I couldn’t stop looking at him. I couldn’t stop touching him. Domino was unlike any man ... really, any person ... I’d ever known. He came at me strong, direct. There was no pretense, no hidden agenda. When he said he didn’t want anything from me, I could almost believe him. For as tough and hard as he was, a tenderness filled his eyes when he looked at me. It took my breath away, hollowed me out, and left me craving his touch.

After our wild, fantastic fuck on the bar, he followed me back into the bedroom. At least a dozen times he’d asked me if I was sure. God. I wasn’t. Getting physical with him was the last thing I’d planned. There were a million reasons why this was a bad idea. Terrible, really. And yet, I’d never been so turned on in my life.

“What?” I asked. He lay on his side, the sheet barely covering his hips. I reached for him, tracing slow lines around the ink covering his arms. I found myself wanting to know the story behind every one of them. The hard-cut lines of his shoulders and abdomen weren’t like most of the men I was used to. My life was filled with actors and personal trainers. Men whose job it was to look a certain way, just like me. They spent hours in the gym and resorting to chemical means to achieve their massive muscles and washboard abs. Dom had those too. But his were more real. He didn’t have to get in shape for some part or photo shoot. He’d earned his physique doing hard work with his hands and his back.

His eyes flashed and he smiled. “Just you,” he said. “I’ve never seen anything like you.”

I laughed. It seemed we’d both been thinking the same thing about each other. “Like me?” I asked. “Am I so different from the women you’re used to?”

He raised a brow and rolled onto his back. Drawing his arm up, he tucked it behind his head. He reached for me and what I did next felt so natural. I curled beside him, resting my cheek against his chest. Dom slipped his free arm around me and kissed the top of my head. In many ways, that simple gesture felt even more intimate than the passion we’d shared. I was still spent from it. He’d stretched me wide and filled me to the brim. A flare of heat went through me as the echoes of the deepest orgasm I’d ever had still flickered low in my belly.

“You’re not like any of the women I’m used to,” he said.

I don’t know why, but his words made me self-conscious. I went rigid and tried to slide away. Dom held me close at first, then let me go. I didn’t want him to do what most of the men I’d ever been interested did. They put me on some pedestal. They saw the girl on the movie screen and wanted me to be like her.

“Hey,” he said, sensing the new tension in me.

I pulled the sheet up to my chin and rolled out of his arms. “Did you really not know who I was when you first met me?”

He scratched his chin. “Look, I don’t watch much television. I hate going to movies.”

“Why?”

He sat up. “I’d rather just kick back and relax with my crew and some cold beer. I don’t like crowds or being packed in like a sardine at some dirty theater. Then, when the lights go down, anything could happen. It’s not safe.”

Of all the things he could have said, I hadn’t expected that. It gave me a deeper glimpse into Domino’s head. But I immediately saw the truth behind his words. In Dom’s world, bad things happened. Danger was always around the corner. I’d read the stories. In the eighties and nineties, the Dark Saints M.C. in Port Azrael survived one of the most brutal club wars in history. Now I knew his very existence had sparked some of it. As a result, he was born and raised to spend his life on high alert. No wonder he didn’t like movie theaters.

“Well, I suppose that makes you kind of a unicorn in my world,” I said.

He cocked his head to the side, considering my words. The truth was, we were both a kind of unicorn to each other. I can’t remember ever meeting someone who didn’t know who I was first. Until this very moment, I’d never really considered what that meant. I’d probably been pre-judged by every person in my life, no matter how casual the acquaintance. Dom’s worldview was refreshing as much as it scared me a little.

“Is this going to cause trouble for you?” I asked, gesturing in the empty space between us. His brow went back up before he answered.

“I suppose so. But I also suppose it depends.”

“On what?” I was almost afraid to hear his answer. Maybe he sensed that fear. Or maybe his answer changed the more he thought about it. Whatever the cause, he turned the question back on me.

“I’m pretty sure this is going to cause you a lot more trouble, baby.”

Baby. I shivered with new desire as he said it. My sex began to throb and I wanted nothing more than to climb back on and take him in. But we were in a bubble and both knew it.

My silence answered a question for him he hadn’t yet asked. “I should go,” he finally said. “My crew’s going to wonder what the hell happened to me. Things have been a little, uh, unsettled lately.”

I bit my lip past the urge to ask him what that meant. In spite of everything that happened, I was still in research mode where he was concerned. I couldn’t forget what brought me here in the first place. Just like that, the bubble seemed to burst.

He leaned into me and gently curved his fingers around my jaw, tilting my face toward his. He kissed me slow and deep. I could still taste my own scent on his lips and it sent that rumble of desire through me all over again.

This was just a one-time thing. That’s all it could be. We didn’t belong in each other’s worlds. Did we? The moment I thought it, I imagined all the flak I’d get from everyone in my life if they knew I’d taken Domino to bed. Image was king. I’d spent years cultivating mine and knew better than anyone how hard it was to change it. Sure. I was a sex kitten on screen. But I’d kept my personal life squeaky clean.

I hadn’t realized I was smiling until Domino pulled back and cocked his head to the side. “What?” he asked.

I grew bold, sliding out from beneath the covers. Growing suddenly shy, I held on to the sheet. Domino went up on his elbow, watching me. He had me wet all over again. I loved the way he watched me. He’d unlocked some of my darkest desires tonight. Never in my life had I let my guard down like that. My God. I let him take me spread-eagled on the hotel bar. Later, when we closed the door to the bedroom, I’d done other things I’d only read about.

Two hours ago, he had me on all fours on the floor. I’d never watched myself before. I didn’t really even like watching my own movies. But with Domino, that changed in an instant. There was a full-length mirror on my hotel closet door. He’d put me right in front of it as he guided himself into me. I’d dug my fingers into the plush carpeting, bracing for his deep thrusts. All the while, I kept my eyes on the mirror, loving the way his muscles bunched and rolled as he took his pleasure. I’d never been that aroused in my life. Part of me knew I never would again. There was no one like Domino. Not in my world.

I was still smiling even now and I hadn’t answered his question as to why. “It’s just ... ugh. It’s going to sound stupid.”

“Try me,” he said, hoisting himself out of bed. He pulled on his jeans and zipped them up. He sat on the edge of the bed and grabbed one of his boots off the floor. I stood there, holding the thin sheet over my body, but not wanting him to go.

“I enjoyed this,” I said. I tucked the sheet under my arm and went to him. He spread his legs to let me stand between them. His hands slid up the back of my thighs and he gripped my ass hard, smacking one cheek lightly. I wanted him again. I didn’t want to leave this room.

“You need to live a little, Quinn,” he said. “You’re hanging on way too tight.”

I touched his cheek. Every single thing about him seemed erotic. The rough stubble of his jaw had felt sinfully good as he kissed my thighs. I shuddered, remembering how skillful he’d been with his tongue when he found his way home.

Leaning down, I kissed him one last time and stepped away. Domino pulled on his shirt and found his leather cut. It had been so warm and heavy when he placed it around my shoulders. I loved the feel of it. It was part of him. It was who he was. I wondered how many people he let in. Instinct told me, not many.

Finally, I dropped the sheet. My clothes were crumpled near the bar. Domino had the presence of mind to gather his, I hadn’t. I grabbed a black knit dress I’d left hanging from the bathroom door and put it on.

“I like that you don’t wear panties,” he said. “If you were mine, I’d never want you to.”

His forwardness startled me and turned me on. If I were his. I couldn’t help fantasizing about what that might be like. I quickly brushed those thoughts away. There was no point to it.

“Will you still help me?” I asked, trying to focus on business before I lost myself.

He opened his mouth to answer but didn’t get the chance. An insistent knock on the door drew our attention.

“Quinn!” Noel shouted. “Let me in.”

My heart sank. The bubble was well and truly burst. “Give me a minute,” I said. “I’ll get rid of him and then you can make a clean getaway.”

Domino’s wicked smile sent little sparks through my heart. He leaned back and watched me go.

Steeling myself for Noel’s inevitable lecture, I took a deep breath, went into the main room, and opened the door. He leaned against the doorframe, hair wild and eyes blazing.

“How come you didn’t answer your damn phone?” he asked, shoving past me. Shit. The room was a mess. My silver tank top and shoes were strewn in front of the window. But Noel was in a mood and didn’t notice. So far.

“I needed to take a breather, Noel. That crap at the bar? That was fucked up. You should have warned me.”

He flapped his hands and smacked his thigh. “Warned you? Warned you? Quinn, that was what we’re here for. Those pictures could have been gold for us. Come on. You with that biker thug? All you had to do was walk out to your car, get in, smile, wave. They would have wondered who he was and why you were with him. It’d get you on the front page of every tabloid and entertainment magazine by the end of the week. The Club would be a household name before we even finish location scouting.”

“Well, I suppose I’ll be on every cover anyway, you jackass. Didn’t you even stick around to see what happened? It got nuts, Noel. It got dangerous. And Dom’s not a thug.” I tried to lower my voice. Of course Domino would be able to hear every single word we said.

“Dom, is it? Yeah, well, that maniac’s going to probably get you sued. I’m surprised the Port Azrael P.D. haven’t arrested him for assault yet. That photographer he thumped said he wanted to press charges.”

I plopped down on the couch. Noel started pacing. He hadn’t really listened to a word I said. “I don’t need this, Quinn.”

“You don’t need what?”

He whirled on me. “This movie matters to me, okay? I don’t want to get dragged into your bullshit.”

I felt like he’d just dumped a bucket of ice-cold water on my head. “I’m sorry, my bullshit? Exactly what is my bullshit, Noel? You’re the one who called those fucking photographers down to Cups. What did you think was going to happen? Domino, the men in his club, that isn’t how they operate. He didn’t sign on for that.”

“Oh, and you’re now an expert in how they operate? They’re fucking psychopaths, is what they are.”

“What are you talking about? The way I see it, that’s twice you’ve had a serious lapse in judgment about how these people should be treated. If anyone’s putting this project in jeopardy, it’s you. I’m lucky Domino was even willing to talk to me again after what you pulled at Woody’s the other night. Never mind what you did last night. It was cheap and irresponsible.”

I knew the risk I took lecturing him like that. Noel could be a dipshit, but he was a necessary dipshit. Without the backing of his uncle’s studio, we’d both be out of work on this one.

“Change of plans, Quinn. I’m running the show down here. I don’t want you hanging around with or being seen with those thugs anymore. You mean well, but you’re naive.”

My head was spinning. I was naive? My eyes kept flicking to the bedroom door. Noel was so caught up in his own agenda, he couldn’t see what was right in front of his face. Dom’s Harley was still parked downstairs.

“Noel, you seem to forget I own the rights to that script. I bought it. You can’t shut me out of anything. Plus, you need me to keep this greenlit. Whether you like it or not, I’m a draw. You don’t get to have it both ways. You can’t trot me out and call down the paparazzi then turn around and tell me to lay low.”

He stopped pacing and squared off. “Don’t overestimate your own importance, Quinn. Nobody else was willing to take a chance on you with this. I probably should have listened to my uncles in the first place.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” My blood started to boil. Noel looked me up and down, his lips curling into a snarl.

“Nobody thinks you’re right for this part anyway. Not even your own agent.”

My throat ran dry. “Noreen works for me.”

“Noreen begged me to try and convince you not to keep going with this. Why do you think she showed up here the other day?”

I was livid. It got hard to breathe as I rose from the couch. “And I say again … Noreen works for me. And you work for your uncles. My contract is with them, not you. And if you ever put me in a position like you did last night, I’ll have you bounced off this movie so fast …”

Noel grabbed my arm. He pulled me forward hard enough I stumbled. I jerked away just as quickly as hot rage made my vision go white.

“Be careful, Quinn,” he said. “You don’t have as much power as you think you do.”

“I have enough. Now, we are partners, Noel. Full partners. I need you to work with me, not against me. My personal life isn’t part of the deal.”

“Personal life?” he said. “What, was that a date you were on, Quinn? With that ... that ... biker fucker?”

“No.” Shit. I was losing this. “That’s not what I mean. I mean, you’re not my publicist. This trip was supposed to be off book. I can’t work if I have to worry about getting mobbed by photographers. You’re not used to what that’s like. I can give you the benefit of the doubt that you didn’t realize how quickly that would escalate. That’s why you should have talked to me first before tipping those guys off as to where I’d be. That’s all I’m trying to say.”

“Yeah? Well, that asshole has cost us some capital.”

“Again, why you shouldn’t have tipped the paparazzi off behind my back.”

Noel got in my personal space again. His eyes were red-rimmed and flicking back and forth. Fuck. He was on something. Why hadn’t I realized that before? It was probably cocaine. Dammit. There was no getting around it. I would have to talk to the Ransom Brothers directly about Noel’s role on this project going forward.

“Just don’t forget who I am,” he said, grabbing my arm again. “You need me more than I need you, sweetie. For the moment, you’re a novelty. Everyone’s trying to see whether you’ll fall on your face if you try a part with real meat on it. That’s your value to this film. A necessary evil.”

I tried to jerk away from him. This time, Noel held firm. “Let. Go. Of. Me.” The white rage came back. Noel answered with a smirk.

Then an avalanche came down.

Domino charged out of the bedroom, eyes wild. He took one look at Noel and his hand on my arm and lost his shit. He crossed the room in three strides. Grabbing Noel by the throat, he pushed him against the wall.

“The lady asked you to take your fucking hands off her,” he said, spit flying.

Noel opened and closed his mouth like a trout. Two red dots colored his cheeks and he tried to pull Domino’s hand away. It was like trying to bend steel. Noel wouldn’t get free until Domino was good and ready. A second later, he loosened his grip and let Noel drop to the ground, coughing.

Noel straightened and looked at me. “Are you fucking serious?”

I let out a hard breath and crossed my arms. I knew what he thought. The question was what he’d do with it. Domino stood still as stone except for his flaring nostrils. He reminded me of a bull ready to charge. I just hoped Noel had the good sense not to wave the red flag.

“Typical,” Noel said, rubbing his throat. “My uncles warned me about women like you.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

Noel shook his head and backed up all the way to the door. “Just answer your fucking phone the next time I call. I’m pulling the plug.”

“That’s not your call to make.”

“The hell it isn’t. We are done in Port Azrael. It’s a dead-end town. Not right for this project at all.”

Domino barked a laugh. He caught my eye and swallowed whatever else he meant to say. Noel opened the door, walked out, and slammed it behind him. The bang made me jump.

It felt just like a bubble bursting.