His heartfelt admission successfully stops me up short, causing me to release my tightly clenched fists. "Oh. So what … you want me to be a kept woman?" Barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen comes to mind if only I could cook … or even conceive children.
"Not at all. You would never allow it anyway. I get the feeling you have an aversion to authority, not to mention your inability to relinquish even an ounce of control."
"Damn right!" I smile.
"Plus, I like your spunk. Your independence. Your refusal to take any of my shit. And I like that you make me feel young. Free. You are sincere and real. My entire life I've been surrounded by women who felt like they hit the jackpot as soon as they met me. They were ready to let me walk all over them just as long as they could say that they were connected to me somehow. And I did just that. I'd get what I wanted and move on without a second thought. But women like that bore me. I like a challenge," he winks.
"I hardly think I was much of a challenge, Dorian. I showed up at your hotel room, remember?"
"But you knew what you wanted. And it wasn't money or status or even the exterior. There was something else there. Other than you being so horny you nearly came the first time I touched you," he chuckles.
What the hell? What's gotten into him?
Oh. Me, of course. Just as Aurora emitted her lustful desires into him, Dorian has received my good-humored crudeness. Just like the first time I transferred my amorous feelings into him. The next day he was different- witty and teasing. Sheesh, so I guess my tacky sense of humor is my superpower.
"Well, sorry, I hadn't been around the block as many times as you, old wise prince," I jibe. "Besides, you don't fight fair!"
"I never said I did, little girl. Now … about you going to work. You might as well undress and get back in this bed with me or I'll be forced to be very undiplomatic with your body. Again. And this time, I'll make it hurt."
My eyes grow wide with shock and excitement at the memory of Dorian completely immobilizing me and manipulating each of my pleasure points. And as much as it scares me to admit it, the prospect of seeing him in his darkness, unleashing the vicious beast inside of him that completely shatters every ounce of my resolve, arouses me.
"No! I really have to go to work! Carmen will be waiting outside!" I plead. "Why don't you just come with me? And if you see that I'm weak or moody, we'll come straight home. I promise."
Dorian smiles and nods at the idea. "Home," he murmurs thoughtfully. He sighs then stands to his feet, letting the towel around his waist drop to the floor. His impressive semi-hard length instantly makes my mouth salivate. "Like what you see?"
"I do. But I've got to get to work, Mr. Skotos. My boss can be a real hard-on," I giggle. "Now get dressed so you can see your hard-earned money at work."
We opt to walk the few minutes to Cashmere to enjoy the bright, warm sunshine. There isn't a cloud in the sky, and I instantly lift my head to let the sun's rays kiss my face. Ahhh. It feels divine. Almost as good as Dorian's kisses.
"You channel the sun," Dorian notes, as I skip ahead, swinging my arms like an actress in a ridiculously cheesy tampon commercial.
"Huh?" I ask, spinning around to gauge Dorian's beautiful face. He looks stylish and dangerously sexy as always, dressed in linen pants and a crisp button up shirt rolled up to his elbows.
"You feel rejuvenated in sunlight, right? Stronger?" He awaits my baffled expression. "Hmmm, maybe you are more Light than Dark," he remarks with a smirk.
He's right. The sun does put me in good spirits. But I thought everyone had that reaction when it was sunny versus rainy and gloomy. "True," I respond. "You don't feel that way?"
Dorian shrugs, strolling gracefully as if the pavement is his runway. "I don't have an aversion to it. I won't burst into flames," he chuckles. "But it does nothing for me."
I nod, recalling the loose translation of Dorian's first name. "I bet you're an amazing swimmer."
Dorian's eyes twinkle as a nostalgic smile creeps onto his face. "I am. Skiathos has the most beautiful, crystal clear waters. I wish I could take you there."
"Maybe one day you will," I reply, taking his hand in mine. I don't have the heart to tell him that I'd already been there very recently. In the dream his father gave me.
We approach the storefront just as Carmen is parking her car and I quickly unlock our fingers to avoid any skepticism, earning a pointed glare from Dorian. I'm sure Miguel informed her of my relationship with him, the now full owner of Cashmere, yet I feel it would be tasteless and unprofessional to make it obvious on the job.
The look of shock and adulation sketched on Carmen's face as she takes in Dorian's startling splendor makes me giggle internally. Poor girl. He still has that effect on me, especially when his eyes are smoldering with licentious desire and danger.
"Carmen, this is Mr. Skotos. He'll be checking up on us today," I say, unlocking the front door and ushering them inside.
Carmen extends her trembling hand. "N-Nice to meet you, Mr. Skotos. Um, uh, I've, uh, heard so much about you."
Dorian smiles warmly, obviously trying to dispel any stuffy feelings of formality. "Please, call me Dorian. And I'm not here to check up on either of you. I know you're doing an excellent job here." He places his large hand in Carmen's and she instantly recoils.
"Ack! Sorry! I didn't mean to shock you," she says stroking her palm.
Dorian looks at me quizzically for a beat then returns his gaze to Carmen where he waves off the strange occurrence. "No worries. Good to meet you Carmen." He looks to me and says, "I'll be in the back office. I have some paperwork I'd like you to sign when you have a moment."
Something has surely ruffled him, though he's doing well at masking it from Carmen. She seems none the wiser, shuffling off to prepare for the morning's opening. Dressed in high-waisted harem pants, a white tank and jeweled heeled sandals, Carmen's keen eye for fashion is definitely a strong selling point. I don't require anyone to buy or wear the clothing at the boutique. All I ask is that the staff strives to promote similar styles that we carry and be creative with making it their own. So far it has worked with women both young and old. I want the store to exude individuality and personal diversity, rather than what's just hot for the season.
"Carmen, I'm going to grab the cash drawer. Holler if you need anything, ok?"
I head to the back office where our safe is kept to find Dorian lounging thoughtfully at the desk. I close the door behind me, well aware that there's something he needs to tell me.
"What was that all about?" I whisper, though I know there's no way Carmen can hear me all the way back here.
Dorian shakes his head. "You never told me Carmen and Miguel practiced Santeria."
I give Dorian a skeptical look. "Uh, probably because I didn't know, not to mention, even know what Santeria is. So what … you felt something with Carmen? Is she something?" Geez, first Morgan, now Carmen too? Do I have any normal friends?
Dorian shakes his head. "No, not Carmen, exactly. Or even Miguel. Someone in their bloodline. A Bruja, a witch. Could be nothing, or could be … bothersome."
What? This just keeps getting more bizarre. "So you can pretty much sense any other mystical being by touch, right?"
"No, I can sense any power source around me. Carmen sensed me by touch, and I got a glimpse of her bloodline. She doesn't know what I am though. That never happened when she's touched you, I presume."
I shake my head. "So there's like … forces all around us? Like you?" And me.
Dorian chuckles a bit, folding his hands behind his head. "Of course. We, as well as the Light, have the ability to deflect. But if we're deflecting, we can't detect what's around us." Dorian turns the swivel chair to follow my movements as I walk over to the safe to retrieve the cash drawer. "We're everywhere, Gabriella. You'd be surprised."
I finish concentrating on the combination lock, biting my lip in determination before looking at him skeptically. "So since we've been together, we've come across others? When?"
Dorian shrugs and flashes me a crooked grin. "A few times. Our first date actually. The waitress at the sports bar was Light. Do you remember?"
How could I forget? Our conversation was so seamless, so fluid. I couldn't believe someone so inexplicably sexy could be so down to earth. And there was something off about the waitress. She was visibly shaken just at the sight of him, afraid even. After Dorian confirmed that she wasn't just some scorned ex-lover, I chalked it up to poor service.
"I remember that! She was damn near scared of you. But you left her such a large tip. What was up with that? I thought you guys all hated each other."
"Relations aren't as volatile as they used to be. We can't very well go around killing each other, can we?" Dorian's eyes flash to the door. "Carmen is coming. You better get out there and make me some money," he says jokingly.
I go to leave the office and nearly collide with Carmen just as her hand is raised to knock. "Oh crap, I'm so sorry, Gabs! I was just seeing if you needed any help. It's a few minutes to nine."
"Here I come." I look back at my playful lover once Carmen retreats to the front of the store. "I'll be back to check on you. Try not to break anything, ok," I say with a wink.