Page 31 of Between Love and Loathing

Narrowing my eyes, I took in his gaze that sparkled on me. Was he enjoying this? “Technically, this is your fault.”

“Is it now?”

“Yes. I could have gotten my shoes out of the ocean at least.”

“They were a hundred feet out to sea, cupcake. What were you going to do, swim in your already almost-see-through dress?”

“Are you that concerned, honestly? It would have dried.” I scoffed.

“Not before half the world saw your ass,” he pointed out without hesitation.

“It’s my ass to show off,” I threw back.

“Not if I have something to do with it.”

“Oh, shut up,” I said as I whipped the box out of the bag. When I lifted the cover, I murmured “Shut up” for a whole different reason. Beautiful new Christian Louboutin shoes sparkled up at me with what I’m sure were expensive diamonds. The next bag and orange box had something even more expensive. Beautiful leather, bright green and expertly crafted. I smoothed my hand over it as I murmured, “Shut the fuck up.”

“So, you’ve got a mouth when you’re impressed then?”

“What?” I whispered, still looking at the bag.

It seemed Dominic was making notes about me though because he said, “You swore last night when I tasted you and today when you got your Birkin. You must have been impressed that I can lick your pussy like—”

“Mr. Hardy!” I cut him off as my gaze ripped away from the beautiful purse to meet his and scold him. He was smiling again, and my heart lurched in his direction seeing him so openly happy in that moment. But then my heart dropped as I glanced back at the gifts. I couldn’t afford these.

“This is very nice but I—”

“I lost your shoes and purse didn’t I?”

“Well, yes.” I wasn’t going to back down from that, even if it was mostly my fault. “But I—”

“Then I owed you, so I got you new ones. Now, put them on.”

“The shoes and purse you lost were not—”

“You said they were like fifty thousand dollars.” He wrinkled his nose as he said it and mimicked my tone.

God, I’d made a fool of myself the night before. “That’s a lot of money.”

“Not for me.”

When I still didn’t reach for them, he sighed, set his phone down, and walked toward me. He grabbed my hips and lifted me onto the prep counter. His hand skirted down my calf, and I gulped, feeling his skin against mine again. “If your colleagues weren’t outside, I’d probably ask for another round right now.”

“You’d ask?” I blurted out, not sure I could imagine him doing that.

“You’re right. I’d take.” His hand brushed back up my calf and grazed over my thigh before his hand was where my panties had been. “Fuck me, little fighter. No underwear.”

“Threw them in the trash. Couldn’t wear them again this morning.” I shrugged.

“So, when I have that penthouse cleaned, someone’s getting your dirty lingerie?”

“Probably just garbage, Dominic.” I breathed fast as his fingers brushed over my pussy. I knew this couldn’t be happening again, but I spread my legs for him, and he chuckled into my neck.

“You’re sober now, and I deserve this pussy after the hell you put me through last night.” He sighed and rubbed my clit with his thumb before dragging his hand back down my legs back to my foot. “But I’ll wait.” I was dazed, confused, even a bit too disoriented to think of him slipping the shoes on my feet. “There. Now, you’re ready to work.”

Gripping the prep counter, I shook my head once, trying to clear the sexual fog in the back room. “I still need to go home.”

I hopped off the counter and stared down at the shoes. “You don’t need to go home. You look fine with your natural hair and freckles on your face.”