Dom (Alliance, #3)

by S.J. Tilly

My chest expands as I stand from my couch. “Call Vance,” I call out to Rob, my second in command, who’s sitting at the kitchen island. “Tell him to get to the airfield. I want wheels up in thirty.” I stride toward the stairs on the other side of my penthouse. I need to pack a bag. “City for the flight plan?” Rob asks my retreating form. “Vegas.”

“I’m really sorry. I didn’t know he was gonna be here until I was practically on the plane. And I really want to see him. And he’s so damn good looking.” The girl from Dallas holds up her hands to stop me. “Val, trust me, we get it. Good dick is hard to come by.”

We’re halfway across the lobby when Bri curses under her breath. “Fuck me.” My eyes snap up to the doors. And standing there, a few yards away, on the other side of the glass, is Dominic. My Dominic. My Big Guy.

His eyes are locked on mine. The blue is so clear, even at this distance, that it makes me want to run to him. To throw myself into his arms.

“Holy shit, is that your guy?” Dallas hisses. I try to bite down on my smile, but it doesn’t work because there’s no stopping the way he makes me feel.

Close enough that we all hear him when he replies, “Yeah, I’m her guy.”

“Ladies.” Dom nods to my friends before he turns all his attention to me. “Valentine.” He says my name a little deeper, with a little more gravel in his tone. I think one of the girls groans.

Okay, so I shouldn’t have even bothered with underwear.

“Ready, Boss?” the driver asks. I’m watching Dom’s profile, so I see him narrow his eyes at the driver through the rearview mirror. “Uh, I mean, Mr. Gonzalez.” The driver corrects himself.

I glance down, seeing Dom’s hand palm up between us. “I’m not nervous,” I lie, even as I set my trembling hand in his. “It’s just me.” His voice is soothing as he wraps his fingers around mine.

“I just mean… It feels like we met so long ago. I was starting to think we might be cursed.” His smirk stays in place. “Real life Montague and Capulet.”

“Fair. Plus, our ending will be better.” My stomach flips when he says our ending, like a future between us is inevitable. “It will?” “I plan to die a very old man.” I purse my lips. “So, in like ten years?”

One breath. And then warm lips press against mine. I missed his lips.

“Dominic,” I whisper. The fingers around mine squeeze a tiny bit. They tighten just that little bit, and I want more. But Dom pulls back. His eyes are inches from mine, the blue sparking with life. “I promised you dinner, so that’s what we’re doing. But you’re coming to my hotel after.”

“Your friends okay with you staying out?” I nod again. “They just want proof of life, if…” I trail off, but Dom raises a brow, prompting me to finish. “If we spend all weekend banging.” Dom grins. “I like your friends.”

Dom slides back across the seat to his side. “You’re supposed to wear your seat belt,” I chastise him. “I figured you were worth the danger.”

“Wait for me.” Dom slams the door after he gets out, and I glance up to catch the driver watching me through the mirror, but then his eyes immediately dart away. I’m unbuckled and ready, so when Dom opens the door, I take his offered hand and climb down.

“For the record.” He looks down at me. “I like you short.” I look up at him. “I like you big.” My eyes widen at the same time Dom lets out a bark of laughter. And, Jesus fuck me, the man just gets hotter.

We walk past a woman who gives Dom, then me, a once over, and I realize that without even trying, we’ve dressed like we planned it. Wearing black from head to toe. His little Angel, all dressed in black.

“Here you are, miss.” The host pulls a chair out for me. I slide into the space between the chair and table, but before he can push my chair in, Dom crowds into the space, forcing the host to step back. I bite down on the urge to laugh and let Dom push my chair in as I sit,

“So your grandfather…” I trail off, unsure if I should be asking this. And unsure if I really want to open the discussion of family because there’s only so much I want to share about my own. But Dom doesn’t look offended or upset at my question. He looks pleased. “I don’t remember him much. He passed away when I was little. But my grandmother, his wife, was around a lot longer, and based on the stories she told me, I think he would’ve liked you.”

“Because you’re sweet. And just the right amount of feisty.” “Your grandfather would like me because I’m feisty?” I laugh. Dom nods. “A good woman can change your life. Or so he used to say.”

“They disowned him.” I gasp. “What? Why?” “They viewed it as betrayal. Abandoning his history and some other bullshit. But my grandfather stood by the fact that love is stronger than obligation. So, to make up for the lack of family on his side, they decided to have a fuck ton of kids.”

“A toast.” I pick up my drink and tap it against Dom’s. “To good women.” His voice is low. “To leaning in,” I reply.

I tell him about Hawaii. I tell him how I missed him. I tell him that I wished he’d been there with me. I smile when he looks at me. I drink the water he hands me.

I take Dom’s hand as he stands. My vision swirls as I let him walk me to the bathroom. I sway to the music as I close my stall door. Feeling… good. A little dizzy but good.

“I really like you.” I make sure I whisper it this time. Those lips press against my temple once more. “I’m going to remind you that you said that.”

And I don’t want to leave him. Until our paths part. “I don’t want our paths to part.” I think I say it out loud. The hand in mine squeezes me back. “I’m not leaving you,” Dominic reassures me.

“Say I do, Valentine.” I smile, sliding my eyes open enough to look up at the man against my side. “Say I do, Big Guy.”

“To good women.” His eyes look sad. I don’t like it. I don’t want him sad.

“I’ll make you happy.” Dom lowers his eyelids as the hand against my cheek slides around to the back of my neck. “You are.”

I think I’m wearing his suit jacket, but I can’t get enough of him. I can’t get enough Dom.

“I want you.” “Fuck,” Dom growls. “You’re making this hard.”

“Tell me, and I’ll let you come.” “Four,” I pant, arching my back. “There’s been four.”

I like Dominic a lot.

I’m still sprawled face down across the king-size mattress, and apparently, Dom sleeps the same way I do. Only he’s on top of me, his body covering about half of mine. It’s cute.

Dominic groans. “Stay still.” Groggy Dom is adorable.

After shuffling over to the sink, I’m rinsing off the hand soap when I realize what I’m looking at. My toothbrush. In Dominic’s bathroom. How did… I use the mirror to glance around the spacious bathroom, and my brain finally registers what it jumped over before. My little roller suitcase is sitting in front of the tub.

The bodywash smells like him, and I lather myself in it twice, but I still need to hunt down that cologne.

I jerk my hand back and look at my palm. The lights are low in here, but there’s no missing the thick gold band visible on the underside of my ring finger.

The ring on my wedding ring finger.

A giant round-cut diamond stares back at me. It’s… I choke on my next breath. It’s so pretty. Stunning. Beautiful.

“Oh my god!” I say louder this time. Because I’m married. I’m married to Dominic.

Dom raises his brows and lifts one of his arms. His left arm. Which he holds in front of him, showing me the thick gold band circling his ring finger. I shakily raise my hand, diamond facing him. “We got married,” I squeak. “We got married.” Dominic, calm as ever, nods his head at my hand. “At least we did it with style.”

“If memory serves, there’s a chapel just a few doors down from the Thai place we were at.” He lifts a shoulder. “I’m guessing drinks, talking about family and good women, may have caused us to be a bit rash.”

“Dominic, we got married.” He smirks. “Yeah, we did. Now get over here, wife.” “Dominic, I need you to be serious.” “I’m deadly serious, Angel. Now get the fuck over here so we can talk face-to-face.”

“I also don’t lie. And I won’t start doing either now and pretend I’m sorry we did it.” He settles his hand over mine, his thumb nudging the big diamond.

“But we don’t even know each other.” He shakes his head. “Don’t do that. We might have rushed the process. Or skipped most of the process altogether. But we know each other. Tell me we don’t.”

“We know each other,” I admit quietly, because it’s true. “I’ve told you more than I’ve told anyone in… a long time.” The month plus of daily texting is more of a relationship than I think I’ve ever had. “I know. And I talk to you more than I talk to anyone in my family.”

Because what about love? My heart squeezes. I just want love. Real love. I want to get married because of love.