The Sacrificial Lamb (33 page)

Domenic’s mouth was everywhere. He went from kissing her, to licking and sucking her neck. He reached down and slipped his hands under her, gripping her as he continued his repeated thrusting. Alex could feel his pelvis pushing and rubbing against her sex, making her head spin. She dug her fingers in his back, spurring him on. She wanted him faster, harder, and didn’t think she would ever get enough.

Alex began bucking her hips under him, increasing the friction until she could feel that familiar heat building and blooming, threatening to drop her off the face of the earth into the sweetest of oblivions.

“Yes!” she cried out before sinking her teeth into Domenic’s shoulder.

She was well into her second orgasm before she felt Domenic begin to shudder and moan against her. His head was pushed into the pillow beside her, and his cries came out muffled. Alex still had hold of his backside, urging him on as he found his own release. Domenic soon stilled and lay on top of her, spent. Both of them were breathing hard and clutching one another.

Eventually, Domenic withdrew from her and rolled them both onto their sides where they continued trying to catch their breath.

“That was…” he began.

“Yeah,” she finished.

After some time Domenic got out of bed and left the room, she assumed to start the shower. Now they
definitely
needed one. Alex mulled over how things had changed since that morning. She hadn’t had much of a chance to think about everything after they’d had sex the first time. First she’d been too caught up in all the postcoital bliss, and then Domenic had kept her busy with the shooting and self-defense lessons.

Now, however, she was alone and getting pensive. She smiled, remembering how Domenic had called himself a pensive man. That caught her up short, as she realized how tied to him she was becoming. Even specific words brought him to mind. Alex had known that becoming physical would just draw her closer to Domenic, but she couldn’t keep resisting him. It seemed inevitable this would happen between them, almost from the moment they arrived at the cabin.

Alex glanced over at the bedside table, thinking of the stash of condoms in there. It seemed that Domenic had felt it was inevitable as well, or else why had he brought them? What was the Boy Scout motto? Always be prepared?
He must be the oldest Boy Scout in history
, she thought and snickered to herself.

Those could have been there from before
, the little voice in her head piped up.
Maybe this is like some kind of love den for all of his conquests.

Frowning, Alex rolled over and curled up into a ball. Why did the thought of Domenic in this bed, doing with another woman the same things he had done to her, bother her so much? They had no claim on one another. Or did they? The little spat in the forest came back to her suddenly.

You’re mine until I decide to let you go.
He had surprised her with the possessive statement.

Had he meant that, or was it just said in the heat of anger? Heat of passion? Was there a difference when it came to Domenic and her? Alex started to wonder if it was possible that Domenic was more than just physically attracted to her.

To her dismay, that thought made her excited more than upset. Alex wasn’t ready to start trying to unravel the complex set of emotions she felt for Domenic, but she had to admit there was definitely some hero worship going on. He had saved her from “the bad guys,” even though he had been one himself—still was one, if she wanted to get technical. Then he had whisked her away to keep her safe and protected. Who wouldn’t get swoony over a guy like that?

Then there was the whole taboo factor. Just like shooting the gun earlier had made her feel like a badass, so did seducing the mobster. Alex had never acted as uncharacteristically as she had this last week. As a teen she had always been a bookworm and sort of shy and geeky. She hadn’t come into her own until she’d left home. Even then she had never done anything reckless. Alex had lived by the rules and had been happy doing so.

Getting kidnapped had given her a proverbial kick in the ass. It had proven to her, in a very dark and twisted way, that life was precious and could be much shorter than she’d ever anticipated. Still there was no guarantee that Domenic could keep them safe. The Liseni could descend on them at any moment if they discovered where the cabin was. If that happened, both of them were as good as dead. They would be lucky if it was quick and painless, but she doubted it would happen that way. Alex shuddered briefly and pushed those thoughts out of her mind.

So who could blame her for seizing a little piece of happiness along the way? She didn’t want to die with regrets, and trying to stay away from Domenic would be a very big regret.

Alex still felt guilty about Shane, and she didn’t think that would ever go away. He’d never understand why she’d betrayed him like this, even if she tried to explain. Impending death could make you do some crazy things, but since he’d lived as sheltered a life as she had, none of this would make sense to him. Alex was sure he would forgive her, if given the chance, but no—he would never fully understand.

Her thoughts drifted back to Domenic. What would happen to them once they had to leave? Perhaps she could talk him into turning state’s evidence against the Liseni, and they could go into hiding together. Looking over your shoulder constantly was no real way to live, but if she had to do it, she would rather do it with Domenic.

Once again Alex surprised herself with her thought process. Was she considering some kind of life with a former underworld kingpin? She stifled a giggle in Domenic’s pillow as images of her in a tacky leopard print jumpsuit with a big teased bouffant filtered through her head.

“What’s so funny?”

Alex yelped and turned to the doorway to find Domenic leaning there, a towel slung carelessly around his hips. He had his arms crossed in front of his chest, which made his biceps bulge enticingly.

“Nothing,” she answered. She was obviously lying because a blush crept up her cheeks, but he merely cocked an eyebrow at her and looked amused.

“Shower’s ready. Are you coming?”

Out came that sexy grin that always made her melt, and Alex sat up and got out of the bed. She considered covering herself, feeling self-conscious since she was nude. Then she decided the new Alexis Montgomery didn’t care. She pushed her shoulders back and sauntered out the door, naked as the day she was born.

Domenic brushed her hair like he had the night before. Alex had used conditioner, so her hair wasn’t tangled, and she didn’t need his help, but she handed him the brush nonetheless. The feel of his fingers in her hair and against her back was soothing. His small touches to her temple and neck made her want to purr like a sated kitten.

Also like last night, when he was done he leaned her back against his chest and kept her held to him in a tight embrace. Domenic played with her hair absently, running his fingers through the damp locks, occasionally curling a strand around his index finger. He hummed a tune, and she could feel the reverberations against her back. Alex listened intently.

“What song is that?”

“Hmm?” Domenic stopped the humming at once.

“What you were humming just now. It sounds beautiful. What is it?” She turned her head so she could see him better. He had an odd expression on his face—as if he’d been caught doing something naughty.

“Oh, it’s just something I made up,” he said, shrugging.

“Something you made up?”

“Yeah,” Domenic said, kissing her temple. “It’s a composition I’ve had in my head lately.”

“You play music?”

“I used to a long time ago.”

“Wow, I didn’t know that.”

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Alexis.” He sounded sad as he spoke, and she couldn’t read the expression on Domenic’s face.

“Can I hear it again?” she asked, wanting for him to go back to how they were a moment ago.

Domenic began humming the song again, this time a little louder. He gathered her to him, and she closed her eyes, listening to the song take shape. The melody was soft and sweet, almost sad in its poignancy. She marveled at the man behind her—what kind of artistic talent he must have in order to create music such as this from nothing.

“That was beautiful,” she said softly. The combination of the music and Domenic’s caresses were making Alex sleepy, and she yawned against her hand.

“Tired so soon?”

“It’s been a long day.” She smiled, taking Domenic’s hand and bringing it to her face. He cupped her cheek and traced her features with his thumb. Alex closed her eyes in bliss and exhaled.

“Okay, off to bed,” Domenic said after more time had passed, and she was stifling yawns. Alex nodded and got up from the couch. She hesitated, unsure where to go. Even though they’d had sex—twice—she didn’t know if he wanted to
sleep
together. Not wanting to make assumptions, she started walking toward her bedroom.

“Where are you going?” Domenic asked from behind her, plucking at the back of her shirt and stopping her.

“Um…to my room?” Alex answered, turning to look at him. Domenic put an arm around her waist and pulled her back toward him.

“Did you need something from in there?” His eyes were alight with mischief. Alex shook her head, caught in that fathomless gaze that sometimes rendered her speechless. “Stay with me,” he said softly. He lowered his head and gave her a gentle kiss.

S
LEEPING
W
ITH
A
LEX
was one of the best times of Domenic’s life. He almost let her go to her own bedroom, unsure if that was what she wanted, but as she walked away from him, he realized it wasn’t what
he
wanted. He refused to be apart from her any more than he had to. It was going to be difficult enough to leave her for a couple of hours tomorrow, much less spend eight to ten hours without being near her.

When they entered his room, he pulled back the coverlet and gave her a gentle nudge toward the bed. “I’ll be right back,” he said before ducking back out and getting the rotating fan from her room. It wasn’t like she would need it any longer, not if he had anything to say about it. Domenic carried it back into his room, set it up at the foot of the bed, and got under the covers with Alex. She had removed her shorts and was just wearing one of his shirts and a pair of panties.

She looked at him owlishly, obviously trying to stay awake. Perhaps she thought he wanted her in his bed to have sex again. While he would have been up for another session, what he wanted was to hold Alex as she slept. Domenic gathered her close to him and gave her forehead a chaste kiss. She sighed and snuggled into him, weaving her leg between his and curling her arm against his chest. Her fingers ran over his skin, comfortingly. It didn’t take long for her breathing to become even and her body to go slack with sleep.

Domenic stayed awake, holding her and wondering what the next days would bring. Tomorrow he would try to be as quick as possible so as not to leave Alex alone for too long. There was a general store not too far away from the cabin. He would stop in there and stock up on food, and he would call Russell from the pay phone to make sure he had been able to get word to John Montgomery that Alex was safe. He was sure Russ would be anxious to hear from him and make sure everything was okay. Then in a few days he would have to return to town to coordinate a meeting so they could reunite Alex with her father.

And her boyfriend
, the small insidious voice in his head whispered.

His arms tightened around Alex.
No, mine,
he thought fiercely. At least for now. Domenic knew it would be impossible to be with Alex once their time here was over—not until his work was done. He had unfinished business with the Liseni that needed to be taken care of. Alex would need to be made safe for the rest of her life.

Carlo and his brothers would go to prison and most likely be assassinated by family enemies, which would hopefully take care of that problem. It would be known Domenic would no longer be taking over for Carlo, so that meant eradicating the other members who might come after Alex and her father. There were a handful of key players who would need to be dealt with. The rest would just be absorbed into other Chicago families and pick up where they left off. These men were of no consequence—they didn’t care who they worked for as long as they got paid.