” Lydia asks loudly.
I search for my purse. “I don’t want—”
The door of the dressing room opens, Dominic fills the doorway.
His eyes flick to Lydia. “Give us a minute.”
I back away, shaking my head. “This is a waste of time. You can’t put lipstick on a pig—”
His hand clamps down on my chin in a punishing grip. “I warned you. One warning is all you get.”
Then I’m turned around, oh my god, he’s bending me over the arm of the chaise lounge. I don’t even have time to draw in air before a hard hand comes down painfully on my ass.
“No, Dominic. Please.” I hiss at him, terrified Lydia can hear it when it sounds loud to my ears. His answer is to do it again on my other—ouch, oh god, it hurts, so why the hell am I so fucking wet? Another and then he yanks me up against his hard body.
“Are you deaf, little girl? Are you not paying attention? What did I say? Tell me what I fucking said, Regina.”
A hand goes around my neck and squeezes the words out of me. “You said not to say I was fat. I’m sorry, Dominic.”
I’m yanked across the dressing room, Dominic turns me to face the trio of mirrors. They are on all sides of us. He growls and holy fucking shit, he rips the long maxi dress down my body. An arm goes around my waist, melding me to him, I gasp at the feel of his hard cock pressing into my ass.
“This is what you did to me the first moment I saw you in that god-awful dress. Even when you looked like you were going to a funeral, you made my cock hard and hungry for you.”
His lips graze over the shell of my ear. “I’m going to need for you to pay close fucking attention and sear this into your brain. I think you are cock-achingly, breathtakingly gorgeous.”
The hand loosens from my jaw, trailing down my neck then over my arm. It’s only now I realize I’m only in my bra and panties in front of him. Yet I’m not ashamed, not when I see the way his eyes roam over my body. Air flees my lungs as his cock jumps against me.
“For some insane reason you don’t see what I see. That’s why we’re here. Lydia will help you see, put you in the clothes that will show off your numerous assets. But classy, so I don’t have to kill anyone for wanting you the same way I do.”
His hard body against me is turning my skin hot and too damn tight. I can’t stop from pressing into him, trying to assuage the pain against the cool silk of his suit.
With the shake of his head, he doesn’t allow me to move. “When you walked out of the dressing room I wanted to pull you into my lap and fuck you until you screamed. Only I couldn’t do that because I’m a civilized motherfucker. Have no fucking doubt you are always beautiful. The dress only helps you and others see what I already know. Got it, Regina?”
I meet his eyes in the mirror. Turbulent, bluer than blue churning deep in the ocean, I’m going under and I don’t care anymore. I nod.
“No, I need you to say it.”
“I’m beautiful.”
“Again, princess.”
Turning in his arms, I press against him. The arm around my waist tightens until I can barely breathe, only it’s not nearly tight enough.
“I’m beautiful.” I exhale the words as Dominic lowers his lips to mine.
“Good girl,” he whispers. He presses a kiss to the skin where my neck meets my shoulder then he sucks slowly, deeper and deeper to the very edge of pain, and I’m shivering against him. I watch as he studies the skin. I know a bruise will show soon, his satisfaction is clear. Then he’s gone.
Lydia is back and her look of concern disappears when she sees me. She grins knowingly. “I told you so.”
Gradually over the next hour I find myself actually having fun, especially when Dominic does indeed growl a few times at the dresses Lydia puts me in. Long after I thought I had more than enough clothes, we’re still going. I think we’re done but no, we’re moving onto panties and bras, then shoes. Then finally Dominic checks the time. It’s time to meet the dressmaker Lydia called in a favor with. My stomach drops at the idea of a wedding dress. At how the words thrill me.
Dominic’s phone rings and he tells me he has to take the call, to give him a minute. The moment his back is turned I scan the store, wondering if there’s an exit close by. I have to go today, or I never will.
“Don’t, Regina.” Gone is the smiling Lydia. “I get the fear, but don’t. He’s a Sabatini. Yes, they can be assholes, yes, they are ruthless as fuck, and yes, Dominic and Tony have spilled blood. They also love deeply with every fiber of their being. Once they finally give in to admitting that love. Even when they aren’t ready to admit it, though, they’ll protect you from the whole wide world, including themselves.”
It scares me all over again how badly I want to believe her.
“I know you don’t know me. You do know Dominic, even if it’s only been a few days, you know deep down what I’m telling you is the truth. I think that is what is scaring you. Don’t let it. Be brave, you deserve to be loved the way he’ll love you. And Dominic,” she sighs, “he needs your love. He won’t think so, he’ll try and deny it.” She shakes her head. “Don’t let him.”