Indominable Love

"When a devil falls in love, it's the most hauntingly beautiful thing ever. And you should be terrified, for he will go to the depths of hell for her." --Author Unknown

The noonday sun rose high when Dominic and Aili stirred on Sunday. Both wanted to remain entangled, but their bodies’ needs forced them apart. Aili slid back into her royal blue dress from the date and searched for the bathroom to relieve herself. After she was done, she washed her hands while staring at her reflection in the mirror. Her hair had been mussed all to hell. Rows of hickeys appeared all over her exposed skin as a reminder of how thorough Dominic Larken, the richest and perhaps the most dangerous man in the city, had been in claiming her. It started at the club she later found out he owned. She worked as a waitress at the Gilded Velvet Gentlemen's Club. A means to an end for extra cash to help with her mother's ridiculous six figure doctor's bills, not for the attention of drooling wealthy men.

However, Aili drew attention anyway, from Dominic and from some grabby Russian buttholes who thought they could simply take what they wanted. Heath, her brother intervened with the Russians to put them in their place to her shock and his, but as far as Dominic was concerned, she handled that one on her own. She made clear that to him was not interested in being a maid or a slave to be ordered around without a choice in the matter. She walked away, scared but angry at the audacity of the man. Surprisingly, she had not ended up dead in a ditch somewhere, but Dominic had apologized. He sent her flowers to make amends. They talked.

Over time Dominic had extended generosity toward Aili and her family. A job for Heath where he could make real money and not scraps. Proper healthcare for her mother who solely needed it and a chance to fight the cancer that wanted to sift her life. And Aili in working one job (she quit the club because the drama was too much) and actually resting more than a few hours between jobs. All of the Kennisons could breathe again because the doctor and county hospital bills were paid in full without strings attached. Her mother responded to the new treatment tailored for her at a private hospital, waitlist be damned. It was all possible because of Dominic.

A smile lingered on her lips. She hadn’t minded being owned in such a fashion although it had been a while since she had been on a proper date. Mom's condition worsened over the last year and a half so dating was a moot issue in grand scheme. However, she found that after another engaging conversation with Dominic that they had more in common than she thought. She also comprehended that maybe she was more attracted to him than she was initially because of the controlling domineering thing. However, once he backed off, and she could see there was more beneath, more than Dominic may have ever shown anyone, that Aili realized that was the man she wanted to get to know better, to understand at his core. She did, and it scared her a little how drawn she was to that man so solitary and brooding who took care of everyone and didn't sleep.

Aili bit her lip as she blushed at the thoughts running through her head about how Dominic and she came together last night not because he demanded it, but because she wanted him, too. Not that she would ever admit how totally satisfied she was with Dominic's exhaustive efforts to convince her of the extent of his desires, the extent he would go to show he cared about her. Their conversations from the time they met until last night had been deep and exposing truths they did not shy away from.

Unlike when they first met, Aili saw the surface of a man who was intense and used to getting what he wanted. Aili also saw a man willing to try to be what she needed, one who listened, and one who fought against his nature to give her a choice. Dominic hid well his caring heart he swore was cold. It had only blazed for her by her view during their date and the night they spent together.

"Aili."

Dominic walked by, barefoot and shirtless, gathering a new toothbrush and tube of toothpaste for her from a linen cabinet of supplies. He watched Aili run her hands through her light brown hair in an attempt to order the limp waves. His expression was almost vulnerable, for he could see she was preparing to leave, and selfishly, it was the last thing he wanted. Not after the weeks it took him to get so far.

She nodded at him from the mirror. "Dominic."

“Good afternoon.”

Dominic had been leaning against the bathroom doorframe as he stretched and cracked his neck from one side to the other. His dark hair was mussed from sleep, too, but he wore it better in the bright bathroom light. His tanned skin was exposed with the lengthy flex of corded muscles over his tattooed arms and chest when he reached above him and ducked his head briefly, as was common because of his advanced height.

Dominic was divine wearing only black lounging pants clinging on his narrow hips. Not an ounce of fat could Aili find as she admired his muscular back, buff torso, and ripped arms. No matter where her eyes trailed, and they trailed everywhere, there was no part of him displeasing to her hazel eyes. She sighed while licking her lips that felt dry, swearing his body might have been used for the ideal one every hot-blooded male strove to achieve, which would slip into her social media feed sometimes. Aili licked her lips again. The only softness about the man she discovered in daylight hadn’t been there before, yet permeated his arresting arctic blue eyes.

“Good afternoon,” she replied as she inhaled a shuddering breath.

He held out the toothbrush and toothpaste, a small smile playing at his full lips as he stood behind her. “You slept hard. Didn’t move for hours.”

“Gee, I wonder why that would be.” Aili turned to him and took the offerings with a crooked smile. “Thanks.”

Dominic smirked as he saw her turn her back to set the items with the towel and washcloth on the counter beside the sink. “How do you feel?” he asked with the tilt of his head at her face through the mirror. His hand found the small of her back, a touch that became natural from their night together, possessive, yet gentle. He studied her reflection as if he were trying to memorize every detail.

“How do I feel?” Aili seemed to question herself more than simply repeating what he asked.

“No regrets?” Dominic wondered as he continued to review her face for any telltale sign that she might have had misgivings on her decision to stay last night once the light of day was upon them.

Aili stared at him through the looking glass for a beat, and then turned as she traced the tattoos she had learned well in the night along his arms and chest. Her hazel eyes held a heat he could reciprocate. “I don’t think I could ever regret anything about last night, Dom.”

Dominic’s breath caught at the shortened nickname she used for him as her fingers traced the ink on his chest—a serpent coiling around his ribs, symbols of power and control etched into his skin. Under her touch, he became almost reverent.

“Good.” His calloused hand came up to cup her face. His thumb brushed her cheekbone. “Because I meant every word last night. Every touch. Every promise, Aili.”

He pulled her closer, lifting her off her feet and settling her on the marble sink as he leaned down with his arms on both sides of her hips. “You’re mine now. Not because I’m taking you. Because you chose me.” His voice dropped lower, rougher. “And I don’t let go of what’s mine.”

Dominic kissed her softly, a stark contrast to the intensity of the night before. The stroke of his lips was tender, almost uncertain. It was like he still learned how to be gentle. “Brush your teeth, woman. I’m making breakfast.”

Aili smiled as she held her hand in front of her mouth, breathed, and took a whiff. “Ugh, afternoon breath, right, but brunch sounds nice.”

Dominic’s smile widened—genuine and unguarded with his chuckle at her bashful gesture. “Brunch. Right.”

“And by making breakfast, you mean ordering it, huh?”

He stepped back, giving her space to use the bathroom. His hand lingered on her waist for a second longer before he released her altogether and moved back toward the threshold. “Sure thing. I’ll order from a brunch place downtown called Mimosas. What do you want?”

Dominic glanced back over his shoulder with some of his long, dark brown hair with gold highlights hanging in his face. He raised an eyebrow at her as he paused, awaiting her answer. There was something different about him that early Sunday afternoon—less the ruthless mafia boss, more just a man trying to figure out how to tend to someone he cared about.

“Eggs? Pancakes? Both?”

Aili hopped down from the sink, walked over to him, and beckoned him with her index finger down to her five-foot-four-inch height. Dominic lowered to her with a smile curling the corner of his mouth. She cupped his bearded face while rising on her tiptoes and kissed his full lips like she was hungry for them instead of the breakfast items he mentioned.

“What I want is more of that, please and thank you, with a side of pancakes and a sausage, a cheese omelet with peppers and onions.”

Dominic pulled back from the kiss, his arctic-blue eyes heated. He was already reaching for her again, but caught himself—barely. “More of that later.” His voice was rough, promising. “Right now, you need food. You’re going to need your strength.”

He turned away before he lost control completely, running a hand through his hair as he moved to the kitchen for his phone. His hands weren’t entirely steady as he called up the restaurant website. “Sausage, peppers, onions, and cheese omelet. Got it. Western omelet for me. Two orders of pancakes and two signature mimosas, which the place is known for.” Dominic ordered the food and then made coffee while Aili took a shower. He could hear the water going. He had already taken one and dealt with several issues that morning while she slept. Dominic reviewed one of four reports that came in when she joined him with wet hair, wearing her blue dress and heels. He put the burner phone face down and smiled as he watched her approach.

“Coffee?”

“Smells good.” She nodded as he poured her a cup.

“How do you take it?”

“Black.”

She took the offered cup and sipped. “Mmm, strong but not acidic. Good balance with a pleasant floral but nutty flavor.”

“You know your coffee.” He smiled over his.

Aili chuckled. “I should. It’s what I do for a living.”

“Twenty minutes and food should be here. They’re fast.” He gestured toward the living room with his mug. “Come sit with me? I want to talk about something.”