Almost Perfect Read online

  “You want a drink?” He looks down at me, a smile curving his lips. Taking in my glazed eyes and lopsided smile, he smirks. “On second thought, maybe you’ve had enough.” That the last cocktail wasn’t my best idea.

  Dominic slides into my seat, and my mouth opens to protest, but it turns into a cry of surprise as he pulls me onto his lap. My hands loop around his neck, and I kiss him full on the lips—tongue and everything—to a chorus of catcalls. Leo, throws a beer mat at us and we pull apart. Grace winks at me and my cheeks heat up. I blame the Drunken Sailor cocktails for my very public display of affection. Dominic’s chuckle vibrates against my body, and he wraps his arms around me. Leo slides a beer across the table to him, and I reach for the glass of water that has appeared in front of me.

  One hand rests on my thigh, below the hem of my dress, but the longer we sit, the further up it moves. So slow that I thought I imagined it, until it trails along the inside of my thigh, sending a flare of need dancing along my skin. My body grows hot, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to concentrate on what Pete is saying. I reach for my glass of water and down it in one. Dominic raises an eyebrow in amusement, dropping his mouth to my ear.

  “Let’s go,” he commands in a whisper.

  “But everyone else?” I whisper back.

  “What about them? I don’t want to take any of them home and fuck them.” A bolt of lust hits me right between my legs and my panties dampen at the sexy grin he flashes at me.

  “What are you waiting for then?” I can’t talk properly, everything comes out sounding breathy. I reach down to kiss him, biting down on his lower lip grazing it with my teeth as I pull back. Dominic lets out a low groan and grips my hands firmly and lifts me off his lap to stand beside him. Pushing up from the table he takes my hand in his.

  “We’re leaving,” he announces to our collective friends but doesn’t wait for an answer as he tugs me toward the entrance. I stumble along after him as he rushes me out of the club to his truck.

  • • •

  After a record breaking drive home, Dominic leads me straight to the bedroom; he is a man on a mission and doesn’t stop to turn on any lights. He draws me into his arms and the streetlight outside is the only source of light. Reaching for my dress, he drags it over my head before taking off my bra. Warm fingers brush against my stomach as he grips the waistband of my panties and push them down.. Dominic pulls his t-shirt over his head before unbuttoning his jeans and tugs them down his muscular thighs. My mouth waters at the way his muscles ripple and tense with each movement. He straightens, standing in front of me naked, his thick erection standing between us and I take hold of him, sliding my hand up his full length and back down. His breathing speeds up while we stare at each other. Taking my hand off his dick, his eyes never leave mine, as he hooks my legs around his waist, lifting me to carry me over to the bed. Laying us down, Dominic curves around me, propping himself on his elbow to stare down at me. Gorgeous, that’s what he is. Dark eyelashes frame green eyes that sparkle, defined cheekbones and strong jaw, perfect bow shaped lips. I run my thumb over them and cup his jaw in my hand.

  “How is your New Year so far?” His eyes sparkle with the lights from outside.

  “Best New Year ever,” I assure him.

  “Not an anti-climax?”

  “Nothing with you could ever be described as an anti-climax.” My lips brush over his lips, and he hauls me back against his body.

  “I fucking love you, Charlie,” he mumbles into my hair.

  “And I fucking love you.” I settle in his arms, definitely my favorite place to be, and wonder what the New Year holds for us.

  Chapter Four

  Dominic is sitting at the breakfast bar when I burst into the apartment after class a few months later. Even from the door, the crease in his forehead is obvious as he frowns at whatever he’s reading. My gut gives a sharp twist; Is it another photograph?

  “What is it?” I ask, a wave of apprehension washing over me. I cross the living room to stand behind him. My arms slip around his waist, and I lean my cheek against his back. With my eyes closed, I listen to his even breathing and some worry fades. Turning in his seat, he wraps his arms around me and holds me.

  Dominic picks up a cream embossed envelope. “Look inside,” he says in a tight voice and hands it to me. Turning it over in my hands, I read his address in fancy script, and look up at him in confusion. I perch on the seat opposite him, open the flap and pull out a stiff, cream-colored card. A wedding invitation. My mom showed me enough samples for me to recognize one a mile off. Curious, I turn it over and read silently before I lift my eyes up to meet his, which have never left mine, they flash with annoyance.

  “It’s for Mia’s wedding. Why would she want you there?” I ask even more confused than before. My stomach churns at the thought of his glamorous ex-girlfriend.

  “Look who she’s marrying.” His voice is flat, devoid of any emotion, and I look down at the invitation again.

  Still none the wiser. “Todd Hudson? Is he a relative or yours or something?”

  “He’s my older brother,” he says quietly, by the deadly serious expression on his face he’s not joking.

  “What the fuck? Your ex is marrying your brother? The same ex who came here and tried to sleep with you a few months ago?” I ask incredulous, making sure I’ve understood the situation correctly.

  “Yup, that’s the gist of it,” he concedes and scrubs his hand down his face. Shit, things have gotten more complicated. It’s bad enough that he doesn’t speak to his dad and hasn’t heard from his brother in ages. But to find out he’s marrying his ex-girlfriend, the very same person who caused the rift in the first place. No doubt, Dominic will be expected to go and be nice to everyone and pretend as if nothing has happened.

  “Did she tell you she was marrying your brother?” I still can’t get over this and the fact Dominic didn’t know.

  “Nope.” He sounds even more pissed.

  “And why haven’t your parents been in touch or better yet, why hasn’t your brother told you he was marrying her? Surely, he knows what happened between you two.” I am just getting warmed up; the more I think about it, the more annoyed I become.

  “No one tells me anything. I didn’t even know they were together. No one said anything when I was home for a week last summer. My brother avoided me.” He throws his arms in the air in frustration.

  “Now you know why,” I state bluntly, and he winces. It is a kick in the gut; could they not have done the decent thing and eloped?

  “Are you going to go?”

  “I guess I have to. At the end of the day, he’s still my brother.” He glances up at me, and uncertainty clouds his expression. “Will you come with me?” My heart squeezes at the sight of his creased forehead and frown. There is no question that I’ll go with him.

  “If you want me there, then I’ll come. Whatever makes you happy.” But as I say it, I wonder if I really want to meet his family under these circumstances. Or see Mia again, since our last meeting was not something I want to dwell on. Jumping off the stool, I move around and wrap my arms around his waist.

  Bringing his forehead to rest against mine, he looks deep into my eyes. “I love you, you know.” His warm breath brushes over me, and I close the gap to give him a soft kiss.

  “And I love you. When is it?”

  “It’s next month.”

  “What? Next month? Who in the hell gives you a few weeks’ notice for a wedding?” I shriek and start to freak out; I at least thought I would have some time to prepare. “Why so soon? Is she pregnant?” Finally, he cracks a smile—albeit a small, tight smile—but I’ll take what I can get.

  “I bet Todd has been putting it off. There was a note from him asking that I put aside my differences with my dad and come to the wedding.” He pauses and his gaze shifts.

  “What?”

  “Ah, there is also some rehearsal dinner beforehand.” I bite back my groan when I see how miserable he looks
.

  “It’ll be fine.” I try to sound upbeat even though I don’t feel it. “I’ll be there with you. You should RSVP and book us into a hotel. I need to go shopping for something to wear-”

  “Why?”

  “I’ve seen your ex, and I’m going to make sure she realizes you’ve moved on.” I press a quick kiss to his awestruck face, about to move away from him, but he catches me around the waist and I turn back. His knuckle trails down my cheek, and he hooks a strand of hair behind my ear.

  “You know you have nothing to prove. It’s you I want,” he assures me in a low, deep, and very sexy voice that makes me start to think inappropriate thoughts.

  “I know, but if she starts anything, I will not play nice.” My eyes flash remembering the night she turned up at Dominic’s; again, he gives me a nod of understanding with a small smile playing on his lips.

  “Can we take Daisy?”

  “I should have known that would make you happy. Why? Because it’s cooler and faster,” I tease him. When he moves closer, the tension grows and I swallow thickly, unable to breathe properly. There is a dangerous glint in his eyes when his hands cup my ass, picking me up. My hands rest on his shoulders as I hold on. I lower my lips to him until we are mere inches away.

  “Of course.” He is breathless, too.

  The feel of his lips kissing their way down my neck causes a shiver to ripple through me; my nipples draw tight in the confines of my bra. Carrying me through to the bedroom, we forget about the drama over his brother’s upcoming wedding, for now anyway.

  • • •

  In the end, I drag Iris shopping with me. My mom would’ve jumped at the chance, but she’s busy with her own wedding preparations. After a full day shopping, I am beginning to panic slightly because I’ve still not found anything. The wedding is this Saturday, and I’m running out of time.

  “What about this?” Iris holds up a short tight dress that for any other occasion would be perfect, but I screw up my face and shake my head.

  “Nuh-uh.” I continue to search through the racks of clothes.

  “This?” She holds up a halter neck dress with a flared skirt.

  “Nice, but not it.”

  “Charlotte.” She huffs in exasperation, and I know how she feels.

  “I’ll know it when I see it.” I say for the hundredth time today.

  Iris is sick of hearing it. “You’ve been saying that all day. We’ve been to five different stores.”

  “I know and I’m bored too, but I need to find the perfect dress.”

  “Why?” She continues flicking, but I stop and stare at her until she looks at me with a little crease in her brow.

  “Why? Because I’ve seen his ex, remember, and she totally looked down her nose at me with her Luis Vuitton bag dangling from her shellac manicured hand.” I look down at my own fingernails in disgust; they badly need some attention.

  “What does it matter what she thinks?” Iris pins me with her wide blue eyes, daring me to come up with a good justification for skipping class to come clothes shopping.

  “Have you forgotten she came to visit Dominic and suggested a final fling?”

  “But he didn’t take her up on the offer.” She argues in a calm voice.

  “She might still think she has a claim on him.”

  “She’s marrying his brother.” Her eyebrows climb higher, not getting my logic at all.

  “So. Since when did that stop anyone?” I feel my cheeks grow hot. Sensing that I’m growing upset, her face softens.

  “Calm down. We’ll find a dress.” She reaches out and pats my arm in a reassuring manner.

  Turning back to the task at hand, she flicks through the racks and I’m grateful she decided to come with me. Iris has an infinite amount of patience, especially when it comes to helping me. She calms me with her levelheadedness.

  “What about this?” She holds up a high-necked navy sleeveless dress that will hit above my knee. It has an overlay of lace and a shocking pink belt.

  I stop and stare at her and know in an instant. “It’s perfect.” I rush over to her and take her by surprise when I throw my arms around her in a bone-crushing hug. This is a rarity because, out of the two of us, Iris is the hugger.

  “Shoes?” she asks once I’ve let her go.

  “Not a problem. I have shoes that will match.” I collected a few extra things when I last visited my mom and heels were one of them.

  “I have a clutch you can use,” Iris offers, and I turn to her in surprise at the certainty in her tone, but she gives me a sly smile.

  “It was a graduation present from my aunt. Gucci.” My eyes bug out because, like me, Iris isn’t designer. “Don’t look so surprised. I do have the odd designer piece in my wardrobe.” She links her arm through mine, dragging me to the register to check out before I change my mind about the dress.

  Chapter Five

  “Dominic,” I shout through the apartment dumping my things on the couch as I go and walk into his bedroom. The door to the en suite is open, and I can hear the shower running.

  “Dominic.” A cloud of steam hits me as I enter the bathroom, letting him know I’m home at last. The morning has been spent rushing around getting ready. I’ve gone all out for this wedding, and so far I’ve been waxed to within an inch of my life, eyebrows plucked, haircut, and shellac on the nails, fingers and toes.

  “Do you want to join me?” he asks, and I laugh at the way his voice rises with hopefulness.

  “Hold that thought,” I say as the phone in his bedroom starts to ring. “That’s your phone; do you want me to get it for you?” I shout above the noise of the shower.

  “Tell whoever it is I’m busy. Or at least I will be soon,” he grumbles loudly. Still laughing at his one-track mind, I grab his cell off the bed. Without looking to see who it is, I swipe my thumb across the screen.

  “Hello,” I answer.

  “Eh. Hello, ah…I was looking for Dominic?” A woman’s voice stammers, unsure of herself.

  “He’s in the shower. Can I take a message?”

  “Oh. Are you his girlfriend?” she asks politely. I pull the cell away from my ear and see ‘mom’ on the display.

  Crap.

  “Yeah, I’m Charlotte,” I say in a warm, hopefully friendly voice.

  “Are you coming with him to the wedding?”

  “Yes, we’ll be leaving soon.”

  “Do you think… would it be okay to meet you both before dinner?” Her voice quivers slightly as if she might be on the verge of tears.

  “Of course. I’ll let Dominic know,” I say with enthusiasm.

  “Thank you. I’d like to meet you and see Dominic, of course.” She gives a nervous little laugh. “I’ll let you know what time.”

  “Sure. See you tonight, Mrs. Hudson.”

  “Bye, Charlotte.” And she hangs up, leaving me staring at his phone like it holds all the answers. I’m going to meet his mom. I’ve never met anyone’s mom before. What will she think of me? Maybe she’ll hate me or think that I’m not good enough for her son.

  In a daze, I throw the cell on the bed and wander back toward the bathroom. Absentmindedly, I move the towel so I can sit down on the closed toilet lid and stare into space.

  “Babe, I’m lonely,” he shouts, not realizing I’m in the bathroom with him.

  “I’m here,” I mumble back.

  “Who was that on the phone?”

  “Your mom.”

  “My mom?” His voice rises in surprise. The door to the shower opens, and he sticks his head out to look at me. With his hair full of suds, he squints at me while they run down his face. “Is everything okay?”

  “She asked to meet us before dinner.” I fold and refold the towel that was on the lid of the toilet. “I told her I was your girlfriend.”

  “Good. I should have told her before now.”

  “Why didn’t you?” I wonder out loud.

  With a shrug, he retreats into the shower. “She was odd when I called at
Christmas, and my dad pissed me off so I didn’t tell them. Wanted to keep you my secret.” His voice bounces off the cubicle walls.

  “Dominic?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I told her my name was Charlotte.”

  “It is, to everyone else.” He sounds so matter-of-fact.

  The shower switches off, and he steps out of the shower to stand before me in all his naked glory. My gaze runs down from his eyes, over his chest, abs, and the v of his hips then lower, drinking in every inch of him. Fascinated at the way the droplets of water travel down his muscles, I have a sudden urge to lick away every single drip of water. His laughter refocuses me.

  “You have a bit of drool here.” He steps forward and swipes at the corner of my mouth, wiping away the imaginary drool with his thumb. Or maybe there really is drool; it wouldn’t surprise me. The small amount of contact sends a spark through me. My body reacts instantly, and I stand up to him. Dominic pries the towel from my death grip and knots it around his waist. Reaching out for him, I lay my hands over his pounding heart. My breath hitches when he his hands rest on the bare skin of my waist, fueling the fire inside me.

  My tongue darts out to wet my suddenly dry lips and his eyes drop to my mouth, darkening before his head dips so he can kiss me. The palm of my hand runs over the bulge hidden by the towel. A deep groan rumbles in the back of his throat as his hands glide up my sides, his tongue delves deeper, and my body arches into him. As he starts to tug my shirt away from my neck, his kisses travel lower until his lips sweep across my collarbone. One hand slips under my shirt, cupping my breast and brushing his thumb over my erect nipple that strains through the lace. It sends pleasure zipping through every vein in my body causing me to gasp loudly. My fingers pull the towel away from his body and it lands on the floor at his feet.