Helena
"You're jealous," Dominick said again. Like before, it wasn't a question.
"Am not!" I shot back automatically.
Even to me, I sounded a little too much like Ali for comfort.
"What is it, then? Haven't I proven that I'm serious about all this? That I'd be a good father?" Dominick asked. "If it's not jealousy, what is it?"
It was a good question.
I wished I had an answer.
Truthfully, I didn't quite know what it was. Even less so now, with Dominick's perfect lips so close to mine. When I'd seen his handsome face all over the news, I hadn't been able to think clearly. The sight of him in a tuxedo had been surprising enough, but the sight of the tiny blonde model draped over his arm, the way he was practically wearing her, that had filled me with….
Something.
Maybe if I'd stopped to consider it, I might have been able to recognize the sensation as jealousy. But of course, I hadn't been able to form a single coherent thought, much less analyze my feelings.
Not then, and not now. Not with him on the television, and certainly not with him standing in my kitchen. He was visibly relieved that he'd diffused the situation, sporting the barest hint of a smirk that seemed both smug and suave, sophisticated and sexy. My eyes were glued to his face, but I had little warning about what was coming next. In one quick, fluid motion, Dominick leaned down towards me, his mouth crashing against mine.
Perfectly confident.
Perfectly commanding.
Perfectly…perfect.
I let out a small cry at the touch of his skin, the warmth of it overpowering my senses and taking me without a second—or first—thought. I didn't want the kiss, but I craved it more than I ever knew was possible. His lips felt soft and yet somehow rough at the same time, and his hands enveloped my body as he slid them down to my waist and then back up to the top of my head, sending shivers of heat along my scalp and neck.
Emboldened by my reaction, Dominick grasped my hair with his fingers and tilted my face up closer to his; his tongue invading my mouth in ways that no other man had ever done before. Dominick's kisses had strength to them, a visceral hunger that previous lovers could never have matched. They'd all been so prim and proper, treating me like I was so delicate that they would break me if they weren't careful.
Or like they would break themselves.
Not Dominick. He was a force of nature, wild and untamed. He was like a hurricane, and I wanted to bury myself in his gale. When his lips left mine, I felt like crying out in frustration and need.
"You're so fucking beautiful," he said, not masking his desire behind euphemisms or poetic language. It was just a word, one I'd heard many times, but coming from Dominick it seemed like something altogether different. He wanted me, and he wasn't bothering to hide it.
His eyes were dark shades of blue and green, pupils dilated with the same lust that filled my own veins. He lowered his lips down to my neck, nibbling gently at the sensitive skin. He ran his hands across my body once more, and it felt just as good as it had the first time. Trembling with anticipation, I grabbed him by the shoulders as he broke for air.
He was steady and solid, like a pillar that could support anything. I didn't hesitate before pulling myself up closer to him, my chest rubbing against his before I gave him another kiss.
Divine.
"Dominick," I whispered, his face sliding away to caress the soft flesh below my ears. Inflamed with desire, I could feel goose bumps along every inch of my body. He nibbled me one more time, gently biting at the hollow of my neck just before his tongue scattered electric shivers along the length of my spine.
And that's when I felt it.
Another shift, another a flutter in my belly. It was almost unnoticeable, but the weak kick was enough to jolt me back to reality and remind me of the terrible thing I'd done. I extracted myself from his strong arms, moving my head back far enough that I could look directly at him.
I didn't need to see myself to know my eyes were full of horror.
"Dominick," I said again, my tone now completely different. It had already been far too long, and I needed to tell him about the baby. He was a good man, a wonderful man, and he deserved to know the truth. He would probably never touch me again, but he needed to hear.
"Wait," I said, dreading the words I knew must come. It would ruin everything. "We need to talk. We need—"
"You look unbelievably sexy," Dominick growled.
"This is serious," I said.
"I'm sure it is," Dominick answered. "And I already know."
Hope flared inside of me. Could he have figured it out somehow? Figured it out, and forgiven me for misleading him? It seemed like a dream, like it was too good to be true.
As I looked over at Dominick's passionate face, I realized that it was too good to be true.
"Things are very complicated," Dominick said, my own stupid words coming back once again to haunt me. "And this could get messy. And maybe we shouldn't do it. If we talk about this, Helena, we just might be able to talk ourselves out of it. Again. I don't want that, and neither do you. So how about we just skip it?"
But but but, my head said, even though I desperately wished I could agree with him.
"We can't fight this, Helena. We've tried. If we keep holding back like this, we're going to explode," Dominick said, and I guiltily eyed the mountain of potatoes I'd been angrily peeling to forget about his imagined betrayal. "I need this, you need this. So whatever you have to say, just let it go."
"I want to," I answered. "More than anything. But—"
"Let it go," Dominick repeated. "Whatever you've got to say, it can wait. You know I'm right."
"Maybe," I whispered.
"Do you know what I was thinking last night?" Dominick asked.
"When you were with that—uh—with Jackie?" I asked, my throat dry.
"I was thinking of you," Dominick said, leaning down close so his warm breath caressed my skin and reignited rivers of lust. Before I could think of an answer, he continued. "I was thinking of how much I wished I could bring you there. How jealous every man with eyes would be, and how much I would want to take you home after and do this."
Dominick pushed his hands forward, pressing them against my breasts and cupping them without shame or hesitation. Electricity shot through my body, arcing from my nipples down to my belly and lower. Instinctively I let out a loud, passionate moan.
"Oh god," I whimpered. I still knew it was wrong not to tell him, but my resolve was slipping away with each passing second. I only had two choices—one was deeply unpleasant, and the other felt like everything I'd ever wanted and more.
"Every woman at the party seemed to have your face," Dominick continued gently in my ear, pausing to suck on the lobe. "Every dress I saw, I imagined what you'd look like wearing it. And then I closed my eyes and pictured you in that bikini—do you have any idea how hard that was for me? How hard I was?"
"Sorry," I squeaked reflexively.
"Don't be sorry," Dominick said, his breath warm and moist and seductive. "I fucking loved it."
I took a deep, raspy breath, inhaling into an already-dry throat. "You—you really don't want to hear it? What I had to say?"
"Will it stop us from doing this?" Dominick asked.
"P—probably," I answered.
Dominick shook his head. "And is it a matter of life and death? Is the house on fire? Do you need to go to the hospital?"
"Nothing like that."
"And most important of all," Dominick said slowly. "Do you still want to tell me?"
"No," I said immediately, my voice decisive and firm. "I really, really don't."
"Then don't," Dominick said, his warmth caressing me as the excitement continued to pool between my thighs, more far more than I'd ever felt before.
I tilted my head back, resting it against his torso as I gasped in ecstasy. I was shaking with lust, my brain shutting down and taking all thoughts of confessing with it.
"Okay," I agreed finally.
I should've felt guilty.
I should've felt awful.
Instead, all I felt was Dominick's lips pressing against mine once again, the force of his desire overwhelming. He was right, we did need this. Both of us.
Maybe it was wrong, but it felt impossibly right. Dominick's hands reached beneath the elastic of my dress, exploring the naked curves of my breasts with all the passion in the world. His fingertips circled around my nipples as he pinched them softly, and once again I erupted in goose bumps, the sensation flowing out all along my body.
"I need you," I said between kisses. "Inside of me. Outside of me. Anywhere you want, anywhere you can go. I need you everywhere."
"Let's do this properly," he answered. "Bedroom."
Dominick began to stand up straight and pull away, but I shook my head. I was mad with lust and greedy for his warmth.
"Don't," I said. "Don't let go of me. I can't stand to feel you not touching me, not for even one second longer."
Dominick paused for a moment, then smiled. "I'll buy you a new one," he said cryptically.
"What do you—" I began, but the answer soon became obvious. With his hands still hidden beneath my clothes, Dominick's powerful arms wrapped around me and he hoisted me up. Even at the awkward angle, he lifted me easily, carrying me to my room as if I weighed nothing at all. My dress shifted and strained, stitches popping and fabric warping as it stretched to accommodate him and our movement.
I didn't care. Even if Dominick hadn't promised to replace the garment, it would've been worth it.
To finally be in his arms like that, I would've gladly sacrificed every dress I owned.