Page 41 of Between Love and Loathing
“Fix what?”
“The flooring?” I asked, because I was curious how he navigated those things he didn’t plan for, how I would handle them.
“Why?” He scratched his head, trying to figure out my angle. We were only fake dating. I didn’t need to know so much about his life, right? Still, I wanted to know everything.
“If we’re gonna sell this whole fake dating thing, we need to make everyone believe it. I need to know what you’re doing. Why you are frustrated one day, why you’re proud the next. And by the way, I told Paloma how we’ve always had tension between us and when I came here, it all sort of combusted. So, that’s our story.”
“Combusted?” he asked, his tone suggestive.
“Seriously, Dominic. Relationships deal with your emotions, and your emotions seem to always deal with your job. I need to know aboutyou. We don’t even know anything about each other.”
“You think I don’t know anything about you?” He frowned at me and then slowly his lush lips lifted. “I know how you sound when I lick your pussy and you moan my name, cupcake. We definitely know something about one another.”
Jesus, his mouth was filthy sometimes, and my thighs clenched together trying to not be turned on by it. When I bit my lip, his thumb was there pulling it out of my mouth.
“Stop chewing your lip, baby. I’ll tell you whatever you want to know, okay?” He rubbed over my bite mark once before he pulled back, and I missed his touch immediately. “We added raindrop pebbles onto the bridge outside that are a sort of rubber material, which allows for much more traction.”
“Still maintained your vision with the transparent drops, I’m assuming?” I couldn’t help but be impressed. “Owning that your design was still perfect.”
“With a few alterations, yes. I’ll always own that.” Dominic Hardy, completely and utterly arrogant without any apology was a sight to see.
When we pulled up to the department store, I tried to hop out fast. “You can wait—”
“I’m coming in.” He eyed me curiously but followed as I hurried through the store, trying to find a dress that would work. I still winced at most of the prices.
“Why are we shopping here?” he finally asked as if it was a complete waste of our time.
“This place has great deals and beautiful dresses, Dominic.”
“Do we need a deal all of a sudden?” he asked, incredulous. “We don’t have time to be looking for sales, Clara. Do that with Paloma.” He didn’t wait for me to respond. Instead, he scoffed and pulled me from the store and then demanded that Callihan take us to a boutique up the road.
When he walked me into the boutique, he waved a saleswoman over. “Mr. Hardy, to what do I owe the pleasure?” She was my age, perfectly manicured and fluffed in a way I would have tried to be once while standing with my sister and mother. Now, my hair was all frizzy natural waves, and my freckles were on display with no makeup covering them whatsoever.
Dominic didn’t even glance at her. His hand was on the small of my back as he looked down at me. “Get my girlfriend whatever she wants. We have a gala type event, so make sure it’s appropriate for that.”
“Oh, sure.” She threw a glance my way and then ushered me into a fitting room. She wasn’t deterred at all by my title as his girlfriend as she directed one of her employees to pull dresses for me. She asked how his career was going, offered him champagne, and had the audacity to offer her number, too, in case he needed to have anyone else fitted for an event in the future.
“I have a lot of great designers that give us exclusive products and—”
“I’m sure my girlfriend has most of your contacts,” I heard him mumble.
When I came out of the dressing room, even though I’d no intention to do so before, he was looking down at his phone. It was as if he wasn’t at all influenced by the fact that the woman was shamelessly flirting with him.
When she turned to me and literally rolled her eyes, I felt like shrinking back into my dressing room. My mother and sister had always critiqued me ruthlessly, and I didn’t expect anything less from this woman. “Probably should try a different fit. This one isn’t flattering. And what’s your budget?” She lifted a brow, like she was challenging me.
“Oh, probably not more than this dress.” Which, at a couple thousand, was more than I could afford.
“That’s only five thousand. So, we won’t be able to find many others that can—”
“Pull every dress in her size, Miranda. And don’t tell my girlfriend what’s flattering and what’s not. She decides that. Not you.” Miranda blushed as she backed away. “Cupcake,” Dominic breathed out my name as his eyes raked over my body. “Turn around. Give me a full view?”
The way his eyes scanned me, how I saw him rearrange himself in his seat, and then how he flexed his hands, I couldn't deny him his request. Before I’d made a full spin, he was up out of his chair to stand right against my back as we faced the fitting room door mirror. “This dress accentuates every curve on your body. It’s mine, andonlymine.” I felt his length against my ass as he continued, “I don’t need other men enjoying the curves of my woman too much.”
I chuckled as his hands danced over me, giving me a confidence I should have had the moment I walked in. “Scared of a little competition, Dominic? They’re only looking.”
“Looking at what’s mine is disrespectful. I can either go out and knock heads around all night or enjoy you in my bed. I’ll do either if that’s what you want.” He turned to Miranda, whose mouth was hanging open, and repeated, “All the dresses to her fitting room. Now.”
After that, she backed off, and I didn’t come out with too many other dresses to show. He didn’t need a fashion show, and I didn’t need to be tempted to drag him into the fitting room with me.
