He shouldn’t have kissed her.
And he shouldn’t think about it anymore, Dominic decided as he walked to Samaire’s apartment the next evening. Eagerness pulsed through him and Dominic tried to will it away. He gave an irritable sigh. He needed to focus on his job tonight. He also needed to complete this favor for Samaire without adding any complications.
But if Dominic had to describe Samaire Grainger, he would only use one word: complicated. She made his job easier but the woman was difficult and stubborn as a rock.
Samaire argued with him over the tiniest detail with no provocation. She questioned everything from his plans for Cedar Creek Wine Cellars to his enthusiasm. And being questioned wasn’t something Dominic was used to or liked.
<Dominic forced his attention back to the whiteboard.“Why do you need to work like this? You don’t have to do everything step-by-step in chronological order. I’m sure we could knock off a few steps.” Samaire rushed over to the board, her arms outstretched to block him.“Don’t touch a thing, Dominic. Please! This is a system that I’ve perfected over the years. It’s working for me and this is all that matters.” It was tempting to tease her and pretend to erase the board with the sweep of his arm but it was obvious how protective she was of her work. Almost in an aggressive way…“You don’t always need a system. Take last night… We improvised and it worked out perfectly fine.”“Just because it worked once doesn’t
“Okay, Sam… I’m waiting,” Dominic said a couple of moments later. He leaned against the wall with his arms crossed and one ankle hooked over the other. His smile was wide and crooked. His eyes twinkled, daring her to make a move and knowing she wouldn’t.“Shut up, Dom! I’m thinking,” Samaire whispered as she glared at him. She looked around the room for inspiration. The small bathroom had white walls and a black-and-white-checkered tile floor. Her gaze rested on the towels that sat on the porcelain sink. She had no idea what to do next.“Shouldn’t we be making noises?” he asked as he checked his watch. “You know… Moans? Groans? Whispers? Bump rhythmically against the door?” Samaire marched over to him.
All of Dominic’s senses were on high alert as he drove Samaire home from the charity event. He was aware of the faint scent of her unique perfume and Dominic licked his lips as he recalled how her skin tasted. Dominic was tempted to turn on the radio to cut through the thick silence between them. He kept glancing at her, remembering the softness of her hair and the fullness of her sweet, sensual mouth. What happened between them in the bathroom had been hot and wild. Her touch had made him rock hard and he was still in agony. Why had Samaire kissed him with such passion? He wasn’t sure if he wanted the answer. Was she just curious how it would be between them? Because he damn sure was. But he also knew Samaire. She wouldn’t reach out unless she had all the data to weigh the pros and cons. And even then, she would hold back if she wasn’t completely certain. Had she kissed him because she had committed to the role she was playing? That w
“It wasn’t that simple.”“Why not? Were they looking for something else?” she asked. “Did you find out what they wanted so you could meet their requirements?”“God, Samaire! Breathe, will you?!” he said holding up his hand for her to stop. “Where are all these questions coming from?”“I’m just curious, that’s all… What did you do when you were rejected?” Samaire asked again.“Well, there was nothing I could do. Sometimes you have no control over these decisions. I simply moved on.” She narrowed her eyes as if she was trying to understand.“You were told ‘no’ and you ‘moved on’? To me, it seems this was very important to you…”“It was.” Dominic gritted his teeth as he turned the car into her apartment complex. It had been so important that he had battled hard with his family to even apply to the culinary school. He had gone to the university they’d chosen, but after that, he wanted to try something else. In the end, they’d reluctantly supported him but off
Dominic rested his arm against the door frame and leaned closer to Samaire.“Well, now you just put it out there in the world…” Samaire’s throat tightened. He was going to make light of her invitation. She should have known.“Yeah… I guess I did,” she replied slowly.“After that, I’m going to wonder what it’s like to be with you,” Dominic continued as he stared at her mouth. He hadn’t before? Not even once? Samaire didn’t want to think about that.“It could prove to be a distraction.” Slowly, he reached out and cupped her face with his hand. It was warm and so manly against her delicate skin.“I may not be able to stop wondering about it once this week is over.” Samaire fought the urge to lean into his touch.“That could be detrimental to our working relationship.” Dominic gently rubbed his thumb against her cheekbone.“But having sex will change everything,” he warned Samaire.“I believe everything between us has already cha
Samaire licked her lips as he covered her sex with his other hand.“You deserve better, baby…” Dominic pressed his finger against her slick and swollen clitoris, and she bucked against his hand.“You should have more… so much more…”“Just because I’m quiet doesn’t mean that I only like sweet, romantic sex. I want…” A rough moan tore from her throat.“Quiet?” Dominic said in a teasing tone as he stroked her sex. Her breath hitched in her throat as her skin went hot and tingly. He slid his fingers inside her for just one second, enough for her to lose her mind and yell.“Dom…”“Sweet?” he asked again and slid his fingers once again inside her, this time deeper. “I never thought of you like that, Samaire… Oh, baby, what you are is so fucking wet… so hot…” She leaned her head against his shoulder.“Please, Dom… Oh, God, please! Please, take me now… Put your cock inside me and…”“Already?” His voice was raspy and low against her e
Samaire parked her car in front of the wine bar. There was a rainy, freezing day that would normally have her curled up at home with a mug of hot chocolate. Instead, she was venturing out in the horrible weather, on her way to see Dominic. Any excuse was good to see him. Samaire used to shake her head at women who did that when they started a relationship. Now she was one of them! While she wanted to make the most of this fling, she also had to remember that it had no future. So, she had to play it cool. She stepped into the wine bar and ran her fingers through her damp hair, glancing around.“Samaire?” Deanna walked by her and stopped. Her hands were filled with two bags containing wine bottles.“I should’ve known you would be here.”“Hi, Deanna, good to see you,” Samaire replied hesitantly and glanced in the direction of the kitchen. “Did you enjoy the bonfire?” Her friend wagged her eyebrows.“Not as much as you did…” Sama
Her eyes widened with outrage.“I should thank him because he didn’t give me false hope. He listed all the reasons why the industry would chew me up and spit me out.” Dominic frowned as he remembered the pain of that moment.“I’ve never told anyone about that. Not even my parents. In the end, no one accepted me and I finally had to work for my family.”“That was years ago,” she pointed out. “It’s different now.”“Yeah, it’s different. I’m too old to go after this dream.”“No, you’re not,” Samaire insisted. She grabbed his arm, and he got the sense she would have shaken him if she could.“Do you know how many clients I have who are on their second or third career?”“It’s too late for me, Sam.” Samaire studied his expression.“You told me you still dreamed about it.”“When I have a bad day at work…” His mind often drifted to the idea when he wasn’t careful.“You’re bored here, Dom.” She gestured around his office. Dominic stiff