Commander Nella

6). Dresses Are For Girls Like Nadia

Dominic totally forgot how to breathe.

Nella? In a dress? Dammit! Dammit all to hell. The sight was even better than he'd imagined. The golden dress fitted her perfectly, hugging all of her luscious curves in the right places. She stood out in the crowd, shining like a star. Her dark hair glistened under the festival lights and the smile that curved her lips when she saw him was priceless.

Nella tried to avoid tripping over herself as she walked towards Dominic. Seeing him standing there in all his masculine glory, next to the stacks of small honey-cakes, was a heavenly sight to behold. Dressed in dark breeches, a crimson tunic stitched with golden thread and a belt studded with white jade, he looked the very image of royalty.

"I was beginning to think you wouldn't show up,"she said, wrapping her fingers around a wooden pole as she peered up at him through long, curly eyelashes.

"You didn't invite me, did you?"He asked, arching a brow at her.

Nella flushed. "Well...."

Dominic picked a honey-cake from a stack and took a bite. He chewed on it slowly, holding her gaze. "Well, I did get invited." He gestured towards the cakes, asking if she wanted but she shook her head.

A slight frown creased her forehead. "Really?" She asked. "By whom?"

"Nadia Dagett,"Dominic answered. "I ran into her earlier today and she invited me. Since she's one of the organizers, I figured she had the right."

"Oh,"was all Nella said. There was a slight heaviness in her chest and her ribs seemed to constrict with his words.

For some reasons, she did not like the fact that Nadia had been the one to extend an invitation to Dominic. She swallowed briefly and her fingers tightened around the pole as she thought back on how Nadia had spoken to Dom yesterday. Nadia was beautiful. Young. Attractive. Almost flawless. If she had any designs on Dominic....

But then it wasn't really her business, was it? Dominic could have any girl he wanted. She wasn't jealous. Or was she? What other name could she give to the heavy feeling she'd experienced at the mention of Nadia? At least, she didn't have the right to be. She did not have any claim on him. Besides, it wasn't like Dominic was actually involved with Nadia. At least,not yet.

"You know,"Dominic was saying as he stared off into the crowd. "Nadia is a rather beautiful young lady, don't you think?"

Nella gritted her teeth and managed a smile. "Of course she is."

"Are you okay?"Dominic suddenly asked, leaning towards her with genuine concern etched into his handsome features. "You look...weird."

"Of course, I look weird!"Nella exploded, the forced smile wiped from her face and replaced with a very prominent glare directed at Dominic. "I'm in a dress! Dresses are for girls like Nadia!"

She paused, her chest heaving with her laboured breaths. She bit down on her lower lip and let out a loud breath. "This is just ridiculous."

She turned to go but he grabbed her by the elbow and pulled her back, slamming her into him. "Nella, are you okay? What's wrong? What are you so angry about?"

Nella's brain was muddled and right now, she couldn't even remember what she had been so angry about. All she could think of was the heat she could currently feel radiating from his body. His hard chest was pressed flush against her softer one and she was acutely aware of the arm around her waist that was holding her in place. She glanced down from his clear eyes that were searching her thoroughly and her gaze fell on his slightly parted lips. Her breath hitched in her throat and she felt a very warm fuzziness pooling in her lower abdomen.