Gemma’s POV

"My goddess, I’ve been dying to see you! I missed you terribly," Dominic whispered between passionate kisses as I settled into his lap in the leather chair of his private office, feeling instantly safe in the arms of Thorne family’s most feared Capo.

"I missed you too," I admitted, nestling closer against his warm chest beneath the expensive suit jacket. "But I had an amazing time with the girls."

His fingers traced lazy patterns on my back, careful of the concealed holster he’d insisted I wear. "So what’s the next adventure on your schedule?"

"We’re planning a weekend at Nadia’s safe house by the coast soon," I replied, watching his expression carefully.

A small frown creased his brow, the same look he wore during family meetings. "Just you ladies, or...?"

I laughed, placing a kiss on the corner of his mouth. "All of us, handsome. I couldn’t bear a whole weekend without my dangerous protector."

His eyes lit up with that predatory gleam I’d grown to love. "Now that’s what I like to hear." He paused, a mischievous glint appearing. "So, are we finally having that blood oath ceremony this weekend?"

"It’s still some time away, Dominic," I reminded him with a playful eye roll.

"Fine, I’ll wait," he conceded dramatically. "But until then, why don’t we practice for the honeymoon?" His nose traced a tantalizing path along my neck, sending shivers down my spine. "I’ve been aching to lose myself in you."

"Are you reading my thoughts?" I asked breathlessly.

His smile was pure sin, the same dangerous expression that made rival families tremble. "Come here, future wife. Our bed is calling."

He helped me to my feet and turned to Amber, his loyal German Shepherd trained for both protection and detection work. "Sorry buddy, you’re staying downstairs tonight." The dog let out a dramatic whimper that had me laughing all the way upstairs to his heavily secured penthouse bedroom.

When we reached the bedroom, I gestured toward the bathroom. "I should shower first."

"A shower sounds perfect," Dominic agreed, but his actions contradicted his words as he gently guided me to sit on the bed. "But first..."

He began removing his clothes with deliberate slowness, holding my gaze the entire time. I settled back, content to enjoy the show. The shoulder holster came off first, the deadly weapon placed carefully on the nightstand within easy reach. Then his fingers worked each button of his tailored shirt, revealing his sculpted chest marked with scars from his dangerous lifestyle, inch by tantalizing inch. Every movement was natural yet somehow calculated to drive me wild.

His shirt joined the holster on the nightstand, followed by his Italian leather shoes. When his fingers moved to his pants, my breath caught. He slid them down those powerful legs that had carried him through countless territory wars, leaving him in just black boxer briefs that did nothing to hide how much he wanted me. When those came off too, I couldn’t help licking my lips at the magnificent sight of my deadly lover.

Dominic noticed my reaction and stroked himself slowly, making my mouth water. He approached, threading his fingers through my hair. "What do you want, my goddess?"

"As if you don’t know exactly what I want," I replied with a smile.

"I do," he admitted, his voice carrying that commanding tone that made subordinates obey instantly. "But I want to hear you say it."

My eyes sparkled with desire. "I want you in my mouth. Right now."

"But what about that shower?" he teased.

"Later," I insisted, pulling him by the hips directly to my waiting mouth.

I started with just the tip, savoring the taste of my dangerous man’s excitement. My eyes locked with his as I licked along his entire length, making him slick and ready. His appreciative moans only encouraged me further.

Taking him fully into my mouth, I established a rhythm that had his breathing quickening. One hand matched my mouth’s movements while the other caressed him intimately. Dominic’s eyes never left mine, his pleasure evident in every sound he made.

As I sensed his approaching climax, I increased my pace. His moans grew louder, his scarred skin hot beneath my touch.

"Gemma, I’m going to—" he panted, struggling to form words. "I’m going to finish."

I held him firmly as he reached his peak, accepting everything he gave me with pleasure. When I was done, I deliberately licked away a drop from my chin and put my finger in my mouth, maintaining eye contact the entire time.

"Woman, you’re an insatiable tease," Dominic growled, pulling me up for a fierce kiss that claimed me completely with the same intensity he used to claim territory.

He stood me up and began removing my clothes with considerably less patience than he’d shown with his own.

"Damn, why are there so many buttons?" he muttered, frustrated with my blouse. "I hope you’re not too attached to this." Without waiting for an answer, he tore it open, sending buttons scattering across the floor. My bra quickly followed. He pushed my skirt up around my waist and tumbled me onto the bed, removing my underwear in one swift motion.

With the same urgency, his mouth found my center, already wet with desire for my dangerous protector. His tongue worked magic, licking and sucking with precision while his hands caressed my breasts. Each touch sent waves of pleasure through me, building a delicious tension that had me moaning shamelessly.

Dominic knew my body better than I knew it myself, effortlessly finding every sensitive spot with the same expertise he used to read his enemies’ weaknesses. My pleasure built to an overwhelming crescendo until I arched off the bed, crying out as ecstasy washed over me. He didn’t stop, continuing to taste every drop of my release until I was trembling with need again.

He removed my skirt completely before covering my body with his. I pulled him closer, wrapping my legs around him as he kissed his way up my body, from my breasts to my neck, finally capturing my mouth in a deep, passionate kiss. When he entered me at last, it felt like finding sanctuary in the most dangerous man’s arms.

Every time with Dominic was transcendent. Each thrust brought me closer to paradise, his hands roaming my body possessively while his kisses consumed me. I surrendered completely to the sensation, feeling another climax building and then breaking over me in powerful waves. Dominic followed moments later with a deep groan against my neck.

Carefully withdrawing, he collapsed beside me, both of us breathless and sated. I turned to curl against his chest, content in his embrace as he held me close, a satisfied smile on his face.

I drifted off in my lethal lover’s arms, perfectly happy. But sometime later, an insistent ringing jerked me from sleep. I woke disoriented in the darkness, Dominic’s muscled arm still heavy around my waist.

The ringing continued. My phone. I reluctantly extracted myself from Dominic’s protective embrace as he stirred and turned on the bedside lamp, his hand instinctively moving toward his weapon.

Fumbling for my purse, I located the persistently ringing device and answered.

All I could hear was breathing—heavy, intentional breathing. I waited, growing increasingly uncomfortable. I’d been getting these calls for a while now. Just as I was about to hang up, a laugh came through the speaker—a distinctive, hateful laugh that I recognized instantly.

The phone suddenly felt toxic in my hand. I threw it to the floor and stumbled backward, trembling as tears filled my eyes. The past I thought Dominic’s protection had buried had found me again.