A Dominant Fallen (A Dominant Series Book 2) (39 page)

“Starved,” I reply, going in for his bottom lip and tugging on it with my teeth. He moans against my mouth and shuts his eyes, latching both hands firmly onto my rear.

“Wow,” Chase’s voice suddenly breaks our lustful focus on each other. “It’s only eight and you’re already going at it?”

We spot the teasing grin smeared across his face. Then, we notice Maya tucked under his arm, nuzzling into his side.

“You’re one to talk,” Hunt comments with a kinked grin, nodding his head at my sister.

“Yeah, I guess things change,” he replies glancing down at her. “Anyway, your folks will be here soon. So, I would probably pull back on the lovebird stuff for now.”

Maya stares at me with a smile and a curious gleam in her eye. “What are you smiling about?” she queries.

I hadn’t realized I was smiling, but when I take a second, I can feel the shit-faced grin dancing from ear-to-ear. I’m about to speak when Hunt chimes in, “I asked Gabrielle to marry me, and she accepted.”

The ear-splitting shrieks that come from behind Chase and Maya startles us, even Hunt jumps slightly. Our families come charging at us, surrounding us. They hug and kiss and congratulate us while Hunt and I stand helplessly in the eye of the storm. They ask when, how, where.

“When are you getting married?” Aubrey asks.

“We hadn’t really…” Hunt tries to get out.

“Where do you think you’ll do it?” Keira blurts.

“We’re not su…” I attempt to answer.

“How…” Aubrey interrupts, but Hunt holds up his hand, halting everyone in his or her place.

“We have only just made the decision to get engaged. We will let you know all the details when we have discussed the wedding further.”

Everyone takes a step back, giving us room to breathe.

“May we see the ring?” my mother asks, smiling softly at us. I hold out my hand and blush, grinning like a damned fool. She admires it with a pleased smirk. “It’s truly stunning, Ellie.”

“Oh, Damian,” Vivian says in a teary voice, “your mother’s ring. She would be so proud of you. They both would.”

She and Pierce bring him in for a long hug, and in a manner unlike him, he grabs them both and holds them right back. It’s such a touching sight, I feel the tears welling up in my eyes before they spill out.

Hell Hath No Fury

I
t’s been two months since Hunt proposed to me in paradise. It was also the last time we heard from Dante as well. Damian says, ‘It’s just the calm before the storm’. I want to believe he’s wrong, that he’s given up, but I know it’s not true. It would be a dangerous move to underestimate his hatred and desire to take us down.

I’ve been so busy lately, with work, planning the wedding, and Hunt, that I seldom have time to think about much else. We’ve decided to have the wedding at B’s place up north, in the garden, under the oak trees where we danced and professed our happiness. Beverly said she would take care of the décor, I just told her a general idea of what I like. I only insisted on one thing, that all the flowers were to be white lilies, like the ones Hunt sent to me when we first met.

In a surprising twist, Hunt asked Chase to be his best man, and Chase actually accepted! He’s also asked Alexander and Wade to stand with him as well. The idea makes me nervous, all that alpha male testosterone in one place… That doesn’t have whips or hanging sex apparatuses that is. But, I am pleased that he’s made friends with dicks, which I tease him about mercilessly.

My mother, Vivian, and the girls have taken the rest into their own hands. They’ve only asked my opinion when absolutely necessary. The truth is I don’t mind this at all. I hate shopping, they know how to put a party together, and it keeps my mother occupied. It’s a win-win for everyone. Plus, it’s a huge stress off of me as far as major decisions. I simply tell them if I absolutely hate an idea, which I almost never do, but I’ve realized there are so many aspects and facets that go into planning that special day. It’s all about the little details.

I never really thought about how my wedding would be or what dress I would wear, but I always wondered who the person waiting at the end of the aisle would be, would he love me as I love him, was he thinking of me the way I thought of him? I’m pleased to say I found the answer was a resounding, passionate yes.

“Ellie…? Ellie, what do you think?” Elizabeth asks, rubbing my hand to get my attention.

“What?” I ask, shaking my head to get the last of the distracting thoughts out of my head. We’re sitting in this charming little bakery. Its décor is white molding, small octagon tiles, and antique brass light fixtures with delicate chocolate and pastel treats perfectly displayed behind glass.

“The cake, dear…Which do you prefer?” Vivian asks nodding down at my plate of half eaten pieces of cake.

“Oh, I like the hazelnut crème.”

“Perfect,” My mom says with a huge, overjoyed smile on her face. “That’s just what I was thinking…How about you, Vivian?”

“It was my top pick, too. Excellent choice, dear,” she praises.

I glimpse down at my watch and notice I’m running late for lunch with Hunt. I rise from between them and say, “I really should get going. Will you be okay without me?”

“Of course, Ellie. We have this under control,” Elizabeth states, waving me off.

I lean over and give them both kisses on the cheek and rush out.

Hunt

S
he’s late.

However, ever since we got engaged, she’s either late or occupied by the details of the wedding. Though, I can’t complain. She still manages to make time for us.

I’m sitting in my office, waiting for her to arrive, when my desk phone goes off. I hit the speaker button and answer with an impassive tone, “Yes, Rebecca?”

“Mr. Hunt, Ms. Montgomery is here to see you.”

“Keira or Aubrey?”

“Neither,” Olivia’s voice says from the doorway.

I stare, stunned for a moment, before leaning back in my chair, asking in a sharp tone, “What are you doing here?”

She shuts the door behind her and saunters over to my desk, dressed in all black. Her tall heels clack across the marble floor as she makes her way toward me.

“I need to speak with you.”

She takes a seat on the other edge of my desk, picking up a picture of Gabrielle. She holds it up to me, smiling faintly, but you can see the disgust behind it. The barrier makes me feel more comfortable with her unwarranted appearance.

“I remember when I was the one that held your fancy…What happened to those days?” she inquires, staring down at Elle’s photo.

“What do you want? Why have you come here, Liv?” I ask with an air as to let her know I’m not to be fucked with.

“Isn’t it obvious, Damian…? I miss you. I miss us.”

I let out a sluggish laugh, shaking my head back and forth, amused by this idiocy. It’s really a shame. I used to admire and respect her. “There is no us, and there never truly was.”

She seems taken aback for an instant, but manages to shake it off, continuing this insanity, “Oh, Damian, you know that’s not true…”

“If this doesn’t have to do with the welfare of the magazine or Dante’s whereabouts, I’m going to insist you leave.” I gesture my hand toward the door.

She takes a deep breath and rises, walking about my desk and tracing her finger along its edges as she slowly makes her way to me. She bends over, grasping the armrests of my chair, and places her face close to mine.

“I’ve missed you, Damian…Haven’t you missed me even a little?” she inquires with her bed voice.

This isn’t amusing anymore. I swallow down the acidy rage in my throat and push my chair away from her, causing her to stumble a bit.

“No, Liv, I can’t say that I have.”

“What happened to you, Damian? We used to be so in sync, so close. Then, you met
that girl
, and you disappeared on me. What happened to the virile, alpha creature that couldn’t get enough of me?”

“That girl’s name is Gabrielle. But, you may address her as Miss Hyde...or, after this weekend, Mrs. Hunt.” I smirk wickedly at her and she stiffens up. I rise from my chair and confidently walk over to the bar near the sitting area, pouring myself a swig of whiskey. I turn back to her and find she has settled on the couch, legs crossed and skirt hiked up a little too high.

“When are you going to learn, you are no longer a part of my life? I don’t want you, Olivia. You’re fucking poison.”

I take a seat in the chair across the table from her, always keeping a physical barrier between us. I down my drink and swallow slowly, allowing the warm liquid to trickle down my throat. I set down the glass on the table and steeple my hands in front of my mouth, resting my elbows on the armrests.

“She’s put that into your head. Don’t tell me you didn’t love fucking me, Damian, you couldn’t get enough…You always came back to me after every one of your pitiful subs because underneath it all, you know I’m what you want, what you need.”

She gracefully rises and struts over to me, swaying her hips in fluid, exaggerated movements. She gets close so our legs graze, standing over me with that skirt still gathered a little too high about her firm, gartered thighs. I catch an unwanted glimpse of her black lace panties, and that first night together flashes in my mind.

“You’re crossing a line you really don’t want to step over, Olivia.”

“What if I do?” she asks, bending over me and splaying her hands on my thighs for support. “I’ve missed you, Damian. I want you…I’ve never stopped wanting you.”

Her slack, plump lips are inching toward mine.

“You disgust me,” I hiss out, and she pauses with a look of devastation.

Suddenly, a familiar voice whimpers out from behind her, “Damian?”

Ah, fuck! Perfect timing, angel, as always...This isn’t going to go well.

I hastily shove Olivia away from me and rise to greet Elle at the door. “Angel, Ms. Montgomery was just leaving.”

I go in for a hug, but she sidesteps me and heads toward Olivia standing by the couch.

“What do you think you’re doing with my fiancée?” Elle asks, infuriated, thrusting her hands on her hips.

“This is between Damian and myself. Stay out of it,” Olivia snaps back.

“The only thing that should be between you two is space, and a lot of it. I think it’s time you leave, Olivia.”

Elle points to the door. The rage in her eyes blazes, but she’s holding herself back, controlling that fire inside her. I’m incredibly proud of her in this moment, proud of the woman she’s becoming.

“I’ll leave when I’m goddamn good and ready,” Olivia states, crossing her arms over her chest in a huff.

“You’re ready now,” Gabrielle says with a smart-alecky, matter-of-fact tone that causes Olivia’s face to turn a brilliant red.

“How dare you, you little gutter snipe!” She raises her hand up, and I rush to Elle’s side, but it’s too late. Olivia’s hand comes down at Gabrielle’s face, but she catches her by the wrist and shoves her back with her free hand.

Her self-defense training with Kevin seems to be going quite well…I’ll have to give him a raise.

“Don’t you ever raise your hand to me, you child-fucker!”

Olivia catches herself on the corner of the couch, and I grab her by the bicep and haul her up, escorting her to the door. I open it up and push her out.

“Rebecca, have Banks see Ms. Montgomery out of the building, and make sure she’s put on the no entry list. She is no longer employed with the magazine or this company.”

“Damian, you can’t do that to me! I started View! It’s my fucking magazine!”

I ignore her. “Did I make myself clear, Rebecca?”

“Yes, sir, very,” she answers, giving Olivia an uncomfortable side-glance.

“Excellent,” I respond, turning back into my office, slamming the door behind me, but not before Olivia calls back out to me, “You motherfucker! This isn’t fucking over!”

I’m dumbfounded by what just occurred, so much so, I forget that Gabrielle is watching me with an infuriated stare. She stands near the couch with a look in her eyes that would make a weaker man tremble.

“Gabrielle, nothing happened,” I state, holding my hands up in a defensive manner, attempting to defuse the bomb before it blows.

“And I’m sure if I had been a moment later, that wouldn’t be the case. She was going to fuck you, Damian!” she shouts at me, throwing her arms up in the air.

“Yes,” I nod, “she was trying, but I had no intention of allowing that.”

She crosses her arms and taps her foot on the ground, understandably upset by the situation she just stumbled upon.

“Whether you intended it or not,” she says, “she was alone with you in your office, trying to screw your brains out.”

“Gabrielle,” I sigh out, “I’m perfectly capable of handling her.”

“It didn’t appear so. She wouldn’t have gotten that far if you had been.”

Alright, time to extinguish this inferno.