Chapter 18
Dominick
Chloe is terrified, and I don't fucking blame her. With zero assistance coming from the authorities and no leads from Cameron yet, it's easy to think the worst.
Yeah, I can't have that.
"Look." I adjust in the bed, turning Chloe to face me so that I can look her in the eyes. "I know you're upset. It's completely understandable, so let's do something about it. We need this guy off your trail, right?"
Chole stares at me, confused, shaking her head as she holds back the tears. "Yeah."
"So let's change your location. He probably knows where you're staying. The security here is shit, and I'll feel better about all this if I know you're staying somewhere safe."
Her brow is furrowed hard, and Chloe blinks slowly as she holds up a hand. "Wait, wait, wait. You want me to move?"
"Not move. Just get out of here for a while until I can get this taken care of."
"Where am I supposed to go? I'm not bringing Anthony into this. Or Yasmin."
I had a feeling she'd say as much, so it's a good thing I wasn't planning on asking either of them.
"My place. The security is top-notch. I'll be there. I can drive you to work. It'll be perfect."
"Dom." Chloe scoffs, shaking her head. "I'm not living with you."
She will be. I already know there's no better option, but of course, leave it to her to be stubborn.
"Why not?"
"You're my boss, and while we've definitely crossed that line at this point, I don't really want other people to know. Especially Anthony."
"So we keep it quiet. If anyone asks, you can just say it's a favor."
"A favor!" Chloe's eyes blow wide. "How dumb do you think people are? They'll see through that in a second."
Chloe scoots back on the bed, eyeing me hard as we stare each other down. When she crosses her arms over her chest, I'm torn between wanting to take her again or keep bickering.
Maybe both.
"I don't really give a fuck what people think. As long as you're safe."
"Dom—"
"Let's add it up. Your place. Shitty locks, no security, and you're all alone. My place? Enhanced security, including guards, several locks, and me, a trained ex-Marine."
I raise my brows at her, mimicking the arm cross, and we just stare—for what feels like eternity.
"You are so bossy!" She huffs, throwing her arms up before getting off the bed and pacing. "You know, commandeering my life isn't really a good tactic."
Chloe cocks her head at me, and I know she's comparing me to Ethan.
"I'm not trying to control you. I swear." I get up, circling the bed to stand in front of her and take her arms. "If something happens to you here, I'll never forgive myself. This is the best option."
She sighs, her shoulders slumping, before she lays her head on my chest.
"Fine. But please—" she looks up at me "—I'm begging you to be discreet."
"Of course."
I nod once, miming zipping my mouth shut.
Chloe laughs weakly, and then she starts for her closet. "I guess I need to pack a bag."
"Shouldn't take much. That hole in your wall is pretty empty."
Whipping around to glare at me with a stressed smirk, Chloe tosses a shirt at me. "And you know why, you bum."
I hide my smile, at least a little, and then help gather enough of her stuff into her duffle bag to last a few days. She's going to need to hit the store at some point, though.
Maybe I'll ask Yasmin or Kayleigh about it.
When her bag is packed, and Chloe just stands by her bed staring at it, I wrap my arms around her from behind.
"Shall we?"
She turns to me. "Right now?"
"Why wait? I can cook you dinner, show you around the penthouse, and you'll finally be somewhere safe."
She cocks a brow. "I seem to remember that you can't cook."
I turn down the corners of my mouth, pulling her bag onto my shoulder. "French toast. Breakfast for dinner. Brinner."
Chloe laughs, which is, of course, what I'm trying to do, and I grin.
"You're a dope." I feign outrage. "A very capable, muscular dope, but a dope, nonetheless."
I squint at her, pulling her up to my chest and stealing a kiss. "Let's go."
"Okay, okay." She looks around. "Bye, shitty apartment. I'll be back."
"Why do you look sad?"
Furrowing my brow at her, I walk Chloe to the front door, and she grabs her keys.
"I paid for this by myself. Zero help from Ethan. It was mine. Craptastic, but mine."
I nod. "I get it."
She scoffs, eyeing me. "You do?"
"After Dad and the military, I used my own money to start my first business with my brothers. It was—is—ours. We built it. That's what I'm all about, and we've kept all our businesses in the family."
"Hmm. You do get it."
Chloe hesitates in the door frame for a moment, but then she turns back to me, and we walk together to my car.
"This place continues to amaze me. It's just so big!"
Chloe's head is on a swivel as she takes in the layout of my penthouse. I have the entire top floor, and big , it definitely is.
"As you may have guessed, I don't really like having to go out for things. I have, like, zero time, so if I can, I just have what I need."
I watch as Chloe nods and looks back at the home gym I showed her, which puts some local places to shame.
"You really don't have to go out. Gym, pool, movie room. You're set."
"Well, groceries. But I usually just eat on the fly."
She laughs, the sound soothing my soul, and I take her back to the kitchen for a few drinks.
As I snag us a couple of beers, Chloe sits down at the island again, smiling over at me with a knowing look.
"What?"
"We always come back here—to the island. I have a feeling it gets the most use in the house. 'Cept for maybe the gym."
She runs her eyes up and down my body.
I laugh. "You're not wrong. Although, bedroom, right?"
She quirks a brow at me, struggling to hold back a grin that's bursting to be freed, thanks to the giggle behind it.
"Oh, shit. That's not…fuck."
Chloe bursts out laughing, and I'm quick to join her. As I sit next to her and pass her the beer, I jab her gently with my elbow when her giggling doesn't ease off.
"I'm sorry!" She tries to refocus. "I'm sorry. You just walked right into that one."
I sigh, taking a swig and shaking my head. "I was talking about sleep."
"Sure you were." Chloe wags her eyebrows at me, and I pull her off the stool and onto my lap.
"Keep pushing. I'm getting ideas."
A delightful pink creeps over her cheeks, and then Chloe reaches for her beer, content to stay seated on my lap, apparently.
"Well, before… that . I do have a question."
I chuckle. "What?"
"You have that giant movie room, so…what movies do you have?"
I consider what the thing is set up for and if I have any popcorn in the house. "Well, all the standard streaming shit. And I can always buy one. So the sky's the limit."
She smiles. "I'm going to keep that in mind."
"Why? Something in particular you're looking for?" I take a drink, setting it down to wrap my arms around her waist.
"Maybe."
Chloe smiles like she has a secret, and it's too fucking cute. There's no reason for her to be so damn adorable.
"All right, then." I adjust Chloe on my lap, and she brushes against my growing erection. "Was the movie a recent release, or…?"
She moans lightly, wrapping her arms around my neck. As we stare at each other, I love the way Chloe bites her lip as she's thinking.
"No." She squints at me, still toying with that full bottom lip of hers. "I don't think it is."
"Good."
I don't wait for any more preamble. I slide my hand to the back of Chloe's neck and pull her in for a kiss.
I can't get enough of the way she tastes, the way she feels against me. Every time I'm close to her, it's like I become more and more addicted.
And fuck if she's not the best drug around.
Chloe nibbles playfully on my lip as she tunnels her fingers through my hair at the nape. I work to stand up, holding her to me as she squeezes her legs around my hips.
Carrying her to my bedroom, her core rubs across me with each step, and I am aching to be inside her.
The kisses never stop as I get Chloe to my bed, setting her down on the silky sheets. I find the hem of her pants as I continue to explore her mouth, pulling down the leggings she wore here.
My lips trail across her neck and chest as I get her legs free, and then it's time to get rid of that damn shirt. It's up and over her head in a blink, and I am so glad she didn't wear a bra.
Naked and aroused is definitely the best look on Chloe, and she sits up to undo my pants as I admire her. I pull my shirt over my head as her slim fingers yank my briefs down.
I'm hard as a goddamn rock, precum gathering at the head, and Chloe is quick to dart her tongue out, licking away the drops, and sliding me into her mouth.
I groan at the feel of her tongue rubbing across the underside of my shaft. Chloe sits on the edge of the bed as she sucks me, and I reach for her breast to pinch her stiff nipple.
She hisses slightly, gripping my hips as the pain mixes with pleasure.
"Oh, fuck, Chloe." She bobs her head up and down, letting me bottom out down her throat. "My good girl."
I set up a quick rhythm, sliding in and out, fucking her mouth. Chloe takes it all, and I'm already rushing toward an orgasm.
But I'm nowhere near done with her, so I pull back, moving Chloe up onto the bed. She crawls onto all fours, looking back over her shoulder at me.
"Please, Dom."
I love where her mind goes, but I can't resist the urge to tease her just a bit more. I lower down to one knee, running my hand up her thigh as I stroke myself with the other.
As I reach her slick pussy, I toy with her clit, rubbing the small bud with my thumb. She moans, her head going down to the bed as she grips the sheets.
It's not nearly enough for me, though, and I lean in, adding my tongue to further torment her.
"Dom!"
Sucking and flicking at her clit, I devour her, starved for her taste even though it's only been a few hours.
She quivers against me as I enjoy every inch of her pussy, gripping myself hard as I pump into my fist.
When her breathing is ragged, and she can't stay still against the onslaught, I know Chloe is close.
Standing up, I run my hand down her back, lining myself up with her entrance.
"Say it. Tell me what you want."
Her heavy-lidded eyes look back at me as my tip is poised against her flesh.
"Please, Dom. I want you to fuck me."
With that, I thrust myself inside, right up to the hilt, and Chloe cries out. I set up a punishing pace, pistoning my hips into her roughly.
Chloe moans and bounces against me as the bed withstands my thrusts. She's warm, wet, and tight around my cock, and I reach around her hip for her clit, stroking mercilessly.
"Holy shit." She mewls as the sensations take her. "Oh, Dom."
"Take it, baby."
Pushing up onto her hands, Chloe arches, and I reach for her hair, wrapping it around my fist. I hold tight as I rock my hips forward, rolling them to circle inside her.
This is everything. Feeling Chloe clench around me, knowing that I'm taking her pleasure to such heights, is intoxicating.
Tension builds in my body, and I'm so ready to come. Chloe's curvy ass smacks against my hips as I drill into her, and there is nothing and no one better than what we have here.
Her pussy flutters around me, her cries reaching epic proportions. The release blasts through her as I fuck hard, and as it does, I follow quickly behind.
The climax soars through me, and I come in a torrent of energy that forces me to squeeze my eyes shut as I growl long and low. I fill Chloe up completely, emptying myself and then some as her wet pussy clamps down on my dick.
The frenzy of the moment backs off, and eventually, we're able to get cleaned up and crawl into my bed.
As I hold Chloe against my side, tucked under my arm, I think again about how there is nothing I wouldn't do to keep her safe.
A familiar pang of worry stabs into my chest. I don't let myself get attached. The world is too messed up and broken.
And yet, here I am. I want to believe this is just an infatuation, a fun detour in my otherwise monotonous life.
But I can't.
Whatever this is, I know that there's no way in hell I'm going to stop now.