Chapter 5
With the huge terry cloth robe wrapped around her, Dominique emerged from the bathroom to find the clothes Richie had promised on the bed and Richie staring out the window. When he heard the door open, he turned to see her.
Richie moved to her in the middle of the room and took a hold of the collar on the bathrobe. “You look like you feel better.”
Putting her hands on his sides, she smiled, “Just being here…with you…makes me feel better. I sort of expected you to join me.”
“Nope.”
“Don’t you want me?”
“Very much.”
“Then why…”
“Because I respect you. We’re going to take it one day at a time and when it’s right for us, it’ll happen.”
“You’re serious?”
“Very.”
“This is so much better than my dreams.”
Richie gave a soft chuckle. “I can’t wait to hear about your dreams.”
Once more, Dominique blushed. “Okay, you didn’t think I was a crazed fan earlier but you will when you hear what I use to dream about.”
That got a hearty laugh from him. “I doubt I’ll change my mind, Princess. Go get dressed. I’ll be up by the pool.”
“I won’t be long.”
Dominique started to let go of Richie but he held on to her pulling her closer.
“Richie?” she questioned.
Closing the distance, his lips covered hers, kissing her slowly. When she gasped, he deepened the kiss, his tongue sweeping in to set off a fire she’d never felt before. Instinctively, her hands slid up his sides to hold on.
Breaking the kiss, he whispered, “See you upstairs.”
With a quick peck, Richie left Dominique to get dressed and she let out a happy sigh. It had been a lifetime since she had been this happy. Would her dad be able to help her hold on to this?
Slipping the robe off, she picked up the shirt Richie had left. It was clearly his and as she buttoned it up, she could smell his cologne. She slipped her panties back on and moved to look in the full-length mirror on the door. The shirt hung to just above her knees.
“Hmmm, I’ve never worn a guy’s shirt before….but I like this. Now, to go embarrass myself.”
Dominique made her way upstairs where she found Richie sitting on the same chaise but he had his guitar and he was playing a song she’d never heard before. She moved quietly to where he sat and climbed to the back of the chair to sit behind him.
Richie set his guitar down and scooted back to lean against her. “My shirt looks good on you.”
“It’s kind of big on me but I like it. What was that song you were playing?”
“A new song. I had some inspiration tonight.”
“Really? I was your inspiration?”
Richie looked over his shoulder and reached up to touch her nose with his finger. “Yes, you were my inspiration.”
“Why don’t you play some more of it?”
“Not now…maybe when it’s done.” Taking her hands, he pulled them around him. “Tell me about your dreams.”
“They were my way of coping with what Chris did to me. I’d imagine it was you I was with.”
“Did it help?”
“Most of the time but it was hard to imagine you being rough. When I was alone, locked in my room, I’d imagine I was with you.”
“What were some of the things you imagined us doing together?”
“Walking on the beach, going to dinner, going to shows….I watched you one time at an awards show…on the red carpet and I imagined being your date for it.”
“What was your favorite dream?”
“My favorite…I guess that would be the one where we got married. After Chris forced me to get married, I started to picture that.”
Richie turned the palm of her hand up and placed a kiss in the middle. “Tell me about it.”
“Richie, they were just dreams….a way of dealing with a bad situation…an escape.”
“I know but I still want to hear about them. You said earlier that being with me was better than you dreamed. I want it to always be like that for you.”
“It will be…because as long as I’m with you, I’m NOT with Chris.”
“Okay, but I really want to hear about us getting married.”
Dominique hesitated, a wave of nausea washing over her and she felt hot. She knew the feelings all too well and she didn’t want this. She wanted tonight to be perfect but her nightmare was slowly creeping in. Okay, keep talking, maybe that would keep her mind off the craving. “It wasn’t a traditional wedding with the church and so forth. We were on a beach at sunset. There was an arch covered with tropical flowers and an island band playing. You were wearing white pants and a loose white shirt that you didn’t have buttoned completely….just a couple, in the middle. You were barefooted too.”
“What
beach were we on?”
“My dad’s island in the Caribbean.”
“Your dad has an island?”
“Yeah, he goes there to….escape…and he’ll probably take me there to hide me.”
“I’d love to see it.”
Squeezing his hand, she said, “I want to show you EVERYTHING about it. My favorite place to go swimming, my favorite place to just sit and think, the coconut groves, the beaches….do you like to ski?”
“Yeah, and I’m pretty good at it too.”
“Bet I’m better,” she teased.
“Can’t wait to find out.”
“How
much longer are you on tour?”
“Nine months but we’ve got some breaks in it. In fact, we’ve got a break the
first part of March and I don’t have any plans. Maybe I could fly down.”
“You don’t have anything to do?”
“Jon had wanted to use the break to work on some new material but I’m feeling kind of burned out and need a break to get some inspiration. I think eleven days in the Caribbean with a beautiful woman is just what the doctor ordered.”
Dominique felt her tears spring forth and she hugged him not knowing what to say.
Richie gave her a minute before asking, “What were you wearing in your dream?”
“A white wedding sarong with a tropical flower in my hair.”
“It was hanging loose, right?”
“Yes.”
“Barefooted?”
“Of course. I never wear shoes when I’m on the island!! I love the feel of the grass and sand under my feet.”
Richie laughed, “Sounds beautiful.”
“You really don’t think I’m an obsessed fan?”
“No, not at all! Santadio was torturing you and you found a way to survive. I’m honored that you picked me to dream about…that I was able to help you.” Richie looked at her hands, one in his and one on his chest….so small and delicate but this lady had survived so much. She needed reassurance. “Princess, you’re my number one fan and no matter what happens between us, I will always consider you my number one fan.”
It felt so good to hear Richie say this. “And you’re my rock star. Tell me about your parents.”
“My parents are really cool,” and Richie continued to tell her about his parents.
The couple had been quiet for some time just watching the stars and enjoying being in each other’s arms. Dominique had so much going through her mind and she was struggling with her craving for another fix but she felt completely peaceful. There was no threat of being raped, no threat of being forced to satisfy some slimy mobster, no needles….she could relax and be herself.
Running her finger along his arm, she said, “Richie, it’s been so long since I’ve felt like this…relaxed and happy.”
“I’m glad you came to me and I could give you these feelings. I want to keep on making you feel good.”
“You don’t mind that I’m only nineteen?”
“I like them younger….makes it easer to train you,” he teased.
A smile spread through her despite her saying, “You pig!”
Richie laughed as he looked back to see her smile but he noticed the sweat beads popping up on her forehead. He was concerned but didn’t question.
“I’ve never dated either…well, not much.”
“Part of the charm that I love about you.” He got up, took her hand, and pulled Dominique with him to stand in front of the rails looking out over the city. He stood behind her wrapping his arms around her. “What do you see out there?”
“The city….lights.”
“Do you see the bad parts of town where there’s drugs and crime? Or the good parts where there are fancy parties?”
“No.”
“Last night, I watched you dance and all I saw was an exotic seductress that had me so turned on that I needed a cold shower. Now, I see so much more and I’m falling in love with every bit of it from the way you blush because I give you a compliment to the innocence of never having dated. I know that one day, when you’re comfortable, I’ll see that exotic seductress again and she won’t be doing it because she has to…she’ll be doing it because she wants to.” Hugging her closer, he continued, “I can’t guarantee that you won’t have your heart broken, but I will never intentionally hurt you. I’ll treat you with respect. I’ll love you the way a man should love a lady. I want to know everything about you there is to know and more. I want the chance to make your dreams come true. I want to make love to you…slowly, learning where to touch you to make you feel special…not like a piece of meat. I want to be with you for as long as you’ll have me.”
“I want that too,” she whispered. Turning in his arms and putting hers around his neck, she looked into his eyes to repeat, “I want that too, Richie.”
Richie closed the distance to kiss her slowly. He held her against his body feeling her react to him. She was so soft and he wanted her…god he wanted her.
Dominique felt herself floating on a cloud. She’d never been in love before but there was no mistaking it. She was definitely falling in love with Richie Sambora.
Richie pulled out of the kiss and looked into her eyes. “That’s better.”
"What is?”
“The look in your eyes. When you first came to me, they were filled with fear. Now, they’re soft, full of ….”
“Love?”
“Yes.”
“Trust?”
“Do you trust me?”
“With my life.” She tucked her head as she said, “I’m falling in love with you.”
Lifting her chin to look into her eyes, he said, “I’m falling in love with you too.”
“How are we…”
Placing a finger on her lips, he said, “Shhh, we’ll make it work, princess.” Seeing Dominique yawn, he said, “Why don’t we go back to the bedroom so you can take a nap?”
“I don’t want to waste my time with you.”
“You aren’t going to waste our time together. You’re tired and you aren’t feeling well. Come on, let’s go down.”
Arm in arm, the couple made their way down to the bedroom where Dominique climbed into bed and Richie pulled his shirt and boots off. Joining her, he gathered her in his arms and she nestled her head on his shoulder. She placed her hand on his chest and draped her leg across his as she got comfortable.
Richie played with her hair as he watched her noticing her hand was shaking and that she looked pale. “When was the last time you had a fix?”
“Sometime in the afternoon…after he raped me.” Her voice trembled.
“Do you know what he was giving you?”
“Heroin…cocaine…it just depended on what he had. Sometimes he’d mix it…a speedball. It was his way of making me beg him…give him whatever he wanted. It was the only way he could get me to say that I loved him.”
“How do you feel right now?”
“I’m hurting….my stomach is in knots…I feel like I’m going to lose my dinner…I’m hot, like I’m on fire….but I’m trying to stay focused on you so that I can ignore it.”
“What can I do to help you?”
“Just hold me…..keep reminding me that I’m safe…that I don’t need the drugs.”
“You don’t need them, princess…let me be your addiction.” He placed a kiss on her forehead and pulled her closer.
Dominique relaxed and closed her eyes. Her body was screaming for a fix but her brain was telling her that she didn’t want it or need it. Finally, her life was hers again and she was going to control it. She had the man of her dreams holding her in his arms. That’s what she fell asleep thinking about.
