4. Chapter Four

Chapter Four

Gianna

I wake up when the sun peers over the edge of the windowsill. I move my head carefully, afraid I might be hungover, but I'm not.

"My rescuer must have fucked the alcohol right out of my system," I mutter to myself and then I laugh.

I think again about the shattering orgasms that I experienced last night, and I feel myself get wet all over again. I roll over in bed, wincing at the soreness inside my body.

I turn on the shower, and grab a hand towel off the vanity in my bathroom as my mystery rescuer's cum slips down my thighs.

We really should have thought about using protection, but I'm not going to let it ruin my memory of the night before. Guy and I have slipped up a few times and I've never gotten pregnant. It'll be just fine.

"Getting ready, honey?" my mom shouts through the bathroom door. I quickly toss the slimy hand towel into the shower. Can't have my mother asking questions. I'd better rinse it out thoroughly.

"Yeah," I call back. I climb into the shower. She's still talking to me, but I pretend I can't hear her as I close my eyes and enjoy the hot water. I feel almost guilty washing the smell of the club owner off of my body.

I think about whether or not I will go look for him again. He's probably not in the club all that often. Most business owners don't spend a lot of time working alongside their staff. And would it be the same if I were to hook up with him again?

I realize I'm too sleepy to ponder such big questions. I need to finish getting cleaned up and have some coffee before the guests my mom invited over for my birthday arrive.

As I shampoo my hair, I sigh. My mother probably just invited all of her friends over to the party. I certainly didn't want anyone that was my age to be forced to come to a party that my mother put together.

The only upside to inviting all the elder members of the family was that I would almost certainly be given cash as presents.

I don't run into my parents in the kitchen as I get my coffee. I see them outside in the yard bickering about where to place the chairs around the pool.

I roll my eyes and go back upstairs to enjoy my coffee and let my hair dry.

An hour goes by, and then my mom shouts that I need to think about getting ready. I dutifully go into the bathroom to do something with my hair and put on my makeup.

I really don't like wearing makeup and I usually just put some shadow, mascara, and lipstick on and leave the rest of my face bare. Today, since it's a big day, I do it all, finishing with my signature maroon lip color when I'm done with my mascara.

I take a deep breath and practice my smile in the mirror across from me. I slip on my red stilettos and straighten the dress my mother bought for me, leaving my room and making my way downstairs to where I can hear voices already.

The party is already in full swing, and I try my hardest to appreciate the work that my mother has put in.

It's just so dull, with old couples laughing at nothing, and the music soft enough for me to hear almost every conversation happening in the large dining room of my childhood house.

I make the rounds, greeting everyone and thanking them for their extravagant and unnecessary gifts. There's stunning food and plenty of drinks to go around.

I go inside and dial my London friends into a group video call. They all answer on the second or third rings, and I smile seeing their faces.

They start singing to me as well, and I blush but let them finish. I debrief with them, catching them up on the party, Chicago, and then about Guy showing up.

I didn't tell them about fucking the club owner in his office.

"How the hell did he find you?" one of them asks.

"I don't know." I sigh. "I thought maybe he used the Find My Friends app, so I've deleted that from my phone. I hope he's got the message now."

They all give their unbiased thoughts about what a douche Guy is, and I fully agree with them.

After a few more minutes of them catching me up on their lives in London, they all have to go.

Hanging up the phone, I log into my horoscope to see what the universe has in store for me.

LEO: In matters of the heart, this week is promising for Leo. Your natural charm and charisma are amplified, making you irresistible to others. Single Leos may find themselves attracting attention from admirers. Embrace your magnetic allure and be open to new romantic possibilities.

I chuckle. My magnetic allure has never brought me anything good. I think about last night and grin. Well, maybe it's come in handy just once.

Going back outside, I scan the crowd, looking for a friendly face among the older group. I notice a tall man standing with my brother. He has his back to me, and I ponder why he looks so familiar.

As he turns around, I gasp, and my core tightens. It's the man from the club. How on earth does he know my brother? What is he doing here?

From the way he's talking to my brother, I'd assume they're friends, except usually, Will's friends are guys he's met at the golf club—clean, nerdy, and pretending to be businessmen while they live off their parent's wealth.

The guy from the club is the complete opposite.

William is called over by my father and a few of his friends, and I see my mother go up to Mr. Club Owner and give him a hug. I am so confused about what this rough-looking man is doing mingling with my family.

As soon as he's alone, I decide I need to go up and find out what his name is, at least. Why he's here and who he is exactly?

"I didn't realize this party was wild enough to need a bouncer." I walk up to his side and look up. He's so much taller than I am. He turns around at the sound of my voice, looking shocked when he sees my face.

I smile, showing that I come in peace, but he's looking around the room like he suddenly realizes where he is.

"What are you doing here?" he asks, his voice just as gruff as it was in the club. At least he recognizes me.

"Um, that's an odd thing to ask the birthday girl at her birthday party."

His eyes bulge just the slightest bit, realization coming to him. I find it funny that he is trying so hard to keep his expression stone cold, but his eyes are giving him away immediately.

"You're Gianna Bianchi?" There's a hint of irritation in his voice, but I can't imagine why he'd be annoyed to find out who I am. Unless he's embarrassed that he fucked me, but I doubt that very much. He seemed quite happy to have enjoyed my body last night.

"The one and only. Well, unless you count my great-great-grandmother, but she's dead." People either love that line or get super awkward when I deliver it. My mother has asked me to stop using it, but I want to see how he takes it. He gives me no reaction.

"Well, happy birthday, then." He's clenching his jaw again, and looking uncomfortable, his eyes searching the room for an escape.

Last night, he was dressed in torn jeans and a dark jacket, but today, he's put on a pastel blue button-up shirt on with black chinos, and the difference is amazing. Both looks are beyond sexy, but one is more "let me fuck you in the alleyway" sexy, and the other is a "sneaky sex during family brunch" kind of sexy.

I shake my head slightly to bring my thoughts out of the gutter.

"Thanks. So…how do you know my family? Why don't I know who you are?"

"Um, your brother and I are friends. Your parents have been very hospitable to me. I've done some…work for them."

I don't speak to my brother much, but this is not a friend that I have ever heard of. Seems my parents tried to adopt a surrogate second child after sending me away.

"They love being hospitable." I look over at my mother, entertaining her many friends so effortlessly. "So, did they hire you to kill someone or something?"

"What?"

He looks so shocked that I laugh out loud. "You just don't look like the rest of the people that my parents allow into this house."

"I look more like a murderer?"

I just blink at him benignly. I'm kidding, but I figure that if he knows my parents due to "business", he's probably done something fairly shady for them.

"You know who I am, but I still have no clue who you are. What's your name?" I ask quickly, trying to keep his attention. I don't usually have to try this hard with men, but I'm willing to dig a bit deeper to find his interest. "You know mine, so it's only fair that I know yours too."

"Dominic." He doesn't mention a surname, and as much as I want to pry, I don't want to ruin the moment and prematurely end the conversation.

"Dominic." I roll the name around in my mouth. It suits him. It has a nice, forceful ring to it that seems appropriate.

I still don't remember my brother ever mentioning him before. "Nice to officially meet you. Do you live near here?"

"In the city." His hands are playing with his keyring. He is clearly fidgeting and unsure of what to do.

"Cool. What do you do?"

He looks at me with his brows furrowed. He knows that I know what he does. He told me he owns the club I went to last night.

I have no intention of giving away that we have met, not to this room full of family and friends. I also want to see what he might say. After all, if he has had business dealings with my parents, he doesn't just own the club.

"I should get going," he says quickly, turning slightly as if to leave.

"No, don't go yet." I lightly touch his arm. A jolt of awareness races across my skin. I suddenly remember what he felt like inside me, tearing me apart and sending me over the edge of powerful orgasm after powerful orgasm. "You don't have to tell me what you do. I probably can guess anyhow. You know my parents, after all."

"Then you didn't need to ask," he says, looking over my head at the other guests.

"Have you got any open positions for a college graduate at your club? I need to find a job now that I'm back in Chicago for good."

"I doubt you need to work at a place like my club."

"I'm bored." I shrug and smile, giving as much flirty energy as I can spare without drawing too much attention.

His gaze is starting to make my cheeks warm, but hopefully that doesn't show through too much. I can feel my panties getting wet and I subtly shift my thighs to try and ease the ache inside of me.

"I'm sure you are. Is that why you ended up at my club being harassed by a grotesque British man?"

I'm convinced this man does not know how to flirt.

"Guy is an ex-boyfriend, like I tried to explain to you at the club. I left him in London, but he followed me here. Thank you, though, for helping me deal with that, because he seems to be gone now."

"That's good." He nods, looking genuinely relieved that Guy is no longer a worry.

"So, how often are you at work?" My flirting is also rusty, since I was with Guy for much of my time after school, but Dominic must see that I'm trying to connect with him.

"I am there most days. But you shouldn't be. It's not a place for girls like you."

"Women like me." I correct him. "And sometimes us girls just need to let our hair down and go a little wild."

"Girls like you," he says back. "Should go be wild away from dangerous criminals lurking in the streets."

I sigh. "All right, Dom." I decide to use a nickname. I don't know if he goes by Dom or not, but I don't care right now.

"You seem to know what's best for ‘girls like me' better than myself or my parents." I use air quotes to emphasize the mention of girls. I hate men trying to tell women where to go and what to do.

This type of conversation always riles me up. Except that when Dom says these things, I feel more protection than a condescending attitude from him. Still, I don't know him, so there's not much reason for him to be protective over me.

Before he can reply, my mother is in front of us, laughing about something that someone has told her as she passed them. The tension breaks as Dom smiles at my mother, and suddenly he seems like a different person.

"Dominic, you've met Gianna." My mother comes up and puts an arm around me and tugs slightly, putting distance between us and him.

I look at her, confused. She usually takes any opportunity she can find to show me off to eligible bachelors in her circle, but right now, she seems to be shielding me from Dom instead.

"I have, Mrs. Bianchi. I was just wishing her a happy birthday."

"I was asking Dom about places to go in the city, since it's been so long since I've been home. And thought maybe he could show me a few." I look directly at Dom, challenging him to contradict me.

"I'm sure Dom has much more important things to do, Gi. Don't bug the man. Come and see what your great-aunt has sent for your birthday," my mother interjects quickly, pulling me away from Dom before we can say anything more.

"Mom, that was rude." I'm always amazed at how my mother's manners only extend as far as she wants them to.

"It wasn't rude, Gianna. Dominic didn't look like he was enjoying that conversation anyway. You and he have nothing in common, trust me."