Melting Her Dom's Heart [Dark Desires 3] (Siren Publishing Sensations) Read online

  “Excellent. How about you lock up now? There isn’t anything we can do and then we can all go to get something to eat.”

  With Alex’s mention of food, she realised just how hungry she was, the others must be as well. All they’d had to eat was a few cookies each and a couple of cups of coffee. They walked back into the family room. Stacy and Dan were standing at the counter. Stacy looked at her hopefully and raised her eyebrows. Kallie gave a tiny nod and she grinned back at her.

  Dan stretched. “I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m starving.”

  “So am I,” Stacy said.

  “Me, too,” Alex added.

  They all looked at Kallie. She gave a laugh and put her hands up in surrender. “Okay, I’m definitely starving, too.”

  As he joined in the laugher, Alex said, “Let’s go find somewhere to eat.”

  Kallie and Stacy went through the house shutting the windows and locking up. Kallie picked up her wallet and phone. She rummaged through one of her suitcases and pulled out clean underwear, a T-shirt, and jeans. She found an empty plastic bag, threw them in it, and then met the others at the front door.

  There were two cars at the front—a silver BMW i8 and a black Jeep Grand Cherokee. It surprised Kallie when Dan said, “You’ll have to hop in the Jeep with Alex I’m afraid, Kallie.”

  “Oh.”

  She pulled the front door close as Alex walked over to the Jeep and opened the passenger door for her. He helped her in, and she smothered a grin as he passed her the seatbelt. As she watched, he walked over to the other car and crouched down to talk to Dan and Stacy seated inside. She couldn’t hear what they said, but Alex nodded, stood, and then walked back to climb into the driver’s seat. He waited until Dan drove out then followed.

  “Dan said there’s a bistro about thirty Ks down the road toward the city.”

  “Okay.”

  They drove in silence for a while then Kallie spoke.

  “Thank you, Alex. Thank you for everything you’ve done today.”

  “I've enjoyed it.” He sounded surprised.

  “I’m glad.”

  He risked a glance at her. “You are?”

  “Yes.”

  He looked back at her and touched her cheek. “You’ve got dirt on your cheek.”

  “Damn. Never thought to wash my face before we left.”

  She rubbed at her cheek. Alex pointed to the glove compartment. “Think there might be some of those wet cloth things in the glove box.”

  She opened it and rummaged, finding a couple of packets. She tore one open, wiped her face, and then looked at him. “Better?”

  “It’s gone. As for better, nothing could improve on you. You’re already beautiful.”

  Shocked Kallie didn’t know what to say. That he thought her beautiful made her feel excited. She crossed her arms across her chest, worried in case she might actual show her excitement. They continued in silence until Alex pulled into a carpark alongside Dan. Alex helped her out of the car and the four of them walked into an Italian restaurant and pizza place on the carpark corner.

  The mouthwatering smell of fresh pizza baking hit them as they were shown to a booth. The two men slid in opposite the girls. The waiter handed them menus and asked if they’d like to order drinks. Stacy and Kallie ordered a lemon squash, and the two men ordered beer. Stacy hadn’t bothered to open her menu, and Kallie guessed that Dan would order for her. She felt unsettled, remembering the fiasco when she and Alex had the fight at the restaurant.

  “What’s everyone feel like?” Dan looked over at the girls.

  “Can we get some bruschetta now? I’m so hungry,” Stacy said.

  “For you, my love, of course.”

  She blew a kiss at Dan.

  “Kallie, do you like bruschetta?”

  “Yes, Dan, I do.”

  “Okay. I’ll get some for us all as well as some herb and garlic bread.” He laughed. “I’m so hungry I could eat a loaf of bread on my own. It must have been all that hard work.”

  The waiter came back with their drinks, and Dan ordered the breads, asking if they could bring them out while they selected their mains.

  When the waiter returned he stood ready to take their orders. Kallie hadn’t even decided. Dan ordered Linguine for himself along with a ricotta and spinach tortellini for Stacy. Trying to quickly scan the menu Kallie looked up when Alex spoke to her.

  “Do you like risotto, Kallie? Risotto alla zucca is usually delicious if you like pumpkin.”

  Chapter Nine

  She looked at him, her eyes wide in surprise then nodded. He ordered it for both of them. Kallie stretched out her legs in an effort to relax only to accidentally end up with one leg between Alex’s. He brought his feet together purposefully locking her ankle. His eyes bore into hers. Pure masculinity and dominance covered his face as she felt her face redden at his attention. He moved his legs apart, and she quickly pulled leg her back.

  He said, “Sorry.”

  With that one word, she felt her stomach somersault. She took a mouthful of her drink to cover her embarrassment but coughed when she took too much. Stacy thumped her back. Unsettled and nervous Kallie felt afraid to meet those sexy eyes. She knew if she did, he would read how much he affected her although she was rather certain he already knew.

  The breads arrived. The rich smell of tomatoes and basil had Kallie licking her lips. Dan held out the bruschetta plate for her to help herself. She dropped two slices onto the plate in front of her, then picked one up and bit into it hungrily. She thought Alex’s sexy green eyes never left her face as she tried to act naturally.

  Somehow she got through the meal. Dan and Stacy carried the conversation. She and Alex occasionally added something, but the whole time Kallie was so aware of Alex. She couldn’t help it. Her imagination went into overdrive. She kept thinking of being naked kneeling before him, lying on a bed with Alex poised above her. Someone dropped something in the kitchen, and the loud crack reminded her of a flogger. Would Alex be a Dom who wielded a flogger with authority and confidence? She tried to keep her thoughts on the conversation around her, but it became increasingly difficult.

  Dan said, “Stacy told me you have to buy a car, Kallie.”

  Kallie realised Dan was talking to her and mentally shook herself. He repeated his statement.

  “Yes, I’ll need one to get into the studio each day. I really should have arranged to buy one over the past few weeks, but I just forgot with everything else that was happening. Anyway, now I need to buy one quick smart, a four-wheel drive. You can see why.”

  “Yes, the i8 isn’t really suitable for off-road driving.” Dan laughed. “Alex, you should give Kallie the name of that friend of yours who sold you the Jeep?”

  “Good idea.”

  “I guess you have a lot to buy, Kall,” Stacy said.

  “Yep. Apart from replacing all the ruined things as I mentioned I’ll need a new fridge and a microwave to start with. Then there’s all the stuff you just take for granted. At least once I have a car I can get it all sorted.”

  By the time they had finished eating, it was almost seven thirty. The four walked back out into the car park. Stacy and Dan kissed her good-bye. Stacy asked her if they could have lunch early next week, promising to ring her and work out a date. When Dan kissed her good-bye, he whispered, “You okay going with Alex?”

  She nodded and thanked him.

  They got into their cars and then drove off. Alex was silent on the drive back toward his home until about four kilometres from the turnoff, where there was a large mall. He glanced over at Kallie and spoke.

  “There’s a shop in there that guarantees next-day delivery on its stock. It sells mattresses, I think, and it’s open ’til late at night. Shall we check?”

  “If you don’t mind. You’ve already done a lot.”

  “I don’t mind at all. It would save us time tomorrow. Let’s see.”

  He drove into the car park of the complex and found a parking space nea
r the main entrance. Helping her out of the car, they entered the shopping mall. Walking along slowly until Kallie saw the shop Alex had spoken about, they entered. Inside Kallie saw they had what looked like not only hundreds of beds and mattresses but also linens and bath ware.

  A salesperson came over to them, and Kallie explained she needed a king-size mattress and base as well as two singles. The man’s eyes lit up in delight, thinking this would be a good sale. He asked her what type of mattress she wanted and rattled off various types.

  “I want one that isn’t too hard or too soft.”

  He pointed out a section of mattresses and suggested she lie on them. Feeling silly she began sitting on mattresses. She noticed Alex trying to hide a smile behind his hand. It was hard to resist the childish temptation to stick out her tongue at him.

  Going from one bed to another and getting confused along the way Kallie finally found one that felt comfortable. Alex told her she should lie on it rather than just sitting. She blushed but did as he said. It did feel good. When Alex lay alongside her, she was surprised.

  “Make sure you don’t roll together when you turn.”

  And he proceeded to roll over as if turning in sleep. His face ended quite close to hers. Startled Kallie realised she wanted to kiss his lips. In shock, she quickly rolled off the bed and stood, her heart racing and her face flushed.

  Flustered she asked about the mattress. The salesperson explained it was their top of the line a—Tempur-Rhapsody Breeze. He went on to say they were having a 50 percent–off sale, gesturing to the hanging signs all through the shop. Kallie then asked if it was in stock, and thankfully, he said yes. She ordered it, and as they came in the other sizes, she ordered those as well.

  “I want pillows, too.”

  “Okay, come this way.”

  They followed him to a vast arrange of pillows and Kallie groaned quietly. Alex leant down and whispered in her ear, “At least you don’t have to lie beside me to check these out.”

  She gave him an anxious look then tried to concentrate on the pillows. With half her attention on him and the other on the pillows Kallie managed to select ones she thought she’d like. She bought six, two each in three styles, thinking if she didn’t like one she would surely like one of the others and could use the remainder on the spare beds.

  She also chose a set of sheets—the ones she had would need to be washed and aired. Kallie arranged for delivery for the next day, reassured when told the company would have them to the house between ten and twelve. She handed over her card, settled the account, and they made their way back out through the store.

  Alex nudged her near the entrance and pointed out towels. “You might need at least one set if you plan to have a wash. Unless you like to wander around wet.”

  “I…um, yes.”

  He laughed when she reddened again. Moving to the towels section, Kallie found a set of extra-large bath sheets in a lovely misty jade green. She picked them up as well as a matching hand towel, face cloth, and floor towel. This would do until she could get herself organised. She took them to the counter and paid for them. Alex picked up the bag before she could.

  “You’ll get lost inside those towels.”

  “Maybe, but I love being wrapped in big ones.”

  He looked down at her, his eyes burning into hers. “Do you?”

  Images filled her head. The look on his face told Kallie what he was imagining. “Yes,” she whispered breathlessly, her mind going into overdrive as Alex put his hand under her elbow and they walked back to the car.

  Neither spoke until Alex drove through a set of massive gates that opened as he drew close. The paved driveway wound through trees then gardens until she got a glimpse of his house and it stunned her. She couldn’t hold back her gasp of delight.

  She got more than just a twinge of envy as she looked at the sprawling Mediterranean-Spanish style house. Alex drove under the large porte cochère and parked. He opened the car door for her, and then they walked into the house. Kallie didn’t know where to look first.

  They had entered a vast, grand entryway with cathedral ceilings. Directly ahead, across the wide expanse, Kallie thought, was the salon with wide glass doors leading outside. Either side of her the broad hallway stretched off. A grand marble staircase swept upward either side to lead to a wide light-filled Juliette balcony overlooking the white marble expanse below. The black ironwork of the balusters complemented the polished wooden handrails. It was so beautiful, it took her breath away.

  “This is wonderful!”

  “I’m glad you like it.”

  Glancing to the left, Kallie guessed held the formal dining room at the end of the hall and, looking right, a closed door. Alex took her through the salon then into a large family room and on to the kitchen. Each room they entered made her more envious.

  The kitchen made her weak at the knees. Kallie loved to cook and this looked a dream place to do just that. A soft cream colour was dominant with black quartz for all the countertops. There were more cupboards and black-handled drawers than she had in her entire house. She drooled over the enormous range and double oven. She itched to make something in this wonderful room. A short friendly-looking woman came out of the pantry, something very familiar about her. This must be Lucia sister.

  “Mister Alex, I didn’t know what time you’d be back. Shall I make dinner?”

  “It’s okay, Marie. We ate out. This is Miss Robins. She’ll be staying overnight.”

  Marie’s eyes widened in surprise at his statement, and Kallie felt herself blush at her scrutiny.

  “I’ll put her in the green room. We’ll take coffee out in the atrium in half an hour, please, Marie.”

  Before Kallie could say anything, Alex bundled her out again. Through the salon once more, he took her up the beautiful staircase and showed her into a delightful bedroom.

  Green was Kallie’s favourite colour, and this room was painted in a soft dirty martini green. The king-size bed had a cream cover with green pillows tossed casually against the bed head. A cream sofa held more green cushions, and the curtains complemented the green of the walls.

  “I’m sure you’d love a shower. I know I would. I’ll meet you downstairs in half an hour. After you go down the stairs, if you veer to the right, you’ll end up in the atrium in front of the veranda and terrace areas.”

  “Oh thank you.” She went to move away. “Damn I left my change of clothes in your car.”

  “That’s okay. I’ll get them. Won’t be a minute.”

  He left the room, and Kallie looked around. She was about to investigate two closed doors when Alex returned with her plastic bag.

  “Thanks. I just threw them in here rather than trying to find a bag.”

  “I’ll see you downstairs soon.”

  With that he left the room, closing the door behind him. A few seconds later there was another knock at the door, opening Kallie found Marie with towels in her hand.

  “Clean towels for you, Miss Robins.”

  “Thank you, Marie. I hope this isn’t too much trouble.”

  “No, none at all.” Marie beamed at Kallie. “It’s so lovely to finally have someone stay over.”

  With that she left and Kallie went to one of the doors and looked inside—a large walk-in robe. She opened the other door and sighed as she entered the luxurious bathroom. It held a big bathtub and a large shower, as well as double sinks. A separate door led to the toilet. She quickly stripped off and jumped into the shower.

  It felt so good to get rid of all the dust and dirt from moving. The shower held guest soap and two tiny bottles, which, she discovered, contained lovely smelling shampoo and conditioner. Kallie revelled in feeling clean from top to toe. She turned off the shower, wrapped herself in the large fluffy towel, and then padded out into the bedroom.

  After drying herself she pulled on her clean clothes then went back into the bathroom. Kallie rubbed her hair dry then hung the towel up and looked at herself. She had no makeup on and n
o comb to run through her damp hair, but she felt good. Using her fingers, she raked them through her hair to tidy it and then left the room.

  After walking down the stairs, she stood at the wide doorway into the atrium and glanced to the right. She saw another wide hallway that ended at a hexagonal area.

  In front of her the atrium had a high-vaulted glass ceiling. A large garden bed with a towering palm tree and small indoor plants around it drew the eye. A lovely garden setting with a cushion-covered lounge, a table, and comfortable-looking chairs beckoned her.

  She stepped toward a wide glass doorway and looked out through. The veranda stretched the length of the house. Here and there were outdoor chairs and the occasional table.

  Looking around her she saw one wall covered with shelves holding treasures she thought Alex must have collected over the years from his trips overseas. Statues of Buddha rubbed shoulders with brass bowls and wooden elephants. There were Incan statues and what looked like replicas of Egyptian funeral masks. Kallie itched to pick them up and investigate. She was about to examine one of his treasures closer when Alex strode in.

  He had on a pair of loose black pants and bare feet, and as he walked toward her, he pulled on a T-shirt. She finally caught a glimpse of well-toned abs. They more than matched her imagination. The pants hung low on his hips giving her a flash of the magic V that led down to hidden delights and she felt a shiver of lust.

  He walked over to her and then led the way to the group of chairs inviting her to sit. “If it’s all right with you I thought we could take coffee together. Then I will leave you alone. I appreciate your sufferance of me these past couple days.”

  Kallie wasn’t sure what to say. On one hand, she was aware this was the same arrogant man who she’d walked out on at dinner, but on the other, over the past two days, she had seen a totally different man. She wanted to learn more about that man.

  “Thank you for all your help, for everything you’ve done.”

  “It’s been my pleasure.”

  Marie’s arrival saved her from answering. She set a tray with a coffeepot, milk, sugar, and cups on the table. “Shall I pour or you, Mister Alex?”