Chapter Eight
Donny Rae
The transition from the guest wing to Dominic's primary suite felt like crossing a border into a completely different country.
His room didn't just smell like him—an intoxicating mix of expensive sandalwood, raw tobacco, and something metallic like gun oil.
It felt like his energy was baked into the very walls.
Everything in his space was oversized to accommodate his frame, from the massive obsidian-colored bed to the heavy velvet curtains that blocked out every lick of moonlight.
As I stood by the edge of the bed, watching him move through the dim light, I was struck all over again by the sheer scale of the man I had agreed to give my life to.
Dominic was a giant, standing a full six-foot-six, with a build that looked like it had been carved from granite.
He had pulled off his hoodie, leaving him in just his black tank top and joggers, and the sight of his ink in the low light was enough to make my breath catch.
He was dark-skinned, his complexion as smooth as deep mahogany, and almost every inch of his massive arms and chest was covered in intricate tattoos that told the story of a life lived in the trenches.
He had his back to me, with his muscles shifting like tectonic plates as he reached up to unclip the heavy gold chain from around his neck.
His tapered fade was crisp, the lines sharp enough to cut, and his thick, well-groomed beard made him look like some ancient warrior-king who had traded his spear for a Glock and a platinum card.
"You're standing there like you're waiting for an invitation, Donny Rae," Dominic stated, his voice a low, rumbling vibration that seemed to travel through the floorboards and straight into my chest. He didn't turn around, but I could see his smirk in the reflection of the window glass.
"I told you, this is your space now. You ain't a guest no more.
My closet is half yours; my bed is all yours, and my protection is guaranteed.
Now come over here and stop looking at me like I'm gonna bite… unless that's what you're hoping for."
I felt the heat rush to my face, a mix of that weed-haze and genuine nerves.
I walked over to Dominic, feeling tiny in his shadow as he finally turned around.
Up close, he was even more intimidating.
He smelled of heat and power, and the way he looked down at me—with those dark, heavy-lidded eyes—made me feel like I was the only thing in the world that mattered to him.
I reached out, my hand looking small and pale against the dark skin of his forearm and traced the edge of a tattoo that looked like a lion's mane wrapping around his elbow.
"I'm just… I'm still getting used to the fact that this is real.
Sometimes it feels like a dream, Dom," I whispered, looking up at him through my lashes.
"A few weeks ago, I was worried about my father coming home in a body bag.
Now, I'm moving into a suite with a man who could probably snap me in half with one hand but treats me like I'm made of gold. It's a lot to process, Dominic."
He reached down, his large, calloused hand cupping my jaw, his thumb disappearing into the thickness of his beard for a second before he stroked my cheek.
The contrast between his rough skin and the softness of his touch was a constant contradiction that I was starting to crave.
"I'd never snap you, baby. You're the only thing keeping me steady in this circus.
And as for your father… forget him. He's a ghost. You got a real man now.
A man who's gonna make sure you never have to worry about a light bill or a body bag ever again. "
He guided me toward the bed; the silk sheets cool against my legs as I sat down.
He didn't join me right away. Instead, he walked over to the dresser and pulled out a small velvet box, tossing it onto the bed next to me.
I opened it to find a set of diamond stud earrings that were so clear they looked like drops of frozen water.
"I noticed you like lavender," he stated, nodding toward the box. "I couldn't find lavender diamonds that looked right, so I got these. They're called 'flawless'. Just like you."
I looked at the diamonds, then back at him, a lump forming in my throat. "Dominic, you don't have to keep buying me things. You've already done so much."
"I do it because I can, and because I enjoy seeing you shine," he said, his voice turning stern but sweet. "Now, put 'em in, and then get under those covers. I've got a long day of business tomorrow, and I want to wake up with you wrapped around me. I need that peace before I head into the war."
I did as I was told, my fingers shaking slightly as I put the earrings in.
I slid under the heavy duvet, feeling the vastness of the bed, until Dominic climbed in beside me.
The mattress shifted under his weight, and when he pulled me to his side, I felt like I was being shielded by a mountain.
He was so warm, his skin radiating heat, and the steady thrum of his heart against my ear became the only rhythm I cared about.
"Dominic?" I whispered into the dark, my hand resting over the tattoos on his chest.
"Yeah, baby?"
"Thank you. For everything. For the mall trip with your sisters, for the weed by the pool… for making me feel like I belong somewhere."
He squeezed me tighter, his chin resting on the top of my head, his beard soft against my forehead. "You don't have to thank me for what's yours, Donny. Just stay down for me. That's all I ever want. Now go to sleep. I always got you."
As I drifted off into a deep, dreamless sleep, I wasn't scared of the menace anymore.
I was in love with the man behind the ink and the beard, the six-foot-six giant who had carved out a space in his heart just for a girl like me.
The world outside could burn, and the streets could claim their debts, but inside this room, wrapped in the arms of a king, I was finally home.
The legacy wasn't just about bloodlines and money.
It was about the way he held me as if I were his soul's last hope, and for the first time in my life, I wasn't looking for the exit. I was exactly where I was meant to be.