The Hermit (Mafia Empire Book 1)

After the long flight, we board a yacht, and I struggle to suppress a yawn.

I couldn’t fall asleep on the private jet, and I’m starting to feel sick.

“Four and a half hours until we get to the island, sir,” the captain says.

Then there’s the meeting, the boat ride back to the mainland, and the flight back to Slovakia.

I might die of sleep deprivation long before this trip is over.

Dominik leads me below deck, and when he opens a door and I see a bed, I say, “I can’t sleep with so many people around me.”

If it were just Evinka, Dominik, and me, I’d be fine.

“Try. You look like you’re about the pass out, Grace. I’ll be out on the deck.”

I quickly shake my head. “No, I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me.”

Dominik’s hand flies up, and I have a delayed reaction, only flinching when he takes hold of my chin. He forces my head back so I’ll look at him.

“Don’t ever tell me not to worry about you. That shit doesn’t fly with me. Got it?”

The word bursts over my lips, “Yes.”

His features soften instantly, and lifting his other hand, he frames my face. “You’re always quick to take care of others, never thinking of yourself.” He shakes his head. “I’m the one who will take care of you. I will worry about you, and right now, you’re dead on your feet, miláčik. We’re about to meet potential business partners. I need you rested and clear-headed by my side.”

He pulls his hands away from me, then gestures at the bed.

Not having much of a choice, I kick off my shoes and climb onto the mattress.

When I lie down, Dominik grumbles, “Dobré dievča.”

“Good girl, my butt,” I mutter. “I’m being forced.”

He chuckles before he steps out of the room, pulling the door shut behind him.

“There’s no way I’m going to fall asleep,” I grumble before punching the pillow.

The door opens again, and I frown when Dominik comes in and shuts it behind him.

Taking a seat on one of the chairs, he takes off his boots before coming to lie down on the bed. When he takes hold of my shoulders and pulls me closer to him, my heart sets off at a crazy beat.

Dominik tucks me right against his side, presses my head down on his chest, then says, “Close your eyes and rest, moja žena.”

I hesitate before draping my arm across his waist, then ask, “What do the words mean?”

“My wife,” he whispers as his arms tighten around me.

I feel him press a kiss to my hair, and it makes me feel cherished and safe.

I close my burning eyes and before another thought can cross my mind, I fall fast asleep.

When I try to put some eye drops into my eyes, the small bottle is taken from me, and I hear Dominik say, “Keep your head tilted back.”

“I can do it myself. I don’t need your help.” The words sound distant and foreign.

His blue eyes meet mine, and seeing the desire on his face has my abdomen clenching hard with need.

“Tilt your head back, Grace!”

He steps right up to me, grips a fistful of my hair, and lightly tugs at the strands, and I slowly drift into his arms.

I feel an overwhelming sense of safety as I float through the air, and when I’m placed on a bed, there’s no panic and fear.

Dominik crawls over me, a predatory look on his face.

“I can make you whole again,” he says.

I reach for him, desperate to feel anything but disgust, hatred, and rage.

“I need you,” I whisper.

He pushes my legs open, and when his fingers brush over my soaked panties, I almost come apart from the intense pleasure.

“Oh God,” I whimper.

My entire body comes alive, and as I try to lift my head so I can kiss him, I can’t.

It feels like the bed is holding me down, and I try to fight against it so I can get to Dominik.

My eyes pop open, and breaths explode over my lips. It takes a moment for my vision to focus on Dominik’s face, and just as I become aware that he has me pinned to the bed, he yanks away from me and gets up.

Confused, I quickly sit up, and when I feel residual pleasure tingle between my legs, my lips part in shock.

No. I didn’t.

Dominik sits down on the chair, and leaning forward, he rests his forearms on his thighs, then he asks, “Are you okay?”

“That depends,” I whisper. “Why were you holding me down?”

His voice is deeper than usual when he answers, “You started rubbing yourself against me.”

“Oh God,” I groan.

“Yeah, then you said that, and it was as much as I could take. When I tried to roll you off me, you started fighting me.”

Jesus.

Scurrying off the bed, I say, “I’m so sorry.” I dart for the door, but before I can get to it, Dominik steps in front of me, and I almost plow into his chest.

“It’s okay, Grace,” he says as he reaches for me.

Mortified that I just dry-humped Dominik while having a sex dream about him, I shake my head and step out of his reach.

“Miláčik.” His tone is gentle and it has my heart squeezing in my chest. “It’s a good thing. It shows you’re healing.” He tilts his head to catch my eyes. “Okay?”

I nod, then mutter, “I’m embarrassed and just need some time to process it.”

“Why are you embarrassed?”

“You know why,” I snap, still refusing to meet his eyes. “Don’t make me spell it out.”

Cautiously, he moves closer, and I give him a pleading look.

He lifts his hand to my cheek, and when he takes a final step, leaving less than an inch of space between us, tingles rush through my body.

His tone is possessive as hell as he says, “As long as I’m the man in your dreams, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”

I know he’s right. It’s just all so new to me, and I’m not sure what to do with the emotions and desire he’s making me feel.

I nod and let out a sigh. “How much sleep did I get?”

I’m surprised when he answers, “Almost three hours. It’s time to get ready for the meeting.”

I nod again. “Where’s the bathroom?”

He tips his head in the direction of a door to our left. “Through there. I’ll let you shower first while I check in with Evinka. Come get me when you’re done.”

“Okay.”

He turns away from me, and when he opens the door and steps out into the hallway, I say, “Thank you.”

He lifts an eyebrow. “For what?”

Being damn near perfect.

Instead of admitting that, I whisper, “For everything.”

“You’re welcome, miláčik.”

When he pulls the door shut behind him, I walk to the bed, sit down on the edge, and stare at nothing in particular.

Am I really healing? Is it this easy?

Or is it just because I’m learning to trust Dominik, and I’m starting to fall in love with him?

Or am I already in love with him?

To test the waters, I close my eyes and bring up an image of Dominik lying on top of me.

My heart speeds up, but there’s no panic. Instead, my lips part, and heat pools in my core.

I picture him kissing me while he holds me down, and instead of fear flooding me, my abdomen clenches.

My breaths come faster and my lips part, an achy and needy feeling ghosting over my body.

Slowly, I open my eyes as I realize I might actually be able to be intimate with Dominik.

Not today, but one day.

DOMINIK

The moment I leave Grace, I walk to another cabin, and stepping inside, I lock the door behind me.

My body trembles from the strength it took to hide the effect she had on me. I unfasten my belt and pull down the zipper of my suit pants.

For the first time in more than a decade, I fist my aching cock, and a groan rumbles from my chest. I close my eyes, bringing up the memory of what just happened with Grace.

I’ve just dosed off when Grace moves, pressing her body hard against mine. Her mouth brushes against my neck, and it sends a shockwave through me.

My hand starts to move, my fingers curling tighter.

‘I need you,’ she whispers before rubbing herself against my thigh. There’s so much heat radiating from her pussy I feel it through our clothes.

My cock grows hard as fucking steel, threatening to tear through my pants to get to her.

My hips move, and I thrust fucking hard into my fist, my lips parting as the promise of pleasure creeps closer.

“Oh God,” she moans, her body arching and convulsing.

I move fast, making it to the bed in the nick of time, and placing my knee on the mattress, I come hard, my release spurting over the clean covers.

I clench my jaw, and it has my teeth grinding as I fight to keep from making a sound.

My body jerks, and the powerful orgasm robs me of all my strength. Falling onto my side, I can only gasp for air.

The image of Grace’s face as she orgasms flashes through my mind, making residual pleasure echo through my body.

She looked fucking mesmerizing, and I hope I get to make her come one day.

But that day isn’t today, and I have a meeting to get ready for.