Jade had deliberately avoided him for four days. He had tried everything to catch a glimpse of her, but the blonde had been too clever—not letting herself be seen, and whenever he did catch a glimpse, she ran off.
Dominick was furious. He knew she had lied about having a boyfriend—Maximiliano had confirmed it himself, casually dropping hints that she wasn't seeing anyone at all.
That Friday, he swore to himself he would speak to her no matter what. He didn't even know what exactly he wanted to say—he just needed to see her.
So, when he saw her leaving the hotel, the first thing that crossed his mind was to follow her. And by the time he realized what he was doing, he was already parked near what he guessed was her house. He stepped out of the car and leaned against the door, glancing down the empty street.
He told himself he'd wait for her to come out, confront her, and then kiss her…
He was dying to taste her lips again. A slow smile curved his mouth. He loved how stubborn she was. He wanted to break down her resistance, block by block, and enjoy every second of having her skin against his.
He closed his eyes and rested his head on the top of the window. Images of Sunday night danced in his mind. He grinned, satisfied with how he had made her come—how she had enjoyed it so deeply.
A long sigh left his lips as he remembered her soft nipple between his lips… He blinked rapidly and shook his head.
"If I keep thinking about that," he muttered with a smirk, "I'll get another hard-on I'll have to deal with by hand…"
He opened his eyes again just as a strange noise caught his attention. At first, he thought he imagined it—but then he saw her.
He clearly saw Jade pressed against the window, trying to escape—or at least that's what it looked like. Someone pulled her back.
Dominick snapped into action.
He ran to the door and tried the handle, but it was locked. He stepped back and slammed his foot into it. The door burst open.
What he saw filled him with murderous rage: Jade lay half-unconscious on the floor, her clothes torn, and a man hovering over her.
"You sick bastard," he snarled, eyes ablaze. "If you value your bones, get your filthy hands off my woman or I'll break them one by one, you worthless dog."
"Who the hell are you?!" Elías shouted, rising to his feet.
"Dominick… help me," Jade whimpered, her voice faint. Though the blows hadn't been many, they had been violent—her ribs throbbed with pain.
Dominick's chest heaved like a bull about to charge. His mind clouded with fury, he advanced toward Elías. The man stepped back slightly at the sheer hatred on Dominick's face.
"You wanted to rape a defenseless woman?" Dominick's voice was disturbingly calm before he launched a punch that sent Elías crashing into a small shelf. "Well now I'm going to show you what it's like to mess with a real man. Get up, you animal!"
Elías got up and managed to land a punch of his own, splitting Dominick's lip. But it only made him angrier.
Dominick grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against the nearest wall, unleashing a brutal flurry of punches to his gut.
Then he let him fall and punched his face again and again. Dominick had completely lost control, lost in his rage. Elías was bloodied and could no longer speak.
Only the pained whimper from Jade was enough to pull Dominick out of his trance.
He stood up, knuckles split, chest heaving, his blue shirt stained with blood.
He rushed over to Jade and crouched down beside her.
"Look at what that animal did to you… I swear I want to kill him with my bare hands," he whispered.
He scooped her up in his arms and headed for the door. As he descended the steps, a woman approached them.
"Who are you?" Janeth asked, frowning. "Jade? What did you do to my daughter?!" she screamed, rushing forward.
Dominick glanced at the woman. The resemblance was unmistakable—she looked like an older version of Jade.
"Don't you dare touch her," he growled, his tone deadly. Janeth stopped cold. "Go call the cops on the filthy degenerate I left inside instead."
He walked away, leaving her in a daze of confusion.
Dominick placed Jade gently in the back seat and got into the car, speeding off.
When they reached the hotel, he pulled up to the entrance, handed the valet his keys, and lifted Jade in his arms again. Curious eyes followed him as he entered, but he couldn't care less.
He stepped into the elevator, struggling a little to press the button—his knuckles throbbing, his heart still racing.
The blonde murmured things he couldn't understand, her cheeks soaked in tears, clinging to Dom's shirt and chest like a lifeline.
"That bastard," he growled, clenching his jaw. "That damn bastard will never lay a hand on you again."
The elevator doors opened, and he stepped out immediately. As he reached his door, he paused—how would he unlock it with Jade in his arms? With a sigh, he gently set her down, propping her up against the wall. He pulled out his key, unlocked the door, and picked her back up with a soft grunt. She was light, but still had some weight.
He walked in, laid her on the bed, and went back to shut the door. From where he stood, he looked at her—so fragile, so delicate.
He went to the bathroom and brought the first aid kit. Carefully, he cleaned her wounds with alcohol, gently placing a few band-aids where needed. Then he searched for scissors to finish removing her torn clothes. He also cleaned the small cut on her own forehead with alcohol.
His throat went dry when he saw her in just her underwear. He quickly grabbed a sheet and covered her, wrapping her up delicately. Then he called room service to ask for painkillers.
When they arrived, he sat on the edge of the bed.
And he stared.
He admired her beauty, which not even the bruises on her face could diminish. He studied every corner of her face, the shape of her figure beneath the sheet… and smiled softly.
Jade began to stir, still dazed and dizzy.
"Drink this," he said, handing her the pills. "It'll help with the pain."
She sat up, dragging the sheet with her to cover herself—not that he hadn't already seen her. To his surprise, she took the pills and the water without protest.
"Feeling better?" he asked, brushing her cheek with the back of his fingers.
Jade looked at him as if he were a different man. She was always prepared for his insults, the constant arguing… even his relentless flirting. But tonight, she wasn't prepared for this version of him—gentle, protective, tender.
She nodded in response. It all felt strange. She didn't know what to do, how to react…
"Do you want something to eat?" he offered, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. She shook her head and smiled weakly.
"You're still quiet. Aren't you going to say anything?"
Jade looked away and sighed.
"Where are my clothes?"
"In the trash. They were ruined, so I threw them out," he replied as he got up and poured himself a drink. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye.
"Want one?" he offered. "Right… you can't. You just took medication. Better if I order you something to eat and drink."
"That's not necessary," she said quickly. "I have to go anyway. Thanks for what you did today."
She didn't look at him—she had never imagined she'd ever thank him. In fact, she couldn't even picture saying good morning to him.
"Goodbye."
She stood up, holding the sheet tightly around herself, but Dominick stopped her.
"And you're planning to leave like that?" he asked, arms crossed in front of her. "Everyone will see you. And if someone walks by and sees you leaving like that, well… they'll start talking." He smirked.
"They'll assume you slept with me. Gossip spreads fast, and it just might reach your boyfriend's ears." Jade narrowed her eyes at the mocking tone he used for that last word.
"So, the smart thing to do… is to stay the night here," he shrugged.
"What are you playing at, Dominick?" Jade tightened her grip on the sheet. She was scared. Scared of what he made her feel when he touched her. Scared of developing real feelings for him. Scared… of giving in and getting caught in his web.
"I'm not playing at anything," he said, raising his hands in feigned innocence. "I'm just pointing out the obvious. If you really do have a boyfriend, you'll stay. But if you walk out that door, I'll know you were lying."
Jade weighed her options. Dominick was definitely playing some twisted game. If she left, she'd contradict herself—and if she stayed, she risked those skilled, slippery hands of his ending up all over her again.
«And wouldn't that feel amazing », her subconscious whispered.
She shook off the thought.
Then again, there were the hallway cameras… There was a chance Rick could see her leaving like that, at this hour, and then she'd be in serious trouble...
"What are you thinking so hard about?" Dominick's voice pulled her out of her internal turmoil. He had taken a few steps closer—now standing almost in front of her. "It's a yes or no. You're staying, or you're going." He smirked. "I promise I won't do anything…"
«Yeah, like your word means anything», Jade thought bitterly.
"Nothing you don't want," he murmured, too low for her to hear. A sly chuckle escaped his lips.
"I'll stay," she stated, lifting her chin high. No way was she going to show him how nervous she really was. She watched his every move, silently begging him not to touch her. "And I swear, if you try anything,"—she narrowed her eyes—"I'll hit you with the first thing I can grab."
Dom walked toward the drinks and poured himself a glass.
"You don't need to be afraid of me, Jade," he said softly, now standing behind her. The blonde turned around to face him. Her fingers were numb from clutching the sheet so tightly.
"I'm not afraid of you," she said firmly. Her defiant glare only made him more intrigued.
"You sure?" He stepped in, just a breath away. "Then why were you hiding from me these past few days?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I wasn't hiding," she lied, trying not to get lost in those seductive eyes of his, which were doing their best to bend her will. "I just can't stand being around you—that's all."
"That's not true," he said confidently. "If you couldn't stand me, you wouldn't react the way you do when—"
"Shut up," she hissed, spinning on her heel and heading straight into the closet, leaving him laughing behind her.
Inside, she grabbed a t-shirt and some sweatpants—both too big for her—and left without sparing him a glance. She locked herself in the bathroom.
She stared into the mirror and cursed softly when she spotted the dark mark on her skin. She grabbed one of the hotel's spare toothbrushes and began cleaning up. After a full shower, she left her underwear behind and changed into Dominick's clothes.
She swallowed hard. She wasn't wearing anything underneath, and the thought of him noticing made her tense. She opened the door—only to find him in nothing but boxers.
She couldn't help it—her gaze scanned him head to toe, absorbing every detail. His chest was sculpted, his abs tight, like a mouthwatering chocolate bar. The fabric clung low to his hips, and as for what was outlined beneath…
"If you acted on even half the thoughts you're clearly having while checking me out like this," he said, smiling in that wicked way that made her exhale deeply, "we'd both be enjoying ourselves right now."
Jade's rebellious side sparked.
She stepped forward, slowly, until she stood right in front of him. She lifted her gaze to meet his, while Dominick watched her—somewhere between confused and aroused.
"You want to own me, don't you?" she whispered, letting her nails trail lightly down his chest. He shivered slightly at her sensual tone. "You want me all to yourself…"
Her hand glided lower, brushing over the line where skin turned into waistband, her fingers brushing the soft hair there.
"I want to do a lot of things to you, Jade," he purred, his heart starting to race, "and all of them involve this room… and every surface in it… in all kinds of positions."
Jade knew she was playing with fire. Her heart pounded, but she didn't stop—because she wanted him to pay.
So she slipped her hand beneath the waistband of his boxers, gently wrapping her fingers around his semi-erect length. A shaky breath left his lips at the unexpected but exquisite sensation…