Dirty Neighbor (The Dirty Suburbs) (29 page)

Chapter 15

I’m already up to my neck in contract review by the time Domenic saunters into the conference room at 8:47 the next morning with two large cups of coffee in hand.

The moment I glance up at him, one corner of his mouth lifts into a maddeningly sexy smile that makes my brain stutter. “Hey Maddie.” He slips one of the paper cups in front of me, his face beaming.

“Stop looking at me like that,” I say trying to suppress my own smile.

“Like what?” He’s feigning innocence as he moves towards his chair sipping on his coffee.

“Like…like…” I blush as I lose my words. I pull a folder from the box and try to concentrate on reading it.

He leans back in the chair and laughs a cocky laugh. “Like I kissed you senseless last night?...You loved it. You loved the way I kissed you.”

My heart is fluttering but I try to play it cool. “It was
okay
.”

“Please – your knees were buckling. You were basically melting in my arms.”

He’s right. His kiss had sent shockwaves throughout my body and had momentarily short-circuited my brain. It had rocked my little world.

He takes a gulp of his coffee and sets the cup down on the table before easing out of his chair. He walks around the table and gently pulls me to my feet. He buries his face in my neck as he backs me into the floor-length window overlooking Union Square. My brain knows I should stop him but every other part of my body is zinging with excited energy, craving his touch. “Well,
I
liked it,” he says. “I liked kissing you…A lot.”

I sigh lustily into the air.

“And I couldn’t stop thinking about it after I left your apartment.”

I feel my knees give way as my body presses into the cool glass.

“Did you think about me?”

I nod slightly. My breaths are shallow and jagged.

His voice drops to a titillating whisper. “Did you touch yourself when you were thinking about me?”

A small, incomprehensible sound escapes my lips.

“Did you, Madison?”

“I did – I touched myself.” The confession rushes out involuntarily.

Domenic’s lips press into mine and they’re just as plush and delicious as they were last night. He smells so potently virile. I pant softly against his mouth as my fingers slide into his soft hair. His tongue parts my lips and entangles around my own. My breasts tingle, urging me to strip them free of my lace bra. His hands glide down my back and up my sides and I feel like I’ve been struck by lightening. Each of my senses is heightened. A fiercely visceral yearning buzzes through my core.

Oh wait – that’s Domenic’s phone vibrating in the front pocket of his grey pants.

I feel his reluctance as he pulls away from me to check his caller ID. “Damn you, Nikki,” he mutters as he sends the call to voicemail and tosses his phone onto the table.

He reaches for me again, but by now, I’ve snapped back to my senses. What the hell am I doing? This is a respectable New York City law firm. My
father’s
law firm. I can’t be humping around in here like a rabbit in heat. “We – we should get back to work.” I motion to the mountain of untouched boxes that are left to get through.

Domenic’s facial expression betrays his frustration as he glances over at the paperwork to be reviewed. “You’re right,” he mutters. He loosens his grip on my waist and I sink back into my chair, trying to compose myself. He’s watching me. “We could have some real fun together, Madison. You have no idea.”

I instinctively bite my bottom lip.
I’m aching to find out
.

Chapter 16

Domenic disappears just before lunch. I thank my lucky stars because I need a few minutes of solitude to compose myself.

At about 12:15, I decide to go get a sandwich. I grab my phone to check my email before leaving. There’s a new email from Liz to Domenic and me informing us that our client, ToneWave, will be having a cocktail party mixer next Friday night and that she expects us to be there since she won’t be able to make it.

Great – now, I’m working on Friday night.

It’s not exactly like I had plans – I’d probably just end up following Frankie around the gay bars in Chelsea all night – still, it would be nice to not be tied up with business on Friday night.

I sigh as I continue to scan my emails.

The next message is from Michael. He says he’s in his office here at the New York branch of the firm. I squeal with excitement as I grab my purse and hurry off to see him.

I rap on his door eagerly until he bellows for me to enter. “Michael!” I howl as I rush over the threshold, careful to close the door behind me.

“Hey, Maddie – How’s it going?” He rounds his desk and gives me a bear hug, rocking me left to right.

“Good. I missed you. You haven’t come to visit in months! What brings you to the Big Apple?”

“I’m only in town till Monday,” he glances over at the door to ensure that it’s closed. “Dad asked me to come discuss client acquisition strategy.” He settles back into his chair as I take a seat opposite his desk. “Apparently you guys are bleeding clients over here. The Los Angeles office is doing good but we can’t keep financing the New York office anymore. It’s not sustainable.”

This is all news to me. I never realized that the New York office is in financial trouble.

“Anyway, since I’m already here, mom is holding me hostage until her 4
th
of July garden party.”

I laugh heartily. Our mother is convinced that her annual 4
th
of July party is the event of the year. Really, it’s an opportunity for her to entertain the upper crust of New York high society and perpetuate the illusion that she leads a perfect life. As such, her husband and children are all required to play the part. “You know she’s gonna want you to cut your hair, right?” I say referring to the thick, dark waves falling just past his collar.

Michael frowns at me. “Glad you think it’s funny, Maddie. But I don’t have time for any of this. I need to get back to L.A. a.s.a.p. We’re swamped at the office.”

“Really? Any exciting cases?”

“Well, yesterday, I met with a very well-known reality star who leaked her own solo sex tape to the press as a publicity stunt and now, she has copyright concerns. Next week, I’m having lunch with a very well-respected member of congress who’s being blackmailed by his mistress. And then, I’ve got a consultation with an author having her erotic romance novel turned into a movie.” He sighs, “I’ve been so busy that I haven’t gotten laid in a month.”

“Well, I’m sure Liz is ready and willing to take care of all your sexual needs while you’re in town.”  Liz’s infatuation with Michael is one of my favorite points to tease him about.

He stifles a groan as he rolls his brilliant blue eyes. He doesn’t push that topic any further. Instead, he changes the subject. “How’s your internship going by the way? I heard you were working with Liz.”

This summer position sort of sucks; I spend my days anguishing over meaningless work and to add to the torment, I’ve been locked in a room with Domenic all week, forcing myself to be a good girl, when all I want to do is rip off every bit of his clothing and lick every inch of his skin. I skip over the bits about Domenic and say, “Doing grunt work. They say it’s a rite of passage, but I’m not convinced.”

Michael laughs gleefully. “It
is
a rite of passage. Don’t expect that you won’t have to pay your dues just because you’re the boss’s kid. You know how dad operates.”

“I know all too well.”

He laughs again. “I’m guessing he gave you ‘the speech’. ‘
The fact that you’re the boss’s kid only means you have to work harder than everybody else to prove that you deserve to be here
’.”

I nod, feeling absolutely miserable.

Michael shakes his head sympathetically. “Dad’s a jerk,” he chuckles. “Don’t worry – you’ll be fine.”

“I guess,” I say, staring down at my hands.

My brother changes the subject. “So, I actually wanted to see you for a reason.”

I glance up at him, cocking my eyebrow. “Yes?”

“Maddie, why didn’t you tell me that the tabloids have been harassing you?”

I roll my eyes dramatically. Chase and his shenanigans are the furthest thing from my mind. “It was one story. I didn’t want to make it into a bigger deal than it is.”

“Your big brother is an entertainment lawyer. I should have been your first call.”

Ugh! Both of my brothers are so protective of Mackenzie and me – too protective. “I didn’t want to bother you.”

“Stop trying to downplay the situation – I know it upset you.”

“But there’s nothing I can do about it – freedom of the press, yaddy-yaddy-yadda.”

“But that picture of you – it was taken at the private gym in your building. That’s invasion of privacy.”

“Okay, so I complain that they took a picture of me on private property…next time, they’ll just take a picture of me on the street. I can’t stop them.”

My brother heaves a sigh. “I just want to protect you, Maddie. I hate when people hurt you. Especially that fuck-wad, Chase DuBois. I really don’t know why dad hired him.” We both know why our dad hired him – Chase’s dad is a real estate magnate and one of our firm’s cash cow clients. Dad wants to keep it that way.

I chuckle lightly. “I know and I love you for it…but I’m a big girl. I’ll be okay.” My mind flashes to Domenic and the subtle promises that his body has made to mine. The thumping ache I felt over Chase just a week ago has subsided to a faint hum. “I’ll be just fine.”

Michael doesn’t look convinced, but thankfully, he doesn’t press the issue any further. “If you say so.” I fight hard not to roll my eyes again. “Anyway,” he continues, “Me and Matt are meeting up at a club tonight. I think it’s called Club JUMP! You should come with us. It’ll take your mind off of stuff.”

My eyebrows scoot up. “Michael, the last thing I want to do is spend my night watching my big brothers chase skirts. Besides, I’m in the mood to curl up on my couch with a glass of wine, a good book and an oatmeal mask on my face. That’s what’s in the cards for me tonight.”

Just then, there’s an eager tap at the door. A beaming Liz sticks her head into the office. “Hey gorgeous,” she purrs batting her eyelashes at Michael, “your lunch.” She sticks a takeout container through the door. He invites her in and I take that as my cue to leave.

“Let me know if you change your mind,” he calls after me.

“I won’t change my mind,” I reassure him. “Hi Liz,” I say glancing over at her but I don’t think she’s even noticed me. Her attention is trained singularly on my brother.

As I walk by cubicle-land on my way to the elevator, I hear some of the staff singing “Happy Birthday to You” way off key. I peer over and see Ruth Salvador, beaming in the middle of it all, blowing out a candle on a small cake. I can’t help but grunt. Those goddamned summer interns and their BFF status is really pissing me off.

Chapter 17

“All the good ones are either straight or married,” Frankie quips on the heels of an exaggerated sigh. I look over to find him eyeing a gorgeous dark-haired man with his arm draped around the shoulder of an equally-attractive dark-haired woman.

“You’re not on the prowl today, are you?”

“Guilty as charged,” Frankie says with a wink before growling and swiping his fingers through the air like cat claws. “Rawrrr!”

I roll my eyes. “Don’t you ever get tired?” I ask rhetorically as I grab his water bottle from him and take a long swig.

“Any man who’s ever been in my bed will tell you that Frankie Gattusso never tires.”

“Yuck. Spare me the details.”

The Monday after the 4
th
of July is a holiday which leaves me with a day off. Domenic happens to be playing a game of rugby with a few buddies today and, for once, I am more than willing to accompany Frankie to the playing field.

I tear my attention away from Frankie just in time to see Domenic catch the ball and charge towards the goal line, dodging around the several powerfully-built players who attempt to block his way. With mere feet to go, he lunges over the line, lands on his stomach and glides across the grass.

I leap to my feet and cheer loudly. I catch the attention of the few people on the surrounding bleachers watching the game distractedly. I guess I’m a bit too enthusiastic given that this is just a friendly game of rugby among some old buddies.

Frankie eyes me with a cocked brow. “Since when are you so into rugby?” I understand where he’s coming from. Frankie’s been dragging me to Domenic’s games ever since we were teenagers. He says that these games are the perfect place to meet rugged, muscular hotties pumped up on pure adrenaline. Still, neither of us even understand the rules of the sport.

“What?  I can’t just enjoy the game?” My tone is defensive.

“I’ll tell you who’s not enjoying the game,” he replies, “Me! These guys are ugly today!”

I couldn’t disagree more.

Actually, I haven’t even noticed any of the other guys. But Domenic? He’s never looked better. He’s not beefy like the other players. He’s leaner. I guess that’s why he runs so fast. His legs are strong and superbly defined. His arms and shoulders, perfectly sculpted.
How come I never noticed how incredibly tight his ass is?
The intensity on his face as he runs drives me to imagine the expressions he’d make while hovering over me in his bed.

Gosh – I might need a cold shower right about now.

“Let’s get out of here.” Before I can protest, Frankie has grabbed me by the wrist and is pulling me out of the bleachers. I follow him unwillingly, my eyes glued to the field. Just then, Domenic comes charging down the field, on his way to the goal line yet again. His attention is turned in my direction as he races across the grass with the ball tucked under his arm. His stride seems to slow just a bit and a short, burly guy comes out of nowhere, tackling him to the ground.