Chapter 12
Chapter twelve
Thankfully the rest of the evening goes smoothly with no gambles of twisted fate or unforeseen romantic interactions.
After dancing, we head back to our table and eat dinner. Our conversation is actually pleasant, thanks to a little champagne, wine, and fancy drinks.
The event isn’t as bad as I thought it would be. In between the different speeches and guest speakers, there is a lot of dancing and friendly interaction with others. It’s nice not being the center of attention for once.
During a trip to the bathroom, I tried to find Valerio to see if he was with Elaine or if I could eavesdrop on his conversations, but he miraculously disappeared.
Millions of stars shine in the navy sky as we walk down the marble steps of Villa Firenze at the end of the night. I pull my fur coat tighter around me. Relaxation fills me along with warmth and confidence, probably from too many glasses of champagne and Malibu Bay Breezes.
Reaching the bottom of the steps, I lean against Dominic. My feet ache from the designer heels but it’s a short walk to the limo parked under the porte-cochère.
Dominic opens the door for me and I slide inside, grateful to be off my feet for the moment. He settles in next to me and tells the driver we’re ready to leave. The engine starts and the limo follows the other cars leaving the facility.
“Tonight was fun. Thank you for coming with me.” Dominic loosens his tie.
“You’re welcome. I needed a night out…especially after my birthday disaster.”
His face lines with sympathy. “I’m sorry your birthday turned out so horrible, Cipi. How are you feeling?
“I’m okay. I don’t feel any pain. The medicine is working.” I check my phone. “We might have to wait a bit before you take me home.”
“It’s almost midnight.” Dominic glances at his watch.
“That means nothing in the Capuano compound. Nonna stays up late watching her shows and I know Lucia and Matteo are lurking in the windows waiting for our return.”
“Tom, take the long way back,” Dominic calls.
“Of course, sir,” he replies.
Dominic presses a button and there is a buzz as the partition goes up. “I still can’t believe you roped me into taking Ambrose’s case.” He chuckles. “You always know how to take charge in any situation.”
“Ambrose seems like a nice man. Even though we both come from different worlds, cheating is never okay.” I flex my feet and wince.
“What’s wrong?” Dominic glances at my shoes.
“The medication is helping my injury, but it’s not helping my feet.” I groan. “These shoes are lucky they are so beautiful, because they are not comfy at all.”
“I can help with that,” Dominic reaches down and takes my ankle.
Shifting in my seat with my back against the door, I let him place my feet in his lap.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
“Helping you feel better.” Dominic pulls off my shoes one by one. They fall with a thud onto the limo floor. Then he digs his knuckles into the soles of my feet as he begins to massage them.
I watch him. The city lights flicker behind him, like diamonds on tinted black velvet. Once again I’m falling back into bad habits. He used to do this all the time when we attended parties as a couple.
I should tell him to stop but Pinot Noir is kind of making me want to risk it all.
“Something else is bothering you. I can see it in your face,” Dominic comments as he keeps his eyes on my feet.
“Just some stuff Valerio said in our conversation. He made references to dead butterflies and kings falling. No one outside of the family knows about that.”
“You think Valerio is behind the attack?”
“Maybe. Someone close to me could be working with him. Maybe Bruno found out something and that’s why he got shot. The assassin could have wanted to kill him before he said something to me.”
“It’s possible.” Dominic pauses. “You know what really amazed me tonight was how you let me step in and stop the argument with you and Valerio, normally you’re not one to let a man fight your battles for you.”
“I let you step in a little,” I whisper.
“A little is good enough for me.” Dominic smiles.
Quiet settles around us as I’m not sure what to say next. Seeing his big hands wrapped around my small feet stirs something in me.
“I wonder if Valerio is really sleeping with Elaine.”
“We’ll find out soon enough.” Dominic slides his hand up my calf. “You still feel tense.”
“I feel alright.”
Dominic gently releases my feet from his lap and slides closer to me. I try to create distance between us but the door against my back stops me.
“You’re stressed,” he whispers.
“It comes with the territory.” I look down at my hands.
Dominic leans over and brushes a loose strand of hair from my face. His fingers linger against my cheek.
“You don’t have to pretend to be strong with me, Cipi,” he whispers. “I could always see through your act.”
“My act is everything you despise,” I mutter.
He slips his fingers beneath my chin, raising my head so I’m forced to look at him. “That’s not true. The circumstances and situations that surround you aren’t my cup of tea, but you have always been my flavor.”
Before I can reply, he kisses me.
This is the part where responsible mafia leader me should intervene before we do something we regret. But the Malibu Bay Breeze flowing through my veins doesn’t care.
His lips ignite something in me that I haven’t felt in a very long time. His touch resurrects a part of me that had died years ago. Instead of me stopping things before they get out of control, I grab the lapels on his suit and bring him closer to me.
He leans into me.
His hands in my hair.
His tongue parting my lips, kissing me slow and deep. I return his advances and suck on his bottom lip gently.
Driver, roll up the partition, please…
The song flashes through my mind.
But the partition is already up.
Shit. I’m in too deep.
His lips move from my mouth to my neck and I manage to choke out the words, “Dominic we shouldn’t be doing this…we’re both drunk.”
He doesn’t stop. Pleasure rushes down my spine.
“The only thing I’m drunk on right now is your scent.” His lips brush my collarbone. “You smell amazing.”
“You’re going to regret this,” I gasp.
“I never regret anything when it comes to you.” He presses a button and the interior lights go out.
Darkness consumes us.
With no light anywhere in sight, boldness runs rampant.
I shouldn’t be doing this.
My fingers push at his jacket, which he shrugs out of with ease.
We’re in a business arrangement this will complicate things.
His hand slides through the slit in my dress and up my thigh.
I feel myself melting.
It’s been forever since I let my guard down with a man.
Heck it’s been forever since I got loved on properly.
And it’s been forever since I got an orgasm from anything other than my battery-powered friend.
I can always blame the champagne later.
Fuck. I hate how Matteo and Lucia bet on this.
My panties are going to be coming off.
I start undoing the buttons on his shirt when a searing pain flashes through my core. I gasp.
Dominic’s strong hands push me back against the seat. “Easy, Amore. You forget you’re still injured.” He rips off his tie and throws it into the darkness. “You don’t want to tear any stitches.”
He rises from his seat and moves over me. Taking my face in his hands, he kisses me with urgency, claiming every inch of my mouth. Then his fingers slip down and around my back, loosening the corset. Breaking the kiss, he pulls the neckline down a bit exposing my breasts.
Cool air hardens my nipples, but then it’s replaced by the warmth of his mouth. His tongue swirls and I become a puddle in the leather seats as shots of pleasure run through me all the way down to my clit.
“Fuck,” I gasp.
His lips leave my breast returning to my mouth. He kisses me like I’m the only air he wants to breathe.
“Relax, Cipi. Let me take care of you. You deserve a night out.”
He pushes my dress to my hips and his fingers hook around the waistband of my underwear.
Rising up slightly, I let him drag it down my thighs, over my knees, and around my ankles until they hit the floor.
I’m exposed from the waist down with my gown as the only covering.
Thank god it’s dark in here so I can’t see how wrong this is.
“For so many years I’ve thought about this,” he murmurs.
He slides lower and my legs part without a second thought. The slit in my dress falls open and he pushes the rest of the fabric to the side as he settles in between my thighs.
He pushes my knees wide. A rush of cold air swirls between my thighs only to be replaced by the heat of his mouth
“Dominic,” I moan.
Pleasure streaks through me like lightning.
Moving from my wet entrance, he parts my folds, and swirls his tongue over my clit.
I jolt and clutch the seat.
“Fuck, I’ve missed this,” he murmurs in between licks. “I’ve missed those little gasps. I’ve missed the way you say my name. I’ve missed you.”
He sucks on my sensitive bud over and over, stealing my thoughts, and building spirals of pleasure within me.
“Yes,” I gasp.
My hands find their way to his hair and massage his scalp.
Thank god this limo is pitch black, I would never be this bold in the light.
“Right there. Don’t stop. God. Don’t stop.”
My skin is on fire and my cheeks are flushed.
A steady wave of pressure builds in me.
I gasp and swear as he alternates between quick flicks and long sucks.
Then he inserts a finger and strokes the spot deep within me.
My hips rock forward meeting every stroke.
He slides his hands under my ass, positioning my legs on his shoulders, then lifts me to his mouth. The fingers are replaced with tongue strokes.
“Fuck that feels amazing!” I cry.
My legs shake.
“That’s my beautiful queen.” His words vibrate against my clit. “Come for me.”
My back arches as I gasp.
He devours me like I’m the only thing that matters.
Heat coils low in my belly as my fingers twist in his hair.
Tongue strokes fill me with rising pleasure that swells like a tsunami I can’t outrun.
“You taste so good,” he groans as my thighs tremble against his cheeks. “Let it out my beautiful queen.”
I can’t hold back anymore.
I come undone.
Whirlpools of pleasure spiral through me.
I gasp and swear and gasp some more.
The euphoria crashes through me like the ocean against the shore.
I arch and shake until the last of the orgasm fades like a wave pulling back into the sea.
I smile and a giggle escapes my lips.
I feel Dominic’s fingers on my legs as he slides my underwear back on. I push my breasts back into my top as I readjust it while he tightens the back.
His hand brushes mine.
“I told you, you deserved a night out,” he whispers.
I lean over and kiss him lightly on the lips.
I don’t trust myself to speak.
His arm drapes over my shoulders as he pulls me close.
I rest my head against him as I contemplate what just happened.
I did deserve a night out.
But I’m definitely blaming all of this on the champagne later.