Shower (Rhea Ripley X Dominik Mysterio) Book 05

01 La Vie Boheme

Rhea again found herself astonished by the home he pulled up to. It was a massive round white stone house with black slate roofing. He pulled in front of a detached garage, hands fisting the steering wheel as his eyes were fixed on the solid white metal door.

"Jesus, Papi why didn't you tell me about this place?" She asked, blue eyes amazed by the beautiful foliage even though it was over grown.

His lack of response caused her to look at him. Taking in his state her body tensed.

"Papi what's wrong?"

"It still hurts......" He whimpred.

Rhea reached over to rub the back of his neck.

"Who's house was this, before it was yours?"

"mi tía abuela Querida.... We got close after Eddie died cause she was an outsider but still family. Her father was killed in the zoot suit riots when she was four. Her mother, Abril, remarried Sr's dad quick cause she didn't want to be a single mom. They had five sons and he was a great father to them but with her he was only material. When she was seventeen she met a Spanish boy named Yanik, he was a foreign exchange student. They became friends, then lovers when they were twenty. Her father hated him because he wasn't Mexican and didn't condone the relationship. Querida didn't care, they loved each other, so she went with him to Spain. Though they never had kids they lived there together, happily for twenty years before he died of prostate cancer. She sold everything, except their house and his Vinyard, to move back here and open a flower shop.......that's how I knew what to use for your bouquet; aster for love and fidelity. Baby's breath for everlasting love. Bluebells for humility because if we cant humble ourselves we will never make the other happy. Heliotrope for devotion. And forget me nots for everlasting memories of our true love."

She smiled leaning over to kiss his cheek and wrap her arms around him.

"It's almost as if she was there with us...."

He nodded, head tilting to rest against her's.

"Yeah.....she would have really loved you, especially how you stand up for me....."

"Are there pictures of her inside?"

"Yeah......so are they."

"Is it ok if I go in and pay my respects. Then, if you want we can get a hotel......"

Dominik pulled away with a shake of his head as he cut the engine. Getting out the truck he quickly rounded it to open her door. She got out and wrapped an arm around his waist. Slowly they walked to a small iron gate at a vine covered off white stone wall. He pulled a skeleton key out of his pocket then put it in the slot and twisted to the right. Rhea helped him by pushing the gate open and holding it as he turned the key left to withdraw it. Without warning he picked her up to carry her past the gate allowing it to swing shut, lock clicking back in place.

He carried her past the colorful flower bushes and fruit trees. The grass was a bit over grown but she could tell the property was being maintained. Dominik stopped in front of a black door with a brass handle knob that had a matching push down button right above it. After shifting her weight into one arm he used the same key to unlock the door . His free hand grabbed the handle, thumb pushing the button allowing him to open the door. Before entering he toed off his shoes and took off her's.

The inside was just as beautiful with black leather furniture, colorful black opal floors, and glass tables. There were large windows that allowed the natural light to come in.

After closing and relocking the door Dominik carried Rhea up a black opal grand spiral staircase with a floral iron railing.

"You know I spent my whole childhood thinking the floor was real but it was just tile. Even the stairs is a patterned Scratch proof wall stick."