Chapter Six
Maria
My baby looked like anything but a baby.
I mean, she was in full performance makeup, so that could’ve explained it.
But it was more than that.
She was about to perform in her first dance recital. And I knew she was going to dominate.
Maybe it was all the gymnastics classes she’d taken almost as soon as she’d started walking. For the first year she’d done gymnastics, it had been our special thing—lots of mommy and me activities that had helped her develop coordination, confidence, and a love for the sport. Then, as she’d gone from two and three years old to four and five, she’d started serious training. And when her friends had started coupling gymnastics with dance, Isabella had wanted in. I could never deny her, so of course, I had promptly enrolled her. Turned out, she had a real knack for both sports. And tonight she’d get to share that with our family and friends.
As I bent down backstage and combed my fingers through her hair one last time before spraying her head with enough hairspray so not a single hair would come undone, I squeezed her shoulders. If I could have wrapped my arms around her and brought her close, I would have, but I knew she wouldn’t love that—not in her sequined dance biketard.
“Mommy!” she squealed. “You’re going to mess me up.”
Letting up on my grip, I reluctantly pulled back. “Okay, fine,” I said and lightly patted her backside, scooting her around. “Turn around so I can spray your hair.”
“Then can I go see my friends?” she asked and looked over her shoulder at the other girls starting to form a group just behind the curtain.
I nodded and picked up the can of hairspray, giving her a good and thorough misting. I didn’t get to finish, though, because just then Dom approached, and Isabella took off like a shot. “Uncle Dom!” she excitedly shouted.
She let him pick her up and spin her in the air—go figure. Although, an argument could have been made that I understood my daughter’s affinity for him better than anyone.
Anyway, he set her down, and they walked back over to me, but I had given up on spraying her hair. “Geez,” Dom said, covering his nose, “it stinks in here. If someone lit a match, the whole place would go up in flames. What are you dance moms teaching these kids?”
Angling my head, I smirked. “Funny. You know very well she only uses this stuff because it’s regulation for the class.” The regulation: when performing she was to have a slicked-back bun, held in place with pins that couldn’t be seen by the naked eye and hairspray with the strongest hold we could get our hands on. At home and at all other times, I let her naturally soft waves do their own thing, maybe adding a few clips here and there to properly style her hair.
“How do I look, Uncle Dom?”
He bent down and examined her closely. “I see you’re wearing your mother’s red lipstick.” That she was. Along with silver, sparkly gel eyeshadow Bianca had recommended and pink blush.
Isabella pursed her lips and smiled. “Do you like it?”
He tapped the tip of her nose. “I love it. You look like a dancer, Peanut. Are you ready for showtime?”
Bobbing her head up and down, she smiled proudly. “I am. Can I go with my friends now?”
I looked at my watch and knew she’d be corralled over any minute, so I nodded. “Good luck! I’ll be right in the front with your aunts and uncles and nonno. Have a great show, my love!” I blew an air kiss at her because I knew the rules (no messing up her makeup) and off she went.
Dom helped me up and winked at me. “She’s too cute.”
With a cock of my eyebrow, I looked at him. He should only know. She could be as cute as ever, as sweet as sugar, but she also had a passionate side that made her as sassy as could be when she didn’t get her way. Typical five-year-old-going-on-six (or maybe sixteen).
“I know that look,” he said and picked up my bag from the floor, slinging it over his shoulder. “Hey, what’s in here, rocks?”
I laughed. “Cans of hairspray,” I joked.
“We’ve got to get out of here. Come on, let’s get to our seats.” He hooked an arm over my shoulder and led me around front.
“You know, Isabella is so excited about starting dance camp next week. She can’t stop talking about it.”
“Don’t I know it.”
We got to the row with my family, and Dom let me slide in first. Bianca tapped the only body part that was at her height from where she was sitting—my hip—and let out a shriek. “The silver eyeshadow was genius. You didn’t say anything, but I saw the other girls, and let’s just say that Isabella will be the most fashionable girl on that stage.”
Leave it to Bianca to worry about these things. As I continued the journey to the only two vacant seats in the row—between Allie and Jade—Perla leaned forward from the row behind us and whisper-shouted, “Frankie volunteered to record tonight, so don’t worry about trying to capture it. He’s already on the end over there.” She pointed across the aisle to where Frankie was leaning out, phone poised, ready to get footage.
Meanwhile, I finally settled in and heaved a sigh as my butt hit the chair. Dom sat at my side, placing my bag on the floor between us.
Jade leaned over and whispered in my ear, “Did you guys—”
Holy crap. I turned to look at her head-on and shushed her, my eyes growing as wide as saucers. She wasn’t actually going to bring up me and Dom here, was she? See, this was exactly why I didn’t want anyone to know. Certainly not Jade.
Jade narrowed hers, looking at me like I was stupid. “I was going to ask if you guys got Isabella roses.” Okay, so maybe I am—stupid, that is. Or paranoid, not that we were going to make that a multiple-choice answer. “There’s a vendor selling some out front. I thought it might be nice, but I wanted to check with you first.”
I rubbed my lips together and exhaled. I couldn’t believe out of everyone who could have discovered our secret, it had to be Jade. It was the only thing I could think about when I looked at her. Probably because I was waiting for her to open her big mouth and say something. “No, I didn’t,” I answered simply. “I’m sure she’d like them, though, if you were thinking of getting them for her.”
“I was, actually.”
Just then, the lights dimmed, music began playing, and the curtain slowly lifted. The show was starting. And yet all I could think about was whether I trusted Jade. Who I hadn’t wanted to invite, mind you. But my sisters had insisted it was the right thing to do. So here we were.
Now it was my turn to lean over and whisper in Dom’s ear. “I worry Jade’s a loose cannon.” I was perspiring slightly, thinking about Jade sitting with us and the entire family. She could slip up at any point. Was she good at keeping secrets? I hadn’t a clue. For all I knew, she could be the world’s worst secret keeper.
“It’s fine,” he whispered back, sounding so confident. How did he do that? I wanted to know what it was he knew that I didn’t.
“How do you know that? What if she—” Before I could continue my babble, he brought his hand over mine in my lap. I knew no one was watching us, so they wouldn’t see.
After that, it was like a switch turned off in my brain. I relaxed and decided to stop worrying about Jade and what she was or wasn’t going to say and watch Isabella—my pride and joy—dance her heart out.
* * *
I thought it was nice that my dad had dinner catered at his house for the entire family after Isabella’s recital.
Apparently, my daughter didn’t feel the same way because she tapped my arm, peering down at her plate with a scrunched nose and pouty lips. “I don’t like my salmon. Can I be excused?”
“Are you sure?” I asked as Isabella gently slid her dish away from her. All right, I got my answer. She was definitely not interested in the salmon.
Shrugging her tiny, sparkly shoulder, she eyed me closely. “I ate all my pasta.” A yawn escaped before she could get the words out, though, and I knew it was bedtime. A glance at my watch confirmed it.
I rubbed her back. “You may be excused. Go find your room, and you can take a nap. I’ll wake you up when it’s time to go home.”
Isabella didn’t waste any time, running around the table and giving my father a hug. “Thank you, Nonno. I’m going to sleep.”
Suddenly a chorus of “good night, Peanut” rang out from everyone at the table, and with a final wave, my dancer was off.
“She really is quite talented and such a polite little thing,” Jade noted, smiling softly at me. “You’re doing an excellent job with her, Maria.”
I swallowed the bite of Alaskan king salmon I had in my mouth and took a sip of chardonnay. “Thank you.” I really didn’t know what else to say.
The conversations continued while I finished my dinner. Beside me, Dom put his utensils down and wiped his mouth. “This was delicious, Angelo. Thank you.”
My father beamed. Anything that came out of Dom’s mouth might as well have been dripping in gold the way it pleased my father. “My pleasure. But there’s still dessert. You don’t have to run off yet, do you?”
Dom shook his head. “No, of course not.” Then he looked around the table before turning to me, his eyes meeting mine in an intense look. “But if you’ll excuse me.” He stood up, but not before whispering in my ear, “I’m going to the bathroom.”
I nodded in acknowledgment and looked back down at my plate. Why was he telling me?
Did I need to know that information?
Wait! Oooh, I knew why he was telling me. Even my body knew why he was telling me—my thighs suddenly clenching and my vagina pulsing.
With a look around the table, I smiled at Perla who caught my gaze. “I’ll just be right back.” I pushed back, laid my napkin on the table, and promptly went in pursuit of Dom.
Why didn’t he just tell me to meet him in the bathroom? Instead, he had to be all coy. It was cute really. But I got his signal. I knew what he was telling me without actually telling me. I picked up what he was putting down. Honestly, I commended myself because who knew I’d get code like that. But I got it.
I didn’t even bother knocking on the bathroom door—obviously, why would I, he wanted me in there with him—and tried the handle. Yep, it was unlocked. Dom, I so got you. Without even looking inside, I snaked my way in and closed the door behind me, locking it this time.
“Umm, what are you doing?” Dom asked, his eyebrows shooting up to his hairline as he rinsed soap off his hands.
I gave him a sultry look, biting my bottom lip as I pointed at the toilet. “Flushing the toilet and running the water to make it seem like you actually peed? Genius!”
He furrowed his brows and shut the water off, reaching for the guest towel to dry his hands. “I did actually pee.” He gave me a puzzled look and eyed the locked door. “Why are you here, and didn’t I lock the door?”
I shook my head, clacking my tongue on the roof of my mouth. “Dom, Dom, Dom,” I said in a sing-song voice. He didn’t need to act like this wasn’t part of his plan all along. I’m going to the bathroom. That was totally code for Maria, meet me in the bathroom so we can fool around . Hello, I cracked it. Why was he acting like I was missing something? And why were we still talking when I should have been half naked by now?
“All right, what’s with saying my name repeatedly? And, again, why are you in here with me?”
He put the towel back and turned, so I closed the gap between us and placed my hands on his chest, loving the way his rock-hard abs felt beneath my touch. “Come on, Dom. I got your code.” I peered up and waggled my brows. Why was he making me work for it this time?
Unless. . . .
“What code?” Ohmigod!
Was it not code? All right, don’t panic, I told myself. Maybe he was messing with me. I lightly chuckled, angling my head. “You know, the code you gave me to rendezvous with you in here so we could enjoy the benefits part of our relationship.”
His eyes widened, and he fumbled over his own words. “What? No. No. Not in Angelo’s house! You thought I was sending you a code to fuck around in your father’s house? I’m not bulletproof, Maria.”
I backed away and laughed, trying to act like I hadn’t just gotten this all wrong. My mouth ajar, I scrubbed a hand down my face. “Holy crap. You were actually peeing.”
He smirked. “I was really peeing.”
I slowly nodded, wondering where to go from here. “Well, I guess we should go back out there then. And let’s forget this ever happened, okay?” Because it was more than a little embarrassing. There was a first time for everything, though, right?
“When I signal for you to follow me somewhere so I can have my way with you without anyone knowing, I’ll try to be more careful with my word selection.” He leaned down and gave me a kiss on the forehead. Rolling my bottom lip with his thumb, he smiled. “It’s nice that you invited Jade tonight.”
I heaved a sigh. “I’m trying, but it isn’t easy.”
“You usually only take the advice you want, but I’m going to say this next thing anyway. I know you told her you’d get breakfast or coffee, and it was all bullshit, but you really should do it. She might surprise you. Hell, you might surprise you.”
Why did he have to make sense all the time? What was it with him? I blamed it on him knowing me better than I knew myself most days.
“You want to talk about this now?” I asked, wondering if I’d made a mistake coming in here in more ways than one. The reality was that I did trust Dom, but sometimes I held him at arm’s length. Sometimes I ignored his advice—and everyone else’s—but that wasn’t what mattered right now. Sometimes I could be. . . oh, forget it, I didn’t need to say it. You probably already knew.
He studied my expression, his brown eyes slightly intense as they homed in on me. Geez, I knew he couldn’t see through me, but it seemed that way. A chill ran down my spine, and I cleared my throat. Finally, he answered, “No, I just wanted to say that.”
I pursed my lips and raised a hand to run through his hair. “Got it. You know, you look very handsome tonight. Not that you don’t always look handsome. Because you do.” His eyes followed my hand as it continued its pursuit in his hair. He had the silkiest, most beautiful hair I’d ever felt. “You know, maybe since I got so close last time, I can actually make it happen this time. Maybe you unlocked something.” One could only hope, and by one, I meant me. I was talking about myself.
Dom’s restraint snapped like a rubber band, and he growled that deep, masculine sound I was beginning to look forward to hearing from him when we had sex. “Oh, fuck it,” he said, lifting me by the waist and setting me down exactly where he wanted me on the edge of the counter. Now this was how I had envisioned this going originally. “You can’t make a sound, okay? You think you can do that for me?”
Please, I was nothing if not silent. Call me a church mouse, okay? That was how silent I could be. I moaned, sure, but I liked to think I wasn’t obvious loud. Like when you heard someone moaning and knew without a shadow of a doubt they were having a oh-shit-don’t-stop-don’t-ever-stop-you’re-the-most-talented-person-I’ve-ever-been-with moan.
I nodded, sliding a hand under his shirt and exploring until I came in contact with his six-pack. Then I raked my nails down his chest, enjoying the effect I had on him, as was apparent with the reaction he had—groaning from deep in the back of his throat. “I like a good challenge,” I purred, really trying to get under his skin.
“This is the only time I want you to be quiet. When we’re alone I want you to be as loud as possible. I want you to alert the fucking neighbors. I want everyone in a twenty-mile radius to know that you’re being screwed and enjoying every single second of it.”
I licked my lips. “Wait, what if I do come?”
“Then I’ll feel like a fucking king.”
I rolled my eyes. “No, not that. I mean, I won’t be able to cry out your name. Don’t men like that sort of thing?”
He cocked a brow. “It’s just sex, right?”
Okay, good point. “True. No emotion. We’re here to get what we need,” I said, stating the obvious.
Dom looked down for a beat before meeting my gaze. His eyes went dark, and I couldn’t read him, I couldn’t tell what he was thinking. But then he cleared his throat and confirmed, “Right.”
“So, let’s do this.”
He chuckled and nodded, light coming back to his eyes. “Let me see that glistening pussy of yours.”
I swallowed, my breath catching in my throat as my pulse picked up speed. “Damn it, Dom. I’m already so wet.”
He smirked, looking cockier than ever. “My words really turn you on, don’t they?”
“Yes,” I breathed out, shocked I could even find the word as my brain became mush with his hands pushing my thighs apart and gliding my panties down. Thank heavens I’m wearing a dress. I kicked my heels off and pointed my toes so the panties fell to the floor. “Touch me, please.”
His gaze lowered, and the corner of his lips tugged up. “You lied. You’re not wet. You’re fucking soaked. And your clit is swollen. No wonder why you came in here. You were aching for me. You want me to soothe it and make you feel better?”
My eyes fluttered closed as I breathed through the anticipation of the finger he was dancing around my center, toying with me.
He slid one of his fingers inside me, his thumb caressing my clit, making me desperate for more. I didn’t think I’d get over how anticlimactic it was to feel his finger stretching me out after knowing what it felt like for his cock to do it. “You’re so slick with wetness. I wish I could fuck you right here and watch you hop off this counter with my desire dripping down your legs.”
Shit, that’s sinfully hot.
“More,” I begged, flexing my pelvis as I tried to coax him to add another one. I was really hoping it would do it, that it would be what I needed for my body to surrender to him and have its release.
One of his hands roamed up my thigh, squeezing the top of it, while he added not one but two more fingers inside me. All right, three fingers. That should do the trick. I should be able to— “Ohhh,” I moaned aloud, the sound escaping my mouth before I could even think twice about it. So much for being quiet. But, in my defense, he was reaching so high, it felt so good.
Dom took his other hand and quickly covered my mouth. Meanwhile, his fingers never stopped pumping and then curling up, making more pleasure build up in me than I could’ve ever imagined.
And he knew it, too, because he smiled from ear to ear, the cocky bastard. Honestly, he could be as cocky as he wanted as long as he made me orgasm. It was like the more he insisted on trying to make it happen, the more of a challenge he saw it as, the more I wanted it, and I was like a dog with a bone when I wanted something.
“Damn it. Watching my fingers disappear inside you. . . that beautiful pussy of yours devouring my fingers is making me want to unzip my pants and fuck you right here, right now.”
I threw my head back and looked up, my eyelids heavy. That was a good sign, right? “Your fingers feel so good.” Then I forced my eyes open. “Hey, do you think that dirty talk is what will send me over the edge? I seem to really like it. You’ve amped up on it, and I have to say—”
He scowled, his eyes narrowing. He must have thought I was taking myself out of the moment and overthinking things. And he wouldn’t have been wrong.
“You should see what I’m seeing. This moment will forever be emblazoned on my brain—you stretched around my fingers. It’s a sight to behold.” As he curled his fingers, I mewled, and his hand tightened over my mouth. “I’m going to have to swallow those cries of yours with my mouth. Otherwise, everyone is going to know that you’re in here with me, and I don’t think they’re going to assume we’re just talking.”
It felt entirely naughty to sneak around like this—in my father’s house of all places—but it turned out that being naughty was dangerously fun.
Until the doorknob shook, and I grew rigid, making Dom’s head snap up. “What now?” he questioned, his nostrils flaring as I pointed to the door.
“Dom, you coming out anytime soon? Other people have to use the bathroom,” Knox said, his voice recognizable to me at this point.
I stifled a laugh because I could only imagine what everyone thought happened to Dom. How long had we been gone for? “They must have thought you fell in,” I whispered, chuckling to myself.
He scowled. Okay, he was not a happy camper.
“What was that?” Knox asked.
“There are other bathrooms in this house, go use one of those,” Dom answered, his voice booming as he stood his ground. You tell him, Dom. No one was getting in here anytime soon.
I tapped his shoulder and pointed to his hand, which was still currently missing three fingers, all of which were squarely inside me. Turned out it wasn’t comfortable to have them just sit up there without moving or teasing. Honestly, at this point, it was just a pain. Mood was officially killed, by the way. Forget six feet under, it was buried even further down than that.
He slid them out as Knox huffed. “Shit, what are you doing in there anyway? You and Maria just disappeared.”
I went to gasp, my mouth forming an O, but Dom covered it with his hand to stop me. “Interesting. Well, I obviously have no idea where Maria is,” Dom said.
“Didn’t say you did,” Knox replied, confusion evident in his voice.
I flicked Dom’s arm, and he backed up, placing a hand on it. “What the hell was that for?” he asked once it was obvious Knox was gone thanks to each footstep we heard getting further and further away.
“Do you think he suspects anything?” I asked, hoping the answer was no. I didn’t think he did, but needed confirmation from him.
He crossed his arms. “Do I think he thought I was in here finger fucking you? No, no, I do not. I do, however, think someone is going to make a joke about a laxative when I get out there.”
I smacked my lips together and laughed. “Ten bucks says it’s Bianca.”
“My money is on Allie.”
“Oh, you are so on!”
He uncrossed his arms, lifted my panties from the floor, and held them out on his index finger for me to take.
I plucked them right off his finger and smiled after I hopped down. “This was fun. We should do it again sometime.”
“The part where we get interrupted and I’m never going to know whether or not you would have actually come? Because I can go without doing that ever again.”
I shook my head. “No, the part where I got mixed signals.”
“Eh, it worked out.”
“Really?”
“Sort of.” Before I turned to leave and let him get back to washing his hands, he said, “Oh, and Maria. . .”
“Yeah?”
“Next time don’t wear panties.”
My cheeks were burning. I’d never blushed so hard in my entire life. I was blushing at the prospect of going commando. I’d never done that before. Going commando? What would it be like? I didn’t think I ever cared to know. For Dom, I might actually try it, I decided.