Chapter 283: Chapter 67 Truth and Surrender

Dominic’s POV

I wanted to put a bullet through Xavier’s skull for dragging me away from Gemma. But his revelation explained why she had been giving me the icy treatment all evening.

"Dominic, Gemma knows," Xavier said the moment we entered Caleb’s private study, away from the family gathering.

"Knows what?" I asked, completely lost.

"About yesterday. Your meeting with Beatrix at the Social Union," Xavier clarified.

I frowned. "What the hell are you talking about?" I had already briefed the crew about the Beatrix situation when I arrived at Xavier’s safe house for poker night.

"It was a setup, man. That snake Beatrix orchestrated the whole thing, and you walked straight into her trap. Elza captured photos of Beatrix all over you and fed them directly to Gemma," Xavier explained, and suddenly the pieces clicked into place like rounds sliding into a chamber.

"How did you uncover this?" I asked, my fists clenching with murderous intent.

"Ruby’s threatening to castrate me with a rusty blade if she catches me anywhere near Elza! I had no clue what bloodbath was brewing until I cornered her for details. She told me Zoe managed to keep Gemma from doing something reckless and promised to investigate the situation." Xavier paced like a caged animal. "I’m worried Elza might try to frame me next."

"Stay calm, Xavier," Jude advised. "Now that you know their game, just avoid their snares."

"I need to fix this mess with Gemma," I stated with deadly certainty. "Things were progressing yesterday. If Beatrix hadn’t interfered, Gemma probably would have forgiven me by now."

"Whatever you do, don’t take her to your penthouse," Caleb warned. "She’ll remember the betrayal the moment she steps inside and want to burn it all down with you in it."

"I’ve prepared things at the estate. I’ll take her there again," I told my brothers-in-arms. "I want her to claim it, make it her domain."

"Well, gentlemen, shall we return to our women?" Finn suggested, rubbing his hands together with anticipation.

When I rejoined the family celebration, I spotted Gemma chatting with my mother. They seemed to be bonding perfectly, and my mother had already confessed how enchanted she was with Gemma. This warmed my cold heart immensely.

I approached with a plate full of desserts they had requested, just as my sister sat down with her husband, and my niece and nephew materialized beside us.

"Auntie, you look absolutely stunning in that dress!" Carmen complimented Gemma in her sweet voice, looking adorable herself in a blue dress with ribbons and princess sleeves.

"Thank you, sweetie! You look beautiful too," Gemma responded warmly.

"Auntie, are you coming to the shopping center with us tomorrow?" Carmen asked, executing her plan flawlessly.

"Shopping center?" my sister questioned with confusion.

"Mom, I thought uncle had told you," Vincenzo jumped in smoothly. "He invited Carmen and me for lunch. He said he’s been on edge lately and wants to spend time with us. He even promised to take us to the movies."

I immediately recognized their scheme. Carmen was cashing in on our deal, and Vincenzo was cleverly tagging along.

"Your uncle didn’t mention anything about this," Nadia looked at me suspiciously.

"It’s exactly as Vincenzo said. I want to spend quality time with my favorite niece and nephew," I confirmed, avoiding further interrogation.

"That’s wonderful, Dominic," Gerard chimed in. "And since you’ll be babysitting my little soldiers tomorrow, I’ll take my beautiful wife on a romantic evening." His eyes sparkled as he gazed at my sister, who finally dropped her questioning.

"So, auntie, will you join us?" Carmen persisted with Gemma.

"I wouldn’t miss it for the world, Carmen!" Gemma replied enthusiastically. At least I’d get to spend the day with her.

"How perfect! Substitute parents!" Gerard exclaimed. "We should leave the little operatives with them more often, darling."

"You’re coming too, aren’t you, Bee?" Gemma asked my mother.

"No, dear, I have other, more intriguing plans," my mother replied cryptically, leaving me wondering what could possibly be more intriguing than spending time with her grandchildren.

For the remainder of the celebration, I stayed glued to Gemma’s side like a bodyguard. When it was time to leave, she attempted to escape with Finn and Zoe, but I pulled her back and dismissed Finn with a wave.

"Not happening. You’re coming with me," I said, wrapping an arm around her waist with possessive authority.

"Dominic, I want to go home," Gemma sighed, looking exhausted.

"I’ll take you home," I promised, guiding her to my armored vehicle.

When I parked in the secured garage of the estate in the gated compound, Gemma huffed and shot me an irritated look. Before stepping out of the car, she complained, "I said I wanted to go home."

"This is your home, Gemma," I declared, lifting her into my arms and carrying her inside like a conquering soldier.

"No roses today?" she noticed immediately, seeing only cushions, rugs, and a small side table.

"Not today," I pulled her closer for a kiss. "Today I just want to talk, clear the air between us."

"Right. Are you going to explain why Beatrix was draped all over you yesterday?"

"Exactly that." I sighed deeply.

"Fine. I hope you brought at least two bottles of wine," Gemma said, settling herself on the cushions.

"Just one. I need you alert to understand everything I’m about to tell you."

"You’re no fun!" Gemma stuck her tongue out childishly.

I smiled and headed to the kitchen, returning with wine, glasses, and a tray of cheese and small sweets. Her face brightened at the sight. I poured the wine and began explaining everything that had happened after leaving her house the previous day.

"That’s what happened, Gemma. I can show you the message Elza sent me." I pulled out my phone and opened the encrypted app, but the message was nowhere to be found.

Panic surged through me like ice water. I frantically scrolled through my messages, finding nothing. They had planned this perfectly. Elza must have sent a self-destructing message that vanished after I opened it.

"Well, seems like you don’t have the message after all," Gemma sighed. "You know what, Dominic? Sit down. Let’s just enjoy this wine and relax."

"I want more than just relaxing," I said seriously, my voice almost pleading. "I want to kiss you."

"I’m not stopping you," Gemma replied simply.

I couldn’t hold back any longer. The moment those words left her lips, I pulled her onto my lap. She straddled me willingly, and we kissed hungrily, like starving wolves finally given meat. God, how I’d missed this woman!

Gemma urgently unbuttoned my shirt, desire blazing in her eyes like fire. I was completely ready for her, wanting her with every fiber of my being.

"I want to remove your dress, Gemma. May I?" I asked between fervent kisses.

"I’m not stopping you," she repeated, making me chuckle.

I found the zipper on her dress and slowly lowered it. I slid the straps down her arms, revealing her breasts, completely bare for my eyes alone. I caressed them reverently, my thumbs circling her hardened peaks. Gemma had beautiful, full breasts that fit perfectly in my hands. I took one in my mouth while massaging the other, savoring her taste as her body trembled in response. I lingered there, indulging in her delicious curves while she released soft moans of pleasure.

Gemma was breathtaking. I was completely captivated by her beauty. Her eyes remained fixed on me, clouded with desire. I was lost in my hunger for her.

I gently turned our bodies, laying her on the cushions. I pulled her dress down her legs and cast it aside, then slowly removed her panties, my eyes never leaving hers. When I touched her intimately, she was already wet and warm for me.

I positioned myself over her and kissed her deeply, feeling her body responding to mine. A possessive growl escaped me, a primal declaration of ownership. There was no room for thought, only sensation and the certainty that we belonged to each other.

Her hands explored every tense muscle in my chest and shoulders, greedily touching every inch of my skin. I felt the light scratch of her nails on my back, sending shivers down my spine. My entire body surrendered to her, just as she surrendered to me.

I pulled back briefly to admire her, beautiful under my control, while simultaneously controlling every emotion within me, every movement of my body.

I aligned myself with her welcoming entrance, penetrating her slowly as I lowered myself onto her. I captured her mouth with mine, and we began moving together in perfect rhythm, in perfect surrender.

Sensing her desire to set her own pace, I rolled us over without breaking our connection, allowing my goddess to straddle me. Her curls bounced as she rode me, creating a hypnotic vision I couldn’t tear my eyes from.

I could only stare at this beautiful, fierce woman who had enchanted me, shaken my world, and dismantled all my defenses, making me willingly throw myself into the unknown abyss of vulnerability, yearning to be loved in return.

Gemma spread her palms across my chest and arched backward, moaning with pleasure. I caressed her breasts before sliding my hands down her belly and between her thighs, feeling her tighten around me in response.

Unlike our previous encounters, this joining was quiet, interrupted only by our passionate moans. The sensations and emotions that had been suppressed during our painful separation now communicated without words.

Gemma leaned down to kiss me, her breasts pressing against my chest as her lips met mine. I held her tightly, maintaining our perfect rhythm, creating delicious friction that brought us to the edge of ecstasy. Between kisses, I made my declaration and promise:

"I love you, Gemma. I’ll never stop loving you. I’ll be yours forever."

Our movements accelerated sensually, our desire transcending mere physical release. This was pure feeling, genuine love that nothing could destroy.

Gemma captured my mouth once more, and with frenzied yet delicious movements, we reached our peak together. She moaned into my mouth as she climaxed, feeling me spill inside her.

We remained connected, gradually calming our breathing and heartbeats, savoring the warmth of our bodies and the shivers from our gentle caresses.

We fell asleep entwined, perfectly nestled against each other. We awoke with the first rays of sunlight streaming through the windows, making it impossible not to claim her once more with the sunrise as our witness to this profound love binding me to her.