Ask Me to Stay

Chapter Eleven

DOMINIC'S POV
——
The sobering effect Kara has was only momentary. Vera's...actions were quite the opposite, leading me further and further into inebriation. Did I regret getting a hand job from my girlfriend's younger sister in the back of them a car that said girlfriend was driving? No...?
When we finally got back to the lake house Blaine walked Vera to her room, leaving me and Kara sort out the visible issues we've had all night.
"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Kara asked calmly while getting her things from the car. I had half the notion to just walk away and end the conversation, but I am an adult who has to, unfortunately, handle things as such.
"Are we referring to the argument before we left, me going with Vera and Blaine...or me getting stone with them?" I locked the car, walking inside behind her.
"Let's just go with all three." She huffed, leading us to our bedroom. "Tonight was more than just uncalled for, it was mean and malicious. Cruel. And I was on the receiving end of all of it. I am happy that you and Vera are getting along, but we are still a team, having you publicly toss that away was the biggest insult I've received in a long time." She stood across the room from me, arms across her chest and a blatant angry look on her face.
"We are a team, Kara. You, Me, Vera. We have been a team since I became a constant in Vera's life. I am sorry that I hurt you and made you feel that way, but you should be more worried about Vera's comfort than me 'publicly' disagreeing with you." I countered, sitting on the bed to remove my shoes and socks.
"This whole trip is for Vera's comfort, satisfaction, and happiness. She never said anything about her birthday dinners until tonight...the same day that you did which suddenly doesn't feel coincidental." She still hadn't moved from in front of the door. She's really trying to pin all of this on me?
"Okay, I'm going to say this, and when I finished talking. I did not plot with Vera to sabotage her birthday. Blame me for tonight if it makes you feel better, but I'm done listening. I thought we could have a simple conversation about tonight and not make it a fight, but the reach you just made is pivoting us in that direction." I said flatly. I silently changed into comfortable clothes while she stood in place thinking about what to say.
"I'm gon-" she started but I cut her off.
"Goodnight, Kara." I stepped past her, exiting the room. I padded down the hallway in fresh socks, finding my way to my father's study.
I plopped down at the walnut desk, pulling over the small cast iron and glass bar cart. I poured myself a glass of scotch, swirling it before taking a sip. Dad has always loved the expensive stuff...
I sat for what seemed like hours, staring out the window at the lake. I had always hated coming here as a kid. I grew up in Boston so I never had any friends down here, my father's friends had kids but they were all older, the few that were my age were too stuck up to be likable. When I was a little older, teenage years, I would end up spending my summers out by the pool high, drunk, or both. When I got a car I would sometimes drive to Atlanta, looking for any reasonably sized party that I could sneak into.
Kara has this take on my childhood and adolescence and how it was some kind of fantastic dream life that other kids wish for. But in reality, it was a metaphorical dumpster fire. My dad was and still is a narcissistic, violent drunk. My mother was a stuck-up catholic housewife who held image and reputation as her first priority. They adopted a set of twins when I was seven, making sure I knew it was because I wasn't good enough. Those two were raised in reflection of that fact. My grandfather was really the only one who enjoyed my existence. While he raised my dad in the direction of architecture, my father decided to go in the direction of the television. The middle ground for them was a since ended, tv-series on my grandfather's company. Something you would see on hgtv. But when I started showing an interest in architecture he swooped in and nurtured that interest into something I now made a career out of.
My grandfather was the one that paid for my architectural education, giving me a weekly allowance after reluctantly agreeing to not making me work a part-time job. He ended up passing away a year after Kara and I got together, an underlying immune disorder paired with pneumonia.
Since then I've inherited fifty percent of his company, his best friend and right-hand man got thirty-five percent, and the rest was divided into thirds among my father and the twins. Lennie, said best friend, and I were bare co-CEOs, and have been running the company since.
I flinched awake, stirring in the old leather office chair. I looked at my phone, seeing that it was almost one in the morning. Surprisingly the edible was starting to wear off, but definitely still there.
I returned to staring out the window, seeing a figure dressed in white walking up from the docks. Shit...docks, midnight.
I rushed to my feet, trying to both get outside to Vera and not wake anyone up. I reached the door to the patio at the same time she did, her eyes flicking up to meet mine. They were red and puffy as if she was just crying. That's because she was...
I pulled open the door, pulling her into my chest and kissing the top of her head. Ideas of excuses and apologies streamed through my mind, none of them good enough for this situation.
"I waited..." she grumbled against my chest. I nodded against her head and took in a deep breath.
"I'm sorry. I forgot." I started, blanking on what to say next. "I was in my dad's office and dozed off. I'm sorry."
"I was scared and in the dark, but I still sat there and waited for almost an hour." She breathed out against my chest, her arms limp at her sides while mine were wrapped around her.
"I know, I'm sorry. I should have remembered. I wouldn't ever do something like that on purpose." I continued my apology. I pulled back slightly, lifting her chin with my hand. I planted a slow kiss on her forehead, letting us stay light that for a few peaceful moments.
"I'm not mad. But I am tired. Walk with me?" She sniffled before pulling away. I nodded, holding out my arm for her to wrap hers around. Instead, she took my hand, tugging me in the direction of her bedroom.
We walked extra slow, drawing it out as long as possible. We didn't talk, though, just walking beside each other in the dark hallways. Even with our small strides, we reached her door sooner than either of us wouldn't have wanted to.
"Stay?" She asked, turning her back to the door and looking up at me. "Please?"
"I can't sleep here, I'll stay until you fall asleep." I compromised, pulling her into me so I could find the doorknob. I gently pushed her in the direction of her bed.
We laid down, facing each other on either side of the bed. Even in the dark, she had this brightness about her. Her skin, her hair, her eyes. All of it radiated light and beauty.
"Kara and I fought today. Both before  and after tonight." I whispered, not looking away from her.
"About me?" She asked weakly, biting her lip.
"Mhm. Before we left I told her that you didn't like the fancy dinners, and when you said the same thing in the car she decided we must have conspired together. As always she blamed my privilege and was more worried about her image." I hesitated, squeezing our entangled hands together.
"Sounds like her..." she agreed quietly. "Though, you could say we unknowingly conspired."
"How so?" I asked, curious as to how I was involved in her decision to say something tonight.
"You...you were the one that gave me the confidence in myself to say something. I was thinking about how you would probably enjoy seeing me stand up for myself like, that's what kept me from giving in or rather falling apart." She looked down at our hands while she talked, looking up at me every few moments.
"I did..." I chuckled. Leaning forward to kiss her forehead. Instead, she looked up just in time to make our lips connect.
I could feel her smiling against my lips, reaching up to cup my face. We continued like this, quiet whispers and stolen kisses. Against my better judgement, I curled up next to her and fell asleep with her in my arms, her head snuggled into my chest.
———
"Good morning, Dominic, you should probably get up." I groaned and rolled over, a frown forming on my lips. I am the furthest thing from a morning person.
"Come on...please, for me." A small pair of hands rigged at my arm, trying to roll me back over. I internally grumbled, half asleep and ready to return to peacefulness.
I trail of kisses started at my jaw, traveling down my neck and to my shoulders. A smile formed on my lips, enjoying this kind of wake-up. The kisses turned to small nips and licks at my skin. Something was definitely wide awake...
"Sorry...but we don't have time for that kind of morning activity." I groaned again, deciding to open my eyes. I sat up, squinting due to the sun streaming in through the large windows.
"You're a tease," I mumbled, pulling Vera into my arms and kissing her.
"Ew," she spat dramatically. "You have morning breath."
"And you think you don't, princess?" I asked with a lazy smile. The pet name seemed to catch her off guard, her body tensed and her breathing faltered.
"I like that..." she moaned into the sudden kiss she pulled me into. I gently squeeze her hips and nip at her bottom lip.
"Sorry...but we don't have time for that kind of morning activity." I mocked.
"You're a tease." She joked, sliding off my lap to sit beside me. "Go out through the outside door, nobody should be able to see you until you get to the kitchen door."
"Kicking me out already?" I ask playfully, planting a kiss on her neck.
"I had my fun." She hummed, leaning her head back as an invitation to continue.
"You didn't you," I whispered, taking her hand in mine as I continue kissing her neck, I placed it over the bulge in my shorts, squeezing both our hands around it.
"Dominic..." she moaned, biting her lip in a small smirk.
"Vera." I sang out in a light tone, standing up off the bed and dropping our connected hands. I grabbed my phone, sliding open her door that led outside.
"I'm ready." She said, smiling.
"What?" I asked, Turing back to her, half inside half out.
"You said you wanted me to give you my virginity. It's just been served to you on a silver platter." She bit her lip, waiting for a response.
"You are such a fucking tease." I sighed, shaking my head with a wanting smile. "You're sure?" I asked. I knew I could have had her right there, but I didn't want to do it like that, I wanted it to be special, for her.
"Yes, I am. Now leave before I die of embarrassment or you get caught." She waved me out, kissing me before.  I was shocked, walking to the patio and into the kitchen, she wants it to be me.
I also had this evening to finish organizing. Vera's special birthday present. My first idea was something a little more romantic and on the sexual side of things but I end up going with something a little more humble. Charming even.
———
VERA'S POV
——
"I kinda wanna go with this, I don't know if it's a casual thing or if it's a fucking hike," I grumbled, reaching out towards Sam. He handed me the bottle of champagne.
"What are we doing this for again?" Bryce asked, looking up from his phone and taking the bottle from me.
"Dominic is taking Vera on a surprise birthday outing tonight. We don't know where or what it is. You two are only here for moral support, your opinions don't matter." Maddy said matter of factly to Bryce, stealing the bottle from him and taking a swig.
"Okay, we'll then find something that it's comfortable but classy. That's easy." Sam mumbled, focused on something else.
"We'll then mister fashion guru, find it!" Maddy stalled, pointing a manicured finger to my unpacked clothes hanging in the closet.
"Women," Sam grumbled.
"Men." Maddy mocked.
"Okay. Here." Sam plopped a pile of clothes into Maddy's arms and pushed us towards my bathe room. "It's a colorful outfit that works in both a casual and classy setting. Either you're comfortable enough to wear colors or you bold and elegant enough to pull it off somewhere fancy." He explained through the door as Maddy helped me get dressed. It was a pair of dark green-ish blue corduroy pants and a strappy yellow tank top.
I looked at myself in the mirror, twisting to see my figure. I liked how I looked in it, bright and young but also mature.
"Shoes?" I asked, looking over at Sam. He shrugged, looking down at the few pairs I brought.
"The black sandal heels. Do gold jewelry, and put your hair in a bun." He instructed, plopping down beside Bryce and taking a sip of champagne.
"Okay?" Maddy shrugged, us both shocked at the fashion know-how Sam had. I nodded picking up the shoes and accessory bag. Maddy helped me pick out a set of earrings, a necklace, and a few rings.
I pulled my hair into a heap on top of my head, leaving a few strands hang out to add a "basic white girl" effect.
"Why did I get ready so early?" I yawned, sitting on my bed beside Sam. I looked down at my phone seeing that it was only four.
"Mr fashionista over here downed our ETA by at least an hour." Maddy playfully nudged Sam with her heel before turning back to snuggle into Bryce.
We sat like this for over an hour, crammed on the bed, talking or drinking, or doing something on our phones. Sam was playful and flirty, kissing my cheek every few minutes and pulling me closer to snuggle into him. Maddy sent me a sympathetic smile, understanding the dilemma I was in. Dominic has had almost all my attention lately, Sam is trying but I'm not, and I haven't seen Cody since lunch yesterday. I did want to let go of Cody or Sam because what we have is normal and I know Dominic and I will never amount to anything more than sneaking around. But I also don't want to let go of Dominic because well...he's Dominic.
"Vera?" Dominic called gently as he opened the door, looking in before continuing. "Oh...you're already ready." I nodded with an excited smile, standing up from the bed and walking towards him, nodding to the hallway. He stepped out and I followed, closing the door after me.
"You wouldn't give me hints for what we're doing tonight so this is the best outfit we could come up with..." I breathed out, looking up into his eyes before back down to my feet.
"Darling, you look lovely, as you always do. And it's perfect for tonight, I promise." He reassured, tipping my head back with his hand so that I was looking up at him. "If you're ready now, I don't see any issue with being a little early." He bit his lip as he waited for my answer. Is he nervous?
"Uhm...yeah, of course. Just let me grab my bag and say goodbye?" I squeezed his hand before dropping it, turning back to my bedroom door. I peeked my head in, opening the door less than halfway. "Can you toss me my bag?"
"You're leaving now?" Maddy questioned, picking up my brown leather handbag and tossing it across the room to me. Instead of catching it, it hit the door frame and fell at my feet.
"Yup." I breathed out, smirking. I bent at the waist, reaching for my purse and giving anyone in the hallway a good view. "Being a little early never hurt."
"You are something else." Dominic chuckled as I pulled my door closed.
He walked us out to the patio where Kara, Beck, and Kate were sitting, Blaine and his friends were splashing around in the pool.
"I like those pants, V, how's the booty?" Beck asked playfully, sipping at her beer. I dramatically spun around, pushing my hip out to accentuate my ass.
"And now we're sexualizing a sixteen-year-old." Kate sang out, slapping the bill of Beck's baseball cap.
"Well, Uhm...We're gonna head out now. Don't wait up, it's a late-night endeavor." Dominic's hand pressed against the small of my back, guiding me back inside and towards the front door. "You excited?" He looked down at me, his lip pulled between his teeth, clearly full of excitement. 

"Yes, very, but more confused and curious. I have a few things in mind...but I could be completely wrong." I admitted, letting my fingers play with the faux ivory buttons on his shirt, grazing the skin beneath. 

"I want to hear all about the things you think this is, but let's get going first." I nod, giving him my hand and letting him lead me outside to his black sporty sedan. Being the gentleman he is, he opened my door, helped me in, and then closed the door for me. A smile grew on my face as the feeling of being on a date arose in me. This was a date...right? It feels like a date. It's not like I've ever been on one before, though.  

"Ready?" Dominic asked after getting settled in the driver's seat. He looked over at me with a bright and contagious smile, growing as mine did. 

"Ready."