2. Dom

two

Dom

" Y ou want me to invest in a sex club?" The absurdity of it should amuse me, but it leaves me hollow.

Why my cousin Joseph would think I would be interested in investing in his sex club is beyond me. But I will humor him and let him finish his sales pitch.

Maybe when I was younger, the thought of hooking up with some random stranger at a club would have excited me. But not now, at thirty-six, I am no longer controlled by my cock. It's been years since I made that mistake, and I will not make it again.

As the Head of the Rossi Family, I have my family to protect. A relationship is not in my future. I don't have the time or patience to invest, and the temptation for a random hook-up has long lost its appeal.

Nick and I are also working on making our family business legal. After our grandfather's death last year, we decided we were done with the old ways of handling business. As much as I loved my grandfather and respect his memory, I can see that Nick isn't cut out for the family business, and I'm getting too old for it.

Nick might seem like a tough guy, but he has a big heart. We got drunk one night not long after the funeral, and he confided in me that he wanted to get married and have a large family, but he didn't want to have to worry about their safety or dying young and not being a part of their lives.

"Come on, Dom, don't think of this as a sex club. Think of it as a gateway to experimenting. BDSM is all the rage now. Just ask my wife, with all the smut books she reads on her Kindle. People want to live out their sexual fantasies in a safe place.

I sigh, turning my gaze to Mario, my bodyguard. Mario has been with the Rossi Family for over a decade but has only been my bodyguard for the last year. He knows when to speak up and when to be quiet. This must be a time to be quiet because he shrugs at Joseph's description of his sex club.

I half listen as Joseph continues our tour of the club, walking past the private rooms. He explains that the rooms have tempered glass, so if you are into having people watch you have sex, you can adjust the visibility of the glass.

He continues explaining how each room and the adult toys are sanitized between use per health codes. The thought of reusing some of the sex toys turns my stomach.

"The hottest new thing is a Pleasure Dom."

"A what?" I stop in my tracks, looking at Joseph like he has grown two heads.

I've never experimented with BDSM, but enough of the men I do business with have, and they take every opportunity to share that information with anyone who will listen. The most I've ever taken away from their conversation is the need for a safeword.

"Oh, yeah, women are all over Pleasure Doms. A Pleasure Dom is exactly what it sounds like. The guy's only job is to give the woman as many orgasms as he can--anyway, he can. In some cases, the Pleasure Dom takes it as a challenge to break the woman and make her use the safeword." Nudging my arm with his shoulder, he wiggles his eyebrows up and down, grabbing his crotch through his pants in a crude gesture.

I have to hold in a shudder of repulsion at the thought of Joseph pleasuring anyone. He can barely form a coherent sentence most days. But damn it, I promised our grandfather on his deathbed that I would take care of Joseph, and I never break my promises.

"All the bored housewives come here in search of a Pleasure Dom to give them what their husbands can't. And the best part is the housewives don't consider it cheating since all they do is lie there and receive the pleasure." He smirks and rubs his hands together, an eerie gleam in his eye. "My monthly memberships are at an all-time high. Looks like you're not the only good businessman in the family."

My phone vibrates, and I pull it out of my pants pocket, thankful for the reprieve from Joseph's ramblings. Glancing at the screen, I see it's my brother Nick. We are having problems with a rival family in town, the Manzelli Family. They are a bunch of small-time hustlers wanting to play with the big dogs and trying to make a name for themselves, but all they are doing is being a nuisance to my family.

Stepping away from Joseph, I say, "I need to take this call. Is there somewhere I can talk in private?"

"Sure, my office is just around the corner. You know the club opens in fifteen minutes. Why don't you hang around for a while? You might get lucky."

I nod politely to Joseph before stepping into his office, not wanting to think about the kind of women that would be members of his sex club.

Closing the door behind me, I answer my phone. "Hello, Nick, any confirmation on the supposed threat?"

"Nothing concrete, but I do have a lead on something. I'll let you know what I find out. How's it going with Cousin Joseph? Did he talk you into one of his grand schemes yet?"

The hint of laughter in Nick's voice should have pissed me off, but knowing that Joseph is harmless, I respond with a chuckle of my own, "No, just another harebrained idea from our flighty cousin."

"What's his deal this time?"

"He wants me to invest in his sex club. I'm standing in his office as we speak." I loosen my tie and look around his tacky office with the white leather couch and red walls. "He wants me to stay and experience the club firsthand."

"Maybe you should. When was the last time you got laid?"

"That's really none of your business, Nick. Besides, we are not talking about my sex life. We are talking about the threat." I reply, shaking my head, trying to remember the last time I actually did have sex. And for the life of me, I can't remember.

"So, a long time then. Jesus, your cock is probably all dry and shriveled up from lack of use." He snorts.

"No, it's not, but thanks for your concern. Now get your mind off of my cock and tell me what you know about the shooting." I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose with my thumb and index finger.

"I'm meeting with the informant later tonight. I'll know more then. I'm not sure the Manzelli Family is involved. There is something too amateur about the accidental water damage to our office building. The Manzelli Family might be small time, but they aren't amateurs."

"I know, you're right. Something feels off about it. It feels almost personal."

"Yeah, I have the same feeling." Nick hesitates, "I've got to go, Dom. I will call you after the meeting."

"Be safe, Nick. I can't lose you too. Not so soon after losing grandfather." When our grandfather passed away last year at the ripe old age of eighty-nine, I was made head of the Rossi Family. I know he lived a long, healthy life but miss him daily.

"Aw, I love you too, Dom, but I'm serious. You need to let loose a little bit. You need to have some fun."

"Maybe someday, Nick, we can both settle down. I'll talk to you later." I end the call and place my phone in my pocket. Stepping out of Joseph's office, I see Mario right where I left him, guarding the door.

I look around the club, noticing the black leather chairs, walls, and lighting. Hell, everyone, from the customers to the staff, is wearing black. It's depressing.

I don't care what Nick said. I need to get out of here. I'll go back to my office and review the other proposals I have waiting for my approval. It's not like I have anyone waiting for me at home, wondering where I am.

I turn to leave when I see her standing in the shadows. Her white-blonde hair falls in waves around her shoulders, and her light pink dress emphasizes the creaminess of her skin.

My fingers itch to reach out and touch her and pull her from the shadows. I Need her brightness in my life.

Her crystal blue eyes lock onto mine, and she steps toward me with a shy smile on her beautiful face.

Before I can speak, she asks, "Are you a Pleasure Dom?"