Dominic, page 2
“Dom…” but before she could finish her statement he had pulled her against his rock solid body, tilting her head up and cupping her face. His lips descended on hers before she could even think. Even though the first brush of his lips had been soft and sweet, he quickly increased the pressure. She felt her body tighten and want to explode from the kiss. She could do nothing but dig her nails into his biceps and hang on for the ride.
Dom nipped at her bottom lip begging entrance. Her lips parted and his tongue darted in plundering her mouth and tasting the essence of mint and a hint of bourbon. He was so turned on he was sure his cock was going to shred his pants trying to get through. Before he got too carried away, he broke the kiss and looked into the beautiful stormy green eyes before him. He wanted so much more, but God help him he was going to take it slow and wait. Reaching into his jacket pocket, Dom extracted the red G-string, and placed it in her hand.
“You forgot something at my place,” Dom said as he turned on a heel and retreated down the hall.
Alyssa stood there in shock at what had happened. She had just had the best kiss of her life and if she wasn’t holding her panties she would swear she was dreaming. All she could do was stand there and stare down the hall at his retreating form. God help her because this just got real.
Chapter Two
Alyssa stood there with her fingers pressed to her lips. She could not believe that Dom had kissed her and oh what a kiss it was. The kiss was definitely worth the wait and if the kiss was that good she could only imagine what it would be like to have him slowly slide in and out of her body taking her to places she had never been before.
Still weak in the knees from the kiss, Alyssa turned and slowly walked back into her apartment wishing that Dom hadn’t walked away.
Dom slammed his hands on the steering wheel as he drove away. “What the fuck just happened?” He had kissed plenty of women in his lifetime, but never had a kiss turned so heated so quickly or shaken the very foundation of his beliefs about relationships. His hands shook and his knees were still weak. He had no idea how he was even managing to drive his car. Wanting to get his nerves under control and maybe find someone to sate his needs he instinctively ended up in front of Alluvia.
Walking into the club, Dom smiled at the popularity the club sported. There was a line around the corner and bodies packed wall to wall dancing to the thumping music. He went to the bar and retrieved a glass of bourbon, downing it in one gulp. Dom appreciated the burn of the amber liquid as it went down, but all it served to do was heat him up even more. Grabbing another glass, Dom walked up the stairs to his office. He stood there looking over the balcony as the bodies gyrated and ground against one another. Just when he didn’t think things could get worse today, he spotted Mia in the middle of a pack of horny men grabbing her and trying to have their way with her.
Dom stormed down the stairs and was met by his bouncers who saw the murderous look on his face. As he made his way to the center of the dance floor, the sea of people seemed to part either because they knew him or sensed his anger. Dom was so incensed, he grabbed the first guy by the neck and pulled him back with so much force the man actually left his feet. The man turned looking like he wanted to throw a punch but quickly backed down as well as the other four men in the circle. Dom grabbed Mia and pulled her out kicking and screaming all the way. When he had finally had enough he threw her over his shoulder and carried her to his office.
“What the fuck, Mia? This is my club, my place, not the family business. It isn’t okay for you to come in here and act like a common whore.”
Mia ducked her head and wiped away the tears. “I’m sorry, Dom. I feel like I’ve been so lost since Papa died, and I don’t know who I am anymore. I know it doesn’t make sense to you. I just… I just want things to go back to the way things were.”
“Mia, bella. I know you do and I want that more than you can understand, but we can’t turn back time and have a do over. I love you so much, but you can’t keep on this destructive path.”
Mia continued to cry and the tears were a dagger to his heart. He couldn’t handle female tears, especially his sisters. For the first time in his life he was truly at a loss. He didn’t know how to heal himself or his sister. Dom felt like the weight of the entire family was on his shoulders. Sure his brothers helped but everyone looked to him for leadership and he didn’t know if he had it in him. All he wanted was to run his clubs and to have the love of a good woman. Dom walked over and enveloped Mia in a hug. He just wanted to take her pain away.
“Maybe I should see someone. I just can’t seem to get out of this funk and I don’t want to embarrass you or the family.”
“Whatever you decide, just know we’ll support you. You’re not alone in this. Are you guys filming this weekend?”
“No. We’re off for a couple of weeks. I was thinking about heading to the shore. Maybe take Alyssa with me.”
Just the mention of her name set Dom’s blood to boiling. “I was surprised to see that she wasn’t with you tonight. You two are usually inseparable.”
“She said she had something to take care. Plus she seems distant lately. I know she is continuing with the show just for me, but I’m not even sure how much longer I want to do it. The show was fun when it started but now it is more of a drag, and I’m really tired of all the online trolls spewing their vitriol at me. They don’t even know me, but treat me like shit.”
“Well your actions on the show are out of character for you so that’s all they have to go on. Listen, I’ve got to head to Vegas this weekend to take care of some business. Why don’t the two of you come with me and take a break from the city. Maybe you can clear your head a bit if you don’t have all these reminders around you.”
Mia hugged Dom tighter. “Thank you, big brother. I’ll check with Alyssa and see if she can go. I don’t imagine she would miss a free trip to Las Vegas.”
“Okay, just let me know. I’m leaving Friday morning and coming back Monday.” Dom hugged Mia one last time before he sent her home. Walking out to the balcony, Dom surveyed the mosh pit of writhing bodies below sure he could find a willing participant for the night, but his heart wasn’t in it anymore. The only thing he wanted was the one thing he shouldn’t, but couldn’t seem to resist. Taking another sip of his bourbon, he knew the night was a wash. He turned to his office to make arrangements for the threesome to go to Las Vegas. If all went well he might be able to end that drought he’s been on with the woman of his dreams.
Alyssa laid in bed staring at the ceiling thinking about the kiss that had left her in a state of wanting. She had experienced lust and a not so great awkward first kiss followed by many frogs, but the kiss tonight rocked her to her very core. She knew you couldn’t spontaneously combust from a kiss, but her body heated up to boiling in an instant. Alyssa couldn’t get over the feeling of his lips on hers and his hands holding her against his firm body.
The untouched region between her thighs was wetter than she could ever remember, and begged for relief. Her fingers inched over her full aching breasts and traced her nipples, imagining that Dom was touching her and suckling her breasts. Her fingers trailed down her stomach and touched the damp nest of curls sitting above the apex of her aching sex. Just as her fingers found the pulsing nub she was seeking relief from, her phone rang. Whoever was calling better be dying if they were going to interrupt her me time.
Looking at the caller ID she saw it was Mia and wondered what self-indulgent rant she was on now.
“Hello.”
“Alyssa, I have the best news, but first I wanted to apologize to you for my recent behavior. I have not been the best friend lately. I’ve been so caught up in my own world that I have been a selfish bitch to you and everyone else.”
Alyssa held her phone out and looked at it again. It said Mia and sounded like Mia, but this was not the same Mia. Shaking her head she went back to the conversation.
“I understand, Mia. You’ve been through a lot lately. I forgive you. So, what’s up?”
“Dom invited us to go to Vegas this weekend to check out his club with him.”
Just sound of his name sent a new flood of wetness to her already overly sensitive sex. Alyssa knew this could be her opportunity to push Dom over the edge but now she started to feel the inkling of guilt over him being her best friend’s brother. Dammit she needed him and wanted him. Even if he discarded her like he did every other woman at least she would have the memories.
“I’m in. Who wouldn’t want a free trip to Vegas?”
“Yeah, I bet that’s not the only thing you want.” Mia said with a snicker. “Look, I’ve seen the way you look at my brother. You’ve had the same look since we were twelve. Only it has intensified over the last few years. I want what’s best for you and for you to be happy. So, if Dom is what will make you happy then I say go for it, and if he breaks your heart I’ll be there with a gallon of Chunky Monkey and a bottle of wine to drown the sorrows. I guess what I’m trying to say is don’t stop because he’s my brother. However, I’m not going to tell him I blessed this. I want him to sweat it out.”
“I didn’t want to be in lust or love with your brother, but my mind and heart wants what it wants.”
“Well, go get what you want. We’ll go shopping for a few things to make his mouth drop.”
“Mia, I need to tell you something. Dom kissed me tonight and it was better than I’d ever imagined.”
“Oh my God, Alyssa I am so happy for you, but what pushed him over the edge?”
Alyssa smiled to herself, happy that she had Mia’s blessing and then recounted the events of the night and how she left her lipstick and panties in the glass. She smiled as Mia laughed at the predicament Dom had gotten himself into. He had no idea that Alyssa would get what she wanted including the happily ever after.
Dom looked out the window of his penthouse wondering how he had gotten here. He didn’t want to disrespect his sister, but he needed Alyssa. He had wanted her for so many years and had buried those feelings. Dom had so much to consider. Would his sister be okay with it? Their age wasn’t a factor anymore. This wasn’t about just finding the girl and taking her. No, this would ultimately be about the merger of two of the largest and most influential families in the city.
Even as he stood there, the thoughts of Alyssa made him painfully hard. As much as he wanted to take a shower and relieve himself to images of her writhing underneath him while screaming out his name, he would wait. The delayed gratification would mean so much more when he finally took what was his.
Dom’s thoughts were interrupted by his brother coming into his living room.
“Don’t you ever knock?”
“No, I know how much it annoys you.” Matteo said with a smile. “Sorry about the late hour of this visit, but we need to discuss what to do about the business and we still have the matter of Pop’s death to deal with.”
“Well, I’ll leave you to make sensible decisions about the dock issues. I will meet with Carmine Gambino. Maybe we can come to a good agreement to have our two families work together. We are both doing the same things when we could consolidate our resources and make more money. As for the other issue, I know people are expecting a response but the last thing I want is to start a war with even more casualties. I want to hit them where it hurts and take what he values the most, and that’s not his life. Just keep your ears to the ground and make sure they aren’t trying to come after anyone else in the family.”
“Fine, but I still think we should kill the fucker and be done, but I respect you and your decisions.”
“Good. I love you, but get the fuck out. I’ve had a long night and need some sleep.”
Dom hugged his brother and watched as he left, leaving him to his thoughts and unfulfilled needs. Deciding he wasn’t going to get anything else accomplished with his jumbled thoughts he retired for he knew would be a fitful night sleep.
Dom woke up the next morning hard as steel from the decadent dreams he had been having when he was able to sleep. He wondered how one kiss could turn his life upside down, but the answer was simple. When you finally get the one thing you were convinced you could never have then your life takes a turn you have to adjust.
Dom laid in bed thinking about the kiss. Every time he thought about the softness of her lips and how her body molded to his, he got instantly hard. Reaching down he stroked his cock thinking of all the things he wanted to do to Alyssa. He imagined her succulent lips as they engulfed his cock. The feel of her tongue stroking him and taking him deep. As his mind wandered to her perfect breasts, he felt the release begin to build. His hand stroked hard imagining it was Alyssa touching him. Finally, Dom erupted releasing his pent up desires. After cleaning himself up, he drifted off to sleep thinking of the dark haired green eyed beauty who constantly invaded his thoughts.
Dom smiled as he laid in bed the next morning reading the text from his sister that she and Alyssa were in for the trip to Vegas. Now he just had to get through the next few days of torture waiting to get Alyssa alone and naked. First he had to talk to Carmine and that would be an uncomfortable conversation because of what he wanted to do to the man’s daughter. He wondered if it would be a difficult discussion when he asked to marry Alyssa and there was no doubt in his mind that would happen.
Dom walked into the top floor offices of Gambino Enterprises. He marveled at how the family businesses had moved from the backroom to boardrooms. There was a fine line between the legitimate businesses they ran and the dark side of gambling and extortion. Dom and the Gambino’s had sworn off prostitution and drugs. They tended to attract too much attention from the feds and it allowed them to operate further under the radar but still run the city. While Carmine focused more on import and export, his father had diversified and focused on all elements of construction. He owned the contractors that built, the equipment that was leased, the transportation and the land people bought. Nothing was built that his father didn’t bless. Well, now he guessed he was in charge of the blessing, but Dom knew deep down that he wanted out and to turn everything into a legitimate business. No more bribes, backroom deals or shadiness to his life. He’d built Alluvia enterprises into the force that it was on his own back, totally aboveboard and legal.
“Dom, so good to see you. So what brings you to this side of the city?” Carmine said as he gripped Dom’s shoulders and kissed each cheek.
“I wanted to discuss some business opportunities with you and see if we could help each other out and increase our profits.”
“You know, I tried to get your father to work together for many years, but he was a stubborn man, God rest his soul. I hoped the new generation would see the practicality of it and want to move forward. However, I have a proposition I would like to discuss with you first. Have a seat.”
Dom was intrigued and took a seat in the large leather chair facing the desk. He watched as Carmine poured each a glass of bourbon and found a couple of cigars. Dom smiled. This was the way he preferred doing business.
Dom thanked Carmine and lit his cigar while Carmine did the same. He enjoyed the aroma of the Cuban cigar and was just tasting his bourbon when Carmine started.
“I know this seems old fashioned and you kids don’t always understand the ways of the old world or why they worked, but they did. I respect you. I think you are a good man. You have built your own empire by yourself and you made your father very proud. He spoke so highly of you and what you had accomplished.” Carmine paused, puffing on his cigar and giving Dom a chance to contemplate his words. “I am not a young man anymore and I don’t have a male heir to pass this all on to, and as much as I love Alyssa, she just isn’t cut out to run this,” Carmine said as he waved his hand around to indicate all that he held dear. “So after a lot of thought and discussions with my wife, Elana, we would like for you to marry Alyssa and take over.”
Dom choked on the bourbon that he had just started swallow. He couldn’t have heard Carmine correctly. Surely he didn’t just tell Dom that he could have what he wanted.
“Before you say anything, let me explain. Alyssa is a good girl. She will make a good wife and a good mother. She is independent enough to not need you every hour of every day and when she finishes with that damn show she has her art career. Arranged marriages are not as common as they used to be, but I think you will be a good fit. I would be proud to have you as my son-in-law. Also, it would ease my mind knowing that you would take over when I retire. I know you may never love her like someone you find yourself, but you will learn to love her, and let’s face it you’ve known her your entire life.”
Still trying to recover from the near choking, Dom found his voice. “I don’t know what to say. I can’t think of anything better than the union of our two families. Does Alyssa agree to this?”
“She doesn’t know. I wanted to talk to you first.”
“What if she isn’t interested or has eyes for someone else?”
“She knows how important family is and will do whatever is necessary to help the family.”
Dom contemplated everything he had heard. A smile crept across his lips. “Okay, Carmine. I accept but give me some time before you tell Alyssa. I want her to have a chance to at least like me before we go running down the aisle.”
“Fine, Dom. We’ll try it your way, but don’t wait too long. You can have a month, but then her mother will tell her.”
Dom stood up shaking hands and hugging Carmine as he left. As he walked out of the building he could not believe that he had just been graced with everything he wanted. Now he just needed to try and get Alyssa to love him like he loved her.
Chapter Three
Dom decided to take a walk around the block to process everything he had just been offered. He never even made it to the business discussion because he had been thrown off his game. If he believes Carmine, then everything he wanted could be within his grasp. He wanted Alyssa, but did he want her on these terms. As corny as it sounded, he had always wanted a woman to fall in love with him. He knew Alyssa had feelings for him, otherwise she wouldn’t have left her panties in a glass on his mantle and oh that kiss had rocked both their worlds.
