surprise they’d both showed up at the same time in the same place and the three of us were catching up. Sort of. Dad was mostly giving Colt advice, critiquing the way he’d handled a recent deal.

  “Next time, you can’t go so easy on them,” Dad warned him.

  “Good to see you, sir.” Schmarmy Brock made his way into our circle, extending his hand to my father. He was always such a kiss-ass around him. I didn’t know why others didn’t see right through it, but my father ate it up.

  “My boy.” He clapped him on the back and launched into discussing Brock’s choice of college major—shocker, business—and telling him he’d put him in touch with someone he knew.

  “May I have a word with your lovely daughter?” he asked my father. I nearly rolled my eyes, but years of good breeding stopped me. He was being nothing but polite. I should return the favor. But the minute Brock walked me off into a quiet corner of the room, Captain Crazy showed up.

  “I didn’t know you liked slumming it.” His eyes looked as cold as a snake’s as he ran a finger down my cheek.

  I flinched as if he’d hit me. “What are you talking about?”

  “You know exactly what I’m talking about.” The words came out like a menacing threat. “You like it rough and dirty, Gigi?” He wrapped a hand around my wrist, tight. It shocked me so much I didn’t move. “I can play that way. I can be your walk on the wild side.”

  “Let go of me!” I finally found my voice and pulled away from him, but he didn’t let go.

  He looked me in the eyes and whispered, “Just know I’m watching you, Gigi. I know everything you do.”

  He dropped my wrist. I rubbed it as I walked away, shaken but determined to not let him see how much. Jerk. Where did he get off threatening me in a room full of people I knew, my father and brother no less? He was acting crazy. And what was he talking about? Had he seen me with Dom? How?

  I didn’t think Dom was working there tonight. I hadn’t seen him at all. Part of me wished he’d seen that happen. He’d be furious. That meant the other part of me was relieved he hadn’t been there to see it. Dom would definitely have caused a scene. Brock wouldn’t leave a party politely. I didn’t want any fuss.

  I joined Penny, also there with her family, as she talked to Zander with stars in her eyes. Trevor was there as well and greeted me warmly. At least he’d never get all psycho on me like Brock. We talked parties and clubs and yachts—his family had just purchased a new one—and he was even polite enough to ask how I was enjoying my internship. I didn’t have the heart to tell him I wasn’t interning at Homeward Bound. I wasn’t at a law firm or a DC think tank. I was working the cash register and getting paid $12 an hour.

  But then, just like that, I could tell Dom was in the room. It was as if I could feel his eyes on me, the heat of his gaze, the nearness of his touch. I looked over and saw him in the shadows, standing to the side, watching.

  “Intense much?” Penny whispered to me, nodding her head over in Dom’s direction. I guess I wasn’t the only one who’d noticed him.

  I looked down. I hadn’t told her that he and I had spent any time together. It wasn’t that I was ashamed about it. It was that I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t understand my own fascination with him, and it certainly seemed as if he wanted me to get the hell over it.

  “Scary.” She shivered.

  I scoffed. “You know who’s scary.” I glanced in Brock’s direction. He happened to be nursing a cocktail and staring at me with the eyes of a dead fish.

  “Oh, he’s just jealous,” Penny explained. “He heard some rumor about you going out for coffee with the security guy.”


  Before I could answer, Colt joined us, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “Is he giving you any trouble?”

  Dear lord, was everyone picking up on everything tonight? But Colt didn’t mean Dom, I realized. He gestured over to Brock, who promptly stopped leering and turned his back.

  “I’m fine,” I assured him.

  The night stretched on, interminable, filled with pleasantly boring conversation with Trevor, glares from Brock, and all while I tried to stop myself from looking around for Dom. But when I couldn’t stop myself, I couldn’t see him anymore.

  Deciding it was time to leave, I said my good-byes. I surprised everyone, leaving so soon, and Penny made me promise I’d let her talk me into heading out later after I took a power nap.

  Down in the lobby, I found Dom standing next to some old phone booths. The club had kept them to provide discrete, private spots for cell phone calls. Heaven forbid any club members would be so uncouth as to talk on their mobile phones in public.

  “Leaving so soon?” he asked in a low voice as I approached.

  “I wasn’t having a very good time.”

  “No? You seemed to be having a real good time up there with Richie Rich.”

  Hand up to my hip, I gave him an incredulous look. “Are you jealous?” After all the times he’d pushed me away? After I’d seen him with another woman the other morning? He didn’t answer, just shook his head looking disgusted. At himself or at me, I didn’t know.

  “What? I’m not supposed to talk to other guys? Even when you won’t talk to me?”

  “Look, Gigi.” He exhaled, running his hand through his hair in frustration. “I’m trying to do the right thing.”

  “Says who?”

  He swore under his breath and rubbed his cheek. “You don’t know me.”

  “I’m done with this.” I threw my hands up, not caring that I was speaking a little too loudly. “I’m done with you acting like you’re some sort of a serial killer and I’m a nun.”