“Oh… I don’t know. I don’t know a lot about it. I mean, I know a lot of cultures do that kind of thing, so I don’t have any judgment…”
I fold my arms protectively across my chest. “Well, what about when a mafia boss is trying to marry off his daughter to strengthen ties with another Family?”
“Is this what’s happening with you?”
I throw my hands in the air in frustration. “It’s what I’ve been trying to get away from for years. In fact, I had a plan to get out of it, which involved you.”
“Me?” Dominic presses his hand to his chest in shock.
“Well, William Bonell, yes.”
A heat burns in my cheeks but that doesn’t stop me from talking. I’m hoping that this truth will allow Dominic to open up to me a little bit.
“I wanted him to tap into the homeless network of the city, to see what William could find out about rival gangs and stuff.”
“Why?”
“Well, I thought if I could prove to my father that I could be of use to him while working in the clinic, then he wouldn’t make me marry someone to ‘prove my worth’ to the family.”
Dominic tosses his head back and lets out a belly laugh.
That sound makes me feel like shit.
I don’t think he’s taking me seriously.
“The man Dad wanted me to marry is abusive.”
That wipes the smirk off of Dominic’s face. Something clicks and Dominic changes.
So, he cares about what happens to me? Is that what he’s saying here? Or he just hates men who abuse women?
There’s a crackle of energy coming off of him.
“Who?” he snaps. “I want a name.”
I part my lips, about to give him the name that he seems to want, but that doesn’t happen.
Instead I realize that I might have leverage here.
“I will give you a name… once you’ve told me why I’m here. What is all of this about? My father? The mafia? Money? What?”
He blinks a few times, the dead stare sending a cold shiver tearing through my body, but I also know I’m not about to back down.
Not when I finally have a chance to figure some shit out.
But then, much to my surprise, Dominic’s reaction is insane.
He tosses his head back and lets out the loudest, warmest belly laugh I have ever heard come from him.
Wow, I like that sound.
I shouldn’t like it because I know he’s mocking me. He’s sure as shit not giving me the answers I know I need, but I kinda don’t want the mirth to end.
It’s nice to see that there’s more to Dominic, that he can enjoy himself. He seems so uptight and wound up all the time, I like to see him smile.
“Ah, Isabella, you do make me laugh.” He rises up to his feet, which isn’t great. He won’t tell me anything if he’s gone. “I have something to take care of tonight, but maybe we can pick this up where we left off another time.”
What the fuck?
What the hell is happening here?
I watch in shock as he goes out the cabin, knowing all too well that I can’t follow him.
Did he really just leave me here?
I’m trying my hardest to piece together what just happened, but my head is in a spin.
He left because I had leverage.
I guess that’s a good thing because it means I can use it at some point.
When he’s here, that is.
I run my hand up my arm, feeling the bruises there once more.
Is it sick that I wish he was here by my side, causing more bruises all over me? More pain, more excitement, more desire?
I didnotknow that was something I would enjoy.
Maybe that’s because I don’t have the most experience in that department, but I never thought I would like the whole pleasure and pain thing, but fuck me, I loved it.
I adored every single part of it.
I want more. So much more.
I want him to hurt me, to pinch me, to spank me again. All the things I never thought would feel good, but made the orgasm that much more intense. I didn’t know it could be so powerful, seriously, which is why I want more… I want to know what other crazy things I don’t yet know about myself.
Maybe I’m kinky.
Maybe I’m crazy.
I don’t really know, but I do like the fact that I’m not on my own with that feeling. Dominic must like it too because he’s the one who brought me into that world.
Maybe there’s a reason he was brought into my life.
Maybe it’s all because of this.
I stare at the cabin door, wishing he would just walk back through it already so we can be together in this. I don’t feel great trying to process all of this on my own. I need him here.
Maybe it is Stockholm Syndrome after all…