INSATIABLE CRAVINGS
Insatiable Cravings – Episode 36
Subtitle; {Loving You Is A Loosing Game}
TAGS: Age-gap, Mafia, Forbidden Love, Drama, Tragedy and Betrayal.
Settings: United Kingdom, Russia and others.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
~ Genevieve ~
When I woke up the next day, I never expected my Saturday to revolve around nothing but reading and snacking all day. But Dominic had other plans in mind that promised to shake things up.
I had just finished my shower, slipping into the coziest hoodie I owned—his, though I now claimed it as mine—when my phone rang on the nightstand. A frown creased my forehead as I reached for it, only for it to flip into a smile at the sight of his name lighting up the screen.
Tapping the green icon to answer, I felt my face brighten instantly. Though I couldn’t see him, I knew he was smiling back. “Good morning,” he said, his voice warm and inviting.
“It’s a wonderfully good morning, indeed,” I replied. “What’s behind this unexpected call on such a lovely morning?”
“Wonderful morning? Without me?” His exaggerated gasp made me chuckle. “How dare you, Genevieve King? I was just plotting how to turn my drab Saturday into something fun with you. I guess I’ll have to scrap those plans.”
I tried not to dwell on how he intended to make today more exciting than my original plans. Instead, I grinned widely, eager to hear more.
“Oh?” I murmured, just loud enough for him to catch. “Do enlighten me—what did you have in mind to make today fun?”
“I’m not sure if I should share, considering you seem to be enjoying your morning without me.” He was definitely in a teasing mood, and I loved where this was headed. “Maybe if you beg, I’ll spill the details.”
I scoffed, laughter bubbling up. “I don’t beg, ever.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because a King doesn’t beg; they simply take what they want. It’s one of the many reasons I cherish my last name.”
Dominic hummed thoughtfully. “Well, I happen to have a respected name too. Morozov can get you anything—or anyone—you desire. So if I want a King to beg, I’ll find a way to make it happen, Genevieve.”
“You think?”
“No, I know.”
“Alright then, how about you give it a shot? Get me to beg.”
“I have countless ways to accomplish that,” he said with an overabundance of confidence. “But right now, I’ll be the one begging.”
“Ah! Just as I suspected.” I shifted the phone to my other ear, took a sip from my water bottle, and deliberately savored the moment. “So, let’s hear it—Dominic Morozov begging? That’s not something I’d anticipated, but I could definitely get used to it.”
He let out a hearty laugh. “You’re something else. Anyway, I was going to ask you out for brunch…”
Brunch?!
I hadn’t intended to interrupt, but it was too late. “Brunch? Did I hear you correctly? I thought you hated brunch.”
“I do.”
“And yet?”
“Having brunch with you doesn’t sound so bàd,” he replied, just as I heard the microwave ping on his end. “You make everything fun. So, are you interested in spending this wonderful day with me?”
A mischievous grin spread across my face, my heart fluttering in that familiar way it had been recently whenever Dominic was involved. “What’s the magic word?”
I can’t quite fathom where this unexpected confidence has sprung from, but I’m rather grateful to be holding it together instead of tripping over my words.
Dominic didn’t allow hesitation to take root within him. His voice, low and soothingly familiar, rumbled through the air as he uttered that one word that sent an inexplicable flutter through my stomach. “Please?”
These feelings were becoming more frequent, and I wondered if I might need a doctor.
You don’t need a doctor, trust me.
That voice in my head wasn’t helping. Why, then, did my cheeks feel so warm? And the fluttering in my stomach—was that normal?
“Vixen?” His voice cut through my thoughts, a hint of concern lacing it.
That nickname only intensified my embarrassment. I dashed to the bathroom, propping my phone on the counter in speaker mode, and faced the mirror, recognizing my flushed face.
“Gen…”
“I’m still here. What’s on your mind?” I managed to say, keeping my voice steady.
“You haven’t said yes yet.”
“Do I have to?”
“Well, you made me say please, so it’s only fair you say yes to my request.”
“Fine! Yes, I’m interested in sharing my wonderful day with you. Happy now?”
“Yes!” His enthusiasm was palpable, his joy evident in his tone. “Can I ask you something?”
A frown creased my brow as I wondered what he was about to say. “Yeah?”
“That moment you went quiet—were you busy blushing?”
Of all the things I expected him to say, that certainly wasn’t one of them. I found myself speechless once again, caught off guard by a man who was miles away.
“You’re doing it again, aren’t you?” His voice dripped with mischief, and I could practically hear the smirk on his face. “Is Genevieve King blushing?”
Deny.
Deny.
Deny!
“Yes. I mean, no. Why would you even think that?” My voice came out a bit raspier than I intended, and I could tell it gave me away when he chuckled. “Ha, ha, laugh it up.”
“You know you’re adorable when you lie.”
“And you’re adorable when you pretend things that aren’t funny are.”
“But this is funny,” he insisted.
“No, it’s not.”
“It is.” He paused for a moment, then added, “Meet me before noon for brunch. I can’t wait to see you—dress comfortably.”
“Don’t tell me how to dress, Dominic. I can’t wait to see you, too.”
“You know, the way you talk back to me is quite annoying. It makes me wonder if you have any fear of me at all.”
“Do you want me to be afraid of you?”
“Given my other line of work that you know about? Yes, even just a little.”
“Well, big oops for you because I’m not afraid of you, Dominic Morozov.”
It was a simple truth.
“Why?” His curiosity didn’t particularly amuse me.
“Because I know you wouldn’t hurt me.”
“You sound so sure.”
“That’s because I am.” I needed to remind him of that. “Bye.”
••
“So, you’re saying you reckon whatever’s happening between you two is getting serious?” For reasons known only to her, she placed considerable emphasis on the seventh word, her expression a mixture of curiosity and certainty. “As in, you like him.”
That wasn’t a question. It was far too direct, too assured, too… true?
I bit my lip and chewed on the inside of my cheek, reluctant to respond. Julianna tilted her head, urging me to answer a question she hadn’t even posed.
How could I respond? What could I possibly say? Of course, I liked Dominic. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be spending so much time with him, kissing him, and engaging in all manner of enjoyable escapades. But we were friends—friends with benefits, I supposed.
Right?
It couldn’t mean anything more, could it?
“What do you mean by ‘I like him’?” I finally managed to speak.
“What I meant is exactly what you heard, Vie. Do you like him? Like him?”
Do I?
How am I supposed to know? I’ve never truly liked someone like that before, which makes all of this rather bewildering.
“You don’t know?” Jules asked, her inquisitive gaze unwavering. “I think you do like him but perhaps haven’t realised it yet.”
That wasn’t the case, and there was absolutely no reason for me to come to such a realisation. I couldn’t possibly like Dominic in that way.
I can’t like him like that. He isn’t available; it was hard enough to reach this point with him, and it took quite a lot of effort. Maybe I do have feelings for him, but what if he feels the same way?
Ugh, I’d known from the moment my stomach began fluttering that it was a bad sign. I also recognised that flushing cheeks weren’t a good indicator either. For the first time in ages, I felt completely anxious and apprehensive about the future.
Whatever feelings I harboured for Dominic Morozov could either make or break us in the near future, and I wasn’t sure I was prepared to jeopardise what we had. Or perhaps I was simply overthinking all of this.
The brunch we had planned for a few hours hence could very well be a date, couldn’t it? But I tried not to linger on that thought for too long, as since Dominic and I returned from the Maldives, we’d gone out for countless dinners as friends.
Friends who kissed frequently and occasionally enjoyed more intimate encounters. Friends who cherished each other’s company and couldn’t bear to spend a day without seeing or speaking to one another. Dominic had embedded himself so deeply into my life that I found it impossible to imagine letting go.
How could I? He is simply perfection incarnate. He makes me truly happy, fills a void in my heart I didn’t even know existed, and makes me feel whole.
But do I make him feel whole? Does he think of me as often as I think of him? When he closes his eyes, does he see me as I see him? Do I provide him with the same solace he offers me? When I hold him, does it soothe him as it does me? Does he like me as I like him?
I felt a tear slip down my cheek and land on my arm resting on my lap. Julianna tilted her head to one side, her expression a mixture of concern and understanding. “You do, don’t you?”
There was no need for words; she could easily see the truth in my eyes. Her hand came to rest on my arm, her sad smile brightening with warmth.
“Is Genevieve King in love?” she chirped, her tone almost jubilant.
TBC
