Dominick saw a flash of clarity when he noticed the terror in Jade's eyes. He loosened his grip but didn't let go.
She was trembling from fear, something she had never felt before. It was as though she might be attacked at any moment…
"Jade…" he whispered her name, for the first time feeling bad and regretful for causing fear in someone with his actions. "I'm not going to hurt you."
She still didn't say anything, staring at him in terror. Dominick didn't know what to say to snap her out of the state she was in, so, without fully understanding why he did it… why it felt so comforting...
He hugged her...
Jade tensed when she found herself wrapped in his arms, her body fitting into Dominick's imposing figure. He placed one hand on her lower back and the other on her neck, making circles to help her relax.
She began to calm down, her heart still racing. She closed her wide-open eyes.
Jade lost herself in his chest, inhaling his scent and the aftershave cologne… Masculine, she thought. Dominick loosened his grip to let her go, but in a surprising move, she wrapped her slim arms around his waist.
Dom pulled her back against him, inhaling the scent of her shampoo, closing his eyes for a moment to enjoy it. When he opened them again, he saw, from a distance, the one he once called brother.
Christian was watching the scene from a safe distance. Dominick had always been able to read his brother, or so he thought, until he discovered his betrayal. But he was completely sure that in that moment, Christian was hurt, it pained him to see Dominick holding Jade...
A malicious smile appeared on his lips, and the anger gave way to satisfaction...
Dominick was driven by the hatred he felt for his brother. He kissed Jade's head and pulled away slightly. With her back to the hallway, Dominick could see Christian, but she wouldn't notice him.
He lowered his head to kiss her, and Christian couldn't stand it anymore and left.
Jade pulled away when she realized he was going to kiss her. She felt uncomfortable. She was about to leave, but then she turned back.
"I need you not to kiss me again, you've already done it twice and it can't..."
"Repeat it again?" He interrupted her, taking a mocking attitude. She scrunched her nose, first angry, then affectionate, and then teasing. «He has so many issues», she thought.
"Yes" she crossed her arms.
"Alright" he said with a smile.
She raised her eyebrows.
"Seriously?" He nodded. "Perfect."
She smiled and turned around.
Dominick didn't drop the smile from his face when he took her arm, spun her around, and kissed her without any further warning.
He pulled her tight against him when she resisted, Jade's fists slamming into his shoulders until Dominick tickled her sides, making her laugh and open her mouth. What he was looking for... His tongue darted through her oral cavity without wasting any time.
Jade let herself be enveloped by the electrifying sensations of his tongue against hers, playing a most dangerous game. A kiss that bristled every hair on her body.
Dominick was lost, intoxicated and ecstatic... He felt in glory, both were short of breath but neither wanted to pull away.
He broke the kiss for a few seconds and against all odds, because he thought she was going to slap him like last time, Jade kissed him again with more intensity.
Encouraging him to keep going.
Dominick pinned her against the nearest wall and grabbed his hands on her ass. Pressing it against his growing erection, Jade let out a moan uncharacteristic of her.
His kisses trailed down her neck, he lifted her up and she wrapped her legs around Dominick's waist.... Lost in desire they were, Jade was beside herself and her reason neuron died with every kiss and every caress she allowed him to give her.
Dominick's curious fingers trailed up her thigh, seeking to rummage through her underwear.....
"It's something very normal, I've heard it happens every year," exclaimed a voice from the hallway, unaware of the heated scene that had just unfolded on the balcony.
As if burned, they quickly pulled away from each other. Dominick was sporting a massive erection that threatened to break through his pants.
Two elderly women walked by and didn't give them more than a three-second glance. They just kept going.
Both were breathing heavily, their chests rising and falling, lips swollen, and Jade had her eyes shut.
She wanted to disappear from that place… and foolishly believed that by closing her eyes, her wish might come true.
"Open them. Closing them won't erase the fact that you kissed me… and what a kiss, my God!" he grinned.
"You kissed me!" she replied, flustered.
"I kissed you first, but when I pulled away," he leaned closer, "you kissed me after. So stop denying that you feel the same way I do."
"Feelings? Me? For you?" Jade burst into laughter. "Never!"
She turned around and walked off in a hurry.
She felt like she was going to lose her mind.
Dominick looked down at his pants, his erection was practically screaming for attention.
"Damn it…" he muttered in frustration. "This little game is starting to wear me out." He adjusted himself inside his pants and headed to his room.
A freezing cold shower would help calm him down.
Jade
She was walking fast. She didn't know how to react, and she definitely didn't know what she was going to say to her friend when she saw her like this.
She couldn't lie to her, she would notice immediately. They'd known each other for years, and Nerea could always tell when she wasn't being honest.
She stopped.
Took a deep breath and mentally chanted for inner peace. Inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly.
"Breathe in peace, exhale stress… Breathe in peace, exhale stress…" she repeated with her eyes closed. "Shit!" she groaned, starting to walk again. "This isn't working."
She was so nervous, the recent situation–if you could call it that—with Dominick had completely thrown her off. She didn't recognize herself at all.
The sensible Jade who usually ruled her life had vanished the moment Dominick kissed her…
"This can't happen again," she warned herself.
She reached her room and stopped at the door, forcing a smile that felt completely fake before stepping in.
"Who's in here…?" she asked, looking at the mess. "Ironic, we keep everyone else's rooms spotless, and ours looks like a pigsty."
"They pay us for the first part," Nerea replied, walking out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel with another around her hair. "Besides, it's just for today. Tomorrow we'll do something."
"Yeah…" Jade sat on the old armchair and closed her eyes.
"What are you doing?" she opened them and found her best friend's inquisitive gaze. "Don't even try to pretend like nothing's wrong, you look like you've seen a ghost." Jade was about to answer, but Nerea spoke first. "This is not gossip hour, so get up and start getting ready. It's almost seven, and the party's at eight."
She got up.
"Crap, I lost track of time."
Jade stepped into the bathroom. She stripped off every piece of clothing, instantly left naked. She looked at her messy blonde hair in the small mirror. She wasn't ugly—she knew that perfectly well—but her beauty wasn't anything out of this world.
There were plenty of women out there with green eyes, prettier than her… But her looks had never been a priority. She'd never had time for that.
"I don't hear the water running!" Nerea shouted impatiently.
Jade burst out laughing.
"Yes, yes! I'm getting in!"
[...]
"You should've bought the one I told you to, Jade," Nerea scolded. "That sexy black one would've made you look like… a man-tamer." Nerea mimicked the sound of a whip, making both of them laugh.
"That's exactly why I didn't buy it," she confessed. "I like this dress. It's simple, very modest…"
"Very prude, you mean…" Nerea muttered while straightening her hair.
"Hey!" Jade stuck out her tongue. "It's pretty."
"Yes, Jade, I know it's pretty."
"Hmm."
They both continued doing their hair. About half an hour later, they were ready.
Nerea had straightened her brown hair, and wore a white dress with an open back and no bra. Her heels were sleek, black stilettos.
"How do I look?" she asked, giving a little twirl.
"Wow…" Jade looked her up and down. "I'm starting to question my sexual orientation. You look stunning."
"Thanks, thanks…" she finished brushing her lashes. "You look gorgeous too, hard as it is for me to say." She placed a hand on her chest dramatically. "The dress is actually nice."
"I have good taste," Jade said confidently.
"No, you don't." They both laughed.
Jade wore her hair curly, and her sky-blue dress hugged her figure up to the waist, with a discreet neckline. The bottom flowed freely down to her knees.
"What time is it?" Jade asked.
She grabbed a small purse and her phone. She didn't carry money, everything would be covered by the hotel.
"7:58," Nerea replied.
"Should we go?"
"No, let's wait a little longer. Come, sit for a minute," Nerea said, holding out her hand. Jade raised an eyebrow but took it.
Jade sat in front of the mirror.
"Let's make you a little prettier, okay?" she said, showing her a makeup brush.
"Do I have a choice?" Jade asked with a smile.
"Nope."
"Oh well." She swept her curls behind her shoulders so they wouldn't get in the way.
"Do you want to tell me why you came back so flustered?" Jade tensed up. "Relax, I'm not saying you killed someone. If you don't want to talk about it, I'll understand. I'm just worried. You seemed really off."
Jade sighed and leaned back against the chair.
"Sit up straight, Jade," her friend ordered.
"I'll get to the point. I'll tell you the details later…" She looked at her through the mirror. "Dominick kissed me again… and I..." she covered her eyes, "I kissed him back."
"Damn, I thought you hated him and liked Robinson."
"I do hate him. And I do like Robinson," she said, lowering her hands, "but I don't know what's happening to me. We're always arguing, and then he pulls something like that… God, I think I'm losing my mind…"
"With desire…" Nerea finished for her. "And I don't blame you or judge you. Dominick is one hell of a man… Honestly, any woman would want to get tangled up with him."
"But I don't. I can't…"
"Why not you, Jade?" Nerea crossed her arms. "What makes you any different from the rest? You're a beautiful woman who could have any man she wanted."
"Can we please stop talking about this?" she pleaded. She didn't want to even consider the possibility that she liked Dominick.
"Denying it won't change the fact that you do like him." Nerea raised her eyebrows up and down.
Jade smiled.
The brunette took that as her cue to drop the subject and went on to finish her makeup.
"All done." Nerea clapped her hands, satisfied with her work.
"We should go," Jade said.
Someone knocked at the door, and they both turned toward it.
"Must be Robinson," Jade muttered.
"I think so too," Nerea agreed. "Go open, I'll grab my phone."
Jade stood and walked to the door.
"Robinson, I didn't know you..." Jade stopped talking as she opened the door fully. "Christian," she said, clearly surprised. "I wasn't expecting you."
"Who is it?" Nerea came closer to the door. "Oh, it's you."
Christian stood there in a tailored, dark blue three-piece suit. His blond hair, with darker streaks, was neatly styled.
Christian had changed the moment Dominick learned the truth. He became a businessman, left behind the parties, the wild life, and the reckless nights. Everything what had happened was definitely something that would've changed anyone.
"I've come to escort you, ladies," he said with a smile, bowing playfully.
"Finally, someone treating us the way we deserve," Nerea said, brushing off an imaginary speck from her shoulder.
"You're hopeless," Jade laughed.
"Let's go!" Chris declared, offering an arm to each of them, which they took immediately. "I'll be the most envied man at that party," he promised.
The three of them headed toward the elevator. After a few minutes, they stepped out and made their way to the event hall. As they entered, nearly every eye in the room turned to them—including Dominick's and Maximiliano's—both stunned by the scene.