Page 19 of Inspiring Dominic

I nodded, feeling a little bad now that I’d gotten to know Dom, but not bad enough to regret writing the articles that brought him into my life in the first place. After a few more minutes, we were escorted out the room and Dom was given back his gun.

“That was unexpected,” Dom said as we headed back down the stairs, noticing that Gaby and Tomás were now making out at the table.

“Unexpected? Yes.” I glanced at him once we reached the main floor. “Exciting? Definitely.”

Dom’s eyes dropped to my lips like they often did before he asked, “Are you really okay with everything that happened up there?”

“As long as you trust Jackie D, I’m good with dropping this. I just hope the company that hired me for the story accepts the piece I’ll write about you and your family.”

“I trust him,” Dom reiterated. “Before I became Chief Security Officer for Prescott Holdings, I booked some pretty high-level security jobs outside of the company. My pops and mom hadn’t known, but Granddad had been aware of it. The jobs I booked with Jackie D were the most intense, but made me more well-rounded and alert as a result. With him, trust had to be earned, and even being from different worlds, we found common ground on the job.”

“I think hands-on experience is the best kind you can have.” I gently touched his arm. “Teaches us things about ourselves and how to handle situations that we never would have learned if not presented with certain opportunities.”

He nodded. “I agree, but when I asked if you were okay with everything, I was referring to the sex room.”

“I know you were,” I admitted, worrying my bottom lip. “I didn’t want to answer because I didn’t want you to think differently of me.”

His eyes grew serious. “I wouldn’t. I’m not that kind of person.”

“I know you aren’t.” My thumb began rubbing circles on his arm. “In answer to your question, yes, I’m fine. In fact, I rather enjoyed having sex with you … in front of an audience.”

His eyes darkened and he smirked in a way I hadn’t seen from him yet. It was just as sexy, but dripped in unspoken promises. “You inspire me to do shit I never thought I’d do.” He pulled me to him and gripped my ass. “And as erotic as that was, I can’t wait for you to see how I fuck you in private.”

I quivered and damn near melted onto the floor.Yes, please!

* * *

“Nothing worksthe same in your upper thirties like it used to,” I groaned, my calves burning from the hike.

“Quit complaining,” Dom yelled back. “A couple days ago, you had us eating so many different foods, my stomach didn’t know what the hell to think.”

“You said you were open to trying new foods,” I reminded.

“Nah, that’s not how that conversation went.” He walked up a few stone steps and reached down to help pull me up as we neared the top of a cliff. “You asked me what’s my favorite food and you didn’t like my answers.”

“That’s because everything sounded basic. You’ve been to so many countries, yet your favorite food is steak and potatoes. There’s nothing exotic about that.”

“Because I like what I like,” he said. “I’m a simple man. I want to be able to pronounce what the hell I put into my body and I’m picky about my food. The only thing I liked at that food event was the skirt steak, Spanish rice, and plantains.”

I rolled my eyes. “Do you know how rare it is that people here cook food from other countries? Tomás’ cousin is a chef and is opening up a restaurant with foods around the world, and we were lucky enough to get invited to a tasting.”

“You asked her if we could join Tomás and Gaby.”

I shrugged. “And we were lucky to be a part of it. All those choices, yet the only food you really liked was Cuban food. What about the Bahamian food?”

Dom stopped hiking and looked back at me. “Did you forget that Bahamian food included sheep’s tongue? Yo, I can still feel the rubbery texture in my mouth now.” He shivered. “And don’t even get me started on the fried tarantulas from Cambodia. I may have nightmares about that one.”

“Me too,” I admitted. “But his cousin said she was experimenting.”

“Watch your step,” Dom warned as we ascended a few slippery steps. “I meant to ask you, how many cousins does Tomás have? I’ve met so many since we got here. His aunties must have been getting busy back in the day.”

I laughed. “Gaby teases him that he’s related to almost everyone in the country. Truthfully, I’m not sure if they are actual cousins or just friends, but it doesn’t matter. He’s the kind of guy who befriends everyone he meets. I’m so excited that we were here for the proposal.”

Gaby and I figured there was a reason Tomás’ cousin opened her restaurant for us early, so we made sure she looked extra cute. The proposal was beautiful and intimate. I’d never seen Gaby look happier.

“They are good together,” Dom acknowledged. “And I guess I have to thank Tomás yet again for another glowing recommendation because this view is something else.”

He helped me up the last step, the beautiful rainforest causing my breath to catch. Dom motioned for us to sit on a couple rocks far enough from the edge of the cliff, but close enough for us to get a more unobstructed view.

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