Chapter 138
Dominic
"So that's what happened," I say to Vanessa in conclusion.
She takes a deep breath, running her fingers on the sides of her neck with her arms raised. It just makes me look down at her tiny waist and the curves of her breasts in the sides. "Do you really mean it when you say you're pretending?" she asks, narrowing her eyes at me.
"Yes, I am. The last thing I want is for this to get out. You know that more than anyone else. I also need to make sure that Carmella never finds out that I'm pretending."
She scoffs. "Were you also pretending when you fucked her?"
Her questions hits hard and it makes me look away as I wonder how I should respond.
Though I'm not facing her, I can feel her piercing gaze fixed on me as she anticipates my response.
"Because I don't want to lie to you," I begin, raising my head and looking back at her, "I'll tell you the truth."
"That's what I want." She purses her lips.
"Before I went to see her, I hadn't been with a woman in a long time."
She scoffs while shaking her head. "I can't believe you're saying this to me."
"I told you that I wanted to be honest with you, so listen to me. Because I hadn't been with a woman in a long time, it was easy to give in, especially because I wanted to play along."
She sighs, her gaze softening a little. "Did you also give in when she took those pictures while she was on top of you?"
"No. I was fast asleep by then. She must've spiked my water just so I wouldn't wake up. Otherwise, I wouldn't have allowed that to happen."
She nods, still not looking satisfied.
"Hey, this means nothing to me," I assure her. "You have to believe me."
"Why do you sound like you really owe me an explanation?" She tilts her head.
I pause for a moment, asking myself the same question and it doesn't take long for me to figure out the answer.
"It's because I definitely owe you an explanation. The last thing I want is for you to think that I turned my back on the children that I've always wanted to protect. I don't want you to think that I want Carmella so badly that I've decided to overlook everything she did because it's quite the opposite."
She nods, looking a lot more satisfied. "I have to admit that when she sent me the first picture, I was furious. All I could think about were those children and your decision to go back to her just because you wanted her that much."
"You're wrong about that."
She sighs. "I know that now."
"You do?" I raise my eyes in pleasant surprise, her response giving me a form of relief I didn't expect. "I'm never going back to her no matter what happens. I might be with her right now, but it's only because I have no other choice. She was absolutely ready to expose the names and I can't let that happen. Neither can you. Imagine your father's reaction."
She sighs, shutting her eyes. "That's what I was thinking about."
"And that's why I need you to understand why I'm doing this. It's not because I want to, but because I need to."
"And will you keep fucking her?"
"Why would you ask me that? Of course not."
"I'm not a child. Do you really expect me to believe that? It's just like you said, you haven't been with a woman in a long time."
I chuckle to myself. "This might be too much information, but fuck it. When I was with Carmella, something that I haven't done in a long while, it felt different because of the situation between us. It also felt wrong. I don't know how to explain it but it just felt that way. I just needed to have that release and-"
"Whoa! You don't have to tell me about that part." She waves her hand dismissively.
"You're right, but I have certain needs and I can't have them satisfied with you."
She looks a bit offended but soon nods in understanding. "You're right about that."
"Can I see the pictures Carmella sent you?" I ask.
"Why?"
"I'm just curious to see."
She rolls her eyes as she reaches for her phone.
Since it takes her a few seconds to find the pictures, I can't stop looking at her and everything that I can see - from her messy bun, to her glossy lips and her bust, all the way down to her thick thighs. Content rights by NôvelDr//ama.Org.
It's only when she looks up that I look away.
After she hands me the phone, I look at the first picture and shut my eyes in disbelief. Even as I read the message at the bottom, I shake my head.
"I'm not surprised she did this." My voice is low as I look at how I'm just fast asleep in the picture.
I then look at the phone number at the top and instantly furrow my eyebrows.
"This is a different phone number from the one that I have," I say to Vanessa.
She sighs. "Isn't it obvious that she'll keep changing numbers now?"
"Why didn't you block her on this one?"
"What's the point when she always finds a way to get in touch with me?"
I only nod in agreement as I scroll to the next picture and words escape me as I read the text at the bottom. It even makes me burst into laughter, something which Vanessa doesn't seem to appreciate. "You think this is funny?" She glares at me.
I clear my throat and press my lips together in an attempt to stop laughing.
"I didn't mean to laugh so hard," I say to her. "This is just so ridiculous."
"Yeah, but it might have some truth to it in the text below and I realized Carmella's right. Even when I saw it, I didn't question it. You and I are just in this for certain benefits."
"You think that's why I never let you get on top of me?"
"Why are we talking about this?"
She looks away and slightly shifts in her sitting position. My eyes never leave her face and from her gorgeous side profile, her ear turns a little red and her cheekbone a light blush pink. I can't help but wonder if she feels awkward about this topic, sol let it go.
Suddenly, my phone rings from my pocket and she glances at me to snatch her phone. She looks down at the screen and scrolls, as if using that to help her relax a little.
As I look at the caller ID on my phone, I clench my jaw. "It's Carmella."
Vanessa instantly pauses with her thumb and says. "I don't know why you're telling me. Just talk to her."
"Okay. I'll be outside."
"There's no need for that. You can talk to her right here. I don't mind."
I nod, then pick up the call.
"Hey, babe," I say to Carmella, shutting my eyes because of how wrong it even sounds to say it.
"Hey, baby! I bought these sexy black heels a few minutes ago. You're going to love them when you see me wearing them."
"I'm coming over in a few days. You better have them on." I smirk.
Faking my flirtatious tone makes me want to bite my tongue and as for Vanessa, she scoffs quietly with disgust.
After the call, Vanessa immediately
says, "I've changed my mind. Next
time, talk to Carmella while I'm not
here. It just bothers me hearing you speak to her like that even though you're acting. She doesn't deserve anything. She's just pure evil."
I sigh heavily. "I hate that it's that evil that I'm supposed to protect."
"Do you really believe her ex-husband is back?"