Dom Wars - Round Four (13 page)

Jared walked up to stand on the right side of Tara, chuckling.
"I like you much better than Lucian's other call girls."

"
Jared specializes in spotting sluts, so I'm surprised he likes you at all," I said. "Let's take that tour now." I pulled her with me toward the arched opening between the family room and the living. "Glad to be home mom," I called back without looking.

"
Ohhh, I'm so
happy
to have you, son. And you Tara. And Steve!"

"
The pleasure is
all
mine, Mrs. Bane." I realized Steve had followed us. Couldn't blame him. 

"
Oh, call me Millie."

"
Call her Mildreth." My father's mumble could easily be heard, "Don't you tell a man to call you
Millie.
"

My spine went cold at his acidic tone and I hurried up the stairs before I gave into the urge to take him apart. How dare he talk to his
wife
that way?

I led Steve to my old bedroom.
"Can you go get our things while I show Tara around and bring them in here?"

"
Sure thing, boss."

"
Thank you Steve," Tara said. "It's a comfort having you here."

"
Awww darling, being with you two is like a vacation in the Bahamas. In a hurricane." He let out a contagious giggle and we laughed with him. He eyed both of us, suddenly serious. "I'll go get our things," he whispered and headed out.

I hurried and locked the door before anybody could intrude and turned to find Tara scoping my room. She paced along the walls, arms crossed, like she were at an art gallery. I watched her for a bit, wondering what she was thinking. I was suddenly sick with the need to hold her.  She studied the buck head high on the wall.
"I shot that when I was eight. Hunting with my grandfather. He was a…much better man than my father."

She turned to me and the look in her eyes made the need worse. I made my way closer to her until I stood a few feet away.
"What an amazing place to grow up," she said. "I'm sorry your father is such a dick, though," she mumbled, rolling her eyes with a hint of a smile.

I stepped closer to her and she looked up at me, the easy expression on her face slowly replaced with a guarded one. Pain stabbed me and I looked down, wanting to scream. I put my hands in my pockets.
"Thank you for…" I swallowed, suddenly not knowing where to start. "For being here. With me. I…wish it was under different circumstances."

"
What's wrong with these circumstances?"

I looked at her to read what was behind her casual tone and found that impenetrable Tara fortress.
"You're pissed at me for one."

"
And I have every right to be."

"
I just wish you weren't."

"
Why?"

I struggled to get my mind out of my bleeding heart before the wrong thing found its way out. 
"Because… I love you and… wanted this to be enjoyable."

"
Did you forget… that this is your demon domination?"

"
So?" I looked at her, silently pleading. "Does that mean I can't have you to support me?"

"
I am supporting you."

"
I mean
love me
Tara," I whispered, my voice breaking.

She lowered her head and it hurt to see that she couldn
't look me in the eyes. "I love you."

I snorted at the huge
but
left unspoken in her tone. "If I can't have all of your love, I'd rather have none."

She angled an angry glare at me.
"I'd say the same for you."

"
You do have all of my love."

Her finger shot up into my face.
"Do you want to do this here? Do you really want me to bring up the shit you've done to me? Here? Now?"

I shook my head.
"Is that all you can think about Tara? Is there nothing more than that? Bigger?"

She gasped.
"Fucking no there isn't. How would you like me to say those things to your
brother?
Who happens to be
very
good looking, by the way." Fury hardened my jaw and she smiled and nodded. "No, see? See how you're being a big
hypocrite?
I just mention it and I can feel the murder stabbing into me. Well, try
living
it." She poked my chest with a pointed finger.

"
Fine. Okay. I did that. What about the other things I've done for you?"

She gasped.
"What. Is wrong with you?" Her head shook as she stared at me. "I mean…
who…
are you?"

"
The man that loves you more than you will ever know, it seems."

She snorted and looked away.
"And you know what hurts me the most?" She looked back at me, the pain in her eyes stealing my breath. "You're not…even sorry."

"
I'm sorry you're hurting. It kills me when you hurt."

"
I don't understand, Lucian. Help me, please. Why are you doing this to me? To us? I thought… we were heading in such a good direction? Is it something I've done?"

I pulled her in my embrace at the threat of her sobs.
"No baby, it's not you. I promise it's not you. You're beautiful."

"
Is it my past?" she cried into my chest. "The way I've treated you? Are you finally sick of it? You finally realize I'm not that amazing?"

I took her face in my hands and kissed her with a barbaric hunger to demolish her fears. She surrendered in seconds and I took ruthless advantage, locking my fingers in her hair. I suddenly needed nothing more than to make her forget everything but who I was to her. What I was to her. What she was to me.
"Every fucking thing," I breathed in her mouth, "you are everything to me."

Her nails clawed desperately at my neck, pulling in my hair. I yanked her flimsy blue skirt up with one hand, refusing to tear my mouth from hers, fearing I
'd lose the fire she ignited in my soul when we kissed. I found my way into her panties from the top and she gasped in my mouth, hiking her leg onto my hip as I went for her hot core like it were the ultimate life line. When I hit it, I knew she was mine, lost to me, to this, us. This is what we were, reckless passion with no meaning and name, riding us through the fucking universe until I couldn't think, I could only be. With her, in her, God so fucking in her.

I commanded the power, thrusting in and out of her until she was overcome, singing its song so perfectly. I didn
't care that she was being way too loud, I was fucking glad. Lose yourself to me, love. Fucking lose yourself to me.

She fought to get herself closer and I lifted her on my waist and found the nearest wall for support. Holding my face, she kissed me back, I fucking loved when she did that, like I was the best thing she
'd ever tasted. I fought to free my cock while she ripped her blouse and bra off. 

"
Oh God yes," she gasped, watching me position her on me. "Fuck me. Right here baby, in your room." I slid my cock in deep and she cried out. The sight of her thrashing her head while I had her against the wall, helpless, brought my dominance in animal doses.

I grabbed hold of her upper thighs and she locked her feet on the front of my legs, giving me perfect pumping leverage. I looked down between us.
"Play with your pussy. You're coming so fucking hard with me."

She buried her fingers in her folds and rubbed fast little circles on her clit.

"Fuck, yes." I kept myself buried inside her and rolled my hips as I watched. "Play with your nipples." She obeyed me, squeezing the tight peaks then rubbing her finger over the tip. Her core clenched down on me and I growled. "That's it, make it fucking hot. Then I'm going to fuck you until this entire house knows you're mine, and you
never fucking forget that fact."

She whimpered and squirmed her hips, her cries beginning to peak as she moved herself on me. Just when she was close enough, I began to move in her, faster and faster until her adorable fucking tits bounced for me and her arm aimlessly sought purchase to hold something.

"I'm coming, come with me!"

The universe roared downward, around us, toward us, enveloping at breakneck speed. It would swallow us whole and bind things forever. Again. More each time. Like a perpetual heat that reinforced all things irrevocable. That was us. We were forever.

Chapter Thirteen

So much for fucking sense into Tara. The next morning at breakfast, she sat, three chairs down from me, cool as a snow queen. And my so-called brother just had to come to breakfast with no shirt and put me on standby for murder in cold blood.

Why the fuck did she have to wear something so sensual? The fabric of that clingy white sundress with the skinny
take me off
straps was the quality of finely spun cotton. It clung to her like a possessive lover and begged to be touched. You'd think with no make-up or jewelry, she'd be a plain jane. Instead, she looked like some goddess descended from ecstasy heaven, beckoning your every erotic fantasy.

And there my father sat at the head of the table, the noble King Tut, eating the best steak Texas had to offer. He always reminded me of a disgusting bulldog loudly gumming his food to death. And my mother sat next to him, his regal slave queen, smiling in joy and rapture, happy in her prison.

My brother was second in line for disgusting table habits. However this morning, he appeared to be molesting the food in his mouth while keeping his eye on Tara and her chest.

I looked over at her and froze at spotting a vague show of her nipples through her dress. I stood.
"Excuse me, please. Tara, can I see you in the kitchen?"

"
No need to pretend you're royalty Lucian." My father's words came out garbled around his mouth full of food.

"
Honey, it's manners," my mother said.

Amazing. When would my father learn that I did it to piss him off and please my mother? Dense bastard. He
'd not mentioned the racket I'd caused in my room and I was sure they were all doing the
it didn't happen
routine. That's what they did when things were too bad to deal with. Just pretend it didn't happen. But I knew it was only a matter of time before my father would retaliate. That's how he fought. Stealth. And when he got you, he'd let you know what that was for. So, usually, his silence meant deadly things were coming.

I guided Tara into the kitchen with a gentle touch on her elbow. When we were alone, I found myself locked up with jealous fury.

"What?" she asked, annoyed with my silence.

"
Do you have a
bra
on?"

"
Yes I have a
bra
on!" She looked down at her chest then back up at me.

"
An
air
bra? Your nipples look like they're one wrong thought from cutting through the fucking fabric."

She gasped and yanked one side of her top down.
"Does that look like an
air
bra? What is wrong with you?"

"
Don't look at my brother."

She quirked a bored brow.
"Really."

"
Yes, really. He's a sexual predator, one wrong look can invite things you don't want."

She cocked her head.
"Are you sure I don't want it?"

I stared at her, speechless, then stepped close enough to pin her to the counter with my body.
"Don't fuck with me on this, Tara. I mean it."

"
Ohhhh, I'm scared, Mr. Bane. Trembling." She slid her fingers seductively along my chest. "How about I handle my own shit. And you handle yours?" She smiled sweetly at me.

"
Not until you tell me."

"
Tell you what?"

"
That you will stay away from him."

She shrugged.
"Sure. And I'll require the same of you of all females from here on out for the rest of your life."

"
Perfect," I said. "My pleasure."

"
Hmm. We shall see?"

"
Yes we shall."

She nodded and shoved me off.
"Let's just try to finish this day, shall we? Remember the reason we're here? Face your father? And brother, I now see. Both are clearly your demons. Dominate it, Lucian." Her voice had turned hard and threatening.

"
I'll handle that, thank you, I don't need you to tell me." Or help me, I wanted to say. But I couldn't manage the lie. Only I didn't know what help I needed. And even if I did know that, asking her to help me would have been another matter. There was something about these problems that didn't allow for outside assistance. Maybe it was because inside, I was still on an island. I'd created it, lived there safely for years. But now that I might need to leave it, I realized it was a one way ticket, which meant I was stranded. A castaway.

I heard loud voices and looked at the doorway.
"Sounds like guests are starting to arrive. I see no point in participating in pool activities, either."

"
Okay," she shrugged.

I nodded, not convinced with her answer. I wanted her to sign a contract. In blood.
"If he sees you in a bathing suit, it'll be like throwing gas on a fire. Tara, he's dangerous."

"
I get it. No undressing at the pool. Are we done?"

I sighed and she patted my arm in an attempt at awkward reassurance.

"Let's just…get through this and we'll deal with the other matters later. I have your back. Okay?" She offered a handshake.

My heart grasped at that life line and I pulled her into my embrace and hugged her tight.
"Thank you, love."

****

Steve suddenly appeared in the kitchen, hissing, "I need to see you. Privately?" he raised his brows.

I looked at Tara, not wanting to let her out of my sight.
"Go talk to my mother. Ask her about…her garden."

"
On it, dear."

As I watched her leave, Steve yanked on my arm.
"The flowers are here! I had them delivered to this address. Figured we'd keep on with the whole
sorry
plan."

"
Flowers?" I was lost.

"
The twenty dozen Iris bouquets? Five hundred dollar special?"

"
Yes, yes, good." I looked at him, realizing the problem. "Shit, what am I supposed to say, it's my mother's birthday. Did we even get her something?"

By the distension of his eyeballs, that was a fucking negative. Jeeeeesus.
"Go into town
right
now and buy her something."

"
Like what?"

"
I have no idea!"

"
Don't you worry, I'll figure it out." He hit me on the arm and spun to head out to the task.

"
Wrap it!" I hissed.

"
Duh!" he called back.

Shit. I hurried into the den next to the dining and froze at seeing the woman being introduced. No fucking way. Dear God.

"Lucian," mom called at spotting me. "Look who's visiting! I told her you were coming home for my birthday and invited her to surprise you!"

I walked in, looking for Tara. I found her standing among them, like a frozen statue, staring out the window with a need to fly away look on her face. All while everybody chattered to Stacey, whom my mom kept referencing to as my
first love
. Mother-fuck.

I went to Tara and stood behind her, wrapping her in my arms.
"Long time no see, Stacy," I said, sounding as unenthused as I could.

"
Hey, Lucian," she fluttered her fingers at me with that cute Texan smile that had initially won my young heart.

"
Did you meet my beautiful girlfriend, Tara?"

"
I did. You and I have so much to catch up on, cowboy," she sang, like Tara earned the significance of a dog.

Fuck this was not happening.

I turned Tara to me and took her face in my hands and kissed her softly. "You okay, love? I'm here. Together, remember?"

She patted my hand then removed it.
"I remember, we're good here."

"
A gift has arrived for you, Mrs. Bane."

My mother turned to the smiling chubby merry-maid.
"Oh?" She hurried to follow her and I pulled Tara toward the outside deck off the living room.

"
Lucian Bane!" my mother called. "You sent all these flowers to me?" She laughed and clapped. "Luke, your son had
twenty
dozen Iris bouquets
delivered to my door!
"

Aaaand, another bullet to the head on that sorry.
"You're welcome mom, I love you. Tara picked them out."

"
Well they are
beautiful.
Thank you both."

Tara nodded and I led her the rest of the way to the door, hoping nobody followed.

"Don't go far, your sisters will be arriving soon, Lucian," my father yelled. "Jared, can you give me a hand with the keg?"

"
Sure, Pop."

I snarled inwardly at the stark difference in his tone when he addressed me and Jared.

"Hey, Lucian," Jared called. "How about some pool volleyball later? Ready to kick your ass."

I shut the door ignoring him and led her out of view.
"I'm so sorry, I had no idea they'd bring her here. I'm not sure, but can we please consider that she's just a set up?"

"
What do you mean?" she asked, seeming curious.

"
Part of Dom Wars. There's no way this is coincidence. They know we're fighting, maybe they're trying to make us break."

"
Why would they? We're team America."

I made an exaggerated show of checking my watch.
"I don't know." I widened my eyes at her and she slowly squinted.

"
Okay, yes. I'm willing to consider that. For now."

I put my forehead to hers and pulled her close to me.
"God, I fucking hate your dress."

She snickered softly.
"Why?"

"
Because you're too fucking beautiful in it."

She held my face and kissed my lips, smiling.
"Score."

"
It's not a play," I whispered, "it's so ridiculously true. I want to lock you in the closet until it's time to leave. But… visit you every thirty minutes. Bring you snacks. And orgasms." I gave her soft kisses between my words and she smiled more. I took advantage and deepened the kiss, pulling all that softness into my body until an emotional climax threatened me. I broke the kiss and hugged her tight. "This is going to become a broken record, but… you're mine. That's all."

****

I watched Lucian attempt to fit in with his own family from my spot way off yonder of the crowd. Farthest table from the pool.

My heart ached for him but every time I tried to be what I knew he needed, those words he
'd said to that bitch in the store would stab me and send me running inside myself. Guard. Guard. Guard. The mantra was screaming now after all he'd done. And God. Why?

The answer to that made me sick because deep down, I knew. I
'd hurt him beyond repair and he was lashing out subconsciously. Rejected him too many times when he'd handed me his heart so readily and easily and completely. How was I supposed to know he meant it? What moron did that? More specifically, what
man
? No, more specifically, what man at a competition to be a top
Dom
did that?

Go all my life with no luck or the worst luck and then you get good luck once and you throw it away. Would it be so bad to just… forgive him? I was pretty sure I could. In fact, I was waiting for a sext. Praying for one. At least during that I could be what he needed and I didn
't have to forgive. It was like having my cake and eating it to. I realized what that meant. I wanted to not care that he'd done those things. What did that say about me? About my self-esteem? I couldn't live without him no matter how he treated me?

Jesus, I was headed into bad waters with this. And still I could feel it. The urge to throw all that caution to the wind and pretend he
'd never done it, pretend the only thing that was true was what we shared when we made love. It certainly far surpassed the bad. Until I thought about the bad, that is. But I was willing to try to not think about it.

His sisters finally made it there. Finally, normal people. I really liked his older sister, Hanna, with the two kids. And her husband seemed really caring. The younger sister, Jennifer, was a bit overweight and with an older guy who Lucian clearly didn
't like. I couldn't blame him. He sort of treated her like a slave. And the way she was so eager to do whatever he said was kind of sad. Mostly because he seemed to not appreciate it. Expected it. I didn't like him because he dipped. Gross.

I checked my phone for the tenth time to see if I
'd missed a text. Lucian said maybe that whore-of-Lucifers-nanny was behind our troubles. I better not find out that was true.