Chapter 6: Behind the Laughter
I couldn’t stop laughing. I tried, I really did, but every time I looked at Dom’s pale, terrified face, the laughter burst out of me again.
“Will you stop that? It’s not that funny,” Dom grumbled, rubbing his trembling hands over
his face.
“It is funny!” I said, gasping for breath between giggles. “Oh my God, Dom, come closer. Let me protect you from the demon Baal before it steals your soul.” I reached out dramatically, but he stepped back, glaring at me.
He looked ridiculous, this tough, intimidating CEO turned into a scaredy–cat over a horror movie. He had spent the entire film with his hands covering his face, clutching my arm like I was some kind of shield against a killer nun.
I clamped my mouth shut, trying to hold it together, but another laugh bubbled up. “I’m serious, Dom. Come on, I’ll protect you…”
Before I could finish, he grabbed me and slung me over his shoulder like I weighed nothing. A loud smack landed on my backside.
“Ouch!” I yelped, grabbing my ass. “What was that for?”
“For mocking me,” he said with a smirk. “And there’s more where that came from if you don’t keep quiet.”
I pouted as he carried me toward the car, ignoring the amused glances from passersby. A few women gave Dom envious looks that sparked an unexpected flicker of possessiveness in me. I shoved it aside, refusing to give it power.
Dom, however, kept grumbling. “I’m never taking you to the movies again.”
I chuckled. “Maybe we should cover the house in holy water and say a few prayers. You know, to keep the demons from following us home after watching such a ‘demonic‘
movie.”
He stiffened, and I bit my lip to stop another laugh.
“You want another spanking?” he asked, his voice calm but full of warning. “I’ll gladly turn you over my knee right here and give everyone a show. You’re my wife, after all. I can do it.”
The way he said my wife made my cheeks burn, but thankfully, he couldn’t see my reaction.
“Just saying,” I replied innocently.
That earned me another swat. I yelped and retaliated with a playful smack to his backside, which made him chuckle. “Two can play that game,” I said smugly.
As we neared the car, I spotted an ice cream truck. Without thinking, I gave his ass another playful tap.
“I want ice cream!”
Dom sighed, setting me down. He adjusted my messy hair, his fingers brushing lightly against my cheek. The small, intimate gesture made my stomach flutter.
Chanter 6. Rehind the laughter
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“Two cones, please,” I said to the vendor, grinning at Dom as he shook his head.
“You’re incorrigible,” he muttered, though the smirk tugging at his lips betrayed his
amusement.
“Bite me,” I retorted, licking my cone.
He leaned in and swiped his tongue along the corner of my lips where a drop of ice cream had fallen. I froze as he whispered, “I’d love to do more than that.”
My eyes went wide, darting to the vendor, who thankfully seemed oblivious,
“Stop being a pervert,” I hissed, trying to hide my blush.
“You’re my wife, Amanda. Mine. I’m not being a pervert,” he said smugly.
I wanted to snap back, to remind him this marriage was fake, but I couldn’t. Because deep down, I liked this. For the first time in nearly a decade, I was having fun. For once, I wasn’t just existing, I was living.
That thought hit me like a punch to the gut. The joy I’d felt moments ago dimmed as a wave of sadness washed over me. I turned away, walking ahead to hide the emotions threatening to spill over.
Dom caught up and spun me around, his brow furrowed. “Mi amore, what’s wrong?”
I wanted to tell him not to call me that, but the truth was, I loved it. Loved the way the endearments sounded in his deep voice.
“Nothing, Dom.” I forced a smile, but his piercing gaze told me he didn’t buy it.
Without warning, he kissed me. It wasn’t a soft kiss, but firm, possessive, and full of something I couldn’t name. I didn’t kiss back. I just stared at him, stunned, until he pulled
away.
“We’re in this together,” he said quietly. “I married you, Amanda. Neither of us is going anywhere.”
I couldn’t respond, too overwhelmed to find the right words. He pecked my lips again, grabbed my hand, and led me to the car.
The silence as we drove was unbearable. My thoughts churned, and finally, I couldn’t hold it in anymore. “Dom… how do you know me?”
His brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”
“You’ve always avoided the question,” I said, crossing my arms. “But I want the truth this time. No lies.”
He sighed, his grip on the steering wheel tightening. “I first saw you five years ago. You were walking on the street, and I was in my car. I didn’t know who you were, but… something about you caught my attention. I couldn’t look away.”
My heart pounded. “Five years?”
He nodded. “I had my men find out who you were. But when I learned you were married, I stayed away. Then, when I found out what Roman did…” His jaw tightened. “I knew I couldn’t stay away anymore.”
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“You’ve always avoided the question,” I said, crossing my arms. “But I want the truth this
time. No lies,”
He sighed, his grip on the steering wheel tightening. “I first saw you five years ago. You were walking on the street, and I was in my car. I didn’t know who you were, but… something about you caught my attention. I couldn’t look away.”
My heart pounded. “Five years?”
He nodded. “I had my men find out who you were. But when I learned you were married, I stayed away. Then, when I found out what Roman did…” His jaw tightened. “I knew I couldn’t stay away anymore.”
I gasped. “You’ve been watching me for five years?”
His gaze flicked to me, unapologetic. “I wanted you safe, Amanda.”
I didn’t know how to feel. Part of me was horrified, but another part, one I didn’t want to admit existed, found his protectiveness intoxicating.
“You’re mine, Amanda,” he said firmly. “I’ll never let you go.”
My stomach twisted. I should have been scared, terrified, even. But instead, I felt something entirely different. I was falling, and there was no stopping it.
