Mag-log inVALERIEMadeline’s smile remained unwavering, though her eyes sharpened for a split second. “Of course she is, Dominic. Though sudden marriages do tend to raise questions in our circles. Especially when there are… no wedding pictures or of the least pictures or proof you knew each other before the marriage. You know, dating and all. One hears things.”My heart stuttered at the implication. Did she know about the specifics of our first meeting? Did she know I used to be a stripper?! Or was this just a calculated guess, a fishing expedition designed to unsettle me?The conversation stretched on through the courses like a marathon I hadn’t trained for. All I could do was sneak glances at Madeline wondering what she knew. The fish gave way to a main course of tender, herb crusted meat with reductions and garnishes so precise they looked sculpted. I tried desperately to impress, sharing genuine observations about the portraits on the walls, stern faces of Cantrell patriarchs and matriarc
VALERIE Speaking of Madeline, compared to the plain moderate yellow dress is picked. Madeline was practically showcasing all of her cleavage for the entire earth to see. I wouldn't slut shame a woman, I mean do I even have the moral ground to? I was still a stripper. I'm more bothered by the thought that I was trying too hard and Madeline didn't have to try anything at all. She was shut the better match for Dominic. Dominic sat right beside me. His knee brushed mine occasionally under the heavy tablecloth, sending sparks of familiar heat racing up my thigh. The first course arrived with quiet efficiency. The servants were all in crisp uniforms placing bowls of a creamy soup before each of us. I couldn’t pronounce the name if my life depended on it; it was something French, no doubt, with hints of truffle and herbs that danced on the tongue. Eleanor lifted her spoon with practiced grace and fixed her gaze on me. “So, Valerie,” she began, her voice smooth but laced with steel, “tel
VALERIE“More like a reliable pain in the ass.” Dominic muttered under his breath, I elbowed him lightly. “Be nice. Or nicer. For me?”He sighed but squeezed my hand. We entered the formal living room a massive space with antique furniture, a fireplace big enough to roast a whole pig, and windows overlooking the gardens. Grandmother Eleanor sat in a high backed chair like a queen on her throne. Madeline perched beside her, looking every bit the perfect guest.“Sit,” Eleanor commanded, gesturing. “Both of you. Madeline, stay. You’re more family than the other one.”Madeline smiled sweetly at me. “Of course. I’m so glad you could join us, Valerie. Your book success must keep you so busy. Dominic mentioned it in passing once.”I sat carefully on the edge of a velvet couch. “It has been busy. But this trip is important. Meeting family.” Eleanor’s sharp eyes pinned me again. “Family. Yes. Tell me, Valerie. How exactly did you meet my grandson? What makes you think you’re suitable for the C
VALERIE“More like a reliable pain in the ass.” Dominic muttered under his breath, I elbowed him lightly. “Be nice. Or nicer. For me?”He sighed but squeezed my hand. We entered the formal living room a massive space with antique furniture, a fireplace big enough to roast a whole pig, and windows overlooking the gardens. Grandmother Eleanor sat in a high backed chair like a queen on her throne. Madeline perched beside her, looking every bit the perfect guest.“Sit,” Eleanor commanded, gesturing. “Both of you. Madeline, stay. You’re more family than the other one.”Madeline smiled sweetly at me. “Of course. I’m so glad you could join us, Valerie. Your book success must keep you so busy. Dominic mentioned it in passing once.”I sat carefully on the edge of a velvet couch. “It has been busy. But this trip is important. Meeting family.” Eleanor’s sharp eyes pinned me again. “Family. Yes. Tell me, Valerie. How exactly did you meet my grandson? What makes you think you’re suitable for the C
VALERIE Things were definitely going downhill fast. I could feel her dislike like a cold draft. She hated me. Or at least really, really didn’t trust me. I wanna to claw at the hurt in my chest. I mean I knew it wouldn't be easy but this screams dead end. This was supposed to be a nice break. In my mind it all played out like meeting his unexpectedly kind family. Instead it felt like an interrogation waiting to happen. Reality sucks. I miss my mahwah. Dominic’s hand brushed mine again, reassuring, but I could tell he was tense too. Like even he hadn't expected his grandmother to come on this strong. Just then, a cherry sweet voice floated out from inside the house, light and concerned and way too familiar. “Grandma, I told you not to go out until you’ve had your meds! The doctor said rest, remember?”My stomach dropped straight through the floor. Madeline. Why the hell was Madeline Ross here? She appeared in the doorway like she knew every inch of the mansion and had seen it one t
VALERIE The mansion rose up at the end of a long, winding driveway lined with perfectly trimmed hedges and ancient looking oak trees that probably remembered more family secrets than I ever would. It wasn’t the cold, modern glass and steel thing I expected from Dominic’s world. This place felt old money. Real old money. Tall white columns, ivy climbing the walls in elegant patterns, windows that sparkled like they got polished every single day. The kind of home that screamed “our family has been running things for generations, and we’re not sorry about it.” High standards. Billionaire blood. The SUV stopped.My stomach did a nervous flip as Dominic helped me out. After all the laughter in the plane and all the reassurance that his grandmother was a loving old lady I felt weight on my shoulders. Like stepping onto a stage where I didn’t know the lines.The front doors opened before we even reached them. A tall, elegant woman stepped out onto the wide porch. She had to be in her late
DOMINICThe second I stepped out onto the upper hallway and looked down into the living area, my hand tightened unconsciously around the staircase rail.Valerie was smiling. Not the fake sarcastic one she used when she wanted to piss me off, not the sharp mouthed grin she threw around like a weapon
VALERIEBy the time I finished washing up, Dominic had disappeared again to hell knows where. Probably business fucking Hawthorne. One second the man would be balls deep inside me like I was his redemption itself and the next he would vanish like some emotionally constipated Batman billionaire hyb
VALERIE Dominic pulled out slowly, watching his cum leak from my abused pussy with dark satisfaction, then reached for the bottle of lube I kept in the side drawer.My heart raced with exhausted anticipation as he slicked his still-hard cock…The cool lube dripped between my cheeks, making me jolt
DOMINIC Ignoring all else, I made my way into the shower room. Still, the shower did absolutely nothing to help. In fact it made things worse because now all I could think about was Valerie naked under the water with me. Her sexy body pressed into mine as I take her over and over again against th







