Chapter 41 Forty One
By early afternoon, the sun was warm and bright through the mansion’s tall windows. Izzy had changed into a simple sundress… light blue, soft fabric that moved easily with her steps. She didn’t know where Dominic was taking her; all he had said was, “Wear something simple. Comfortable.”
So she did.
He was waiting for her by the door, dressed in a black shirt and dark jeans, casual but still neat, the kind of effortless charm only Dominic could pull off. When she appeared, he gave her a soft , glance… one that lingered just long enough to make her blush.
“You look beautiful,” he said, his voice calm but his eyes saying more.
“Thanks,” Izzy replied, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “You’re not going to tell me where we’re going?”
“No,” he said simply, picking up his car keys. “You’ll see when we get there.”
The drive out of the city was quiet, with soft music playing in the background.
The air between them was calm but charged, the kind of silence that didn’t need to be filled. Dominic drove with one hand on the steering wheel, the other resting casually near the gear shift, his gaze focused ahead.
Izzy occasionally looked out the window, watching the scenery change from city buildings to quiet streets lined with trees and small shops. After a while, they passed the outskirts of town, heading toward a quieter area.
“Are we going somewhere fancy?” she asked after a long silence.
He smirked slightly, eyes still on the road. “Not really. But it’s something I thought you might like.”
She looked at him curiously. “You don’t strike me as the type who plans surprises.”
“You’re about to be shocked pumpkin. I’m full of surprises,” he said, his tone low and playful.
She smiled to herself, shaking her head. “We’ll see about that.”
They drove for another twenty minutes before Dominic turned onto a quiet street. At the end of it stood an old-style cinema… classic architecture, red brick walls, a wide marquee above the entrance. The lights were off, and the front doors were closed.
Izzy frowned a little. “Wait… are they even open?”
Dominic parked the car and turned to her, a small, knowing smile on his lips. “They are. For us.”
She blinked. “What?”
“I rented it out,” he said casually, like it was nothing unusual. “Thought we could use the privacy.”
Her eyes widened slightly. “You rented… the whole cinema?”
He gave a small shrug. “I don’t like crowds.”
Izzy laughed softly, shaking her head. “That’s the most Dominic thing you could’ve said.”
“ I want to spend this moment alone. With you.”
Her cheek flushed.
He got out and came around to open her door, offering his hand. She hesitated for just a second before taking it, feeling the warmth of his fingers wrap around hers.
Inside, the cinema was dimly lit, quiet, and cool. The scent of popcorn lingered faintly in the air. A single worker at the counter smiled politely and handed Dominic two cups of soda before disappearing again, leaving them completely alone.
Izzy looked around the empty hall, amazed. “This is insane,” she said softly. “You actually rented it just for us?”
“Of course,” Dominic said, handing her a drink. “You said you hadn’t been to the movies in years. I thought I’d make it easy.”
She looked up at him, her expression softening. “You remembered that?”
He gave a small smirk. “I remember more than you think.”
They walked into the main theater… rows of soft recliner seats, the screen stretching wide and silver at the front. Izzy’s footsteps echoed slightly as they found their seats right in the center.
“What are we watching?” she asked, setting down her drink.
“You’ll see,” he said, pressing a small remote on the armrest. The lights dimmed, and the opening credits began to roll.
It was a romantic comedy… light, funny, the kind of movie Izzy wouldn’t have expected Dominic to pick. She turned to him with a smile. “You? Watching a rom-com?”
He smirked faintly, not looking away from the screen. “Don’t make a big deal out of it.”
“I didn’t think you liked this kind of thing.”
“I don’t,” he said. Then, after a pause, added, “But you do.”
Her heart fluttered a little. She didn’t say anything else, just smiled and leaned back in her seat.
As the movie played, the empty theater felt almost unreal… quiet except for their occasional laughter and the sound of the film. At one point, when the lead characters shared a soft kiss on-screen, Izzy felt Dominic’s hand brush against hers. She glanced sideways, and he met her eyes briefly before letting his fingers rest over hers.
It wasn’t bold or demanding… just gentle, natural.
She didn’t pull away.
Halfway through the movie, she turned her head slightly toward him. His face was relaxed, the flickering light from the screen highlighting the strong lines of his jaw. For a man who always seemed composed and unreadable, he looked… peaceful.
The film ended with soft music playing over the credits. Neither of them moved right away.
Izzy finally turned to him and said quietly, “That was… actually nice.”
Dominic looked at her, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Told you I had good taste.”
“You rented a whole cinema for this,” she said, laughing lightly. “You’re ridiculous.”
“Maybe,” he said, standing and offering her his hand again. “But you’re smiling, so it worked.”
She hesitated, then took his hand and stood. “I guess it did.”
Dominic stood at the entrance, his hand still on the iron lock. Slowly, deliberately, he slid the bolt into place. The sound echoed in the chamber like a verdict.
Her chest tightened. “What are you doing?”
He didn’t answer. He just turned, walking toward her with the calm stride of a predator.
“Dominic,” she warned, clutching the papers against her chest like a shield. “This is not the place.”
His lips curved, dangerous and slow. “Every place is the place, if I decide it is.”
Her heart hammered. She stepped back until the stone table pressed against her hips. Nowhere left to go.
“You can’t just….”
He silenced her with his mouth. His kiss was rough, demanding, claiming. as his grip caught her waist and pulled her body against him.
She gasped into his mouth, the sound swallowed by his hunger. His hand tangled in her hair, tilting her head back, deepening the kiss until her knees trembled.