His Games, Her Rules

I can’t believe I’m doing this.

And why the hell did I even think I could avoid this? He’s Dominique Gray. He always gets what he wants. One look at his ocean-blue eyes and I was ready to do anything he asked of me. That is how well he commands my body.

I can’t fight this. I can’t win this. Whatever games we are playing, I don’t think I’m ever going to win. I may have won the first time, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to win again.

I stare at my reflection through the mirror on my dresser as I apply lipstick on my lips. Monique is going through my closet looking for the perfect dress for me. She squealed like the one who was going on a date when I told her I said yes.

Her first words were, “I knew you were going to say yes. There was no guarantee you could resist that long.”

I cover the lipstick as I smack my lips together. My hair is done, all thanks to Monique, and I look good. I didn’t want to overdo it, but the minute Monique took over to prepare me for this date, she made it a mission to make sure I looked irresistible.

“Okay,” Monique comes back from her haunt for a dress as she stands behind me with two dresses in her hands. “What should we go with? Black sleeveless dress with a high split or the red, body con dress that will definitely make Dominique swoon?”

I spin in my chair to look at Monique. “How about none?”

“Okay. We’re going with red and slutty. Nice choice.” Monique grins at me as she throws the red dress on my bed and goes back to keep the black dress in my closet.

Monique comes back and I stand up from my chair. “The last time I checked I was the one going on a date, not you.”

“Yeah. The last time I checked I was the one making you do so many things.” She grins at me as she picks up the red dress and stretches it to me. I glare at her and snatch the dress from her hand.

“I hate you,” I say to her as I go to my closet to get changed.

“You are welcome,” Monique calls after me.

I got undressed and put on the red dress. It’s a midi, bodycon dress with sleeveless straps and a short V-neck. The length of the dress is short on the right side as it flows down to my left thigh and my ankle. Half of my back is bare as my hair cascades down my back and stops at my mid-back. I twirl to look at my figure and I actually look hot.

There is no way Dominique will be able to peel his eyes off of me. The doorbell rings and I step out of my closet into my bedroom. Monique is lying on my bed as she slowly sits up.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

“Do you think it’s him?”

I know it’s him.

“I’ll get it,” I say to Monique as I step out of my bedroom and into the hallway. The doorbell rings again and I make my way to the living room, down the foyer as I open the door.

Dominique Gray stands in front of me, looking beautiful and attractive, just like every other day since I’ve known this man. His mouth is slightly open as he runs his gaze down my body, taking note of everything. He blinks, slipping one hand into his pants pocket as he brings his gaze back to my face, taking one step back to stare at me again.

I smile in my head, satisfied I left him breathless.

“Wow.” He says as he clears his throat.

I lean one hand on the doorframe, with my other hand on my hip as I look up at him. He’s dressed in a two-piece, expensive black suit with the suit jacket unbuttoned. The inner white dress shirt is perfectly tucked in, with the two top buttons unbuttoned.

Boy, he looks good.

My gaze lands on the roses bouquet in his hand.

“Are those for me?” I ask, smirking as I glance down at the bouquet in his hand.

Dominique takes one step forward as he clears his throat. “Yeah.” He stretches it toward me.

I take it from his hands and bring it to my nose to inhale. “It smells really good. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I’m still getting ready. You’re welcome to wait in the living room.”

Dominique nods. “I’m gonna be downstairs, by the parking lot. I’ll wait by the car.”

“Sure.”

Dominique gives me a quick once-over before turning around and walking down the hall toward the elevator. There are butterflies in my stomach as I step into my apartment and shut the door. I press my back against the door and shut my eyes, taking in several deep breaths.

What the fuck is happening to me?

All of these feelings are new and strange and it’s terrifying. How can one man make me speechless and breathless by just looking at me? Not to mention I like the way he looks at me, and I’m willing to do anything to have his undivided attention on me. I want him to always look at me like that, like I’m the best thing he’s ever laid his eyes on and if he looks away he’s going to stop existing.

“Boy, aren’t you fucking smitten?” Monique’s voice snaps me out of my head as I snap my eyes open.

Monique is standing a few feet away from me with a shit-eating grin on her face as she crosses her arms.

“Ugh.” I groan as I walk toward her. I slap the bouquet against her chest as she holds it before it slips and falls on the floor.

“What?” Monique giggles as she follows me to my room. “You’re fucking smitten, you know it’s true.”

“No, I’m not,” I argue as I step into my room.

“Alright,” Monique says as I watch her through the dresser mirror as she inhales the flowers.

“This smells really good,” Monique says.

“I know.” I sigh as I glance at my reflection in the mirror.

I take a deep breath, grab the six-inch clear stilettos by my bed, and slip my feet inside them. Monique picks up a white small clutch from my bed and hands it to me. I take it and give her a small smile.

“How do I look?” I ask Monique.

“Nervous.”

“Yeah. I’m nervous and I don’t know why.”

“Maybe because it’s your first date in years.”

“You think?” I exhale and turn to stare at my reflection in the dresser mirror.

“Or maybe because Dominique Gray is the first man you’ve gone out on a date with who’s your one nightstand and also the one man who makes you feel strange things. You like him.”

I turn to glare at Monique. “I’m gonna go.”

“Alright. Have fun and try to enjoy yourself.” Monique says as she follows me out of my room.

She puts her arm around my shoulder. “God, you’re so tense. Try and relax, Robyn. It’s just a date.”

Yeah, with Dominique, nonetheless. The man who understands my body more than myself. Fuck me.

“I’m gonna see you later.”

“Yeah.”

I open the door and step out into the hallway. “Don’t forget, Robyn. You only live once.” Monique calls after me.

I shake my head as I walk toward the elevator. As I ride the elevator down to the lobby, I can hear my heart beating so fast in my ear.

Robyn, calm down, it’s just a date.

But why does it feel like this is more than just a date? A part of me wants to turn around and go back to my room, but what would that lead to? Dominique will not stop unless he gets me right where he wants me, up against the wall, beneath him, and on top of him. And the thought both terrifies me and arouses me.

The elevator arrives in the lobby and I step out, feeling a little bolder than a minute ago. As I push open the lobby door and step out into the cold air, my gaze holds Dominique who’s leaning against an orange-colored Lamborghini. He stands upright when he locks eyes with me. Just like that, the entire world comes to a halt and the only thing I can see is the man that has shifted the world underneath my feet.

Everything around me feels slow as we lock eyes. My walk is elegant and bold, and just like that, I feel powerful enough to leave a man like Dominique speechless and tongue-tied. As I approach him, I feel the familiar electricity coursing through my veins. My heart flutters against my rib cage, goosebumps crawl through my skin, and there’s this tight knot in the pit of my stomach.

Dominique sweeps his gaze down my body as his eyes linger on specific areas of my body. Like my bare right thigh and my breast. Different emotions flood his eyes and one of them is hunger.

“Wow, Robyn.” Dominique breathes out as I stop in front of him.

“Hello, Dominique.”

“You look…” he sounds breathless. “Fuck, I’m trying to think of the perfect word. Gorgeous, perfect. God, you look beautiful.”

I blush. I’m fucking blushing as I bite my bottom lips. I duck my head, avoiding his eyes as I scan his car instead.

“Nice car.”

“Thanks. I thought I should drive us instead.”

I look up at him, locking eyes with his radiant blue eyes. “Wow, Dominique. All of this for me?”

“You and I know you deserve more than this.” He says and I don’t know how to react.

“Ah! I would have called you a gentleman but you and I know you ain’t no gentleman.”

He laughs. “I didn’t think you like gentlemen.” Dominique presses the key fob in his hand and the doors spring upward to the sky.

“After you,” Dominique says as he gestures for me to enter.

I walk past him and enter the passenger’s seat. Dominique holds the door and slams it shut. I watch him walk around the front of his car to the driver’s seat as he enters. He pushes a button in his car and his side door closes.

“I hope you bring an appetite.”

“Maybe.”

Dominique turns to look at me again. “You know we could always skip dinner and do something more pleasurable.”

“You are not getting into my pants, Dominique.”

I hear him laugh as I turn to look at him. He’s staring at the road as he backs out of the parking lot.

“Yeah? Tell me, Robyn, why did you wear this then?” Dominique asks as he drives onto the road, sparing me a single glance.

“Monique picked it out.”

“Then she made the right choice. You look really beautiful in that dress and it’s taking more than self-control to not park this car and have my hands all over you.”

I say nothing, with my eyes glued to the window as I stare at the passing objects. I can feel the heat of his words, how smooth they sound, and how they make me feel. Like I’m young again, with the perfect man beside me who would do anything for me.

But who am I kidding?

“What do you think about Italian?”

“Whatever you want.”

“Is that so?” Dominique asks as he turns to look at me.

“Nope. Not that. We are not doing that.”

“Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why don’t you want to give in when you and I know you want me to slam you against the wall and have my hands all over you?” Dominique asks as he turns to look at me. I stare back.

“Haven’t you done that? One month ago you had me up against the wall with your hands all over my body.”

He exhales. “You don’t know how badly I need you right now.”

“Get over yourself. Like I told you, you’re making this difficult for the both of us.”

“You think? You’re the one making this difficult for both of us. You could just give in and agree to my proposition.”

I sigh and shake my head. “And I thought this was supposed to be a date. Not an attempt to have sex with me again.”

Dominique exhales as he runs his fingers through his hair with his right hand on the wheel. The rest of the ride is silent as Dominique swerves past cars and speeds down the road. Shortly after, he pulls the car to a stop and shuts down the engine. He gets out of the car and shuts the door. Dominique walks around the car and opens my side door for me. He offers me his hand as he looks down at me. I take his hand and slowly get down, ignoring the electricity that shoots down my spine right to the part that desperately needs his attention.

Dominique shuts the car door, a small smile on his lips as he leads me toward the luxurious Italian restaurant.