Chapter 40

DOMINIC’S POV

I was never a good boy as people call it. With the amount of money I had, it was easy to get under any woman’s skirt and after that, I always walked away. No emotions. No strings attached. Some come begging for attention, others chase clouts online but I never gave two fucks. But at this moment, I guess I understood what they felt.

I didn’t want to take my lips off Ivy’s. My entire body danced to the tune of the chemistry we shared. For the first time ever, I felt vulnerable being with a woman. I didn’t have to be sucked on, take enhancer pills or be stroked for my penis to get erected. I felt it kick under my pants, causing me to jerk in embarrassment.

She pulled off me, smacking my face so hard it stung my chin.

“How dare you!” she hissed.

I knew that tone. It was sharp yet toothless and non-venomous. It only meant one thing: she wanted it too. Could she possibly be in love with me as well? My goodness! What if she noticed my penis jerk? My brows shot up as I instinctively pulled back, holding my hand over my burning cheek.

“Get your head straight Dominic! How could you think of such a thing! You are meant to be a gentle man and apologise to her!” I yelled at myself inaudibly from my head. My jaw parted, but I found it difficult to form the words of apology correctly. Heat began to rise under my skin.

“I…I am sorry, Ivy” I managed to say. “I didn’t mean to…I…I don’t know what…I mean, I… shouldn’t have done that. I’m sorry,” I stuttered, maintaining eye contact with her.

I felt she was going to brush it off with a smile and an ‘It’s Okay’ but, her face twisted into a scowl

“I was only going to hug you in appreciation for your kind gestures and not kiss you,” She wiped her lips with the back of her palm. “Is this really what you want? Huh? I thought you were looking out for me?” She yelped. “You know what?” My eyes followed her as she turned to her side and yanked her phone off the charging cord. “Here! This is your gift. You can have it back and leave me alone.”

I felt crippled. I didn’t know what to say or do. I only gestured, trying to mumble words into a sentence. Finally, it came through.

“I promise, I wasn't trying to take advantage of you over some gift. Please… believe me! It was a mistake. It's just that I think I'm in….” I felt my tongue roll back behind my throat.

“Do not say it, Dominic!” A voice in my head clanged. “Zip it!” The warning continued. “You will only ruin the friendship and trust she has in you. I bet you can't stand that,” it whispered like the wind, gliding through my ear.

“Come on! Say it! What do you think? You think I'm a dullard with no brains right? Someone you could easily take advantage of?” Her eyes widened with every syllable she hit.

My shoulders collapsed. I wanted to punch myself in the face for being an ass.

“Look!” She pointed to her belly. “You are supposed to be helping me find who I was. My baby needs its father,” Her eyes slowly became moist.

“No No No, Please don’t cry,” I moved closer thought with caution not to get another smack to the face from her spiking pregnancy hormone. “From the depth of my heart Ivy, I apologize. I care about you and believe me I’d give anything to make sure you find family and maybe your baby’s father.” I said, lighting her face with a glimmer of hope.

My throat felt parched from that lie I just told. Well, I wasn’t lying when I said I would do anything for her but definitely not to let her go. I guided her chin back up, meeting her gaze. God damn it! I fell in love again.

“Do you know you look so pretty even when you cry?” I popped the question out of nowhere, forcing a soft smile on her face. “There you go. Now that’s better. You look divine,” My gaze lingered on her a little longer before I broke the stare.

“Now we are on the same page, I have to get going.” I noticed the shift in her expression. “Hey! You’ve got a cellphone now, right? So, you literally have me around you always. You can speak to me whenever you want. Text me whenever you need anything and I got personal security out that door to always look out for you. So, you’re safe.”

“Security? Safe? Am I in any kind of danger? I’ve been here all by myself for the past weeks and…”

“Shuush!” I laid my index finger over her lip. “You worry so much!” I whispered. “You are safe, okay?” She pouted, nodding softly in response. “Perfect. Now with that being said, I’d see you by the weekend and take you somewhere less hospital.” We both chuckled at my joke before I left the room, shutting the door behind me.

I stood outside her room, just beside the window; a corner she wouldn’t spot me from, stealing glances at her. The manner at which she giggled over her phone, rubbing her belly. How stupid can love be? Finding attraction in the weirdest places.

I wouldn’t know if it was selfish of me, but I secretly prayed her memory of the past was never going to return. That was how much I was into Ivy. I could hear the voices of my friends at the back of my mind playfully mocking my decision to take in a random pregnant girl as my life partner.

What if tomorrow she finds her way back to her family or husband? Those were possibilities I couldn’t negate but I was willing to take the risk just to see her smile.

“Hey Boss?” Armani, my personal head of security, broke through my thoughts.

“Yeah Armani. Where are the rest of the boys?” I straightened my face.

“They are checking out the perimeter boss. Familiarizing themselves with the structure.”

I nodded. “That’s fine. Please ensure those bastards do not come an inch near her. Have I made myself clear?”

“Yes sir,” He responded.

The drive back home was a long, wet one. The soft hum of my car and the splatter of rain drops on my windscreen gave me the perfect scenario I needed to think. My mind spiralled around the kiss. The slap. “Hm!” I scoffed, instinctively rubbing the spot she hit me with a smile. In no time, I pulled into my apartment.

The cold droplets of the rain sent chills through me the moment I stepped out of the car. I hurried towards the entrance, pushing the door open; the warmth of the room welcomed me. I had just taken a few steps into the room when I spotted Jessica, leaning on the handrail.

“Hey Dom,” she purred in a sweet manner, far too sweet for the Jessica I was used to.

I didn’t respond. Not because I wanted to ignore her, but my eyes were glued on her night wear. She slowly untied the knot in front allowing the kimono drape off her shoulder, revealing her see-through dress. Her nips pointed in my face like a shotgun, her entire boobs bouncing loosely under her dress as she stepped down from the stairs.

My brows furrowed. Jessica never dressed like this unless she had an agenda. And she was never this soft in tone. Not with me. “What’s going on?” I asked, my voice flat.

“Nothing,” she cooed, “I just… missed you.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Missed me?” I scoffed, slipping my hands back into my pockets and started to walk past her. “Good for you.” I rolled my eyes, raking my hair.

“Dominic, wait! Please.” She grabbed my arm, halting me in my tracks.

She stood so close, brushing her nipples past my arm as she came into my view.

“I understand and you have every right to be mad at me, but this is me, saying I'm sorry,”

“Huh?” I exclaimed.