Dominic stood in front of Samaire’s apartment door hours later. Her words had spun in his head all day and he hadn’t been able to quiet his doubts. He’d eventually cut out of work early. All he could think about was making things right with Samaire, but he didn’t know where to start. He stared at the white door in front of him as he waited for Samaire to answer his knock. It had been a few minutes and he was beginning to doubt she would open the door. Why was he bothering anyway? Dominic glanced over his shoulder. He should just cut his losses and move on. It was how he always handled his flings. He couldn’t do that this time, though. This relationship was different. He was different with Samaire. The fling had started out fake but he’d gotten a glimpse of what it would be like to share his life with Samaire. He liked what he saw. He knocked on the door harder. He knew she was there but her silence told him everything he needed to know without saying a
“Come here, darling,” Dominic said in a ragged voice as he motioned for her with the curl of his finger. A delicious ache warmed her belly. She should be ashamed that she was turned on by his voice this quickly. He only had to crook his finger and she was moving toward him like a prey in front of a tiger. But she didn’t want to play any games… She didn’t want to fool herself… This fling wasn’t going to last forever. Samaire knew what she wanted from him and she wasn’t going to wait any longer. Dominic reached for the sash to her bathrobe and pulled her against him. He was a solid wall of muscle. Samaire smoothed her hands over his chest, learning the planes and angles beneath his shirt. She reached his collar and fanned her fingers along the thick column of his neck. Samaire looked up and stared into his light blue eyes.“I want you to stay the night, Dom. I want you here tomorrow morning…” Her voice was husky and low.“What else do you want, da
Samaire felt her nostrils flare with aggravation as he bragged.“That’s wonderful, Brian.”“‘You should come to my workshop, Samaire.’” She had no interest in paying to hear the man talk for hours about himself and his accomplishments.“Trust me, Brian, it’s okay to have a few empty seats.”“‘It’ll be standing room only,’” he said with indignation. “‘I’m inviting you because you might learn a few things, Samaire. Things you can use for sure in your future projects.’” Samaire squeezed her eyes shut. His words no longer wounded, but they still had the power to sting.“Thank you for your concern, Brian, but I keep up-to-date on what’s new and cutting-edge. But I’m sure there are a lot of your… followers out there who might need this workshop more than I do.”“‘I disagree, Samaire,’” Brian said. “‘I’ve looked at your website and portfolio. The work you do is basic and outdated. You haven’t come up with any fresh ideas in a very long time…’”“That’s not true.”
“Who was on the phone?”“Brian,” she said as she crawled onto the bed. “I invited him to your party as you suggested.” Dominic didn’t say anything as she straddled his hips. His hands automatically went to her legs and stroked them tenderly. So, she invited Connolly… Well, she must really want that job in LA. He didn’t want her to go, but he couldn’t hold her back. Why was it that he had known Samaire for most of his life but only noticed her when it was almost too late?“Dom, I need to ask another favor…” Samaire leaned over him, her fingers gripping his shoulders.“Yesterday you said I don’t defend myself and I know it’s true. I want to be more assertive, but I’m not sure where to start.” He had trouble thinking straight as the sense of impending loss continued to roll through him.“You’re very assertive with me, darling,” he said gruffly. “Our brainstorming sessions can turn into heated arguments.”“Okay, but I’m that way only with you,” Samaire replie
By Friday night, Dominic had grown quiet and tense. He stood by the desk in his office as the darkness of the night gathered. For the next three hours, he had to be the genial host for his party while watching Samaire gain the attention of a total douchebag. He reached for the wine bottle on his desk and poured a small amount of the Merlot into a wineglass. This time he didn’t care about the bouquet or heavy oak aging. Fuck that! All he could think about was Sam. This night was about her. FOR her. When he heard a knock, Dominic set the wine bottle to the side and glanced at the office door.“Come in, it’s open.” The door cautiously opened and Samaire peeked around the corner.“Dom, you wanted to see me?”“Yeah, come.” She walked into the room and closed the door behind her. Her silky hair was swept up in a soft and romantic style that emphasized the graceful lines of her neck. The dark lavender dress complimented her pale skin and pale
Hours later, Dominic peered over the heads of the guests and glanced at the entrance of the tasting room. The room was now comfortably filled with wine enthusiasts but not packed from wall to wall. He had caught snatches of deep discussion and glowing compliments about the reserve label. Tonight had been a success but one component had been missing. Dominic curled his arm tighter around Samaire’s waist and pressed his mouth against her ear.“I don’t think he’s going to show, darling.” Samaire’s back stiffened and she glanced at the door.“You’re probably right.” She returned her attention to him and smiled sweetly.“Well, I guess that means more brownies for me.” Dominic was intrigued by her indifferent attitude. He remembered her anxiety when Brian had first announced his visit. Why the change? Was this part of her wild party-girl act? If so, she did it very well.“The tasting room is going to close in half an hour,” Dominic said. “He
It was close to midnight when Samaire got out of her car in the Cedar Creek Wine Cellar parking lot. She wasn’t sure what had prompted her to come back here after the party. Dominic hadn’t invited her back. Instead, he’d given her an intense look when she had left with Brian. Samaire walked to the door as a couple of employees were leaving.“Is Dominic still here?” she asked.“Yes,” one of the waiters said as he held the door open for her. “He’s always the last one to leave. We just saw him in the tasting room.” She thanked him and stepped into the bar. She paused as the door closed behind her. She hadn’t been here when it was empty, and most of the lights were turned off. Samaire quietly went up the metal stairs and headed to the tasting room. She stopped in the doorway when she saw Dominic. His white shirt almost glowed in the shadows. He was in the far corner, sitting on a barstool near the counter, and looking out the windows that faced the evergreen t
“Why? What’s wrong with the tasting room?” Samaire asked looking around. She was surprisingly light-headed as her legs wobbled. Her muscles ached as the lust coiled tight in her pelvis.“No one’s here... No one can see us, Dom, so relax…”“I can’t hide you if anyone walks in, baby.” Samaire smiled at his protective gesture.“They won’t…”“Darling, let’s stop for now… Let’s continue this at your place or mine…”“But here is so much better… And I don’t wanna stop, Dom…” She slowly slipped down from the counter and gently, shimmied out of her sexy dress. Samaire stood still for a second allowing him to take her image in. Dominic’s gaze went from her breasts to the apex of her legs. It was like he was caressing her with his eyes.“You are absolutely breathtaking…” he whispered. Unable to remain passive any longer, Samaire got near him, unfastened his white shirt, and tugged it loose. Eager to feel his skin, she shoved the shirt from him. Samaire slo
Dominic pulled out of the parking spot but stopped when he heard a bang on the back of the car.“Dom! Wait! Don’t go!” ‘She was there… Samaire came to him…’ He got out in a second. Her hair was free from the knot and was getting wet and she squinted as the rain hit her face. The bag dangled from her shoulder, and Samaire took deep breaths as if she had sprinted from the coffee shop.“Please…” she added almost whispering.“My darling…” Dominic exclaimed.“I don’t want you to stay away…”“Are you sure?“Yes…”“Look, I know you don’t need my protection,” he said in a rush. “Lena always complains about how overprotective I am. I guess it’s because I was the big brother and I had to show her the way. Once you and my sister became friends, that protection covered you, as well. I don’t know how to stop trying to look out for you, Sam… It’s how I take care of the people I love.”“I don’t want you to stop, Dom,” Samaire said as her expression softened. “But I also
‘Everything we shared was fake.’ Two weeks later, Samaire’s words still haunted Dominic. She had said some other things that had stung but that statement bothered him the most. If what they’d had was fake, he wouldn’t feel this depressed and alone. He would sleep at night and function through the day. If what they had wasn’t real, then why did he feel as if he’d lost something special? Dominic slowly got out of his car and bent his head to ward off the cold and misty rain. He strode to the small coffee shop where he knew Samaire was waiting for her friend Deanna. He wasn’t sure if it was a good idea to confront her in public. Samaire didn’t like surprises and she withdrew into herself when she was cornered. She was going to hate what he was about to do but he had tried to reach her for weeks. Samaire was avoiding him... she was hiding from him. Dominic’s stomach turned at the thought. Hiding because of him. Samaire had just begun to step off the
Samaire’s hands shook as she tried to unlock her car door. A howling pain raged inside her, ready to tear free. She had to lock down the bitterness and the dark, swirling emotions. She was just a hook-up for him? A quickie? Someone to bang and left on the side of the road? Her heart was in pieces and she needed to get out of the parking lot… Of the city, for that matter. “Leaving town? Really? That’s your solution… That’s the best you can do? Damn it, Samaire!” she scowled herself. “You knew the fling was a bad idea, and you did it anyway. You knew you’d get your heart broken… Well, congratulations! You are in love with the man who broke your heart forever!” Okay, running away wasn’t a solution but she won’t stay there and show him or the world how much the words he said to Brian Connolly had hurt her or how she thought she had meant something to him. Giving no reaction had been her only defense for years and it came automatically to her.“Sam! Where ar
There weren’t enough words to describe Samaire. He could only choose a few… Intense. Wild. Serious. Beautiful. Strong. Wonderful. Loving. Determined. Sexy. Perfect. But the list could go on and on. He would sing Samaire’s praises but there were many things he didn’t want to share with Brian. He knew the douchebag would not appreciate her strengths and vulnerabilities. Connolly would search for her flaws, real and unimagined.“What is it you want to know about her?” Dominic asked.“She works on your social media…” Brian said before he quaffed the wine. “What does that entail?”“We had no social media presence until we hired Samaire. She built our strategy… Connected us with the world.” Dominic quickly ran down the list of Samaire’s duties and realized it was a lot. Somehow Samaire managed to put all of the pieces together and create excitement for his business.“Have you seen any results?” Brian asked as he leaned back in his chair. “I’m sure you can’t dir
“Why? What’s wrong with the tasting room?” Samaire asked looking around. She was surprisingly light-headed as her legs wobbled. Her muscles ached as the lust coiled tight in her pelvis.“No one’s here... No one can see us, Dom, so relax…”“I can’t hide you if anyone walks in, baby.” Samaire smiled at his protective gesture.“They won’t…”“Darling, let’s stop for now… Let’s continue this at your place or mine…”“But here is so much better… And I don’t wanna stop, Dom…” She slowly slipped down from the counter and gently, shimmied out of her sexy dress. Samaire stood still for a second allowing him to take her image in. Dominic’s gaze went from her breasts to the apex of her legs. It was like he was caressing her with his eyes.“You are absolutely breathtaking…” he whispered. Unable to remain passive any longer, Samaire got near him, unfastened his white shirt, and tugged it loose. Eager to feel his skin, she shoved the shirt from him. Samaire slo
It was close to midnight when Samaire got out of her car in the Cedar Creek Wine Cellar parking lot. She wasn’t sure what had prompted her to come back here after the party. Dominic hadn’t invited her back. Instead, he’d given her an intense look when she had left with Brian. Samaire walked to the door as a couple of employees were leaving.“Is Dominic still here?” she asked.“Yes,” one of the waiters said as he held the door open for her. “He’s always the last one to leave. We just saw him in the tasting room.” She thanked him and stepped into the bar. She paused as the door closed behind her. She hadn’t been here when it was empty, and most of the lights were turned off. Samaire quietly went up the metal stairs and headed to the tasting room. She stopped in the doorway when she saw Dominic. His white shirt almost glowed in the shadows. He was in the far corner, sitting on a barstool near the counter, and looking out the windows that faced the evergreen t
Hours later, Dominic peered over the heads of the guests and glanced at the entrance of the tasting room. The room was now comfortably filled with wine enthusiasts but not packed from wall to wall. He had caught snatches of deep discussion and glowing compliments about the reserve label. Tonight had been a success but one component had been missing. Dominic curled his arm tighter around Samaire’s waist and pressed his mouth against her ear.“I don’t think he’s going to show, darling.” Samaire’s back stiffened and she glanced at the door.“You’re probably right.” She returned her attention to him and smiled sweetly.“Well, I guess that means more brownies for me.” Dominic was intrigued by her indifferent attitude. He remembered her anxiety when Brian had first announced his visit. Why the change? Was this part of her wild party-girl act? If so, she did it very well.“The tasting room is going to close in half an hour,” Dominic said. “He
By Friday night, Dominic had grown quiet and tense. He stood by the desk in his office as the darkness of the night gathered. For the next three hours, he had to be the genial host for his party while watching Samaire gain the attention of a total douchebag. He reached for the wine bottle on his desk and poured a small amount of the Merlot into a wineglass. This time he didn’t care about the bouquet or heavy oak aging. Fuck that! All he could think about was Sam. This night was about her. FOR her. When he heard a knock, Dominic set the wine bottle to the side and glanced at the office door.“Come in, it’s open.” The door cautiously opened and Samaire peeked around the corner.“Dom, you wanted to see me?”“Yeah, come.” She walked into the room and closed the door behind her. Her silky hair was swept up in a soft and romantic style that emphasized the graceful lines of her neck. The dark lavender dress complimented her pale skin and pale
“Who was on the phone?”“Brian,” she said as she crawled onto the bed. “I invited him to your party as you suggested.” Dominic didn’t say anything as she straddled his hips. His hands automatically went to her legs and stroked them tenderly. So, she invited Connolly… Well, she must really want that job in LA. He didn’t want her to go, but he couldn’t hold her back. Why was it that he had known Samaire for most of his life but only noticed her when it was almost too late?“Dom, I need to ask another favor…” Samaire leaned over him, her fingers gripping his shoulders.“Yesterday you said I don’t defend myself and I know it’s true. I want to be more assertive, but I’m not sure where to start.” He had trouble thinking straight as the sense of impending loss continued to roll through him.“You’re very assertive with me, darling,” he said gruffly. “Our brainstorming sessions can turn into heated arguments.”“Okay, but I’m that way only with you,” Samaire replie