The Sacrificial Lamb (36 page)

Alex wanted to reach out and run her fingers along the fine stubble covering his jaw and chin. Domenic looked good clean-shaven, but she had a particular weakness for him when he let his facial hair grow in a little. It gave him a dangerous, rakish air that went along with the rest of him.

The smile slid off her face as she realized they had little time left together. In four days she would be reunited with her father and Shane, and she had no idea where Domenic would go after that happened. In essence they had three more days together. Alex wanted to talk to him about his plans and what would happen when this week was over, but she didn’t know how to broach the subject. After all that Domenic had done for her, she suspected that perhaps it hadn’t been just to help her out of a bad situation. The fact she was here in his bed attested to that. But what did she feel for him?

Up till now she had been stopping herself whenever she gave any thought to this subject. Alex didn’t want to admit that she might be investing too much emotion into this fleeting romance. To admit it meant it would become real. If it became real, then she didn’t know if she could just let Domenic walk out of her life once the time came. Much like trying to resist him in the first place, she was starting to realize the futility of denying her feelings for him.

She was falling in love with Domenic.

Actually admitting it made her equally happy and sad. She had a feeling she was diving head first into heartbreak. Ultimately, Domenic had been right when he said they weren’t good for one another. Alex couldn’t see any possible way for things to work between them, unless she convinced him to betray the Liseni. Since Domenic had already defied them, and he detested his boss, she didn’t think it would be too difficult to get him to agree. The problem was she would have to admit
why
she wanted him to do this, and she wasn’t sure if she had the guts.

Just thinking about explaining to the tough mob guy that she had fallen for him and wanted him to stay with her made her cringe. Would he think it was cute that the naïve, boring girl wanted him like that? Poor, pathetic Alex got a good dicking and now thinks she’s in love. It would be nice if it were only physical. Then at least she could leave him, knowing she could find this with someone else. But she didn’t think that would happen. Yeah, she was certain she’d find love again, but it would be a pale imitation of what she was feeling now.

Suddenly Domenic opened his eyes, the green a startling contrast to his tanned skin. A lazy smile graced his lips when he saw her staring at him. Alex’s stomach exploded in butterflies, and her heart accelerated. Giving in to her impulse, she reached out a hand to stroke his face. Her fingers moved down the line of his jaw, stopping to run her index finger over the divot in his chin. Domenic’s smile widened, making dimples, and he closed his eyes again.

Alex leaned forward and gave him a chaste kiss. “Morning.”

“Morning,” he answered, opening one eye and peeking out at her. “Did you sleep well?”

“Mmhmm.” She stretched like a cat, lazy and slow, the covers rustling over her naked skin. Domenic eyed her breasts as they pushed out toward him. He pulled her to him roughly and latched his mouth over one of her nipples. Alex gave a little squeak that turned to a moan as he laved the tip with his tongue. Her hands were in his hair, and she arched her back further.

No, there was definitely no way she was just going to let him walk out of her life once their time here was over. It wasn’t just the sex—it was Domenic. After the unorthodox way they’d met, she would have thought it impossible for her to ever be attracted to him, much less have this depth of feeling. That meant something, didn’t it?

Domenic’s mouth was hot on her skin as he reacquainted himself with her body. Alex loved the feel of his hands tracing along the slopes of her breasts and down her stomach. He parted her legs, touching her in a soft caress while running the tips of his fingers along her outer lips. Her entire midsection clenched, and her hips rose at the electric sensation he evoked in her. She felt him slide two fingers inside of her and let out a whimper.

Laying his head on her breast, Domenic watched his hand moving in a slow caress. He picked up speed, and Alex began to squirm as his thumb caressed the top of her sex. Her heart must have been pounding under his ear as he brought her to orgasm. It didn’t take long. It never did with Domenic. He knew exactly how to touch her where she was most sensitive and how much pressure to exert to send her over the edge of oblivion.

“God, I love doing that to you,” he said, once she stopped trembling.

“I love when you
do
it to me,” she said, breathlessly. Domenic kissed her stomach and ran his tongue over her flesh, his hand still trapped between her legs. He looked up at her from under his lashes and smirked.

Alex grabbed Domenic by his ears and hauled him up her body. He lay on top of her, and she wrapped her legs around his hips to hold him where he was. She could feel his erection pressed against her still throbbing clit. Domenic started kissing her neck and rocked his hips, his length sliding against her in a very tantalizing way. Alex wrapped her arms around Domenic’s shoulders, loving how it felt to have every single part of her connected to him in some way.

Would she ever stop wanting him? They had made love for hours last night before collapsing against one another and falling asleep. Yet here they were again, intertwined passionately. She couldn’t remember ever being so voracious before, but if Alex had her way, they’d be naked for the remainder of their time together.

The feel of him against her, skin to skin, was heavenly. She wished they didn’t need the condoms. She wanted Domenic without any barriers but knew that wasn’t wise. Besides the fact she had no clue about his sexual history, she hadn’t been taking her birth control pills over the last month. The unused packet was sitting on the bathroom sink, beside her toothbrush, strategically placed so she would never forget to take them. A stroke of brilliance on her part, but the pills didn’t do her much good in her bathroom when she was kidnapped by mobsters.

As it stood, it didn’t matter, because Domenic did end up pulling away to get protection before they picked up where they’d left off. They rocked their hips, moving in unison. She gripped the muscles of his back as he thrust into her with wild abandon. Her breath caught in her throat as the heat built up and started to spread outward. As usual, she was calling out Domenic’s name before he sought his own release.

Domenic collapsed on top of her, breathing hard, his breath hot against her neck. Alex still had her arms wrapped around him, and began running her hands up and down the smooth ridges of muscle alongside his spine. She kissed Domenic’s temple, and his arms tightened around her. He got up the strength to roll off of her, and she felt an immediate sense of loss until he pulled her back into his arms.

They lay together, quiet and content. Alex listened as Domenic’s heart slowed to a more regular rhythm, and she smiled as she drew her fingers through the light dusting of hair on his chest. These moments were the most peaceful. She always forgot that they were in any type of danger when she was lying in Domenic’s arms like this.

“I need to scout the perimeter again,” Domenic said, his chest thrumming under her cheek. “Will you be okay if I leave you alone for a little while?”

“Do I need to stay in the basement again?” she asked, looking up at him nervously.

“Not if you don’t want to,” Domenic replied, his arm tightening around her. “But I do want you to keep the gun with you.”

“Do you think someone may have found us?”

“I don’t think so. But I’d rather have a look and make sure no one has been around.”

“Can I come with you?”

Domenic hesitated as he thought it over. “I think it would be a lot faster if I just went on my own. If someone is out there, I would prefer not to run into them with you in tow.” He looked down at her, trying to gauge her reaction. Part of her was offended, but she also realized Domenic was worried that he would be too distracted trying to protect her and, in turn, not be as efficient as usual.

“Okay,” she sighed. Alex wasn’t happy about being on her own again so soon after yesterday, but as long as she was out in the open, it would be fine.

“I’ll make it quick,” Domenic reassured her. “I don’t plan on going out as far as last time.”

“It’s all right. I’ll be fine.”

“Are you sure?” Domenic’s finger curled under her chin, lifting her face up so he could look her in the eye. She just nodded, not trusting her voice. He frowned, but didn’t say anything.

“Plus, I have to figure out a way to do laundry,” she added, trying for a bit of levity.

“You don’t need to do that.”

“Well, unless you want to be running around naked the rest of the week?” she responded, cocking an eyebrow at him.

“That may not be such a bad idea,” he growled at her, making a lunge for her neck, nipping at it with his teeth.

No, she was certain that she would never stop wanting Domenic.

After a hasty breakfast, Domenic left to check the perimeter. He had his gun slung in his waistband, with extra ammunition in his pocket, leaving Alex with the thirty-eight. She locked the door behind him after he gave her a kiss full of promises—the promise to return being the most important.

Alex sat on the couch for a few minutes and went over what had happened yesterday in the panic room.
What an apropos name
, she thought wryly. Having Domenic with her made it easier to forget the overwhelming feeling of terror she had felt when she woke up in that room. The certainty she had dreamed this last week with Domenic was so strong she had shot up from the cot, a strangled scream in her throat. Her nose was filled with the stench of the warehouse, making her choke.

Even when she remembered where she was, Alex couldn’t stop the sobs and tears running down her face. It was too small in that room. The walls seemed to be closing in on her, suffocating her. Her eyes kept returning to the door, knowing that she had the control to leave the room whenever she wanted. Then she started thinking—perhaps she didn’t? What if the mechanism to open the door stopped working, and she was trapped in there for good?

Those thoughts were soon followed by the fear that Domenic would never return. Perhaps the Liseni had ambushed him. Or maybe the police had caught him. Any number of things could have happened to him while he was out. How would she know? She didn’t even know what time it was. She could have been asleep in this crypt for hours and not even realize it. That was when Domenic had shown up.

Alex looked back over her shoulder toward the bedroom. Domenic had told her that she didn’t need to stay downstairs, but she disliked feeling so scared. Now that she was alone, the fear was multiplying.
It’s just a room
, she told herself, looking back again.
The new Alexis Montgomery wouldn’t be scared of a stupid room
. The doorway into the bedroom seemed dark and sinister for a moment.

Squaring her shoulders, Alex grabbed the gun on the table, checked the safety, and stuck it in her waistband like Domenic did. She wasn’t sure why she brought the gun—it wasn’t like she could shoot at the room—but its presence still made her feel better. No room was going to get the best of her. She was going to face this fear head on.

Marching to the bedroom, she walked through the door to the hatch. Alex yanked it up and looked down. She didn’t remember it being so dark down there before, and it made her falter.
Stop being such a baby
, she chided and turned around to go down into the basement. She turned the light on right away and felt better. Now on to step two.

Alex pushed the small lever, and the door yawned open. The darkness of room seemed to seep out into the area she was standing in. Glancing back over her shoulder, she considered going back upstairs. Firming her resolve, she stepped into the small room instead and turned on the light. It was just a room—nothing scary about it. She stepped inside, making sure to keep the door open all the while, and sat down on the cot.

There was a moment of panic, but before it could overtake her, Alex began taking deep breaths. There was no horrible reek down here as she imagined before. The room was small, granted, but it didn’t seem nearly as claustrophobic as it had yesterday. She didn’t quite have the nerve to shut herself in here, but she did feel much better now. Maybe she could handle being in here when Domenic had to make the last call to Russell, but the thought made her shudder. She didn’t think she would be able to do it. If it came right down to it, she would rather take her chances with Domenic.