Page 23 of Defying Love

He was indeed the same man from all the articles but that was only out of duty to his family name. If he wasn’t a Gambino, Dominic’s life would be completely different.

“Excuse me,” a stern but concerned voice sliced through the noise, its familiar timbre pulling me back to reality. It was Willow, her presence like a lighthouse in the stormy club.

“Willow? What’s wrong?” I asked, my heart hitching in my chest. Something in her gaze held weight, a gravity that commanded attention.

“You’re needed upstairs,” she said, her words concise, her lips pressed into a line that spoke volumes of unspoken urgency.

“Upstairs?” I echoed, my surprise splintering my pretense of calm. The upper levels were Dominic’s domain, a place where pleasure and power entwined in shadows. Why would he summon me there? Especially if he didn’t want people to know about us.

“Get going,” Willow urged, her hand giving a gentle push against my shoulder. Her eyes softened for a moment, the nurturing protector surfacing amid her firm resolve. “Just… be careful.”

My pulse thrummed in my ears, louder than the music, as I made my way to the staircase that spiraled upward, shrouded in mystery and anticipation. With each step, the noise of the club dimmed, replaced by the heavy beating of my own heart, racing with curiosity and a hint of trepidation for what awaited in Dominic’s lair.

The staircase ended abruptly at a heavy ornate door, the final sentinel to Dominic Gambino’s inner sanctum. My hand hovered over the brass handle, slick with the sweat of trepidation. I took a steadying breath and pushed it open.

“I thought you didn’t want to make this obvious?”

“Close the door.”

The office exuded power; dark woods and leathers blended with the smoky tendrils of cigar smoke wafting through the air. Bottles of expensive whiskey glinted on a sideboard, their contents untouched but promising a burn.

Dominic stood by his desk, an imposing silhouette against the backdrop of tinted windows that reflected back our images in faint ghostly echoes. His gaze latched on to me, dark and intense, pulling me into the vortex of his presence. There was no escape—not that I truly wanted one.

“Alexa,” he murmured, and my name on his lips felt like both a caress and a brand.

“Dom…inic,” I responded, my own voice a whisper lost amid the shadows that danced upon the walls.

He crossed the room in three strides, the predator closing in. I could feel the heat radiating from his body as he reached out, his fingers brushing against mine before gripping my wrist with an irresistible force. He pulled, and I stumbled forward, barely catching myself against his broad chest. His heartbeat was fierce.

My breath hitched, anticipation coiling. This was Dominic—raw and unyielding, a storm that I had willingly stepped into. Our eyes met again, and the world outside this room, outside these very seconds, disintegrated into nothingness.

“Are you ready for me?” he asked, the edges of his words soft yet laced with an undeniable threat. It wasn’t really a question—it was permission, a choice he was giving me, knowing full well the answer that thrummed in my veins. After last night, I would never get enough of his touch, his lips…

“Always,” I managed, my voice steady despite the chaos he wrought within me.

That was all he needed.

In an instant, his mouth claimed mine, devouring any semblance of hesitation. His kiss was an onslaught, a siege that broke down every defense I had ever built. Our bodies collided against the cool glass of the window, and if not for the tint, everyone would be able to see us.

I clung to him, nails scraping over the fabric of his suit as if trying to anchor myself in the tempest of desire. Dominic’s hands roamed with a possessive intent, mapping the terrain of my body with a touch that ignited fires wherever it landed.

“I don’t know if I like you out there, but I’ll keep my promise. Maybe try to make your wardrobe less fuckable, though.”

His words seeped into my mind. Less fuckable? He had obviously been watching me from up here all night. It gave me goosebumps. This man was obsessed with me.

“Tell me what you want,” he growled against my neck, his teeth grazing the tender skin, sending shivers down my spine. His hands roamed to the hem of my short dress and pulled it up and over my head without a second thought. “’Cause if it were up to me, I’d take you on my fucking desk right now.”

I smiled and removed his hands from my ass as I walked over to his desk, pushed everything off, and then sat on it, legs spread wide. “I want you to taste me first.”

He rubbed his hands together. “With fucking pleasure.”

He claimed the space between us in two strides, kneeling in front of me, his tongue doing wonders on my clit. My hands went straight to his hair, my head falling backward. “I’m never going to be able to say no.”

He lifted his chin. “Good to know, baby. Me either.”

He slipped two fingers inside me while his tongue circled my clit, giving me pleasure before himself. Not being touched in a long time made his job a walk in the park. The chemistry between us made everything better.

My thighs began to wobble. “Don’t you dare fucking come without your eyes on me. Watch me eat you…”

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