Riveted. Part 6

Liv ran cold water on her hand, rinsing away the blood and searching for a gla.s.s fragment, though she didn't believe she'd cut her hand on one of the crystal teardrops. Instead she thought she'd sc.r.a.ped it against one of the metal edges of the ladder steps.

Her entire life had flashed before her eyes as she'd fallen, the faces of the people who'd had the most impact on her sliding through her head. Her mother's kind features and her father's handsome profile. Her brother's smirk. The way Karen's eyes crinkled when she laughed. The dimples in Dominic's cheeks when he smiled.

If Albert and Howie hadn't caught her, she would've been dead. And who would've mourned her loss? Maybe Karen. What a sad commentary on her life. But her mother had been her best friend and they'd moved from pillar to post, just to survive. They'd never remained in one place long enough for Liv to form bonds with anyone. Just when she'd settled into one school they'd move again and she'd have to get used to another.

No regrets and no running, Liv.

Such a hard task. She better understood why her mom so desperately wished she'd had the ability to change certain things in her life. Maybe, instead of pretending she didn't wish for a steady childhood, Liv could commit to having a stable future. She'd already chosen her career, whereas before her mother's illness Liv hadn't had a clue on her future path.

She took the bar of expensive soap, the same kind she'd used when she'd soaked in her bath not long after Dominic dropped her off, and lathered her hands, wincing at the burn. This certainly didn't have anti-bacterial agents.

Such soap was too ordinary for a bathroom with cut-stone tile floors, gold tone accents, and an island in the middle of the floor. It had wood borders framing the doors and separating the walls from the ceiling and floor. The bathtub served as a divider between two vanities. Liv stood at the one that didn't have Dominic's toothbrush in the holder with a bottle of mouthwash and tube of half-empty toothpaste next to it.

She couldn't invade his personal s.p.a.ce, as much as he'd already invaded hers. Her heart fluttered at the thought of his lovemaking and she chewed on her lower lip, contemplating her next steps.

The hot soak had soothed Liv's aches and pains. Once she'd dried off and re-dressed herself in the clothes Felicia had delivered on the plane, she'd attempted to explore, wanting to find a computer. But his two guard dogs were on her heels and she hadn't been able to escape Howie or Albert. Resigned, she'd started back up the stairs when she'd heard Mrs. Dobbs directing the staff on what needed doing.

Liv hated idleness-one reason Blaine insisted she try out Tai Chi and Zen. He thought the activities would be a good way to channel her energy as her work for him wound down. Liv believed he'd wanted her more focused to get the hacking job completed quicker. As if his reasons mattered. Liv couldn't focus enough to engage in either Tai Chi or Zen while under house arrest, and had thought it a good idea to busy herself while she awaited Dominic's return.

She'd overheard Albert and Howie talking about the exact nature of Dominic and Felicia's relations.h.i.+p. It seemed as if they were a couple. Liv ignored how upset the thought made her. She'd offered Dominic p.u.s.s.y and he'd taken her up on her proposal. She hadn't even gotten the chance to bargain their s.e.x in exchange for her release. She'd hinted and he'd pounced.

The soft thud of a closing door alerted her to Dominic's presence. She hadn't closed the bathroom door, so she could hear anyone entering the master bedroom quite well.

She grabbed a hand towel from the stack in the wicker basket atop the island then patted the dampness away, satisfied to see the blood had stopped. She started toward the bedroom just as Dominic appeared in the bathroom doorway.

"Felicia isn't my girlfriend in the strictest sense of the word."

It shouldn't have shocked her to learn his two spies had caught on to what had so upset her, since they were paid to spot every minute detail of their surroundings and the people in contact with their boss. On the other hand, Dominic addressing it with her surprised her.

"I didn't know there was another definition when s.e.x is involved and the word relations.h.i.+p is bounced about." She scooted past him and headed for the wing chair on the other side of the room. The barley-twisted four-poster bed drew her attention and she pictured Dominic and Felicia on it, f.u.c.king. Quickly she glanced away, stumbling the last step to the chair.

Dominic's bedroom featured a blue and brown scheme with layered flooring and windows overlooking the marsh.

Her desire for Dominic caused all kinds of heat to a.s.sail her. She was convinced she could melt an ice cap if she would sit on one. Perhaps the air temp wasn't low enough or maybe her emotions were in overdrive and heated her body. It was cool in the house and Liv hoped the air from the overhead vent would help calm her.

Impossible with Dominic so near.

His eyes smoldered and Liv's body responded to his close proximity with shameless need. She couldn't seem to get enough of him. Despite her recent deflowering, she felt herself moistening.

He stood in the midst of the expensive furnis.h.i.+ngs, wearing his wealth like of badge of honor, his charisma and s.e.xuality as lethal as weapons.

"Your relations.h.i.+p with Felicia doesn't matter. I'm in your life for the time it takes Blaine to return your property. After that, I'm gone and you can get back to the woman who isn't your girlfriend in the strictest sense of the word."

What a perfect opening to make her confession. She wanted Dominic to hear her reasons for her actions in her words before Blaine put a twisted spin on the events and portrayed her in an even worse light than what her crimes would show her to be. She opened her mouth to speak the words then snapped it closed. Maybe she could get away without Dominic ever knowing. Why taint his opinion of her any more than it was?

"Olivia-"

"What does it matter?" she reiterated. If she confessed, Blaine might very well turn his back on her completely and it would be years before she got to college. "I don't know you so it doesn't matter. I'll be gone in three days."

He remained silent for a heartbeat. "Are you in love with your boyfriend?" he asked after a moment filled with mutual awareness and deep tension.

Perhaps the question would sound out of left field to most, but Olivia believed she understood why Dominic asked. He must be in love with Felicia but, like Olivia, had enjoyed their lovemaking. Love had little to do with the demands of the body. As much as she wanted to shout that, yes, she had someone she was in love with too, she couldn't.

"No. I like him. Or I did. But he deserted me too."

He paced in front of her. "The way we met...the way I took your virginity...there's no way for us to ever have a relations.h.i.+p under those circ.u.mstances."

More than how he'd taken her virginity stood between them. "Look, Dominic, I've been exposed to Blaine and the twisted workings of his mind for months. You don't have to explain why you did what you did. I already know. So please stop pretending you have a conscience. You and Blaine are cut from the same cloth."

He stared at her as if he'd never seen her before. "You honestly believe I'm like Blaine f.u.c.king Bradford?"

Her eyes widened at his appalled tone and then she burst out laughing. "You really believe you aren't?" she asked around her giggles.

He shoved his hands in his pockets. "Not in the least."

She shrugged. "I can't change your perception of yourself."

He crouched in front of her and she combed her fingers through his hair, straightening the strands determined to remain astray.

"Who are you?" she whispered.

"The scion of a wealthy family whose parents cheated on one another for as long as I remember."

Olivia stilled her fingers at the bitterness in his voice and the resentment in his eyes. She touched her forehead to his, kissing his nose. "Perhaps that's why you're so jaded?"

He pulled away and rose to his feet. "What would you know about that?"

"A lot." She sighed. "More than I should. My momma had me at twenty. We sorta grew up together," she reasoned aloud. She drew her eyebrows together. It didn't make a difference that Dominic had grown up wealthy. His environment sounded as unstable as hers had been, only in a different way. After all, money didn't make good parents. Morals did.

Thinking farther, she imagined herself as a mother. One look at Dominic and the useless offer she'd made him to obtain her freedom and she knew she'd already fallen short in the morals department. Her mother had, too, but that didn't mean Connie hadn't been a good parent. Olivia would be too. She'd teach her kids about love, trust and loyalty. She'd live in her own truths so they could live in theirs. She'd show them fairness and hoped they learned it in return.

He shoved a hand through his hair and Olivia decided to back off. She wasn't stupid enough to believe she'd ever see him again after he settled things with Blaine. Her life just didn't work that way and it mightn't ever.

"H-how long have you and Felicia been a couple?"

"We aren't a couple. We're just us. I've known her since college. When I gave her a job last year, I hadn't seen her in seven years."

"I think that's rather sweet. College sweethearts reunited and making a life together."

He grimaced. "If you say so. I'm returning you to Blaine as soon as possible. I'm waiting to hear from him and when I do, we're flying back."

And with that, Dominic turned on his heel and left her alone.

Dominic stood on his sunset porch, watching the dying rays of the day turn into evening's twilight. Night sounds echoed in the marsh beyond. The distant bellow of a gator. The splas.h.i.+ng of a crane, swooping in to catch a fish. The croak of bullfrogs. He'd been home all day, conducting business, waiting for Felicia's call that she'd heard from Bradford.

Instead of contacting her about purchasing additional clothes for Olivia, he'd called the stylist personally and described Olivia to her, then ordered a black gown to replace the one he'd destroyed, a pair of slacks and a blouse, underthings, shoes and another pair of jeans and a t-s.h.i.+rt, since her blood had ruined the one she currently wore. Everything had been delivered an hour ago, while he ate supper in his home office.

He'd left Olivia alone, not wanting to tempt himself by dining with her or asking her what she thought of the clothes he'd purchased. As a general rule, women were the least of Dominic's worries. His relations.h.i.+ps ended without much fanfare or drama.

Olivia comparing him to her brother rankled as much as her romantic notion that he and Felicia had reconnected. He saw her at the office every day. He had no one to rush home to, no one with whom to share his life or his wealth. No one who expected him to be faithful.

Perhaps it concerned him because he emulated his father in business and so he feared he'd do the same as a husband. He only knew he felt like a dirty motherf.u.c.ker for the way he'd treated Olivia and it caused unfamiliar conflict within him.

A ray of dying light bounced off a dark head and Dominic watched Olivia trek down the long, wooden pier that extended out into the marsh. The evening breeze ruffled her gorgeous midnight hair. Another figure trailed behind her and he recognized Howie. She stopped and turned, beckoning Howie closer.

Dominic picked up a pair of binoculars he sometimes used to spot the marsh animals. Olivia's lovely face came into sharp focus. Even without makeup, she was breathtaking. Long and thick, her dark lashes ringed her green eyes. Her pink lips invited him to feast upon them for hours. He wondered what she was telling Howie, who nodded and gave her his undivided attention.

Dominic turned the corner to the north porch and raced down the steps, a.s.suring himself he didn't want any surprises sprang on him. Olivia was too intent not to have something up her sleeve. He mightn't have known her long, but he already knew that determined look. The one that led to chaos.

He reached them within minutes. He smiled at the brightness in Olivia's eyes and the relief on Howie's face. "You and Albert rest for the evening. I'll look after Miss Bradford."

"Yes, sir." Howie's mumbled, "Good luck," reached Dominic on the evening breeze.

He folded his arms and stared down at Olivia, waiting for an explanation.

"You must have a boat," she began.

"And?"

"I would love to go through the marsh at night with nothing but the sounds of nature surrounding me."

"And you suggested that to Howie?"

She nodded. "But he said he needed to ask you and pulling the boat out and getting everything together should be started in daylight."

"There are gators out there."

"I know. Isn't it exciting? I've never seen a real live alligator up close."

Her stomach growled and he frowned. "Did you eat?"

Olivia wrinkled her nose, an adorable, endearing gesture. "I wasn't hungry."

Another growl indicated otherwise.

"How about we put off your swamp tour to another time while I find you something to eat?"

She didn't resist when he took her hand and began escorting her toward the sunset porch.

"I didn't leave the house through this entrance," she said.

"You should have. This is the sunset porch. You get the most amazing evening views."

"I suppose you have a sunrise porch," she surmised with sarcasm.

"Yes. As well as a north porch, a pergola and a pool terrace." Since they were back at the north porch, Dominic decided to escort her the circ.u.mference of the house. Each porch connected to the next one. When they reached the sunrise porch, he let them in through a sitting room and guided her to the kitchen.

The chef stood at attention when he saw Dominic. The sous chef and dishwas.h.i.+ng staff stopped their tasks and fell into line.

"Miss Bradford will be my guest for a day or two."

He hadn't heard from Felicia or Bradford yet and Dominic wondered if the man would call at all. Bradford had already told Dominic to ride Olivia until he'd felt he'd been repaid. On the other hand, Bradford had also said he needed his sister back, so Dominic believed Bradford would be happy to have Olivia returned sooner rather than later. Still, someone had to pay. With Bradford acting as such a self-preserving coward, there was only one person left to use as retribution. Olivia. He'd known her under twenty-four hours. Despite his mind-boggling attraction, the amount of time he'd been acquainted with her and with his intentions to send her back, he didn't have any reason to chance a lifelong way of dealing with his enemies.

"Make sure she gets whatever she likes to eat," he continued on that bleak note and nodded to the chef. "Please send a tray up to my suite, along with a bottle of red wine."

"Certainly, Mister Luca," the chef responded, his expression not changing.

Within a half hour, the cook sent up enough dishes to feed Olivia and a battalion of men. Freshly fried shrimp and catfish. Hot cracklin' cornbread. Smoky turnip greens. Fried okra. Warm peach cobbler.

While Dominic held out his gla.s.s to have the wine poured, an empty plate was set in front of Olivia, and he nodded at the maid.

"Do you drink?"

"What do you think?" she asked with a giggle.

"Please pour Miss Bradford a gla.s.s of wine."

Once the woman complied, she stood next to Olivia, waiting for directions on what to serve her. Olivia sipped her wine and waved the maid away.

"Thank you," she said. "But I can't decide what I want so I don't want to take you away from your duties. It looks very good."

Dominic signaled the maid to leave. "When did you last eat?" he asked Olivia, once the maid had gone.

"Sometime yesterday before the event."

Dominic rose to his feet and piled a little of everything onto her plate. She sipped more wine but refused to pick up her fork. He picked up a piece of catfish and held it to her lips.

She opened her mouth and he slid the crispy fish inside. She closed her lips around his finger and gave him a small nip. The last thing he needed was her flirting. In his current mood, he'd never be able to resist her. Determined to fight against the lure of her, Dominic fed her another piece. She licked the juice from his finger.

"Do you want food or my c.o.c.k?" he asked roughly, draining his gla.s.s.

She licked her lips, picked up her gla.s.s and drank from it before placing the rim at his lips. He lapped the residue she'd left behind, his gaze never leaving hers.

"Can't we pretend we didn't meet the way we did? Just for tonight?" she whispered.

He should tell her no. Walk away. He didn't want her head filled with romantic nonsense. Then again, she knew where they stood. That's why she'd asked for tonight only. He wouldn't be using her or mistreating her if she'd approached him to f.u.c.k her.

"Oh h.e.l.l, yeah," he murmured, drinking more of her wine and then kissing her to allow her to partake of it. His tongue swept into her mouth, the liquid seeping down her throat. "What do you want, Olivia?" he demanded again. "Food or my c.o.c.k?"

"Your c.o.c.k," she responded, reaching over to grip his d.i.c.k.

Sucking in a breath, he stood and lifted her into his arms.