“Ava, you are something else.”
What? Ava stood straight up. Goosebumps rose on her forearms.
“What did you just say?” she asked.
“I think you heard me.”
“How do you know my name? I never told you.”
“You didn’t have to. I recognized you as soon as you entered the room last night.”
Ava tried to turn around but his hands held her in place, still firmly impaled on him.
“Let me go,” she ordered.
“Are you sure you want me to do that? You might not like what you find.”
Ava pushed his hands away and created enough space between them so that she could turn around. Her heart rose up in her throat. Forest-green eyes met her own. This was no Marco. Dominic Sambarino stared down at her.
“Hello, Stepmother.”
Chapter Fourteen
Ava backed away. The air rushed from her lungs. No. No. This can’t be happening. Dominic? Dominic! She swallowed and then she slapped him as hard as she could. He didn’t even flinch but her hand stung as she pulled it back.
“Get out. Get out now.” Trying to regain her composure, Ava turned the shower off and then she moved to exit. Dominic didn’t flinch.
“Get out of my way.”
“I don’t think I’m going to do that,” he said. His green eyes mocked her.
“You’d better or you just might find that appendage you’re so fond of broken in half.”
“You wouldn’t do that.”
“You don’t know what I’m capable of.”
“Actually I do. Now that I’ve spent some time with you. Don’t get me wrong, you roar like a lion, but if you get stroked the right way you’re nothing but a pussy cat.”
Ava’s hand came up to slap him again. He caught her hand easily.
“You got one. That’s all you get.”
She tried to jerk her hand away, but he held onto it tighter.
“What do you want with me? What was the point of all this?”
“You say that like I set all of this up.”
“Well, didn’t you?”
“Not exactly.”
“You either did or you didn’t.”
“Fine. I didn’t.”
“Then what are you doing here? Oh wait, you’re a professional escort. That would explain all the pictures I saw of you with older women.”
Dominic lifted a brow. A small smile curved his lips. “So you’ve been checking up on me? I’m flattered.”
Ava sneered. “Don’t be. I make it a habit to know everything I can about my enemies.”
“So that’s what we are now? Enemies? I’m hurt, Ava. Really I am. Especially after everything we’ve shared.”
His hand came up to caress her face. Ava jerked away from him. “Don’t touch me ever again.”
“You don’t mean that. Not after last night, and then again this morning.”
“If you come near me again, I will make sure that my face is the last thing you see before you take your last breath.”
Before Ava could blink, a hand wrapped around her throat and she was pinned to the tile wall of the shower. Dominic leaned closer, his eyes glittering. A muscle twitched in his jaw. “Don’t you ever, ever threaten me.”
“If Joseph was really your father, then why did you make a point to screw his wife? Answer me that.”
His hold relaxed on her throat, but he didn’t let go. “Contrary to what you think, I am not a male escort. I do have a thing for older women and I may enjoy their company from time to time, but I don’t sell my body for sex. I have more respect for myself than that.”
Ava swallowed against his hand. “You still haven’t answered my question. Why did you have sex with me? To get back at Joseph for being a horrible father to you?”
“No. The only reason I’m here is because I had a bad breakup with a woman I cared a great deal about and a friend suggested I come along as an escort for the company he works for. Having nothing else to do, I agreed. It wasn’t until you walked into the ballroom I even realized you would be here.”
Ava shook her head. “I don’t believe you.”
“Why am I not surprised? Are you this suspicious of everybody?”
“You show up at my house and threaten me. Now you’re here spying on me. What are you doing? Trying to get something to blackmail me with so I’ll give you a part of my daughter’s inheritance?”
“I never threatened you. I simply told you what I wanted. And again I had no idea you would be here. But even if I did, there’s nothing I can use against you in an estate dispute and besides, I’m not going to call undue attention to what I’m doing here either.”
Ava stared at him. In her mind, his words made sense, but in her gut, she still didn’t trust him. Dominic had an angle and she needed to find out what it was. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Rule one of life, Ava. His thumb caressed her neck. The hard look in his eyes softening.
“Why did you choose me?” Ava asked.
“Why not? You’re a breathtaking woman. Any red-blooded man would be attracted to you.”
“There has to be more to it.”
“Like what?” Dominic asked. His hand trailed down her neck towards her breasts. Ava tried to ignore the havoc his touch was wreaking on her body.
“To find my weakness. Something you could exploit.”
His hand cupped her right breast. She glared at him. His head cocked to the side as he rubbed her nipple. A small laugh escaped his throat.
“I already found your weakness.”
“I don’t have one.”
“Liar. Of course you do. We all do.”
Her nipple puckered in his hand. She cleared her throat ignoring the slow rising flame in her belly. She couldn’t afford to be distracted. Not now. “And what’s my weakness?”
“Sex.”
“Sex? I can assure you I’m fine without it one way or another.”
“Maybe. Maybe not. From the way you responded to me it was obvious it’s been a while since a man touched you. I also could tell that my old man wasn’t doing you right. Those old-school guys aren’t known for being very inventive in the bedroom.”
“I’m not discussing my sex life with you.”
Dominic shrugged. “You don’t have to. Your body already told me everything I needed to know. Besides I’m sure that from now on, when you think of a Martelli, it won’t be my old man who crosses your mind.”
“Fine. We slept together. Add that to the notch on your belt, but it doesn’t change anything. I don’t like you and if you persist in fighting me over Joseph’s estate you’re going to lose.”
“I think you like me a lot, Ava. In fact, I think if I were to get down on my knees and put my tongue between your thighs again you’d like me even more.”
“You…You…”
“Speechless. Nice to know I have that effect on you.”
Ava slapped his hand away from her breast. “This is over.” Pushing past him, she stepped out of the shower. She didn’t get far, before Dominic grabbed her by the arm spinning her around to face him. She stamped her foot in frustration. “Why won’t you just leave me alone? You got what you wanted.”
He shook his head slowly. “No. Not yet.”
“If you’re still waiting for some of Joseph’s estate, don’t hold your breath. My lawyer is going to wipe the floor with you.”
“That’s a possibility, but my birthright is not the only thing I want.”
“Your birthright? That’s rich. Come on, humor me. You can’t possibly think you’re going to get his territory. Angelo has that and I’m sure he’s not going to share with a nobody like you.”
She waited for him to lash out at her. To call her names and threaten to wreak havoc on her life. None of that came. Instead, still holding her arm, he maneuvered her over to the bathroom counter until her butt was against it.