He had arrived at the hotel at eight in the evening. He was tired, but proud—he had secured a powerful alliance with Inker. Still, something about that man kept nagging at him… he reminded him of someone, though he couldn't say who.
After settling into his room and showering, he was heading toward Maximiliano's office when he overheard a few employees whispering. They were talking about Jade. Curious, he asked—and although they couldn't give him details, he knew exactly who could.
He got the whole story out of his friend, threatening to make a scene with the guests if he didn't hand over the room number she was in.
Defeated by his friend's persistence, Maximiliano finally gave in and told him where to find her…
But when he arrived, the door was open, and the room was empty. Small bottles of alcohol were scattered across the floor, so he decided to wait.
And there she was, reeking of alcohol, her breath warm against him, her heart pounding... And even though he was furious with her, he had to admit—he'd missed her. He'd wanted to see her with every fiber of his being. And he was dying to kiss her.
"W-what are you doing here?" she stammered. He was holding her from behind, and one of his hands had slid down to her waist. Jade was gripping his forearms.
"I came to see you," he replied, pressing closer. She tried to step back but bumped into the door. "Why are you pulling away?"
"I want you… to leave," she said, clearing her throat.
She felt strange. She wasn't mad at his closeness. She didn't want to hit him... If anything, she wanted to kiss him. But the little voice of reason inside her was screaming: no, back away,.
"I'm so mad at you," he said. He shook his head and smiled at her in such a sensual way that she couldn't help but exhale—the breath she hadn't even realized she was holding. Dominick bit his lip, restraining himself. "But the desire I feel for you… it's stronger—even stronger than the rage I felt watching you kiss my brother…"
Jade's lips parted slightly. She held onto him tighter, and he brought one hand up to her cheek. His fingers brushed her skin lightly, igniting every part of her.
Dominick traced her chin with a finger, then down her neck, and let it rest in the space left open by her shirt.
He grabbed her wrists and, with one hand, raised them above her head, pinning her gently against the wall… Expectant. Motionless. Waiting for his next move.
With his free hand, he began to unbutton her shirt. It was a bit awkward, but he managed, revealing her torso…
Her flat stomach, her breasts wrapped in a soft pink bra. He smiled when he saw her hardened nipples beneath the fabric. Then he frowned at the sight of the purple bruises on her side.
"Your sister's lucky she's a woman," he said, touching the bruised skin. He moved his open palm gently up and down the area, careful not to hurt her. "Otherwise, I'd make her pay dearly for every blow you took."
Jade didn't want to move. She was glued to the wall, completely still. Her chest rose and fell slowly, though her heart was pounding like mad.
"She ended up worse," she dared to say. Dom smiled at the proud tone in the blonde's voice.
It seemed all the alcohol had vanished from her system, though she still felt a little dizzy. But she wanted to believe that intoxicating sensation was from the liquor… but not from him. From that handsome man who carried such power in his presence. That man who shook every fiber of her being with just a touch—who awakened the deepest, most dormant parts of her.
Dom leaned down and kissed the space between her breasts, then dragged his warm, wet tongue slowly across her skin. She felt like she was on fire. Though she tried to deny it, she was aroused. Very aroused. Her body was hypersensitive to his touch—and with just a few caresses, he'd made her wet.
Dominick was breathing hard. He was just as affected. He tightened his grip on her wrists and moved his hand from her side to her breast. He looked at Jade's face—her cheeks flushed, her eyes shut tight. He slid her bra up, freeing her breast. Her pale skin contrasted with the rosy nipple, which stood erect from his touch.
"See?" Dom purred, leaving kisses all over her skin, never quite reaching the areola. "You want me, Jade. Badly." Kiss. "I'd bet that if I slipped my fingers between your legs…"—her breath hitched—"…I'd find you dripping. Admit it. You want me. There's no need to deny it."
"No," she whispered, trying to free herself from Dominick's grip. "Stop."
"I don't want to," he growled, then took her nipple into his mouth. Jade gasped and cursed under her breath as he teased it with his tongue, completely at his mercy. "Look what you do to me."
Dominick released her hands, grabbed one of them, and guided it to the hard bulge in his pants. She tried to pull away, but he didn't let her.
"Feel how hard I am?" He leaned in close to her face. "That's your fault. You should be the one helping me with this." He smiled, then kissed her—and Jade instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.
He didn't waste time. Lifting her with ease, he guided her legs around his waist and carried her to the bed, placing her down carefully so as not to hurt her bruises.
With desperate urgency, he removed her shoes and pants. He craved to see her fully exposed. He had already lost one chance—this time, nothing would stop him.
She still wore her open shirt, her panties, and one bare breast—glistening from his earlier touch.
Jade was breathless, her body trembling with desire. Her mind couldn't form a coherent thought.
Dominick climbed on top of her and kissed her deeply, his hands slipping the shirt off her shoulders, then reaching for her bra.
"Say it," he ordered, positioning himself between her thighs and grinding against her. "Say you want me…"
"No," she murmured, dragging her nails down his back. Dominick kissed her again, even more fiercely, amused by her resistance. She was stubborn to the core. He cupped her breasts, his mouth still devouring hers.
He was consumed by her beauty, overtaken by passion, barely holding himself back. His lips left hers to move down her neck, where he sucked gently, leaving a mark on her skin.
His hands slipped down to her panties. Without warning, he tore them at the seams, earning a protest from the blonde.
Dom sat up, yanked off his shirt—ripping buttons in the process. Jade was gone, lost in sensation. In that room, there were no thoughts, no boundaries—just a man and a woman, consumed by fire.
"God…" he breathed, his voice rough with restraint. "I need to control myself… or I might lose it."
He grabbed her hips and pulled her closer, face just inches from her most sensitive spot.
"I'm going to enjoy this… more than you," he murmured, a wicked grin on his lips.
"What are you—?" she tried to ask, but her voice was swallowed by the wave of pleasure that followed. Dominick's tongue found its mark, unrelenting and skilled, pulling a loud moan from her lips.
Jade writhed beneath him as he unleashed all his talents, sending shivers through her with every stroke. He nibbled softly, just enough to make her cry out, her hands clutching the sheets as waves of heat surged through her body.
"Say it, Jade," he ordered again, holding her hips firmly and picking up the pace. Her moans deepened, the wetness between her thighs growing with every second. "Say you want me. Admit it."
"Never! Damn it!" she cried out, her hips moving on their own, seeking the expert rhythm of the man intent on stealing another climax from her.
He released her and slipped a finger inside. Her tight heat was intoxicating—hot and wet. He added another, drawing out a wounded moan from her lips. Dominick frowned but ignored the sound, circling her clit slowly with his thumb.
"I-I'm not… going to—!" she gasped, arching her back as he felt her walls clench around his fingers. "Hold—on!"
Her cry filled the room as she collapsed against the bed, her body covered in sweat, her chest rising and falling with exhaustion and satisfaction. A lazy smile tugged at her lips.
Dominick trailed kisses up her body—lingering on her core, then her belly, her breasts, her jaw—until he reached her lips and kissed her deeply, letting her taste herself.
Just as he began unbuckling his belt, his phone rang. Seeing Maximiliano's name on the screen, he growled and threw the phone aside. A loud crash followed. It had probably broken, but he didn't care.
Then Jade's phone rang.
"It might… be important," she whispered, still trying to recover, her heartbeat racing.
"Damn it!" Dominick snarled, slamming a fist into the mattress. "This has to be a fucking joke!"
He stood up, frustrated. The bulge in his pants throbbed, painfully hard. He glanced at Jade, who was reaching for her phone. He couldn't help but smirk at the view—her round backside, her slick thighs still glistening.
He shook it off, cursing inwardly.
She answered the call, and whatever she heard made her bolt upright. She almost fell but caught herself, frantically searching for something to wear.
Dominick frowned at her sudden change.
"What's wrong?" he asked, pulling his shirt back on, resigned to the fact that nothing more would happen.
"It's Lennon," she said, slipping into underwear and the first pair of pants she could grab, forgetting her bra entirely. "She's missing. We need to find her—damn it!"
He could see the real panic on her face.
"Maybe she just went for a walk," he offered, fastening his belt.
"You don't understand," she said, grabbing her phone. "Someone wants to kidnap her—her godmother sold her and… I have to go!"
Dominick froze, shocked. He didn't know what to say, didn't know how to react. All he knew was next time, he'd destroy every damn phone in sight.
~•~
Jade
She ran down the hallway to the elevator and punched the button for the lobby, anxiety boiling in her chest. She called Nerea. On the third ring, her friend picked up.
"Hello, Jade—"
"Lennon's gone!" she cried, cutting her off.
"What? What do you mean she's gone?!"
"I don't know exactly—Maximiliano called and said Gideon lost sight of her. I'm heading to the lobby, we're going to the mansion. Where are you?"
"I'm arriving at the hotel now. I'll meet you downstairs."
Jade hung up and waited for the elevator. As soon as the doors opened, she burst out, eyes scanning the lobby until she spotted her friend on the phone by the door. She hurried toward him.
"What happened?" she demanded.
"We'll find out when we get there. I don't have enough details yet," he said, pocketing his phone.
Nerea joined them moments later.
"We should go now," she said urgently.
The three of them got into Maximiliano's car, already waiting out front. The ride to the mansion was quiet—tension thick in the air. Jade silently prayed nothing had happened to Lennon. By the time they arrived, she was practically out of nerves.
She and Nerea were the first to leap from the car, rushing to the front door and pounding on it insistently.
Seconds later, a cranky Amelia opened the door, irritation written all over her face.
"You again," she muttered.
"Move, you old witch," Nerea snapped, pushing past her. They both entered as Amelia huffed indignantly and stormed off to the kitchen.
"Poor woman," Maximiliano chuckled, amused.
Without being invited, they made their way to Gideon's office. Inside, he sat behind his desk, looking angrier than usual. He held an ice pack to his head.
"We're here. We want answers," Jade said firmly from the doorway.
Gideon met her gaze, face like stone—but she didn't flinch.
"We went out again. In the parking area, someone hit me and took her. It happened an hour ago," he explained, checking his phone for any updates—but there were none.
"She wasn't supposed to leave!" Jade accused, frustrated. She hadn't known Lennon long, but she already cared deeply for her.
Lennon was special. Sweet. Pure.
"Are you saying it's my fault?" Gideon asked, his calm tone fooling no one. He was barely keeping it together.
"Take it however you want," she muttered through clenched teeth.
"Let's calm down," Nerea said quickly. "Fighting won't help. Lennon's out there, God knows where and with who. We need to focus."
"She's right. This isn't about blame—it's about finding her."
"I have men on it…" Gideon replied.
At that moment, Jade's phone rang again. It was an unknown number.
"Hello?" she answered—and then she heard a sob, followed by her name.
"Oh my God…"