Page 11 of The Accidental Pleasure Dom

When I don’t reply, he says, “That’s what I thought. Now, enough about me. Have you heard anything about how the fire was started?”

I look at Mario, then back to Nick, “We think it was deliberate. The Fire Marshall deemed it an accident. Do you remember anything that might have seemed suspicious?”

“No, I was meeting my contact, but he never showed up. I figured he was running late, and when he saw the fire, he took off to avoid the police.”

“That makes sense. Do you think you can contact him and ask if he saw anything out of the ordinary?”

He shrugs, glancing toward the window, “I can try. I don’t know if he will cooperate.”

I follow his gaze and see extra pillows and blankets on the couch.

“The burn unit was on lockdown. None of the staff could leave. A couple of want-to-be doctors were bothering her, so I took care of it.” We turn to look at each other. “She stayed in here with me where she was safe.” He raises his chin, challenging me to argue with him.

“I see.” Just then, my phone vibrates. I pull my phone out of my pocket, “I need to take this. I’ll step out of the room, and you and Mario can work out a plan on how to get in touch with your contact.”

In my haste to leave Nick’s room to answer the call, I bump into a soft bundle of curves, “Sorry, miss. I didn’t mean….” The words get stuck in my throat, and my phone call is forgotten as I stare down into light, crystal-blue eyes—eyes I was sure I would never see again. Her white-blonde hair might be covered with a scrub cap and a surgical mask might cover the bottom half of her face, but those eyes, I would know those eyes anywhere.

At her gasp of surprise, I know she recognized me, too.

With one hand, I pull down her mask as my other hand releases her hair from the cap, and her glorious blonde hair falls down her back in waves. “Bella.”

“Dom.” Hurt fills her eyes, and she turns her head away. “We don't even know each other’s real names.” Wrapping one arm around her waist, I pull her close, taking her chin in my hand and turning her head so I can look into her eyes. “It’s Dominic, but my friends call me Dom.” I rub my thumb along her lower lip, “What about you, little one? What is your real name?”

Her tongue darts out to lick my thumb. I wonder if she is remembering our night together when she licked her juices off my fingers. My cock certainly does, standing at attention, pressing at the zipper of my pants, trying to get closer to her.

“Belle, is this man bothering you?” The red-headed nurse from earlier asks from her perch at the nurses’ station.

She jumps, pulling her mouth away from my thumb, “No, Kelly, it’s fine.”

The nurse, Kelly, raises her eyebrow and stares at us, crossing her arms across her body, “Are you sure?”

“Yes, it’s fine.” She huffs, trying to tug her arm out of my grasp. Not happening. I’m not going to lose her again.

“Ok, I’ll be right here if you need me.” She turns back to her computer.

I quirk my eyebrow, never taking my gaze off Bella, “Your name is Belle? Like a bell pepper?”

Her face flushes a pretty shade of pink, and I now know for certain she is remembering our night together.

“Not here.” Grabbing my hand just like the first night we were together, she leads me to an empty storage room.

Once inside, she closes the door, “What are you doing here, Dom?” Her breath coming out in soft little pants.

“I’m here for my brother Nick.” Bringing her hand to my lips, I gently kiss it, “And now for you, Belle.”

I brush a blonde lock of hair behind her ear with my other hand. I can’t believe she has been here the whole time. Taking care of my brother while I have been combing the streets for information on her and the fire.

“I missed you, Belle.” I lean down to kiss her cheek, but she jerks in my grasp.

“Oh, my God, you’re Nick Rossi’s brother, Dominic Rossi, the mob boss.” She moves away from me, pressing her body to the wall, as her eyes dart around the room.

I hate that she pulled away from me. “I am still your Dom, little one.” I take a step closer to her.

“Stay back! I can’t do this, Dom. You’re a mob boss. You kill people, and I’m a nurse; I save people.” She grabs a broom from the corner, shaking it at me. “I gave you my virginity.” She whispers, shifting her eyes away from me.

I lurch for her, securing her arms above her head, the broom crashing to the floor between us.

“Jesus, is that what you think of me, that I go around killing people?” She winces and looks up at her wrists. I loosen my grip. I don’t add that sometimes I do have to kill people, but I don’t enjoy it. It’s part of my life. A life I’m trying to change.

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