Her Dom's Lesson (Dominic Powers Book 2) Read online

  “About ten weeks now,” she replies quietly, dropping her eyes to the floor. “I found out in the hospital. The doctor said they did a pregnancy test before doing all my X-rays just to be on the safe side.”

  On the safe side–that phrase kicks me into gear and Shadow’s words come back to me. If Sophia is a target now, she needs to be protected around the clock. As much as I’m not ready for what I’m about to say, if she’s really pregnant with my baby, I have no other choice. The Dom in me says to take her home and make her beg for release to remind her who she belongs to. The man who just found out he’s going to be a father has a deep-rooted need just to make sure his baby is safe.

  “Speaking of being ‘on the safe side,’ and since you’re pregnant with my baby–and it is mine, correct?”

  “Yes, of course it’s yours!” she replies with indignation.

  “Since you’re pregnant with my baby, you’re moving in with me so I can make sure you’re both safe.” My tone and expression leave no room for any argument.

  “What?” she asks, confusion etched in her beautiful face. It is mixed with a hopefulness that she doesn’t try to mask.

  To be fair, this has shocked the fuck out of me, but it all makes sense to me now. It’s the best–and only–solution for everything that has hit us. “Whoever is behind the attempts on my life is still out there and now could be after you, according to Shadow. The safety of you and my baby is my primary concern. You and I still have things that we need to work through and you need to be reminded that you are mine. Moving in with me is the only option that makes sense.”

  “You aren’t mad at me?” she asks timidly.

  “I’m not mad about the pregnancy. I’m still in shock since this was the last thing I expected to hear today. But, it actually makes my decision easier,” I reason.

  The sadness in her eyes multiplies exponentially and she looks completely defeated. “What are you thinking, Sophia?”

  “I didn’t want to tell you about the baby yet. If you decided you wanted to be with me, I wanted to know it was because of me and not that you feel obligated because of the baby.”

  Standing, I stalk across my office and scrub my hand over my face. Turning back to her, the anger wells back up in me at her deception, but I can’t just forget the other things she did for me. “Sophia, I admit that I’ve been really mad over all of this. So fucking mad. But, I knew there was something missing because of the things you did to protect me.

  “Hearing the full story from you helped put some of the pieces of this fucked up jigsaw puzzle in place. I can’t say I’m pleased with all of this, but I know how much you love your brother, so I can definitely see you trying to protect him. You still should’ve told me, but I should’ve listened.

  “I can’t put all of the blame on you. If I’d heard you out before now, so many things would be different. You’ve admitted to your faults and apologized. It’s my turn to do the same.”

  Her eyes widen and her lips part in shock. She stares at me in disbelief without making a sound for the first several seconds. “Dom, no. No. All these months I’ve been with you, I should’ve told you. This isn’t your fault.”

  I shake my head from side to side and walk slowly toward her. Stopping directly in front of her, I take her hand and pull her to her feet. “No, Sophia, I acted like a complete ass. You’ve shouldered the blame and guilt alone long enough. My reaction was rash. I should’ve had more faith in you and asked you directly. That was stupid…just stupid. There’s no other word to describe it.

  “When those papers were served, I’d just been told about your connection to Harrison. I saw red and I immediately felt like a failure as your Dom. I thought I’d been played for a fool and I automatically believed the worst. You never had a chance to explain or clarify what I thought, and my actions put you in danger. I’m sorry, Sophia.”

  She searches my eyes and my face, looking for any trace of mockery, but she won’t find it. Standing this close to her has my senses on full alert as I drink in her natural beauty, inhale her sweet perfume, and long to touch her. I’m still hesitant, even though she’s assured me she’s not behind the sexual harassment fiasco. I can’t give the other employees any ammunition to use against me.

  “Does this mean you forgive me?” she whispers to me. Her hands draw into fists at her side while she awaits my answer. “Does this mean you want me again?”

  This brave, beautiful lady has endured so much in her short life. The Dom in me wants to take away all the pain and give her only pleasure. He also wants to punish her, lovingly, and drive out any thought, memory, or knowledge of any other man. The man in me just wants to pull her into my arms and tell her that everything will be fine…eventually.

  With her question, she’s asking me if I want her for more than just my baby she carries. Her heart and mind crave the security and protection only her Dom can provide. But, she needs to hear the words and feel the power of the meaning behind them when I say I want her, I need her, and I love her.

  “You are still My Angel, Sophia,” I pour my feelings into my words, “if you’ll still have me as your Dom.”

  She’s been strong and she’s kept her emotions under control. She’s kept the tears at bay and responded to questions with logic and reason. Until now. The tears she’s held back flow like a torrent, running unchecked down her beautiful cheeks. The sobs wrack her body as her shoulders start shaking. I open my arms wide and she rushes into them, wrapping her arms around my waist and clinging tightly to me.

  Wrapping my arms around her until she’s fully enveloped, I pull her as close to me as two bodies can be and just hold her. My heart broke when I lost her and I feel the same intensity she feels now, we just show it in different ways. My desire to shelter and protect her has increased a million times over now, and not only because of her pregnancy. It’s mainly because she’s shown her devotion to me during a time when she had no reason to.

  I failed her but she only focuses on her actions. Her well-being is my primary concern now, and that is part of my responsibility as her Dom. “Sophia,” I murmur against her ear, “my love, calm down for me. It’s not good for you to get so upset.”

  Rubbing her back and gently kissing her head, her body begins to relax against me. Her sobs diminish into occasional hiccups until her breathing finally returns to normal. She sniffles every few seconds, but I can feel the tension rolling off of her in waves. “That’s my girl. Feel better now?” I ask, keeping my tone gentle.

  She nods but her grip on me tightens, telling me she’s not ready to be released yet. I smile and lower my face to rest my cheek on top of her head. Every part of our body is touching, and as my hands roam across her body, I realize just how much weight she has lost. I can feel each notch to count her ribs. Moving my hands further down, I feel her hipbones protruding more and my concern for her health increases significantly.

  Quietly soothing her, I raise the question that plagues me now. “Sophia, I asked you earlier, but I want you to thoroughly think about this before you answer. Really consider every remote possibility.”

  “Okay,” comes her muffled reply.

  “Do you trust me? Completely, absolutely, and without a single doubt or question? If I told you to do something that’s best for you, would you do it even if you didn’t want to? Don’t answer right away, and give me your completely honest answer.”

  While she considers my questions, runs through the scenarios in her mind, and weighs her choices, I wait on baited breath. Her answer has to be unequivocally ‘yes’ for this relationship to work. No reservations, nothing held back “just in case.” This is an all-in or all-out situation and I think she knows that. The part of her mind that is holding onto her fears is what keeps her from giving herself completely to me.

  “Dom,” comes her watery reply. “Can I tell you something before I answer that?”

  “Of course,” I reply, knowing that every insight into her thought process gives me an advantage–gives us an adva
ntage.

  “When I was seventeen, I left home and lived on my own, on the streets. I graduated high school early since I had enough credits, but you know my home life had become unbearable. I had already lost my mom and my dad before that, but then I later lost my brother–the one person who really loved me and the one I truly loved.

  “Then when I met Harrison, I thought he was good. I thought he loved me and would help me, but I was so wrong about him. Then I met you, and you were more than I ever thought a man could be. More than I deserved. But, I fell for you, so fast, so hard. My love for you can’t even be described. Then I lost you, too.

  “I’ve lost everyone I’ve ever loved, Dom. It scares me to know that I would be happiest just giving you all of me, just being completely lost in you. What happens to me if I do and then I lose you? There would be nothing left of me.”

  Knowing fear was at the root of the problem is one thing. Hearing her describe it in those terms is another. Her question wasn’t rhetorical. As her Dom, she needs me to have the answer, to reassure her, and to make the hard decisions so that she doesn’t have to do it. The consequences of any decision will be on me, and none of the blame will be on her.

  “Sophia, you are mine to love, to cherish, and to protect. I will take the burdens from your shoulders and put them on mine, because I can carry them. I can bear those heavy loads better than you can. All you have to do is let them go, let them fall on me, and I will gladly take them for you.

  “You’ve been strong long enough. The tough decisions aren’t up to you anymore. The negative repercussions of those decisions aren’t yours to worry about anymore. You’re My Angel, and I’m your immovable rock. I’m not going anywhere, Sophia. You’ll always have me. Lose yourself in me, give me all of you, and let me make you the happiest woman that ever lived.”

  Those aren’t just pretty words and hollow promises I just made her. That is my binding word, my honor, and my love. Everything that means anything to me is in my arms right now–My Angel and my child. This is my family and this is what I will protect with swift ferocity. When her body softens, and there’s no way to tell where she ends and I begin, I know she’s made up her mind. She can’t get close enough to me as she prepares to give me her answer.

  “I trust you, Dom. Take all of me. I’m nothing but an empty shell without you. I would rather have five minutes of real happiness with you than a lifetime of nothingness without you,” she surrenders.

  It’s such a beautiful thing to watch her submit, to break down her walls, and to lay down her fears. Trusting me to keep my word, keep her safe, and love her through it all fills me with purpose and pride. Sharing the deep love we have for each other is what keeps us going through the darkest hours. Sophia will never doubt my unending love or my unyielding commitment to her again.

  Sophia

  Can this be true? Am I dreaming? If I am, I don’t ever want to wake. The other dream I had about Dom gutted me. It felt so real when he rejected me, but having him hold me and whisper words of love feels more like a dream than reality. I never thought I’d see the day when he’d welcome me back in his arms.

  Even knowing there are still issues we have to work through doesn’t scare me. His promise to me just gave me all the reassurance I need to know that everything will work out. I finally know what it means to let him in, to let him see the sides of me that I keep hidden from the rest of the world. The old fears no longer matter.

  “Dom,” I whisper into his chest, “it feels like such a heavy weight has been lifted off my shoulders and from my heart. I’ve missed you so much.”

  “I’ve missed you, too, My Angel,” he whispers back and sends chills across my entire body. “It’s good to have you back in my arms.”

  “I’m afraid I’ve made a mess of your white shirt. I’m so sorry about that, Dom. Do you want me to go get you another one?”

  “Shhh,” he soothes, “that’s not for you to worry about, love. It’s only a shirt. It means nothing. I have plenty more at home. Speaking of, that’s where I’d like to take you now.” Placing his hands on my shoulders, he gently pushes me away from his body to look at me as he talks. “Sophia, you’ve lost so much weight and I am concerned for your health, and our baby’s health. I think it’s best that you quit working now.”

  “Am I not doing a good job here?” I ask, the panic threatening to close my throat off.

  He smiles warmly at me, “Yes, Sophia, you’ve been doing an excellent job here. I made the best business decision of my life when I hired you. But, everything that you’ve been through over the last couple of months is taking a toll on your body. Trust me.”

  This is the pivotal moment where I have to decide if I’m truly his sub and he’s truly my Dom, or if I will hold on to my fear and let it rule my life. No matter what the question is, my answer will always be to choose my Dom. I’ve learned my lesson in thinking that I can handle everything. I’m strong, but there’s more strength in accepting love and help than there is in refusing it.

  “I trust you,” I reply, conveying that I’ll do as he asks. Dom leans down and captures my mouth with his. The feel of his lips on mine again is pure bliss. It’s been so long since I’ve felt him. I want to burn this feeling, his taste, and his kiss into my memory to sustain me for the days when he’s away.

  Breaking the kiss, but keeping his lips hovering just above mine, he whispers, “Let me take you home now, My Angel.”

  “My answer to that will always be ‘yes,’ Dom. Always.”

  Using his private bathroom, I clean the streaked makeup from my face and prepare to leave the office. Dom tells me that the few personal items I want to take home with me will be packed up and delivered for me.

  As I walk back into his office, he has an amused look on his face. “What are you thinking, Dom?”

  “Did you run into my mother out shopping one day?” he asks, catching me off guard.

  “Yes, I did and we talked a little. I didn’t tell her about Harrison but I did tell her this was all a huge misunderstanding that I needed to fix with you. Why?”

  “She wouldn’t tell me about your conversation, but she kept saying I needed to talk to you. You didn’t tell her you’re pregnant?” he asks.

  “No,” I say, thinking back to our encounter, “but I was standing outside of a maternity store.”

  Dominic grins and shakes his head, “Yeah, I think she figured it out.” He looks up at me, “Ready to go home now.”

  Home. Home is where the heart is and my heart is with my Dom, so my home is wherever he is. His arm is protectively wrapped around me as Shadow escorts us to the waiting car. Looking around, I realize that I haven’t seen Tucker in a while.

  “Where is Tucker?” I ask Dom. Shadow tries to hide his grin as he takes his seat behind the wheel and Dom and I climb in the backseat. “What’s so funny?”

  “Tucker has been following you, Sophia,” Dom explains.

  “I know he was at one time, but when I was let out of the hospital he said he had other things to do so he wouldn’t be around.”

  “Yeah, that was true for less than an hour but I quickly changed my mind. He’s been tailing you and making sure that you were safe the whole time.”

  “So, does he know about…,” I look down at my stomach and back to Dom.

  “No, Tucker doesn’t know that you’re pregnant, but I do,” Shadow replies.

  Both Dom and I snap our heads in Shadow’s direction and my mouth gapes open.

  “When did you find out?” Dominic challenges.

  “When she was in the hospital,” Shadow casually replies. “I told you I wouldn’t be much of a spy if I didn’t know everything that happens when it happens.”

  “How do you know and Tucker doesn’t?” I retort.

  “Tucker is a good guy. Damn good at his job. But he doesn’t have the resources I have at my disposal.”

  I look at Dom, dumbfounded and have no clue what to even ask next. Dom smiles, shrugs a shoulder and says, “He’s righ
t. He’s damn good at his job. I’ve learned not to question him because he doesn’t tell me shit until he’s ready to tell me anyway.” Then he quickly adds, “But don’t think you can pull that on me, Sophia.”

  “I wouldn’t dare, Dom,” I say, teasingly.

  “Yes, ma’am, I am going to enjoy reminding you who your Dom is,” he replies with a half-threatening, half-sensual tone.

  Oh, Dom, I can’t wait for that, either.

  Chapter Ten

  Shadow heads in the direction of the lake house, prompting me to turn to Dominic. “Is your house not finished yet?”

  “No, not yet,” he says as he moves closer to me. “It will be another couple of months before we can move back in there. We’re still at the lake house.”

  “Where’s your normal driver?”

  “On his honeymoon. Shadow says he prefers to be in control of the car, anyway,” Dominic laughs.

  “Don’t we need to get my things from the condo?” I question Dom, who opens his mouth to speak but I jump in first. “Let me guess–it’s already being taken care of.”

  He flashes the first full on pull-me-in-and-melt-me smile that I’ve seen in way too long. “You’re learning,” he playfully replies and we both laugh. This is the easy-going man I love.

  Oh, shit. With everything today has already brought, I completely forgot about my plans for an upcoming weekend. I have to tell him but I know he won’t like it at all. He may tell me I can’t go, but I have to make him understand why it’s so important to me to see this through.

  “Tell me,” he says, interrupting my thoughts.

  “What?” His statement catches me off guard since I’ve been in my own world. Did I miss something he said?

  “You just tensed up and you left me here alone for a minute,” he explains. “Something’s on your mind and you’re anxious about it.”

  “I just remembered my plans for the weekend after next and I don’t think you’re going to like it,” I admit, holding his gaze to convey I’m not withholding information from him.