Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
SERENA
“ A pp sampler for table twenty!” Marcus, the line cook, calls as he places the tray of food in the passthrough window.
“Serena, can you run that to twenty? I’ve got to change a keg; the natty just kicked.” Adam, the head bartender, nods over to the table hosting what looks like half a frat house. This is their fourth order of appetizers, and they are on their sixth pitcher of shitty light beer. I’ve successfully managed to avoid their table for most of the night, but it looks like my luck has run out. Stacey is busy mixing drinks, and Veronica seems to be devoting all of her attention to the table of professors in the back, probably very aware that is where the best tips for the night are waiting.
I let out a weary sigh as I grab the food from the window. “Thanks, doll.” Adam flashes me a smile before disappearing into the back. I plaster a strained smile on my face, mentally counting down until the kitchen closes. I’m desperate to get home and fall face first into my bed.
“Here you go, guys. Just a heads up, the kitchen closes in a half hour so if you need anything else, speak now or forever hold your peace.” I lean over to set the plate of food in the center of the table. As I’m bent over, a large hand slides over my ass and gives it a firm squeeze.
“Oh, I’m definitely in need of something else. I’m in need of your phone number, gorgeous.”
I straighten up, spine stiffening at the intrusion on my personal space. Glancing to my left, I see a disarmingly attractive guy wearing a pink polo shirt paired with a backwards baseball cap, flashing me what I’m sure he considers a charming smile. I try to take a step back, out of his reach, but he tightens his grip, pulling me until I stumble and land on his lap.
“I’m Brad. What’s your name, sweetheart? Why haven’t you come over to see us all night? We’ve been hoping you’d come…serve us.” His blue eyes shine with the confidence only granted to rich white boys of privilege, used to always getting what they want.
“This isn’t my section, now if you’ll excuse me…” I move to climb off his lap, but before I can extricate myself from his grasp, his friend to my right turns towards us, caging me in further. He is built like a linebacker. Big, beefy, square head, featuring a crooked nose that’s been broken more than once.
“Come on, sweetheart. My boy Brad just got dumped, and he’s feeling lonely. Hang out with us for a few minutes. Have some fun. We won’t bite.”
The smile Brick-head flashes at me is anything but reassuring. I glance over to the bar to see if Adam has returned, but he’s nowhere to be seen. Veronica is still flirting with the professors, and Stacey has her back turned to us while she shakes up a cocktail. The rattling of ice in her shaker is barely audible over the bass of the latest Nikki Minaj hit. My stomach flips when I realize I’m not going to get out of this situation without causing a scene.
“Sorry about your luck, Brad, but I really have to get back to work.” I lean forward, making a move to stand up, but Brad bands his arm around my waist, pulling me back against his firm chest.
“Don’t be like that, gorgeous. I think we could have a lot of fun together. I promise we'll make you feel so good.”
His hot breath washes over my neck as he whispers in my ear. I can smell the stale beer wafting from him. I swallow back the nausea roiling in my stomach. Brick-head leers at me as he scoots closer, invading my space until all I see and smell is them. The rest of the guys at their table seem completely oblivious to my discomfort and ignore us. They continue eating and chugging beer while laughing about whatever the fuck it is that frat bros find amusing. My heart hammers in my chest as Brad’s hand starts sliding up my waist and grazes the side of my breast. His friend’s big meaty hand slides up my thigh, and my breathing starts to become panicked and shallow.
“Please, just, don’t….” I close my eyes, squeezing them shut, trying to will myself out of this situation. Pray for Adam to return and notice what is going on. As I feel the urge to scream begin to build in my chest, a familiar, smoky voice sounds from behind Brick-head.
“Why in the fuck do you have your hands on my girl?”
My eyes pop open, and I see Dominick looming over Brick-head, his hand grasping the back of his neck causing Brick-head to grimace in pain. Dominick doesn’t wait for an answer before he gives Brick-head a forceful shove, face planting him into the table, causing a loud crack when his nose makes contact with the surface.
Brad immediately senses the danger he is in and lets go of me. I don’t hesitate and jump off his lap, letting Dominick pull me into his side. “Woah, dude. We were just having some fun, weren’t we, sweetheart?” Brad looks to me with pleading in his eyes and some misinformed notion that I will help him out of this situation.
“Kitten, is that true? Were you having fun? Because to me, it didn’t look like you were having fun.” Dominick’s voice is cold and lethal. He doesn’t take his gaze off Brad as he gently guides me behind him, shielding me from what he’s about to do.
“No. I was trying to get back to work.” My voice sounds much stronger than I feel right now. My body is still trembling from the panic attack I was on the verge of having.
“Yeah, I didn’t think so. If you two douche bags don’t want to get arrested for sexual assault, I suggest you and your friends pay your tab and get the fuck out of here. Right fucking now. Don’t make me tell you twice.” The entire table is silent as Brad and Brick-head exchange a silent conversation.
“Yeah, man, whatever you say. Come on, guys. Let’s get out of here.” Brad pulls out his wallet and throws some money on the table. He moves to leave, but Dominick places a hand on his chest, holding him in place.
“I want you to apologize to my girl for making her feel uncomfortable.” Dominick’s tone is so cold, it sends a shiver down my spine. Brad jerks a nod and leans over to look at me around Dominick’s broad frame.
“I’m sorry that I made you uncomfortable. I apologize for my behavior.”
“Yeb, we’re sorby,” Brick-head follows up, words muffled by his hand pinching his busted nose, trying to stem the flow of blood.
“Don’t ever let me catch you back in here. Find a new bar.” With that, the group vacates the bar, and I let out the breath I didn’t even realize I was holding. Dominick turns to me, wrapping me up in a tight embrace as I relax into his hold. “Are you okay, Kitten? Do you want me to arrest them? Break some kneecaps? Your wish is my command.”
I huff out a chuckle as I shake my head back and forth against his solid chest, melting into the safety of his embrace. “That’s not necessary. As long as they don’t show their faces here again, I’ll be happy. Thank you for that. I was two seconds away from screaming and really causing a scene.”
“More of a scene than me breaking that asshole’s nose?” Dominick laughs and plants a kiss on the top of my head.
“You don’t know how loud I can scream.” I smirk up at him, feeling the tension melt away from my muscles, relaxing now that the danger has passed.
A wicked gleam shines in his eyes as he leans down and whispers into my ear, “Oh, I can’t wait to find out how loud I can make you scream.” Heat creeps up my cheeks at the salacious wink he shoots my way.
“Go finish your shift, Kitten. I’ll have a beer while you work, then I’ll follow you home.” Dominick gives me a light tap on the ass as he turns me back towards the bar. Adam is back pouring beers, Stacey is busy with a new group of customers, and Veronica has finally decided to pay attention to the other tables in her section. It’s back to business as usual at Maverick’s, no one seeming to notice what went down just a few minutes ago.
“Did you come here just to see me tonight?” I can’t hide the smile that threatens to bloom across my face. The idea that Dominick couldn’t wait until Sunday to see me makes my heart race.
“I did, and it’s a good thing too. Sounds like I’ve got myself a gig as a bodyguard now until I convince you to quit this job and let me take care of you.” I let out a nervous laugh at his comment, but Dominick’s eyes darken on the last part of his sentence like he isn’t joking at all.
I decide to sidestep that comment for now and make my way back to the bar to close out the rest of my tables for the night. The kitchen is closed now, so I am almost done.
“I just have to close out my tickets and do some side work. I should be done in the next half hour.”
“Take your time, Kitten. I’ll wait for you as long as I need to.”
After I finish counting out my tips and clock out, Dominick escorts me out to my car. “I’ll follow you back to your place to make sure you get home safe.” Dominick reaches past me, opening my doorlike a true gentleman.
“You know you don’t have to do that. It’s a ten minute drive, I think I can handle it.” I try to give Dominick an out, so he doesn’t feel obligated to follow me but he shakes his head in dismissal. He places his hands on the roof of my car, caging my body against the cool metal in the same move he used on our date. Heat radiates from him like an inferno, and I feel my pulse quickening in excitement at his proximity.
“What did I tell you, Serena?” Dominick leans in, letting his lips ghost against mine in a feather light touch. “I take care of what’s mine.” His hand cups the back of my head as he crushes his lips to mine. It feels like he is trying to devour my soul with his kiss, and I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him closer, desperate to let him. Dominick’s kiss is needy, possessive and everything I’m missing in my life. His tongue sweeps into my mouth, and I taste the malt and hops from the beer he drank. His body is so firm and solid against mine. I want to mold myself against him and feel every inch of his skin against mine. I hook a leg against his hip, as he grinds his growing erection against my core. We kiss for so long I think I forget how to breathe, I become so light-headed. When we break apart, we are both panting for air, hearts pounding, breath mingling.
“Kitten, I’m gonna need you to get in your car before a patrol comes by and winds up arresting us for indecent exposure. Because if we don’t stop now, I can guarantee you that’s what is going to happen.”
I laugh into his chest, not quite believing my luck at finding such an amazing man. “Oh, surely they wouldn’t arrest one of Birch Falls’ finest officers.” Dominick lifts my face up with a finger under my chin so he can hold my gaze.
“Oh, Kitten, with all the filthy, depraved things I want to do to you, I can guarantee they would most definitely lock me up. Those acts are NOT meant for public consumption.” The grin he flashes at me is positively feral, and my core heats with arousal. He plants one more searing kiss on my lips before directing me into the car and buckling my seatbelt. “Lead the way, sugar. I’ll be right behind you.”
I start my car and drive home with a smile plastered across my face the entire time.