The Domination of Dominica Dunn: Discovering New Worlds of Sexual Sensation Read online

  Max grins, a cheeky smile that lights up the car. ‘Sure…if that’s not putting you out, I would appreciate it.’

  A few moments later, they are in Dominica’s kitchen. She wishes she had taken the time to tidy the house before rushing out to work in the morning. The dirty breakfast dishes are still piled in the sink, and her half-full clothes basket is upended in one corner of the kitchen near the tiny laundry – telling the tale of her last-minute panic to find a bra to wear to the office. She winces when she sees the untidy pile of bras and panties on the floor. It’s not a good look – but she hadn’t predicted having any handsome male company when she got home. Anyway, too late to worry about that now. Her guest is politely ignoring the mess and making small talk.

  She fetches a towel from the downstairs bathroom and gives it to him to dry off. He towels his hair, then his face and hands. His hair is tousled now, and she finds she is longing to touch it, and brush it back into place. But he combs his hands through his hair and soon he is looking like the resourceful businessman again. In the better light of her own home, she can see that his suit has been expensively tailored to fit. He clearly has a clothing budget to match the price of his car. A man with expensive tastes. But more than that, he has an animal magnetism that has her quivering like a schoolgirl with a crush.

  Don’t be so stupid, Dominica. You are a grown woman. Act like an adult.

  But it’s been a long time since she has had a new man in her kitchen, and never one as good-looking and ostensibly rich as this one. All of a sudden, she doesn’t want him to leave. She wants to grab all the alpha male company she can get. She feels her face flushing, and finds herself talking to cover her nerves.

  ‘Let me take that wet towel. You look a little drier now.’

  ‘Thanks,’ he says, handing it back to her. ‘That feels much better. But you are going to need more than a wipe down with a towel. You were out in the rain much longer than me…your clothes are soaked right through. If we don’t get you dried and warmed up, you will catch a cold, if not worse. Tell you what, why don’t you go and get a hot shower, and I’ll make us some coffee, or whatever you’ve got. We could both use a hot drink to warm us up.’

  That seems like a great idea. Firstly, it meant he would be sticking around a bit longer, and secondly, she could clean herself up and return looking like a human being, rather than a wet dishcloth. Not that it mattered, of course. It wouldn’t be long before he was heading home to Miss Executive Girlfriend, or whatever woman hung adoringly off his arm. Still, he was hers for a short time – best to make the most of it.

  She shows him where the coffee and mugs are kept, then heads off to her bedroom, stripping off quickly and hopping into the en-suite shower. The steaming water feels scalding hot on her cold skin, but it soon revives her. As she lathers the soap and rubs it into her skin, she finds herself imagining that her new friend Max is in the shower with her, his strong hands massaging the soap into her skin, cupping her breasts and touching her lovingly…

  Then she pulls herself together.

  Stop dreaming, idiot. Miss Executive Girlfriend is no doubt much younger and prettier than you. Don’t even think about it…you’ve had enough disappointment for one lifetime.

  Dominica looks at her body as she washes, and starts thinking about the positives. She might not be nineteen any more, but she has kept her body in good shape. Her breasts are not huge, but they are round and firm, and her waist is slim, her tummy flat. Her legs have always been her best feature, and they haven’t let her down yet. She can still pull a few wolf whistles from construction workers – and while the feminist in her objects when that happens, she can’t help feeling a flush of pride, too. But there is no time to mess about. Mr. Moneybags is waiting. She gets out of the shower, and dresses quickly.

  Normally on getting home, she would reach for a pair of sweatpants and an old T-shirt. But not tonight, not with a hot male in her kitchen. She finds a skirt that shows off her legs and a blouse that makes her boobs seem a tad larger than they actually are. She takes off the shower cap and lets her crowning glory flow free – her mass of long, flowing red hair. She dries it quickly with a hair dryer, and as it dries the true red color returns. A quick run through with a brush, and then a few minutes applying make-up in a hurry. But she is an expert at this…she has been applying make-up during the morning commute for years.

  Time for a quick inspection in the mirror. She sees a surprisingly attractive woman looking back at her.

  Awesome.

  Good enough to put Miss Executive Girlfriend out of his mind for a little while at least. She heads back for the kitchen, and finds fresh coffee on the table, along with English muffins and butter. He looks up as she comes in and does a double take, dropping a tea spoon as he does so.

  ‘Wow! That’s an improvement. You look fantastic!’

  She hears herself giggling, and tries to turn it into a cough.

  Don’t giggle…act like a grown up. You are a businesswoman for Christ’s sake, not a teenager.

  ‘Thanks. I feel a whole lot better now that I am dry and warm. I am so glad not to be stuck at the side of the road any more. That is not a pleasant way to spend your leisure hours.’

  Max has obviously taken a moment to brush his hair and straighten his suit and tie. And now he looks drop dead gorgeous. At a little over six foot he towers over Dominica and the expensively-cut business suit does little to hide the contour of his muscles. One curl of his dark hair flops down over his forehead, giving him an irresistible boyish look.

  Dominica thinks she would like to eat him.

  Hmmm…delicious!

  Oblivious to her unconventional culinary preferences, he pours them both coffee, and spreads butter on the muffins. ‘I’ve made a couple of phone calls, and arranged for someone to pick your car up. It should be returned here in about an hour or so. If it’s OK with you, I’ll wait until it gets here, just to make sure everything has been done properly. I feel responsible, now that I’ve got involved.’

  ‘Oh, you didn’t need to do all that…the car is my problem, not yours. I will cover the cost, of course. I don’t want you to be out of pocket.’

  He raises a hand. ‘No need. It’s not a big deal. I was very happy to help. If you don’t mind me tucking into your muffins, we’ll call it quits. Is that a deal?’

  She laughs. ‘OK, thank you…you are very kind. Too kind, in fact’

  She catches him looking at her, and she glances away, aware that her cheeks are flushing again. When he speaks, his voice is softer than before…

  ‘Your hair is beautiful…there is something special about red hair. It’s very sexy. I must admit, I’ve always had a thing about redheads.’

  The comment is meant innocently, she feels, but she can’t help but read something into it. ‘I like it, but it wasn’t so much fun in school. Kids always look for something to make fun of, and red hair and freckles are an easy target. My nickname was Ginger, of course. All the way through school.’

  He smiles. ‘Ginger is a lovely name. In fact, Ginger Rogers is one of my favorite actresses. She is still one of the greatest dancers that ever lived. So it is a name to be proud of.’

  He holds up his coffee cup, ready to clink it for a toast. ‘To all the Gingers in the world,’ he says, and they clink cups, laughing.

  They chat for a while, and she loves every moment. Then his face becomes a little more serious.

  ‘So how long have you been divorced?’

  Things are getting more personal all of a sudden. Dominica isn’t sure how she feels about that. ‘Nearly ten years now. It was one of those relationships that was never going to work out. Just a teen romance that went wrong…you know the sort of thing. But that relationship brought Jo into my life, so I can’t complain – she means everything to me.’

  ‘I can’t believe a beautiful, intelligent woman like you has remained single for so long…you must have guys chasing you all over town.’

  Dominica puts a hand up
to her face to cover her embarrassment. She is not a stranger to compliments, but they don’t usually come from guys as hot as this. She feels his gaze burning into her, and she gets the impression he is interested in more than coffee and muffins. But that is ridiculous. He is probably just wishing he was home in the sack with Miss Executive Girlfriend. Well, she will have to wait. Dominica intends to hold onto Mr. Moneybags just a little longer. She is enjoying the company very much.

  ‘I have a busy life…no time for romance,’ she says. ‘I’ve got a business to run, a home to look after, and a teenage daughter with rampaging hormones to keep under control. I’ve put men on the back burner for a while – or maybe I should say they have put me on the back burner.’

  ‘From where I’m sitting, I’d say they would have to be pretty dumb to do that. Crazy, in fact. But tell me about your business…you have your own company?’

  ‘Yes, it’s a small public relations firm. I used to be in advertising, then I switched over to working in PR a few years ago. I was working for one of the big consultancies, but when they merged with a US company, the whole culture changed. I decided it was time to go out on my own. So now I make about the same money, but work more hours to get it. But at least I have the flexibility to work things around Jo’s activities. And I like being independent.’

  This is the glossy version. She doesn’t mention that she always seems to be at the beck and call of her clients, and that her life is a case of constantly juggling phone calls, meetings, press conferences and photo shoots with all the demands of her private life. Most days she gets home late, cooks Jo a meal, and then falls asleep on the sofa watching repeats of sitcoms that weren’t funny the first time she saw them. She is happy in a way, but this isn’t the adult life that she dreamed of as a kid. But then life is pretty much like that for everyone, right? A series of small triumphs matched by big disappointments…a struggle to survive and stay afloat a little bit longer until something better comes along.

  That reminds her, things are not about to get better…they are likely to get worse.

  ‘I’m proud of my little company, but it may not be around much longer. In fact, I may be looking for a new job by the end of the week.’

  Max’s expression changes to one of concerned interest. ‘Really…why is that?’

  ‘A client is holding out on a big payment I am owed from a product launch. If I don’t get the money by Friday, I won’t be able to make payroll…and I’ll have to let my staff go and wind things up. Years of hard work building up the business all down the drain.’

  Max furrows his brows. ‘Oh, that’s bad news…if you don’t mind me asking, how much do they owe you?’

  ‘A little over forty thousand dollars. I paid out for the costs of a product launch, and they were supposed to reimburse me at the end of the month, but the money never showed up. And the more I chase it, the more they give me the runaround. If I go bust, it means nothing to them. Plenty more desperate PR firms to take up the slack.’

  ‘That’s a disgrace? Which firm is it?’

  ‘Allerton & Wesley. They are an import/export company downtown.’

  ‘Never heard of them, but they should pay up, whoever they are. There is no excuse for big firms bullying small suppliers. I certainly wouldn’t run my company that way. You need to get the CEO on the phone and tell him not to sneeze until he has written out a check to…what did you say your business is called?’

  ‘I didn’t…but it’s Dominica Dunn & Associates. I didn’t push the boat out too far in the imagination stakes. I wish I could apply that kind of pressure, but I don’t have the clout to get a board member on the phone. I appreciate your concern, though.’

  A pair of headlights illuminates the kitchen windows. Max gets up to look outside. ‘It’s your car…that was pretty quick.’

  He steps outside and Dominica follows as her Golf is driven up the driveway. A man in his forties gets out. He nods deferentially at Max, and then not so deferentially at her…it is clear that he sees Max as being the most important person present. She is mildly irritated…heck it’s her house and her vehicle for heaven’s sake.

  ‘All fixed, Mr. Rockford,’ the man says, handing Max the key. ‘A nail caused the puncture, so I have replaced the tire. Now it’s all good to go.’

  ‘Great,’ Max replied. He handed the man the keys to the Merc. ‘If you wait in my car, Tom, I will give you a lift back shortly.’

  Back to where? Dominica is confused. Who is this guy, Tom? How did he get a replacement tire at this time of night? But Tom just nods at her politely, then walks away down the driveway. Max turns to her and presses the key into her hand.

  ‘Well, I guess I’ll have to leave you now. But at least your car is working. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a business card. ‘If you get any problems, please just give me a call.’

  ‘You’ve done enough already, thank you.’

  She is unsure what to do next. She reaches out her hand ready for a handshake. But he has other ideas. He takes her hand, pulls her towards him and kisses her lightly on the cheek. Another buzz of excitement reverberates through her body.

  ‘Thanks for the coffee,’ he says. Then he, too, is walking down the driveway, pausing only to turn and wave as he goes. Dominica waves back, confused and surprised. What did that mean? Would he be telling Miss Executive Girlfriend about that moment? She watches until the Mercedes pulls away almost silently, then goes into the house and locks up. In her bedroom, she looks in the mirror and inspects the spot where he kissed her. Of course, there is nothing to see, but she can’t help looking, like a schoolgirl with her first hickey.

  Miss Executive Girlfriend is one lucky bitch.

  It’s strange being in the house alone. It’s only recently that Jo has started staying over with her father now and then, and Dominica finds the house empty and soulless when Jo isn’t there. They have been like twins for years, but things are changing now that Jo is growing up and becoming a woman herself. The days of driving Jo to soccer matches are pretty much over. Now Jo can drive herself, and she has hung up her soccer boots – deciding that chasing guys is more fun than chasing goals.

  It has been a stressful day, and Dominica needs to relax. She fills a hot bath and enjoys sinking into the hot, steamy, soapy water. As she lies naked under the water, she can’t help thinking about Max Rockford. It’s not often that you get a knight in shining armor rescuing you from a dangerous situation. When she had first seen the flat tire, she had been royally fed up. Now she is glad that the pesky nail had found its way into the tire. It has brought her an evening of adventure, at least…and a handsome hero to fantasize about.

  She imagines what it would be like to have him here in the bath with her. As she lets her imagination run wild, she can feel his naked body behind hers, his arms folding around her, and caressing her breasts. She feels his lips touching her neck as he kisses her, sending a tingling sensation down her spine. It feels so good. Then she senses something else…his erection pressing into her back as the touch of her body stimulates and excites him. As she imagines the scene, she lets her hand slip down her body, from her breasts to her tummy, and then down between her legs. She rubs her clit with her middle finger, imagining that it is his finger that is touching her, exciting her…bringing her closer and closer to orgasm. She knows that she is going to come…

  …and then her cellphone rings.

  Shit. Not now…I’m busy.

  She wants to ignore it, but she can’t. It’s probably Jo, and if she is calling this late at night there must be a problem. Has she had a row with her stupid, short-tempered father? It wouldn’t be the first time, and probably not the last. Dominica knows her ex-husband can be pretty scary when he loses his rag, especially after a drink or two. She will not tolerate any more of that crap in their lives. She will go and fetch Jo right now if there is a problem.

  Dominica jumps out of the bath, spilling nearly a gallon of soapy water on to the floor, and tip toes naked into the bedroom
. Her phone is still ringing. She picks it up and answers quickly. She shivers as she stands there naked and dripping wet.

  ‘Hello?’

  ‘Good evening. I’m sorry to disturb you at this hour. Is that Ms. Dominica Dunn?’

  Well, it’s definitely not Jo. It is a man’s voice. A stranger. Who the heck is calling her at this time of night?

  ‘Yes, I’m Dominica Dunn. Who wants to know?’

  ‘Ah, Ms. Dunn. My name is John Allerton. I am the Chief Executive Officer at Allerton Wesley. We are one of your public relations clients.’

  Well, yes…she knows who her clients are. But wait…the CEO of Allerton Wesley is calling her personally - and at this time of night? She does a double take…it seems surreal. Allerton Wesley is the kind of big corporation where minions like Dominica never get to speak to the top brass. The closest she gets to talking to management is frantic phone calls to the junior accountant. It has been a strange day all round, but it seems to be getting stranger by the minute.

  ‘I don’t understand, Mr. Allerton. What’s this about…and how did you get my number?’

  ‘One of my staff found it for me. We have all your details on file. Look, I know it’s late, but I have an important message for you, and I wanted to get it to you right away. It has just been brought to my attention that we are late paying you a substantial amount of money – over $40,000, I believe.’

  ‘Err…yes, that’s right. It’s for the expenses relating to the New Vision product launch. I’m certainly happy to talk to you about that. It’s long overdue and causing me serious cash flow problems. I’ve been chasing your accounts payable people for weeks.’

  ‘So I understand. First of all, I would like to offer you my personal apology for this – um – oversight. We don’t usually treat our suppliers this way, and I am starting an investigation to find out what happened. In future, your invoices will be directed to my office for my personal attention. But more importantly, I wish to assure you we will courier a check to your office first thing tomorrow. For the full amount outstanding, of course. You will be in your office at nine o’clock in the morning?’