CHAPTER 4: The Gift of Restraint

"Daddy...? Who's that?"

Annie's small, sleepy voice cut through the freezing air. Alec immediately lunged forward, scooping her small body up into his arms. He pressed her head firmly against his shoulder, blindly shielding her face from the predator standing on their porch.

Dominic didn't say a word. He simply crossed the threshold, stepping boldly into the warm house. He casually dropped the premium bouquet of flowers onto the hallway table.

"I'll wait," Dominic murmured, his dark eyes locking onto Alec's rigid back. "Go put her to bed."

Alec reluctantly nodded, his jaw tight as he carried his daughter down the dark hallway, leaving the dangerous billionaire alone in his home.

Left to his own devices, Dominic began to wander through the quiet living room. His expensive shoes made no sound against the floor. He paused by the mantel, picking up a framed picture of Alec and Annie smiling, playing out in the snow. A dark frown crossed his handsome face.

I just left for a year... Dominic muttered to himself, his chest tightening with a sudden spike of possessive jealousy. And he already has a kid?

"What do you want? Why are you here?"

Alec suddenly returned, having stripped off the heavy Santa coat but still wearing the rest of the velvet suit.

Dominic spun around, his hands flaring out dramatically. "Slow down! I'm the one who is supposed to be asking the questions here! How could you have a child while I was in jail?!"

Alec blinked, completely caught off guard by the sudden outburst.

"The girl seems too old to be born within a span of one year," Dominic paced around the sofa, his fingers pressing into his temples as he spiraled into a dramatic panic. "Maybe she’s abducted? No... she looks too much like you. So that means... you had already cheated on me before we even met?! So I'm a dad? Damn, I wasn't ready for this. But what woman did you—"

"Get out!" Alec screamed, cutting right through Dominic's chaotic panic.

Instantly, the goofiness vanished. Dominic froze. The air in the room turned entirely icy as he slowly dropped his hands. His dark eyes narrowed, a cold, suffocating mafia aura rolling off him as he began to step toward Alec.

"Aren't you being a little too loud?" Dominic whispered, his voice dropping to a dangerous, low purr. "You now have a daughter, Detective. So stop being rude to your visitors. Especially ones you betrayed and deceived."

Alec stepped back, but Dominic kept advancing, backing him straight into the corner.

"Aren't people supposed to apologize after a betrayal?" Dominic mused, his chest nearly pressing against Alec's. "But you... you imprisoned me. You didn't even allow me to kiss you properly before I went to jail. And now that I'm out, you hide yourself under a fake identity, you have a child... and worst of all, you didn't even accept my flowers."

Dominic stepped in fully, slamming his palm against the wall beside Alec's head, cornering him completely.

Alec didn't back down. He glared straight up into those dark eyes, his heart hammering against his ribs. "So what do you want? Revenge? Or what?"

"Nope." Dominic reached down, his leather-gloved fingers grabbing Alec’s chin, forcing his head up so he couldn't look away. He towered over the detective like a shadow.

"Then what do you want?!" Alec hissed, his breath hitching under the invasive touch. "Me to put you in jail once and for all?"

"Nah," Dominic chuckled softly, a sudden shiver running through his broad shoulders. "You might have ten kids by the time I come out next time."

"Then what do you want?!"

"I want this," Dominic whispered. He lifted a finger, slowly tracing the sharp outline of Alec's trembling lips.

"Are you crazy? You want me to kiss you?" Alec scoffed, trying to shake his chin free. "Then what was all that talk about betrayal?!"

"Can't I kiss you?" Dominic suddenly pouted, his dark eyes melting into a ridiculous, puppy-dog look. "You look sexy in that outfit."

Alec raised a hand, rubbing his temples in pure exhaustion. "I literally have a fake pot belly as a part of this 'sexy outfit'—"

Before he could even finish the sentence, Dominic leaned down and crashed his lips against Alec's.

Mph!

The kiss was heavy, deep, and breathless. Alec struggled for breath, his hands slamming against Dominic's broad chest until he finally managed to push him off. "My daughter is sleeping!" Alec gasped, his face flushed.

"I will be quiet," Dominic promised. Alec shoved his hand into the billionaire's face to keep him back, but Dominic just smirked, provocatively licking the very fingers pressed against his lips.

"Stop—"

Dominic grabbed Alec's hands, ripping them away. With his other hand, he reached up and tore the fake Santa beard right off Alec's face, throwing it to the floor before diving back in. He continued kissing him, deeper this time, until the sheer heat and skill of it began to sweep Alec off his feet. Alec's defiance cracked. His instincts blurred, his arms slowly wrapping around Dominic's neck as Dominic lifted him completely off the ground.

Dominic carried him over, laying him down onto the soft fabric of the sofa. He immediately reached down, his fingers starting to unbuckle Alec's belt.

"What are you doing?!" Alec whispered frantically, his eyes darting toward the hallway. "I told you, my daughter is sleeping! You can't put that thing inside me!"

"Aww, but I'm already excited," Dominic whispered against his neck, his hands moving efficiently. "You can just reduce your volume, Santa."

"No. I know you," Alec growled, trying to pin Dominic's wrists. "You will just keep thrusting until I increase my voice. Or your moaning alone will wake her up!"

Dominic stopped, looking down at him with a whined, "Aww... but I'm already excited. So why don't you help me?"

Alec looked at him, his sharp detective brain clicking into gear through the haze of the kiss. He forced his voice to go soft. "Okay. I will give you a blowjob."

Dominic’s eyes went wide with pure shock. "Seriously? You never did that, even when you were deceiving me for a whole year!"

"I know," Alec whispered, playing along perfectly. "So stand up. And put your hands behind your back so you don't deep-throat me."

Alec sat upright on the couch. Completely blinded by his own excitement, Dominic happily followed the instructions, standing up and locking his hands firmly behind his back.

"Haa..." Dominic grinned down at him, completely pleased. "You know me so well."

"Yeah. Right."

CLINK!

The sharp, metallic sound of police-grade steel echoed in the quiet room.

Dominic’s grin instantly froze. He looked down at his wrists. "I can't believe I fell for that... or wait. Maybe you have a new kink?"

Silence.

Alec didn't say a word. He grabbed Dominic by the shoulder, shoving him ruthlessly to the ground. Before the billionaire could even fight back, Alec looped the cuffs through a heavy, fixed metal fixture near the floor, locking them tight.

"Seriously?!" Dominic gasped, staring up from the floor in utter disbelief. "Who has cuffs on them on Christmas Eve? And you're not actually going to leave me in this state, right? Alec?!"

Silence again.

Alec reached over, grabbed a thick roll of duct tape from the Christmas wrapping supplies, and sealed Dominic’s mouth shut.

Mmph!! Dominic’s dark eyes flared with outrage.

Alec stood up, dusted off his velvet suit, and calmly switched off the living room lights, plunging Dominic into total darkness. Without looking back, the detective turned and walked down the hallway to go to bed, finally getting some peace.