Bad Boy Dom (7 page)

“How
about a great Jewish bagel for breakfast?” he said before pulling me into the
elevator.

“My
stomach will love you.”

We
walked to Leibman’s. People were already lined up but no one paid attention to
us until the counter girl took our order.

“Aren’t
you…?”

“Yes,
but I’m trying to have a normal date so could you please help me out here.”

Her
voice lowered. “I loved your latest album, what would you like?” She winked at
me and I couldn’t help but smile.

He
found us a booth toward the back and we sat and enjoyed the most delicious
bagels in the world.

“I’m
sorry about yesterday.” His unfathomable stare rested on me.

“Why
are you sorry?”

“I
pushed.”

“You
pushed this morning.”

“But
now I know a little more.”

My
eyes dropped. Damian must have told him. Even after all these years, shame
swept over me.

His
fingertips tipped my chin up. “What happened to you was out of your control.
What happened to me was my own doing, and you have a right to know.”

I
met his eyes, almost afraid of what he would tell me.

Chapter
Thirteen

Kris…

“I
completely fucked up my life with drugs and alcohol.”

I
saw her mind lose focus and it wasn’t where I wanted her to go. My hand slipped
under the table and I pinched the inside of her thigh.

“Oww.”

“I
need you to listen.”

She
smiled slightly and let me continue.

“I
wasn’t a pretty drug addict. It consumed me. My music suffered but more than
that, my family and friends suffered. I wouldn’t listen to them. My new friends
provided the drugs. Funny how when you’re rich, you don’t even need to pay for
the high. But I did pay and managed to snort more than a million dollars up my
nose. Another mill, I spent on wild parties, alcohol, and anything my druggie
friends wanted.”

I
inhaled deeply before continuing. “I hated myself and death was on my horizon
but I didn’t see it.”

I
looked away. The next part would be the hardest and it might be the end of us
before “us” was part of our story. This time it was her sweet hands that turned
my chin and I couldn’t help but grin.

“I
brought several of my druggie friends to Damian’s hotel. I wanted to show off
my dominant techniques. Damian didn’t know I was there. He was one of the
friends that tried to get me help but I thought I didn’t need help. I only
needed more cocaine.”

My
eyes shifted away. “I hurt one of the girls.”

When
I looked back, her green eyes were wide. I could have told her Damian stopped
me before it got completely out of hand, but I didn’t. That didn’t matter. All
that mattered was the horror in her eyes.

“She
never pressed charges, but Damian kicked me out of the club and his hotel. A
week later, I drove my car into a tree and got a DUI. I entered rehab for two
weeks. I came out, realized I wouldn’t be able to say no, and went back in. I
stayed four months. I have a sponsor and I am a sponsor. I’ll always be an
addict. I don’t feel the need like I did, but it’s there. It will always be
there.”

I
wanted to walk away from her and not see her disappointment but I couldn’t.
“Now you know the ugly truth about me.”

“You’re
not ugly.”

“Neither
are you.”

That
brought a smile to her lips and it took all the control I possessed not to lean
across the table and kiss her.

“Will
you tell me about your family?”

Her
question surprised me but I understood, because I could hear the longing in her
voice. With her history, she was hungry for hearing about a family that wasn’t
a nightmare.

“My
parents live with three Dachshunds in Florida on the ocean. My sister is about
an hour’s drive from them. She’s happily married with two children. My nephew
is six and my niece, four. They have no television, no Internet, and no cell
phones. My sister’s crazy and home schools. She’s determined to keep them safe
from the evil world. Why she lets me see them is beyond comprehension but I’m
welcome as long as I bring a guitar.”

“When
did you start singing?”

“My
parents have video of me dancing and singing in a walker before I could
actually walk. I don’t remember a time that I didn’t love music.”

“Why
hard rock?”

“It
speaks to me but then so does Sinatra, Eminem, and Adele. I love to write music
and I’m lucky that others are willing to sing my non-rock ballads. For me,
music is about the story. I never understand when someone says they don’t like
rap or country. Some of the best stories come from those genres. I’d be lying
if I said I didn’t like the fans, excitement, and fame. It’s a high in itself.
This won’t last forever and I want to enjoy every day until it’s over.”

“Why
would it be over?”

“Well,
the norm is ten to fifteen years, and then I’ll get a ten-year break,” I
grinned. “After a decade, I’ll become ‘in’ again and then play smaller venues
as I grow older and my ability tapers off. Haven’t you ever noticed how it
works for rock-n-roll gods? I’ve studied the process and I have plenty of good
years before I start a family and enjoy the slow time.”

“You
want a family?”

“Don’t
you?”

I
didn’t mean to make her cry but the tears slowly rolled down her cheeks. I got
up and moved around the table. She scooted over before I could nudge her into
moving. I took her hand in mine and tipped her head toward me so I could listen
to her quiet words.

“I’m
filled with cracks, not a whole person. I wouldn’t make a good mother.”

I
lifted her hand and slowly spread her fingers apart. I kissed each one and
then, not caring that people walked by, I ran my tongue around each digit. I
could tell it tickled but I kept a tight grip on her wrist. When a fine sheen
of saliva coated each one I lifted my opposite hand and placed it against hers.
I could feel the slippery moistness. My fingers were bigger and they covered
hers completely.

I
ran the fingers from my other hand down then up, tracing the contours of our
joined fingers. I peeked between the gap of our middle and index fingers and
smiled at her.

“I’m
looking between the cracks.” My voice was husky because her taste turned me on.
She tasted like bagel, cream cheese, and woman. I moved my hand slightly and
our fingers now fanned. I lowered each digit and used my other hand to press
hers down one by one.

“We
can fill the cracks Angela. I’m not asking for anything but today; one hour,
maybe an evening, and then I’ll ask again. I come with baggage. You come with
baggage. Maybe our clothes can mingle for a while and iron out a few wrinkles.”
I gave her my best rakish grin.

“Do
you know any other Eminem songs?”

“I
know them all.”

Angela…

“I
think you need to be here for at least another week.”

“Yes,
Mistress. Thank you.” We were in the main living area of the penthouse.

“Don’t
thank me, I’m sure Raul will continue to take advantage of your proximity and
pawn Abigail off on you whenever possible.”

“That’s
far from a hardship, Mistress.”

“You
say that now, but the little hellion bit me this morning and it may be the end
of my breastfeeding days.”

I
couldn’t help my small giggle. My nipples puckered with sympathy pain, but it
was still funny.

“Hmm,
nipple clamps will be part of your next punishment. They’re not just for
pleasure.”

“Yes,
Mistress.” I managed to straighten out my grin.

Three
days had passed since my meltdown. Each morning, Krispin picked me up and took
me to a different place to eat. Falling asleep at night, knowing his soft knock
on the door at six a.m. was only hours away, made sleeping easier.

On
my first night back at work, I could tell by Mistress’s fussing that she was
nervous for me.

I
put as much confidence into the words as I could muster. “I’ll be fine.”

“I
know you will. Do you think you’ll feel like a small scene after your shift?”

The
request surprised me. “Yes, Mistress.”

“I
want Krispin to be there.”

I
couldn’t speak but she read the uncertainty in my eyes.

“He’s
asked me for permission to take you on an evening date.”

I
smiled at that, though my heart started to beat faster.

“I
said yes, if he was part of a scene first. I know you have a shift to work, but
I’ll be sure you enjoy yourself tonight.”

“And
Krispin?”

“Oh,
he’ll pleasantly suffer in order to go on that date.”

We
both laughed. I always jumped in with both feet and then drowned in sorrow when
it didn’t work out. It was easier to leave decisions to Mistress Lydia.

I
worked for an hour before Krispin arrived. Like the first time, I knew the second
he entered the club. He walked in with two men I didn’t know, but by the
leather gear, piercings, and tattoos, I was betting they were members of Blood
Rights. They took a seat close to the bar.

“Hi
Angela. You look lovely.”

I
couldn’t help my blush. He hadn’t used the word “beautiful” since learning
about my past.

“What
would you like to drink?”

“Ask
Kevin if he’ll make my usual. These are my friends Matt and Stephon. I would
love for them to drink my poison but they have pansy-assed stomachs and need something
a little weaker.”

“Beer
on draft.” They spoke at the same time. It was kind of cute even if they looked
like hardcore biker dudes. Not everyone could be as pretty as Krispin.

“I’ll
be back with your order.”

I
heard one of them whisper “Is she the one?” when I walked away but I didn’t
hear Krispin’s answer.

I
went behind the bar and cut a slice of lemon while Kevin handled the beers. I
plopped the lemon in the microwave for 30-seconds and then poured the
room-temperature Mountain Dew into a large glass. The entire club had gotten
wind that Krispin and I were a couple, and Kevin explained Krispin’s drink
preference as soon as my shift started. I squeezed the hot lemon into the
un-iced glass, placed it on the tray with the beers, and carried it to the waiting
trio.

“Run
away with me, sweetie, and you’ll never need to make a sissy drink like that
again,” said Matt. At least, I think it was Matt. I wasn’t quite sure which was
which.

I
conspiratorially lowered my voice. “I took a quick sip before carrying the
drink over, and believe me, it takes a real man to drink that crap.”

They
all laughed.

“When’s
your next night off?” Krispin’s sparkling eyes looked into mine.

“Thursday.”

“Good.
These two will be gone by then and we’re going on a date. It’s been cleared
with your boss.”

“She
told me.”

“Do
you have a suggestion for a talented sub this evening? My friends like to
double team.”

“I
think Nicole would be perfect.”

“Do
you now?”

“Yes,
I most certainly do.”

He
actually smirked. I admitted this morning at breakfast that Nicole was my
friend but I was incredibly jealous of her night with Krispin.

I
heard him tell Matt and Stephon they would love Nicole and then he had the
audacity to wink at me, evil man.

I
waited on a few more customers but my apprehension over the coming scene began
to tumble through my insides.

Two
muscled arms came around from behind me and landed on the bar. Warm lemony
breath wafted gently across my hair and then face. “Are you okay?”

“Yes.”

“You
know about the scene tonight?”

“Yes,
I know.”

“Are
you nervous?”

“Maybe.”

“I
am, too.”

I
turned in his arms too look at him. “You shouldn’t be nervous.”

“I
haven’t kissed you yet and tonight I’m going to watch Lydia cause you pain. I’m
terrified.”

“I
need the pain.”

“I
know, but it doesn’t make it easier.”

“It
won’t be bad.”

“I
think I’ll need you to hold my hand.”

“You’re
weird.”

“I
know. So let me sniff your hair before I walk back over to my friends.”

I
leaned in and tipped my head down where I suddenly saw Mistress Lydia’s black
stilettos tapping to the beat of the club music. I suddenly looked up, striking
the top of my head against Krispin’s chin.