I was lying on my side in a hotel room while Dominic cocooned me with safety and warmth, and every muscle ached in places I had no idea existed.
What have I done?
Where was my freaking head when I decided to sleep with the man? Cheating on Oliver, whatever my feelings were for him, was so wrong, and how could thoughts of him not even cross my mind when I was whisked away with kisses and touches?
If anything, all this just cemented my belief that I should end this charade of an engagement. I might have loved Oliver in my old life, but he inspired absolutely no emotions from me. How sad would a life with him be?
My family would have to just accept this fact, but as odd as it sounded, the idea of hurting or disappointing my mother and father didn’t unsettle or worry me much.
Oh, shit! My parents!
Glancing at the bedside clock, I saw the green electronic numbers showing five in the morning, and a shiver ran through me. How the hell would I explain that?
As quietly as humanly possible, I slowly removed his hand from me and slid to the side, escaping his embrace.
My toes curled into the plush white carpet as, completely naked, I stood trying to cover myself as much as I could with the nearby pillow, which pretty much hid from my breasts to my lady bits. Scanning the place for the bathroom and my clothes, I had the time to pay attention to the suite and huge-ass window, which opened up onto the Florence panorama and showcased the mesmerizingly beautiful nature of Tuscany.
The master double room suite had a wide space with limited furniture, which worked perfectly for a single man in my opinion. The bar had every expensive liquor imaginable with an ice machine. A small office area had a black desk, chair, fax machine, and a landline phone. The room also included a leather couch, which had a small ottoman to rest your legs on after a long meeting or exhausting day. And finally, a king-sized bed was located right in the middle of the room, sort of the center of attention. The atmosphere here was cold with no soul, but then again, why would it?
My clothes lay on the floor in a pile. I quickly grabbed them and rushed to the bathroom where I dressed and tried to comb my hair with my fingers, but the job seemed useless as my locks twisted around in different directions and screamed “Ridden hard all night long!” Groaning in exasperation into my palms, I prayed my parents were still asleep.
Washing my face quickly, I was aware of the reddened skin on my neck from his five o'clock shadow, my full red lips, which were slightly puffy from all his kissing, and most importantly my eyes, which glistened with something feminine and unfamiliar.
And I thought I was frigid! My cheeks heated up just remembering all the stuff we had done last night, how much I loved and enjoyed it, but at the time, I couldn't help but feel repulsed by the idea that Oliver was my first.
It should have been Dominic, and how betraying a thought was that?
Walking out of the bathroom with the single mission in mind of running away, my steps halted as I drank in the view Dominic presented lying on the bed on his stomach, his bare ass and muscled body on display as the sunlight gently touched his skin, emphasizing his masculinity and power. He was like a large lion lounging on a rock with not a care in the world, because there was no stronger predator than he. Without thinking, I gently caressed his beard and pressed a light kiss to his cheek.
Maybe someday I would meet with him again, but I was aware this was just a drunk one-night stand that had forever changed my life, but probably didn't affect his as much. Especially considering the tattoo under his heart… of a woman who he once loved and lost. “Goodbye, Dominic,” I whispered, and with one last glance, I darted to the door then outside, where I caught a cab. I came up with a believable story of a hospital emergency in case I ran into my parents.
I didn’t. The house was still asleep when Elza sneaked me inside, and I hid in my room. My house felt even colder than the hotel room, where the most amazing man lay.
Catching my reflection in the mirror at the other end of the room, I vowed to wash away this permanently miserable expression, and that it would have to start with a conversation with Oliver.
We had Vito’s party planned for tonight on his ship. He insisted on inviting everyone in the upcoming wedding, and well, who the hell could refuse him? Not wanting to end up in an uncomfortable position for Oliver or me, I would have to end it after.
Life was just too short to live it by the rules of other people. Exhaling a heavy breath as if the invisible chains around my lungs broke free, I smiled, and for the first time in a while, butterflies fluttered in my stomach from happiness.
And I completely blocked my mind when it whispered to me that it had nothing to do with my decision and everything to do with the sexy Russian I left back in the city.
Dominic
The espresso machine beeped loudly in the otherwise silent hotel room. I took my coffee and drank the first sip, enjoying the bitter taste, which matched my emotions after the door clicked behind Rosa as she escaped me like a sinner running away from hell.
Michael whistled loudly as he entered the apartment with his own key, and the delicious smell of waffles filled the air. “Please tell me you did not just drink that shit!” he mocked, as he placed the steaming coffee cup and breakfast on the bar and collapsed next to me. “Did you get lucky?”
Not in the mood for his bullshit, I growled and bit into the food as my stomach grumbled loudly, and I wondered if my woman was hungry after waking up. Damn it, just the idea of it angered me, because I never wanted her to go without my protection or care for a single second.
Vitya chuckled. Of course, he had to join us too. After all, these two were attached at the hip whenever we visited a foreign country. “He did, but then she ran away.” Michael chuckled. “Didn't perform well? It happens.”
For fuck’s sake!
“I know how to pleasure my woman.”
He nodded, and said, “Sure you do, Dom. But with you out of practice, maybe you didn't impress her as you should, and that’s why Anton almost missed her as she moved like lightning.” He laughed at his own joke, and I hit him from the back lightly, but Vitya’s eyes narrowed anyway.
“Pakhan—”
