Bellissimo Angelo- Book Three

Chapter 9 - My Protector

After we finish watching the sunrise, he runs his hand across my back, "Are you ready to go, Bella?" he asks. 

God, I don't want this to end, but I reluctantly nod my head. He takes my hand and helps me up before leading me to his bike. I climb on the back behind him, and he takes off down the road. 

We arrive at Tito's parking lot a few moments later next to my car, and I jump off the back of his bike, "Thank you for the ride, Dominic." I tell him. 

He flashes a sexy grin, "You are working tomorrow, right?" he asks. 

"Yes, I work the next few nights, and I'm off Friday and Saturday," I respond.

"We do this again tomorrow? I want to see you every day that I can."

My cheeks begin to flush, "You do?" I ask.  

He snickers, "Yes, you make me so weak, Bella. I enjoy spending time with you." He responds. 

"Does Alisha make you weak?" I ask curiously. 

He laughs out loud, "Not at all. She is very loud and obnoxious. I prefer a woman who's quiet and shy. Plus, I have a thing for blondes." He replies as he raises his brow, casually shrugging his shoulders. 

I cover my face with my hands, attempting to hide my embarrassment, "Oh, so that is why you threw her number away." 

He reaches out and pulls me to him, wrapping his hand around my waist, "I want your number, not hers. You sing like you did the night before last; I will not be able to control myself." 

I nuzzle into his shoulder, "If you want my number, all you have to do is ask."

"Maggie, may I please have your number?" he asks. 

I flash a shy smile, "Sure, give me your phone, and I'll put my number in." 

He reaches down into his pocket and pulls his phone out, handing it over to me. I input my name and phone number into his contacts before handing his phone back to him, "Thank you for tonight, sweet Maggie." he says. 

I reach out and wrap my arms around his neck, planting a kiss on his lips. He whispers into my ear, "Fino aquando ci incontriamo di nuovo."

Oh, God! I love it that he speaks Italian to me. I cross my legs to calm the storm arising between them, "What does that mean?"

"It means...until we meet again." 

I gasp, "Wow! You are something else. Goodbye, Dominic." I tell him as I spin around and stumble towards my car door. 

"Goodbye, sweet Maggie," he responds. 

I opened up my car door and jumped inside, turning the ignition to start my car, I wave goodbye to him as I pull out of the parking lot. He watches from his bike as I speed off down the road.

The ride home was a blur as I'm so consumed with thoughts of what took place tonight. Like I mentioned before, what I did tonight is completely out of character for me. I'd never just have s*x with some random guy out of the blue. I have only been with one man my entire life... Nate.

I always heard that Latin lovers are the best lovers. I had to test that theory tonight, and holy s**t balls, that theory is tried and true! Now, what do I make of all this? Can I honestly carry on just a physical relationship with Dominic? I'm sure going to give it a shot! He certainly knows how to please a woman without direction. I'm going to fantasize about this man for the rest of my life. Wow! I'm shaken to my core over him. 

It's daylight when I pull up in front of my house. I hop out of the car, trudge up the porch steps and enter through the front door. Momma was cozied up on the sofa with her afghan, reading a magazine when I enter. She places her magazine on her lap, "Hey sug, what in the world were you doing out so late into the morning? I was about to start worrying," she calls out as Chloe greets me at the door, wagging her tail.

I chuckle and reach down to pick her up, pressing my cheek against her ear, "Sorry, Momma. I went for a ride with the hot security guard after work. I just kind of lost track of time." 

She sits up excitedly, "Oh... sounds interesting. What did y'all do? Where did ya go?" 

I glance up at her with a shy smile, "Momma, do you really want to know?"

Her cheeks flush, and she covers her cheeks, "Oh my goodness! Margaret Louise Hudson! No, I don't think I want to know everything. Just spare me the gory details, please." She giggles. 

I walk over and plop down next to her on the sofa with Chloe in my arms, "Well, he took me to the park, and we watched the sunrise together." 

She reaches out to pat my arm, "Oh, that sounds so romantic! This is the Italian heartthrob, correct?"

I nod eagerly, "Oh yes, Momma, he speaks Italian to me, and it just rolls off his tongue. It's so hot!"

She covers her face, "Oh my, I bet it is! Just be safe. Have fun but don't get too attached." she warns. 

I snicker, "I know, Momma, I'm always safe. I'm still on the pill and I use protection, no worries."

She nods her head and reaches out to pet Chloe's head, "Good darlin. I'm glad you are having fun." 

"Oh, Momma, get this...he calls me Bella! Doesn't that mean beautiful or something?" 

She covers her face, "Oh my Lord! I believe it does." 

"Latin men are something else," I tell her as I fan myself with one hand. 

She picks up her magazine and fans herself, "Indeed, darlin." 

The two of us roaring with laughter before I reach out to pat her arm, "Well, I'm going to go to bed. Do you need anything, Momma?"

"No, I think we are all good here," she responds.

"Okay, goodnight, Momma," I tell her as I amble down the hallway to my room. 

I can hear the sound of Chloe's paws on the hardwood following me down the hallway. I spin around, "Aww... do you want to take a nap with me, Miss Chloe?" I ask. 

She barks and wags her tail before scurrying into my bedroom, "Momma, I'm going to let Chloe lay down with me." I tell her. 

"Alright, dear, leave your door open so that I can take her outside throughout the day."

I enter my room and change into my pajamas, plop down on the bed with Chloe and pass out. 

I awaken a few hours later to a delicious aroma invading my nostrils. I sit up and stretch my arms up over my head as my stomach growls loudly. Chloe jumps up onto the bed to greet me, wagging her tail, "Hey, fluff nugget. What's Momma cooking in there?"

She approaches me, licks my nose, hops down off the bed, and scurries down the hall. I roll out of bed and follow the tantalizing smell coming from the kitchen. As I enter, Momma and Earl are seated at the table, eating, "Oh, what did you make, Momma?" I ask as I walk over to the crockpot and lift the lid. I inhale audibly. 

"I made a roast and potatoes, darlin. There's plenty, please have what you want. You are gonna waste away eating only once a day like you do." She says. 

I chuckle as I grab a bowl from the cabinet and scoop the roast and potatoes into the bowl and pull a bottle of water from the refrigerator, "I agree; it's not healthy." I tell her as I walk over and have a seat with them. 

Once I sit down, I glance over at Earl, "Hey Earl, how was your route?" 

He chases his food down with a glass of water, "Hey darlin; it was long and tiring as always. I'm home for a few days before my next route." 

"Well, that's good," I tell him as I take a bite of the roast.

We sit and eat quietly, and after I'm finished, I place the plate into the dishwasher and strut back to my room to get cleaned up and ready for work. After I shower and shave, I put on my white cut-off t-shirt with my white shorts before grabbing a white and navy blue flannel and tying it around my waist. I fix my hair and makeup, slip on my black doc martens and walk back into the living room. I plop down on the sofa and play with Chloe for a bit before bidding Momma and Earl farewell and heading out. 

As I stroll outside and get in my car, my cell phone vibrates in my purse. I reach into fish it out only to discover that I have one missed call. I check the caller ID to find it's from Nate. Ugh! My stomach begins to turn. I don't have the time nor the energy to deal with him right now. I decide not to call him back, so I hop into my car and take off down the road for work. 

As I pull into the parking lot, I find Dominic's bike parked. I begin to get butterflies in my stomach, inhaling audibly before shutting the car off and I climb out of the car and strut through the front doors. Once I walk in, I notice Alisha is tending the bar, but Dominic is not in his usual spot next to the front door. 

I stride across the room, and the moment I turn the corner to walk down the hall, Dominic comes out of the room where the cameras are; I nearly run into him, "Ohhh, hey Dominic." I say breathlessly. 

As I gaze up at him, I'm taken back as he towers over my petite 5'2" frame. He reaches out and runs his index finger along my cheek, "Hey, Bella." 

I can feel the blood rushing to my head at that moment as he leans against the wall in front of me and whispers, "Hai un profumo delizioso. Potrei mangiarti."

I am reeling from his words. Oh, he knows exactly what he's doing. I cross my legs to calm the storm arising between my thighs, "What does that mean?" I ask breathlessly. 

"It means you smell delicious. I could eat you," he says as he flashes me a sly grin. 

I exhale audibly, "Oh my gosh, what are you doing to me, Dominic?"

He chuckles, "I could ask you the same thing, Bella."

I swallow hard and walk past him towards the break room before turning back around to look at him. He's smiling ear to ear at me before turning and walking back into the bar area. Shewww... Maggie; pull yourself together. I barge through the break room door and clock in before returning to the bar to start my shift. 

Dominic and I exchange glances throughout the night, it's very difficult to keep my head on straight because all I want to do is be wrapped up in his arms. After a couple of hours, an old familiar face graces us with their presence, "Well..well...well...if it isn't miss plain jane, Maggie Hudson." Suzy, my brother's ex-girlfriend, blurts out as she approaches the bar. Her boyfriend, Charlie, follows close behind.

I roll my eyes and flash a fake smile, "Hello Suzy, what can I get you tonight?" 

She smiles, "Hmmm... let me think."

Charlie plops down at the stool in front of me; I nod my head in his direction, "Charlie." 

He lights a cigarette and blows it in my face. I raise my hand wave the smoke away from me, coughing,  " You got Miller on tap, kitten?" he asks. 

"Sure do, comin up," I respond as I pull a glass out and pull the lever to the tap to pour his beverage before setting it down before him. 

I divert my attention to Suzy,  "Do you know what you want?" I ask. 

She chuckles, "Jack and coke, extra Jack."

Without responding, I make her drink and set it down in front of her. Charlie fishes through his pockets for change and gets up to play the jukebox. She leans in, "So how's your brother and his perfect little family?" She asks sarcastically. 

I snicker, "Perfect, where are your kids tonight?"

Her face turns three shades of red; she grits her teeth and purposely throws her drink at my shirt. A look of shock crosses my face as I look down to find I'm soaked, and everyone in the bar can see my bra as my shirt sticks to my skin. I shake my hands to get the excess liquid off me and grab a towel. I take my flannel off my waist and cover myself, throwing it on and buttoning it up. 

Dominic storms out of the backroom and stalks towards Suzy, "Excuse me, but I think you need to leave." He says sternly. 

She spins around and chuckles, gazing up at him, "Oh yeah, sexy man. Are you going to remove me forcibly? Please do." she taunts him. 

He shakes his head from side to side, "Alright, let's go." He yells as he points at the door. 

Charlie storms over towards him, tapping him on the shoulder,  "You best back away!  We just got our drinks! We aren't leaving!" 

Dominic whips around, grabbing Charlie's wrist, twists it around behind his back before leading him out the door. Charlie is wailing as he is forcibly removed, "Alright, you two, get out and stay out! We will not tolerate this behavior in here." He yells.

He turns around and motions for Suzy to leave. Suzy storms out and yells at Charlie as she walks out. The entire bar whoops and cheers. Dominic ignores the crowd and quickly approaches me behind the bar, "Are you okay, Bella?" he asks. 

I flash him a shy smile, "Oh yeah, I"m fine. Thank you." 

He reaches out for my hand, "Nobody will ever disrespect you in my presence. I will not tolerate it."

My cheeks begin to flush, "Thank you." I respond. 

He flashes a sexy smile before walking to the back room. I stare in awe at him as he walks away. God, he's turning me on so much right now. He threw mean ass, Charlie Vance, out of here like he was a rag doll. s**t! He's so strong. As long as he's around, I have nothing to worry about anymore regarding my safety. 

Alisha approaches me, "Wow, that Dominic is such a stud." She says breathlessly. 

I clear my throat, "Yes, he is." 

She playfully nudges me, "I think he's got his eye on you, girl. Take it and run with it." 

I turn and lean against the back of the bar, "Oh, you think? Didn't you give him your number?" I ask her casually. 

"Yes, but he hasn't called me. His eyes are all over you. I can see that. You better get on it." She says. 

Without responding, I nod, "Hmmm... we will see." 

I can't wait to see what he has in store for me tonight. I continue working the bar and anxiously await the end of my shift when Dominic and I are alone.